hiding your magic?

[olivia1]

for those who do candle magic..or light novenas and use oils, etc. do you do it openly or try to hide it? I feel weird leaving it out in the open because it exposes my secret fears and desires...and its different so I dont want to be judged. But I also feel its who I am so why hide it. If you hide your stuff when people are over, where do you hide it?

and this isnt meant to be rude in anyway so sorry if anyone is offended

 

[Disa]

Olivia, I'm not sure what a novena is? I can look it up later..

I've been an avid candle burner since I was about 12 years old. It never occurred to me to hide my candles even now that magic is sometimes involved. Oils I use in oil burners and also wear, so I don't hide those either. I grew up in a household where incense were used a lot so I have those everywhere as well.

I do have most of my "supplies" in a room in the basement. Many are in drawers or chests, most is in a small closet in that room. I used to try to put cards and things away when people visited, but now that my daughter is over 18 I don't really specifically hide anything. There are a few things I will put away depending upon who is coming and if they are staying the night- just because I don't want them rummaging through it. I put those in the closet and put stuff in front of it so they can't open it and try to hang up their clothes or whatever.

Is that the kind of thing you mean? I may have missed the point entirely.

edited to add: Ok - novena..I did look it up and I don't specifically have those. (The site I read about it on said it was mostly to do with Catholicism, but also some Christian religions and I'm none of those) I do, however have an ancestral Altar that I put up near the beginning of October and leave up until just after Thanksgiving. Everyone who comes to the house will see it and that's fine with me- it's their family, too

 

[olivia1]

Olivia, I'm not sure what a novena is? I can look it up later..

I've been an avid candle burner since I was about 12 years old. It never occurred to me to hide my candles even now that magic is sometimes involved. Oils I use in oil burners and also wear, so I don't hide those either. I grew up in a household where incense were used a lot so I have those everywhere as well.

I do have most of my "supplies" in a room in the basement. Many are in drawers or chests, most is in a small closet in that room. I used to try to put cards and things away when people visited, but now that my daughter is over 18 I don't really specifically hide anything. There are a few things I will put away depending upon who is coming and if they are staying the night- just because I don't want them rummaging through it. I put those in the closet and put stuff in front of it so they can't open it and try to hang up their clothes or whatever.

that is such a great idea. I would never think to get a chest or hide things in a closet..i know you did not say you had a chest but you helped give me the idea

i also like the idea of burning oils in oil burners. I usually use them to dress my novena candles. I know you dont hide them but that would be a great way to make them look more coventional. I am making a big deal about this because people who come over can see my oils, candles, and know what my biggest wishes and fears are.

It isnt any of my visitors' business since it is my house, but I dont know, I just feel like I should hide my stuff but didnt know how others went about it. You gave me some ideas. Thank you

Is that the kind of thing you mean? I may have missed the point entirely.
edited to add: Ok - novena..I did look it up and I don't specifically have those. (The site I read about it on said it was mostly to do with Catholicism, but also some Christian religions and I'm none of those) I do, however have an ancestral Altar that I put up near the beginning of October and leave up until just after Thanksgiving. Everyone who comes to the house will see it and that's fine with me- it's their family, too

yes, that is it. I am Catholic so I use novenas but I also practice Santeria and they use candles and oils together which is where I got the idea.

 

[Milfoil]

Several years ago I found an old writing box in a thrift shop, it became a sort of altar in itself where I kept the basic things I needed and also used it as a focal point for ritual. Back then, I needed to keep things quiet and simple. It was me who wasn't yet ready for the world to fully know what I believed because it was such a change and so different to what most people here believe.

As I have grown, learned and become much more comfortable with who I am, my beliefs and the strength of conviction has risen alongside. This means that there is a permanent altar in my home, one outside and many indicators to those who would 'see' that I take my spiritual beliefs very seriously.

However, sometimes there are gatherings in our home which would scorn or misunderstand what they see on the altar and in those cases I put most things away. It is not out of fear but from respect for the Spirits and a strong belief that conflict generally gets us nowhere.

How you evolve with your practice will develop over time. Sometimes there will be occasions when someone needs to see what you do to challenge their narrow beliefs, other times the respect for your beliefs will only be maintained if you tidy things away until after visitors have gone.

It can be challenging to put one's beliefs so clearly on display, especially when those beliefs are not mainstream and your integrity will be tested but trust in who you are, not in what others 'might' think or say and you will be fine.

