I'm never quite sure how to respond to that comment. It usually happens after someone has visited my office a few times. They see all of the things you would expect to see - a computer, a phone, business books arranged on a non-descript bookshelf, a whiteboard with the next quarter's projections - and then one day they notice the other things.
The comments and questions start innocently enough, "Is that a picture of your wife?", "Wow! Your son looks just like you", "Your daughter is a cutie. How old is she?"
It moves quickly to "Is that lavender I smell? Most guys don't keep dried flowers in their office. Are they from your wedding or something?"
The really brave or observant visitors quizzically ask "I like the bark, seashell, feather, candle and little statue. What are they?"
And it's about that time that I start doing those mental gymnastics. I ponder on how I'm going to respond. The Direct Approach. The Tap dance around the subject approach. The oh boy! you're not going to like this answer approach. Much of it depends on who is sitting in front of me and what I know of them and what I might reasonably expect their reaction to be.
I never shy away from the actual, true answer. I do give it when asked. I colour the answer with shades of grey sometimes but the Truth of the answer is always completely evident and open.
"I'm Pagan and these items help me focus throughout the day. They remind me of what is important and, when I'm really having a tough time of it here at the office, I think about each of the items and what they represent."
Sometimes that's it. Sometimes I get the that nod that usually translates to "Ahhh...I'm pretending I know what you just said because you are the Vice President of the company but really I don't know what your talking about. I think you said something about meditating, right?"
And ever so occasionally, the person sitting across from me reaches for the chain around their neck, they nervously trace the outline of the cross beneath their blouse and say "You're a Witch?"
And that's when the work really begins...
Witch, pagan....... such words are so simple and limiting aren't they. The history of its meaning, how its used when and by who- so many conceptions. How do we convey our definition to people that is the trick. I virtually never use the words now. I would prefer priestess but- it sounds kind of uppity or grandiose to some.
ReplyDeleteThere's a certain pleasure in reclaiming the word witch, but I hear you. I aspire to a time beyond labels. having said that...Priestess is lovely, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI agree that priestess is a lovely title. I use it quite often myself, but am also very fond of witch and unafraid to use any title so related. I live in rural America, and there aren't any other pagans near me. I've had all kinds of names called, and my children received a ridiculous amount of persecution in school. It's amazing how threatened people feel when faced with something they do not understand, even something as peaceful and loving as my little family. We shine on...
ReplyDeleteShine On indeed! I am so incredibly thankful that I live where I do.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, being out of the broom closet still has it's challenges.
Be well...
Gwion