This may seem like a rather odd discussion. Pagans spend a great deal of their time discussing how they �came out of the broom closet,� but for many of us, it simplifies our life to stay in it. There are many reasons to not advertise that you are a magic practitioner or a Wiccan. Maybe you�re living at home with your parents and think you�ll get in trouble. Perhaps you are in a dorm and openly practicing magic may freak out your room mate. Maybe you don�t want to alienate yourself from you friends. Personally, I view magic as a very personal experience and don�t really want to share it with other people.

Whatever the reason may be, keeping your path your own little secret is sometimes necessary. Therefore, I thought it would be useful to offer some tips on how to stay in the broom closet if you are not in a situation where you can safely come out.

Feel free to ask questions, and if you find a particular practice really useful, let us know.

The Hidden Altar: Part 1

For magical practitioners still in the broom closet, keeping an altar tends to pose a bit of a dilemma. The altar is supposed to be a witch�s sacred space, the area where the energies and the will are made manifest. It represents your connection to the Divine. Unfortunately, the tools and organization of an altar pretty much scream, �I perform magic!�

People living in dorms or any environment in which you are sharing a room have a particularly difficult time, as you really can�t keep a stable altar. Having a room mate as well as countless others walking in and out of your room all day makes keeping an altar an impossible. In dorms, you�re not supposed to light candles or incense, let alone have athames lying around.

One of the ways to get handle this is to make an altar box. This is an idea that I�ve seen floating around in a couple of witchcraft sources, and I think it�s a great idea. Basically, get a box and put all of the basic things you require for an altar in it. When you have some alone time, pull it out from under the bed and cast a spell. Or, if your room mate is of the dorm-bound sort, pick up your box and find a nice private spot in a park or any other location you feel comfortable.

But, how do I fit all of those magical tools in a small box? Simple�you substitute when ever possible. Pretty much all of the tools regularly found on an altar are present because they are symbolically significant. One of the convenient things about working with magic is that many times you can substitute one object for another without altering the effect. So, let�s talk materials.

The Box: If you plan to use the box as the altar table, make certain fire resistant and stable. If you live in a dorm or plan on taking things out doors, I would recommend not using candles at all, but substituting fire. You could probably use a large jewelry box or even a shoe box.

Altar Cloth: Try using a scarf or bandana. Fabric samples may also be an option. Just remember your color correspondences.

Water: You can find little bottles and fill them with water, or you may just want to go liquid free. Sea shells are excellent symbols for water as is any blue gemstone.

Air: For air, one usually burns incense, but we can easily substitute with an essential oil or perfume. Small oil bottles won�t take up too much space. And if you have any of those small perfume samples, that can work as well. I would recommend using anything associated with scent, as it is the molecules of the substance evaporating into the air that makes it symbolic of air.

Fire: Instead of a candle, try using a piece of obsidian or any red stone. If you are relatively secure that lighting a candle is safe, a tea light or a small birthday candle with a holder will work. Just remember to stick a lighter or some matches in the box as well.

Earth: Okay, it�s hard to go wrong substituting for this one. Any rock or some salt will do.

Spirit: As a cauldron is out of the question unless you can find one of those tiny ones, just use any item that is small and very personal to you. A piece of jewelry or a little figurine. Maybe a loop of hair.

As for representing the Goddess and God, you can use any masculine or feminine associated item. Just make sure that you feel the association when you use the item. Having a small piece of Willow for the Goddess is nice, but unless you feel the association, it�s not the best choice.

Even for those of us with a stable altar, this is a fun project to do. At the very least, having a box with the altar basics is a sound idea. I can�t think of the number of times I�ve prepared for spell work and forgot a lighter or some other necessary item. For those of you pagan parents, this may be a fun thing for the kids as well.