 

[Disa]

that is such a great idea. I would never think to get a chest or hide things in a closet..i know you did not say you had a chest but you helped give me the idea

i also like the idea of burning oils in oil burners. I usually use them to dress my novena candles. I know you dont hide them but that would be a great way to make them look more coventional. I am making a big deal about this because people who come over can see my oils, candles, and know what my biggest wishes and fears are.

It isnt any of my visitors' business since it is my house, but I dont know, I just feel like I should hide my stuff but didnt know how others went about it. You gave me some ideas. Thank you



yes, that is it. I am Catholic so I use novenas but I also practice Santeria and they use candles and oils together which is where I got the idea.

I actually do have a chest in the spare room downstairs that I consider my "divination" chest. I do also use oils to dress my candles, but since I use them for other purposes, I don't see the need to hide them.

I'm curious about this: " people who come over can see my oils, candles, and know what my biggest wishes and fears are" Are your wishes and fears written and kept near for people to see or how exactly do they know what your biggest wishes and fears are? Or do you just have your candles and dressings out and think that people know what they are for?


The thing is- I guess I don't consider anything really to be "hidden" per se, but just stored. I store things where I have space, many candles, incense, and oils are stored in the living room in a cabinet for easy access. Some things stored in the kitchen, some in the spare room and in the closet which is also in the spare room, some in the ottoman in the living room.

I have a friend who labels herself a "Catholic Witch". She deliberately hides things so that her Catholic relatives cannot see them when they visit. She keeps many things in a coffee table in her living room that has a space inside to put things.

I think it really will depend on you and your circumstances about where you choose to hide or store things. While it isn't the visitors business, I understand the need for privacy and keeping the peace. You have to do what you feel most comfortable doing.

 

[tarotbear]

I have all my candles, altar cloths, and such separated by color in my 'Port-A-Witch' - I'll have to remember to take a picture. It used to be an old upright audio system case (on wheels) with a glass front door, glass door on top for the turntable? (I may have to explain what a turntable is - they used them to produce music from a flat, round, black object called 'a record.')

Anyway, now that the audio equipment is long dead and gone, I store my magical stuff in it. Found a thingie in a store that is 6 flat boxes with a storage shelf/rack - fit inside beautifully - have everything in there by color. In the top and bottom the rest of my magical stuff resides.

I don't consider this 'hidden' as much as 'stored with easy access.'

ETA - Added a pic - the rest are down in post # 10. This is the drawer marked 'Lavendar, Purple, Blue.' It has candles and altar cloths.

 

[olivia1]

sometimes there are gatherings in our home which would scorn or misunderstand what they see on the altar and in those cases I put most things away. It is not out of fear but from respect for the Spirits and a strong belief that conflict generally gets us nowhere.

How you evolve with your practice will develop over time. Sometimes there will be occasions when someone needs to see what you do to challenge their narrow beliefs, other times the respect for your beliefs will only be maintained if you tidy things away until after visitors have gone.

It can be challenging to put one's beliefs so clearly on display, especially when those beliefs are not mainstream and your integrity will be tested but trust in who you are, not in what others 'might' think or say and you will be fine.

That was beautiful and encouraging. You are right. I will adopt that way of thinking too. Not sarcasm at all. I really think you are right..besides, the people meant to be in my life will find out soon enough anyway.
thank you for this

 

[olivia1]

I have a friend who labels herself a "Catholic Witch". She deliberately hides things so that her Catholic relatives cannot see them when they visit. She keeps many things in a coffee table in her living room that has a space inside to put things.

that's actually a really rad idea. If I were still into hiding my stuff, I'd be so on that

I'm curious about this: " people who come over can see my oils, candles, and know what my biggest wishes and fears are" Are your wishes and fears written and kept near for people to see or how exactly do they know what your biggest wishes and fears are? Or do you just have your candles and dressings out and think that people know what they are for?

The oils and powder makes my wishes obvious. For example, my boyfriend came to stay with me. And i completely forgot that I had left "Come To Me" Oil out. Of course, I dressed a candle for just someone in general, not anyone specifically. I wanted the universe to bring me a partner. I didn't even know him when I purchased that Oil. He was cool with it since his mom does candle magic too, but I was still mortified. Oh and my Stop Gossip oil? He saw that too. I wanted to come across as if I believed I found him by wonderful happenstance..not because I begged and pleaded with God and the Saints above to find me someone.

 

[Disa]

Ohhh I get it now. I have a few of those labeled type oils, too. I have one called, "Move Neighbor Oil"...Usually I use essential oils which have many uses, combine them with herbs and dress the candles that way. I see what you mean now. TY for explaining.

 

[tarotbear]

Port-A-Witch

This is where most of the magical stuff I own resides ..... Port-A-Witch !