As Wicca continues to grow in popularity it is
understandable that young people searching for ways to make sense of the world
and attain spiritual peace will continue to want to explore this path as well.
Problems may arise when a teen’s parents or guardians do not understand the
Wiccan faith, or, worse, are not open to understanding and exploring it for
themselves prior to judging Wicca as evil. What should a young person do if
confronted with this dilemma? Is what mom or dad doesn’t know still going to
hurt them? Is it better to abandon all hope of studying Wicca to appease the
family?
No matter what lifestyle a teen is exploring within their
own natural or constitutional rights, when in mom or dad’s home, one must do or
not do as mom and dad say. If a teen has a true interest in Wicca that is more
than a passing impulse, the opportunity to worship the God and Goddess and
practice this faith will await them when they are independent and able to
establish their own lifestyle outside of the confines of the family home.
In the meantime, some potential for education or compromise
may exist depending on the openness of the family as well as the diplomacy and
behavior of the teen. For instance, if Betsy, a 16 year old, introduces
her interest in Wicca to her parents openly and shows her parents some positive
books from the local library to help answer any questions they have, or
brings her parents to a positive practitioner of Wicca in the community to
address concerns or questions, a discussion can ensue in which her parents can
express their concerns or misunderstandings. They may still have concerns about
Betsy being harassed or bullied at school or still have rules they wish her to
follow such as not practicing with a group without their permission or without
introducing them to the group leaders etc. but these matters are more likely to
be discussed openly now.
Say in contrast that Carrie, another 16 year old, becomes
more and more withdrawn and secretive with her family. One day her mother is
doing her laundry and finds Wiccan literature in a pocket of her jeans.
Confused and concerned, Carrie’s mother confronts her daughter with her
interest in Wicca. An argument ensues and her mother forbids her from practicing
Wicca. Her mom has come to associate secrecy and deception with her
religious interests, and the opportunity to promote understanding and gain
mom’s trust lost.
The process of discussing interest in Wicca with a parent
can vary but these examples illustrate the need to be open, respectful, and to
go the extra mile to educate others. How a teen acts toward their religion and
the process of sharing information they have learned with others will go a long
way in building bridges vs. burning them. It remains the parents’ right to
establish limits and rules in their house. A teen who is committed to exploring
Wicca will have ample opportunity to pursue the faith in their own independent
lifestyle when this milestone occurs. In the meantime, respecting nature,
respecting parents as embodiments of the God and Goddess, and respecting Mother
Earth are practices that can continue regardless of the title one wears or
identifies with and will prepare the teen for a Wiccan lifestyle later on in
the future.
Angela Kaufman is the coauthor of Wicca: What's the Real Deal? Breaking Through the Misconceptions, along with Dayna Winters, and Patricia Gardner.
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