I find this topic very interesting and just thought I would say how refreshing it is to hear that yes, it is ok to stay in the broom closet! It is YOUR spirituality here, no1 elses, and if u think telling ppl will cause trouble u dont want or need, then I feel that keeping it sacred to urself is totally acceptable. I have an altar in my room, not that any1 else knows that! I jst use the top shelf of a lil corner unit, and on it I have a vase of wooden roses in various colours, a candle, 2 little feathers that mean a lot to me, a leaf from the tree where my mum's ashes are spread and a little bottle of melted snow i collected last april. I also have a small fox bean toy and a cat bean toy to represent my animal spirits. Its basic, not fancy and i dont have tools or anything, just these things that mean a lot to me. I kno what it means and it makes me happy seeing it every morning and b4 i go to sleep at night. Its so inconspicuous, anyone can get the same effect, just remember that its the emotion u invest in u altar, not the expense u pay for ritual items, that makes the profound spirituality of the space.

Foxi

Thanks Foxi. Your altar sounds lovely. I think so many people have a set idea of what an altar should be and don't understand what matters is what the altar means to you.

I do enjoy magic being my little secret, and really think one's relationship with the Divine is a personal matter, however, I am an adult and it wouldn't matter that much if I was openly pagan.

But for many pagans, it is potentially dangerous to come out of the broom closet, especially when they are young. I want to offer those individuals whether they are young or adults as much support and comfort as I can to keep them practicing and safe.

The Hidden Altar: Part 2

For those of us who live alone and only have to worry about people we invite seeing our sacred space or the occasional maintenance man, another option for a hidden altar is available � namely, the hiding the altar in plain site method. Yes, this sounds a bit contradictory, but it is the method I favor.

There are many ways you can do this. The first is to set up an altar where ever you want it, just make sure it�s an area safe for candles and incense. I keep my altar on my fireplace hearth, for example. One technique you can use is to put all your altar items on the altar, just don�t organize them as you would when you cast spells. Part of what makes an altar actually look like an altar is that items have a clear place with a meaning. If things just look randomly placed, only people who have a definite eye for symbolism would pick up on the altar.

Also, you may want to add a few items that have little to do with magic, but you just like to look at. On my altar, I generally keep everything in its symbolic place, but I have a number of other items. I have a couple of tea sets and ornate boxes on my altar that have nothing to do with magic, I just like them there. If you look at my fireplace, it just looks like a fun, cluttered area with interesting objects.

It also helps to be eclectic. Not every item you use in a ritual has to have a pentacle on it. Honestly, I am not Celtic based, nor do a use the pentacle as one of my symbols in magic, so this isn�t much of a problem for me. For those of you require the pentacle in your ritual, just keep one or two items containing the symbol. Or you can just turn the object so the pentacle isn�t facing everyone.

I know that when many of us start practicing magic, we have this romantic vision of a beautiful altar covered with silver chalices, semi precious stones, giant candles, and silk cloth. While that�s very pretty, it�s not necessary. Work with what you have and what is meaningful to you,

When you�re a broom closet witch at work, performing any sort of magic beyond visualization or meditation is virtually impossible. Let�s face it, lighting a candle or smoldering incense for a peace or prosperity spell just isn�t going to happen. I would imagine chanting is frowned upon, although I�ve never tried it in the office.

But, never fear, there is a effective, discreet, and cheap way of practicing prosperity magic at work � namely, making a cup of tea. When you consider what goes into a simple ritual in terms of elements, preparing and drinking a cup of tea is a wonderful way to bring magic into your workplace. Think about it: 1) your desk is the altar, 2) your mug the cauldron, and 3) the steaming tea your incense.

This is a great way to perform magic if you are in the broom closet at home as well. Simply boil some water, put in the tea bag, add some visualizations and a little prayer, and voila � you�ve got a spell. I find this a particularly good way to energize myself during those boring work afternoons and as a relaxing informal ceremony before bed.

To make it easier and even more subtle, pre-packaged herbal teas can provide an excellent sampling of brews for your prosperity, peace, and cleansing magic. I am partial to Celestial Seasonings tea and have included the list of ingredients and properties for the company�s most popular teas.

Additionally, do not think that tea is just for drinking. There are a number of magic functions this tea can be put to. Simmer it on the stove top while cleaning or before inviting friends over. Create a magical hair rinse. Grind the herbs for incense. Use the tea bags as a magical sachet. Just remember to check that all of the properties of the herbs included in the tea correspond with your desired goal. Also, remember to charge the tea as you would any herb or potion before magical use.

