Let’s be real; not everyone can be open about witchcraft. Whether it’s due to living with a religious family or just not being entirely comfortable with sharing your practice, we get it. Sometimes it’s not in the cards, and other times you just aren’t ready. Either way, it’s totally okay. Your beliefs are yours and yours alone and you should never feel like you have to do anything in regards to expressing them to others. However, just because your beliefs may be kept a secret doesn’t mean pursuing them has to disappear from your life. In fact, there’s actually a ton of different ways that you can safely practice and learn about witchcraft in secret.
Today, we’re going to discuss everything having to do with the broomcloset, including a few ways you can practice in secret, and a few careful tips on how to leave the closet (if you’re ready). So, if you’re ready to talk all things magical and witchy, let’s dive in and get started.
What is the “broomcloset”?
To start, we first wanted to clarify, what does it really mean to be in the “broomcloset”? Well, just as how you’ve probably heard the term ‘coming out of the closet’ in regards to sexuality, this is the same thing, but with witchcraft. This term refers to someone who is interested in or practices witchcraft and hasn’t told anyone about it quite yet.
Sadly, not everyone has the privilege of growing up with a family history of a long line of witches, where such things are embraced and openly accepted by those around you. And that’s okay, but it’s also always important to never judge or put down other witches who didn’t grow up with this family history and aren’t able to come out. Being in the broomcloset isn’t always a choice; sometimes, people literally cannot come for their own safety (such as religious conflicts). Therefore, as witches, we must always be sympathetic towards those in our magical community and help each other the best we can to learn, grow, and excel on our path of magick. Think of the witch community as a coven - we all have our part, we all have our own unique abilities, and we all have our different backgrounds, but we are all equal nonetheless and should always work to help each other and lift each other up if we wish to succeed as a whole. Therefore, if you are a witch that is open in your craft, lend a hand if you are able to those who may be struggling or who are in need of guidance. Your kindness and understanding may be the biggest support they will receive in this community. Never forget that.
With that said, for those in the broomcloset, there are still a number of magical ways you can learn more about witchcraft and develop your skills further while keeping it a secret. Here’s a list of a few of our favorite ways.
5 Tips for how to practice while in the broomcloset
First of all, the most important thing to know as a closeted witch is that the internet will always be your best friend. From blogs to forums, youtube to ebooks, the online witch community is awesome and is full of a plethora of information you can take in in secret. And the best thing is, you can always hide your internet history, so no one will ever know what you’re looking at. So research your little witchy heart away and take comfort in knowing you have nothing to worry about.
Next, believe it or not, even if you’re in the broomcloset, you can still create an altar. For those of you who may not know, an altar is a space in which you focus your craft and magical workings. This is typically where you keep crystals, herbs, statues, and other magical objects to boost the power of your magick. Many people utilize a bookshelf or table for this, but honestly, you can make your altar as small as you want. For many closeted witches, a mint tin is often used as an altar and is decorated with tiny crystals, drawings, herbs, and so forth. Believe it or not, you could even create an altar on your phone by creating a photo album of your favorite crystals, sigils, and witchy setups and set aside a section on your phone for witchy apps. Truly, as with anything in witchcraft, it’s always about your intention, so whether it’s physical or digital, your altar space is always what you make it!
Another great way to practice in secret is getting to know herbs in cooking. Yes, we know that you may not be able to have a collection of herbs in your room, but no one will bat an eye if you’re using parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme in your dinner! Not only that but depending on the dish you make, it’s a great way to also work with the elements, as well as send specific energies into the food you’re making to cast them into your reality. Overall, it’s truly a win-win for a witchy soul and something you can work with daily.
Spend time in nature
Another great way to get in touch more with your craft in secret is to spend more time in nature. Whether that’s walking the family dog, going hiking, or just sitting out in the sun, time spent outside is never wasted, and it can also help you connect better with the earth and all the magic it has to offer. You may even find stones or leaves that call to you in the process that you can collect and keep in a mini altar tin.
And lastly, you can easily add powerful sigils and symbols to your beauty routine. This can be done through drawing the shapes and symbols on your body with makeup, lotion, or even in the shower with water to help embrace their energy. The best thing about this tip is that there will be zero evidence left of these marks afterward, so you’ll be supercharged with these powerful sigils and totally free from any worry!
5 Tips for leaving the broomcloset
Now, as we mentioned above, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with staying in the broomcloset and you should never feel like you have to come out. However, for those witches that are looking for some advice on how to leave the broomcloset, either partially or fully, there are a few tips that can help you do so that we wanted to share with you.
To start, before you come out as a witch, ask yourself what is your personal goal with it. Why do you feel the need to come out? Whether it’s to feel more like yourself and embrace your personal power or to simply educate people on the misconceptions of witchcraft, think of what you truly wish to get out of it first. Take some time beforehand to write this down to help you gather your thoughts and how you do want to express yourself about your beliefs when you come out. This will make it a lot easier to explain to friends and family if they have questions about your beliefs and interests and why you feel drawn to this path overall.
Next, remember, if you decide to come out, you don’t have to come out all at once. Instead of announcing it across social media, perhaps confiding in a close friend is the first step to coming out for you. Some witches will tell their family, but never their workspace or friends but never their family. Either way, it’s okay, and coming out to a selected group of people will help you to ease the discomfort of feeling like you need to hide something. This will also help to boost your confidence for if and when you do decide to come out fully. Remember, you get to choose exactly who gets to see that side of you and should never feel pressured to tell everyone in your life because not everyone deserves to know your beautiful soul inside and out. Overall, feeling acceptance from trusted individuals one at a time can make it easier to come out fully later on and help you not to feel so alone in the process.
Next, you never want to come out to someone when you’re angry or upset. You also never want to approach it with the ‘I’m right, you’re wrong’ mindset, as it will counteract your entire point about being understanding and accepting of your new life. And honestly, the people you’re talking to are likely to be confused and may even be sensitive about the subject already, so you don’t want to make it worse. If it takes a rough turn, simply excuse yourself and continue the conversation later when everyone has had time to calm down.
Next, if you decide to come out to people in your workspace and are fearful of being fired or discriminated against for it, you can actually seek legal help. According to the US government, you have legal protection against religious discrimination in your workspace. With that said, coming out at work is never something that can legally cost you your job, so researching your rights before any work-related outing is essential.
And lastly, the most important tip we could ever give you is to remember that you don’t need anyone’s approval to be a witch. Not everyone will understand your journey, and that’s okay because they don’t have to. It’s not their journey; it’s yours. The witch lives within you, and as long as you accept yourself for who you are, you will never need anyone else to accept you. And if you find you ever need a friend who just ‘gets’ it, never forget that we are always here for you.
In the end, these tips are meant to help you understand that no matter what path you choose, it’s okay, and we love you for exactly who you are. Not everyone understands this lifestyle, and some may even fear it for their own personal reasons. However, do not let that stop you from delving deeper into your practice, even if you have to do so in secret. Above all else, the most important thing it always comes down to is not what others think or know about you, but what you think about yourself. If you love yourself exactly as you are, what other people say should never change that. You are divine, magical, and beautiful inside and out. So be yourself, love yourself for who you are, and do you, in secret or publicly. If you do this, we can promise you that no matter what path you are on, you will find your way to the most magical, fulfilling, and peaceful life imaginable.
Written by: The Spirit Chic
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Lisa Carignan
January 09, 2024
That was so beautiful! Thank you for such an articulate and well written as well as encouraging article.