Bengal Spice: (Celestial Seasonings)
Cinnamon: (masculine) prosperity, love, lust, money, energy, success
Chicory Root:(masculine) alertness, removing obstacles, frugality, happiness
Carob: protection, health
Vanilla: (fem.) love, lust, prosperity, healing, purification, peace, courage
Dates:
Ginger:(masc.) power, courage, health, love, passion, success, prosperity
Cardamom:(fem) love, romance, intelligence, power
Black Pepper:(masc.) banishing, exorcism, healing, power, love, strength, purification
Cloves:(masc.) love, lust, money, prosperity, protection
Nutmeg:(masc.) love, money, prosperity

Black Cherry Berry(Celestial Seasonings)
Hibiscus: (feminine) love, lust, sex, divination
Rosehips: (feminine) love, fertility, attraction, psychic powers, prosperity, friendship
Chicory Root:(masculine) alertness, removing obstacles, frugality, happiness
Blackberry:(fem) healing, protection, prosperity
Hawthorn:(masc.) fertility, chastity, hearth magic, wisdom, love, protection, wishes
Cherry:(fem) love, fertility, honesty
Chamomile: (masc.) prosperity, love, lust, money, peace, purification, sleep

Cinnamon Apple Spice (Celestial Seasonings)
Cinnamon: (masculine) prosperity, love, lust, money, energy, success
Hibiscus: (feminine) love, lust, sex, divination
Chamomile: (masc.) prosperity, love, lust, money, peace, purification, sleep
Chicory Root:(masculine) alertness, removing obstacles, frugality, happiness
Orange Peel: (masc.) prosperity, joy, love, money, luck
Carob: protection, health
Apple:(fem)love, friendship, healing, fertility, success

Country Peach:(Celestial Seasonings)
Rosehips: (feminine) love, fertility, attraction, psychic powers, prosperity, friendship
Hibiscus: (feminine) love, lust, sex, divination
Orange Peel: (masc.) prosperity, joy, love, money, luck
Chicory Root:(masculine) alertness, removing obstacles, frugality, happiness
Chamomile: (masc.) prosperity, love, lust, money, peace, purification, sleep
Blackberry:(fem) healing, protection, prosperity
Peach:(fem) fertility, wisdom, longevity, sex
Passionfruit:

Cranberry Apple Zinger:(Celestial Seasonings)
Hibiscus: (feminine) love, lust, sex, divination
Cinnamon: (masculine) prosperity, love, lust, money, energy, success
Chicory Root:(masculine) alertness, removing obstacles, frugality,
Chamomile: (masc.) prosperity, love, lust, money, peace, purification, sleep
Blackberry:(fem) healing, protection, prosperity
Cranberry: strength and spirit
Apple:(fem)love, friendship, healing, fertility, success

Honey Vanilla Chamomile:(Celestial Seasonings)
Chamomile: (masc.) prosperity, love, lust, money, peace, purification, sleep
Orange Peel: (masc.) prosperity, joy, love, money, luck
Honey
Licorice: love, lust, fidelity
Chicory Root:(masculine) alertness, removing obstacles, frugality,
Lemon Grass: power, psychic powers, cleansing

Lemon Zinger (Celestial Seasonings)
Hibiscus: (feminine) love, lust, sex, divination
Rosehips: (feminine) love, fertility, attraction, psychic powers, prosperity, friendship
Chicory Root:( masculine) alertness, removing obstacles, frugality, happiness
Orange Peel: (masc.) prosperity, joy, love, money, luck
Lemon Grass: power, psychic powers, cleansing
Lemon: love, cleansing, attracting prosperity

Mandarin Orange: (Celestial Seasonings)
Orange Peel: (masc.) prosperity, joy, love, money, luck
Hibiscus: (feminine) love, lust, sex, divination
Chicory Root:(masculine) alertness, removing obstacles, frugality, happiness
Blackberry:(fem) healing, protection, prosperity
Hawthorn:(masc.) fertility, chastity, hearth magic, wisdom, love, protection, wishes
Cinnamon: (masculine) prosperity, love, lust, money, energy, success
Clove:(masc.) love, lust, prosperity, banishing, money, protection
Coriander:(masc.) love, lust, health, protection

Mint Magic: (Celestial Seasonings)
Spearmint:(fem) prosperity, purification, love, sex, protection, money, mental powers
Peppermint:(masc.) cleansing, energy, health, purification, psychic powers, money, protection
Chicory Root:(masculine) alertness, removing obstacles, frugality, happiness
Cinnamon: (masculine) prosperity, love, lust, money, energy, success
Orange Peel: (masc.) prosperity, joy, love, money, luck

Raspberry Zinger: (Celestial Seasonings)
Hibiscus: (feminine) love, lust, sex, divination
Rosehips: (feminine) love, fertility, attraction, psychic powers, prosperity, friendship
Chicory Root:(masculine) alertness, removing obstacles, frugality, happiness
Blackberry:(fem) healing, protection, prosperity
Orange Peel: (masc.) prosperity, joy, love, money, luck
Raspberry:(fem) love, pregnancy, fertility, protection

Red Zinger: (Celestial Seasonings)
Hibiscus: (feminine) love, lust, sex, divination
Rosehips: (feminine) love, fertility, attraction, psychic powers, prosperity, friendship
Peppermint:(masc.) cleansing, energy, health, purification, psychic powers, money, protection
Lemon Grass: power, psychic powers, cleansing
Orange Peel: (masc.) prosperity, joy, love, money, luck
Lemon Myrtle:
Licorice: love, lust, fidelity
Cherry:(fem) love, fertility, honesty

Sleepy Time: (Celestial Seasonings)
Chamomile: (masc.) prosperity, love, lust, money, peace, purification, sleep
Spearmint:(fem) prosperity, purification, love, sex, protection, money, mental powers
Lemon Grass: power, psychic powers, cleansing
Tilia Flowers:
Blackberry:(fem) healing, protection, prosperity
Orange Peel: (masc.) prosperity, joy, love, money, luck
Hawthorn:(masc.) fertility, chastity, hearth magic, wisdom, love, protection, wishes
Rose: (feminine) love, fertility, attraction, psychic powers, prosperity, friendship

Tangerine Orange Zinger:(Celestial Seasonings)
Hibiscus: (feminine) love, lust, sex, divination
Rosehips: (feminine) love, fertility, attraction, psychic powers, prosperity, friendship
Blackberry:(fem) healing, protection, prosperity
Hawthorn:(masc.) fertility, chastity, hearth magic, wisdom, love, protection, wishes
Orange Peel: (masc.) prosperity, joy, love, money, luck
Tangerine: (masc.) mental powers, psychic powers

Tension Tamer: (Celestial Seasonings)
Eleuthero Root:
Peppermint:(masc.) cleansing, energy, health, purification, psychic powers, money, protection
Cinnamon: (masculine) prosperity, love, lust, money, energy, success
Ginger:(masc.) power, courage, health, love, passion, success, prosperity
Chamomile: (masc.) prosperity, love, lust, money, peace, purification, sleep
Lemon Grass: power, psychic powers, cleansing
Licorice: love, lust, fidelity
Catnip: (fem) cat magic, beauty, good spirits, love, luck, happiness, visions
Tilia Flowers:
Lemon: Longevity, Purification, Love, Friendship, Moon magic
Hops:(masc.) dreams, sleep, healing

Tropic of Strawberry :(Celestial Seasonings)
Hibiscus: (feminine) love, lust, sex, divination
Rosehips: (feminine) love, fertility, attraction, psychic powers, prosperity, friendship
Orange Peel: (masc.) prosperity, joy, love, money, luck
Chamomile: (masc.) prosperity, love, lust, money, peace, purification, sleep
Chicory Root:(masculine) alertness, removing obstacles, frugality, happiness
Blackberry:(fem) healing, protection, prosperity
Strawberry:(fem) beauty, love, luck
Pineapple: luck, money chastity
Coconuts:(fem) purification, chastity, protection
Banana: (fem) prosperity, fertility, potency
Lemon Verbena: purification, love, prevent dreaming

True Blueberry:(Celestial Seasonings)
Hibiscus: (feminine) love, lust, sex, divination
Rosehips: (feminine) love, fertility, attraction, psychic powers, prosperity, friendship
Orange Peel: (masc.) prosperity, joy, love, money, luck
Blackberry:(fem) healing, protection, prosperity
Blueberry: protection

Wild Berry Zinger:(Celestial Seasonings)
Hibiscus: (feminine) love, lust, sex, divination
Rosehips: (feminine) love, fertility, attraction, psychic powers, prosperity, friendship
Chicory Root:(masculine) alertness, removing obstacles, frugality, happiness
Orange Peel: (masc.) prosperity, joy, love, money, luck
Blackberry:(fem) healing, protection, prosperity
Raspberry:(fem) love, pregnancy, fertility, protection
Cranberry: strength and spirit
Cherry:(fem) love, fertility, honesty

I have to say I find this refreshing too. I have to stay in the 'broom closet'. For my safety lol. My parents (as I mentioned on my profile) are heavy pentecostal christian. And I currently live with them. I'm have a mobility impairment (I have muscular dystrophy) so for now since I can't get a job and go to school at the same time I live with them. Let's just say if I were to come out...I'd be living in a living hell (constant crying, the church they attend and so do I would FREAK!!! and I probably would wake up with them IDK probably trying to cast out the demon out of me. LOL). They already don't like my 'views' on life (basically because I support my sister who's gay...and think it's fine to listen to secular music and watch 'bad' movies - LOL). So I like that people think it's okay to stay in the broom closet. My Dad and Stepmom would cut all contact with me, and I have a little brother and sister. So there's no way I would come out to them even when I'm done with school. (Abbie's ten years younger than me, so if I came out when I'm out of college and on my own, it would still have bad consequences).
And honestly, right now being quiet about my religion has actually been beneficial to me spiritually. It's challenged me to find the magic around me in everyday things and in my everyday routine. To find the Lady and Lord in the day. To connect and everything. It's probably been the best ever for me. Now my older sister Liza knows, and so does my Mom (She practices too), and so do their families. Sort of like my Step Dad and brother-in-law. But the other family can't know. So I would encourage anybody to think very long and hard about coming out of the 'broom closet'. It can have consequences people don't even think about and to me right now it's challenging me to really tap into my potential.

I am glad that you are able to cope in such a tough environment, Lady October.  Staying in the brrom closet is a personal choice, and I don't think anyone has the right to preach against it.  It can be a very dangerous thing to be different, and if you absolutely need to hide something to survive, go for it.  It is not necessary for everyone to be a martyr.

I personaly stay in the broom closet because magic is my little secret, and I love having this small but important portion of my life that is mine alone.  The practice of magic to me is very personal and intimate, and this makes it more powerful of an experience for me.

I hope you will be able to get out of this environment and more fully and comfortably explore your path, Lady October.

— Foxi wrote

I find this topic very interesting and just thought I would say how refreshing it is to hear that yes, it is ok to stay in the broom closet! It is YOUR spirituality here, no1 elses, and if u think telling ppl will cause trouble u dont want or need, then I feel that keeping it sacred to urself is totally acceptable.  I have an altar in my room, not that any1 else knows that! I jst use the top shelf of a lil corner unit, and on it I have a vase of wooden roses in various colours, a candle, 2 little feathers that mean a lot to me, a leaf from the tree where my mum's ashes are spread and a little bottle of melted snow i collected last april. I also have a small fox bean toy and a cat bean toy to represent my animal spirits.  Its basic, not fancy and i dont have tools or anything, just these things that mean a lot to me. I kno what it means and it makes me happy seeing it every morning and b4 i go to sleep at night.  Its so inconspicuous, anyone can get the same effect, just remember that its the emotion u invest in u altar, not the expense u pay for ritual items, that makes the profound spirituality of the space.

Foxi

I agree.  There's nothing wrong with staying in the closet.  It's your spirituality and nobody elses.  It a choice.

I like the altar box idea, I may try it. I'll have some freedom when I return to university (I'll be living just off campus). Thanks for sharing~