I always wear my pentagram in public. I have nothing to hide. I live in a town that does not adjust well to anything controversial. Other Wicccans who have lived in this town have had thier homes burned down. I always hear that I am a devil worshipper going to hell etc. My feeling are if they are that closed mined I do not want to be assosiated with them anyway. If people ask me of my beliefs I tell them. I do not go out of my way to explain something to someone if i know they will just ignore what I say and ridicule me. I feel it is very important to be open about who you are and what you stand for. If we did not what would really be the point of life anyway.
Sacha Skaggs
Date Added: 11-22-01

Of course I do . I wear mine to work to bed to the store everywhere I go. My boss has asked about it I told him it was my religion and he's cool with it my friends think its cool that I am not afraid to show the world who and what I am. As a matter of fact most of them like to read some of my books ask for advise and some want to know of to convert. I say be proud of who you are and what you believe in, nothing bad can come to you if you stand up for your rights to have your own religion no matter what it is. I guess i feel so strongly because my mother was a witch and she instilled her beliefs onto me as I do with my own child

Blessed Be
Rhonda Wilson
Date Added: 11-22-01

Merry Meet All,

I always wear my necklace even in the shower. Sometimes out of my shirt and sometimes underneath it depending on my mood, sometimes I just need it close to me. When people ask me if it is a star of David I point out that it only has five points, not six. That usually does the trick. Once, when someone asked me why I was wearing a "Devil's Star" (does that even exist?? :)) I mentioned that Satanists also turn the cross upside down but that doesn't make everyone with a cross on a Satanist. That same person was a Co-worker and the only time I got seriously upset and reacted foolishly was after a few weeks of comments and such from him I said I wouldn't expect a Christian to understand, being that they were responsible for the Inquisition, more bloodshed than any other religious institution, the crusades, holy wars, ect. It was immature but it worked. Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire. I honestly get more compliments than complaints, I wear a small pentagram so maybe it doesn't catch as much attention as the basketball sized ones some other people wear. I think that it would be unfair for an employer to ask an employee to remove his/her jewelry and if I was asked to remove mine there would be a fight. Just a little rambling.

Blessed Be
R
Date Added: 11-22-01

When I saw the question about wearing a pentagrm in public, I wanted to relate my experiences. I wear a sterling silver pentagram ring every day. My job is in a small office made up of middle of the road type people. I rarely receive a comment on my pentagram; my theory is only the people that are supposed to notice, notice. And that's not very many. Over the many years I've worn it, I've not received any negative comments. It's a way I've been recognized by other pagans, which is great. Otherwise, most people don't even know what it means. I did, however, have a Jewish woman ask if it was the Star of David!

I've been a wiccan for 22 years. I had my training in a local coven; when I finished, my husband and I went through a divorce and I drifted away from the coven and have been a solitary for the past ten years.

In reading the previous comments, I'm convince for the most part it depends what part of the country you're in. I live in the Denver-Boulder are and it seems, for the most part, people are very open minded in this area.
Thanks for listening.
Aldrith
Date Added: 12-11-00

When I first got into the Craft of the Wise I very stupidly told all my friends about it, i thought it was very cool. I'm only thirteen, and still at school of course so the word spread rapidly that I was a witch. Now I don't tell anyone because of the teasing. I have had a whole class of kids screaming, "BURN WITCH BURN" at me and the teacher didn't do anything about it. I've had people coming up to me in town and asking if I was really a devil-worshipper. I found it very tiring trying to explain it again and again.

Now the trouble has died down a little. I do wear a pentagram, yes. It's my first one, a silver plain one and I do wear it at school. At school we are allowed to wear religious symbols but I was told that mine was not a religion, it was a cult and I don't know what I'm getting myself into. Therefore I'm not allowed to wear it in school. I admit, this is all my fault and at first I DIDN'T know what I was getting myself into but now I do.
Kendra Isis of Gravesend, Kent.
Date Added: 12-11-00

I always wear my pentacle, and the only people who ever ask say i'm jewish. I simply tell them it's pagan, and unless they want to talk about it i leave it at that. I know why some people don't though, most non-witches are usually very badly informed.
DevonBlueC@aol.com
Date Added: 12-11-00

Merry Meet!

I am a fourteen year old Wiccan, and I have had many experiences with prejudice and hate because of my beliefs. I do not yet own a pentacle necklace, but much of my personal property has the symbol or something similar on it. The reactions of people at my high school ranges from hate and bad looks to disbelief, and interest. because of the people I surround myself with, the people that are at every school, you know them, the ones who wear black, it is automatically assumed that I am Gothic, or Satanic. I am neither, so i try to explain calmly to the people I meet why I wear it and what it means. Usually, my words have no effect, but since I don't preach at people and try to convert them , I have interested a few people in Wicca, and good has come of it. I wish that people were more open minded, but all we can do is wear our symbols and beliefs proudly and with open hearts. Do not hate those who hate you, because nothing good can ever come out of it!

In perfect love and perfect trust,
blessed Be,
Fae
Date Added: 12-11-00

Hello to every one who is reading this. I have bin a witch for about a year and a half, I can out and told my friends and family about it and they were all fine with it . But some people at school are saying bad things about me just because I am a witch, and because I were the pentagram to school and out in public. By the way I am in 12th grade. I really do not care that when I walk in a room people start yelling out witch witch witch........, or just talk behind my back ( and I can still hear what they are saying). But now after hearing it for two and a half months, I am starting to get tired of it and it is making me very upset. I all most feel like doing a spell on them, just to get back at them . I know that it is bad to use my power for bad, and that is why I am not going to do it but it is still hard to wake up and know that you have another day of people making fun of you. Don't get me wrong their are a lot of people that are so nice to me and are still my friend, but their are a few that are not. Blessed Be, and thank you for reading !!!!!
RobertJCondor@cs.com
Date Added: 12-11-00

I wear mine all the time. I refuse to take it off. Most of the time I don't get any kind of response from wearing it. Not even from my most religious friends. I do get several comments from strangers that they love my pendant, that it looks cool. But only once was I asked to take it off. I was at my brother's wedding in a baptist church. My mom asked to to take it off or hide it. I simple told her that if everyone can wear a cross to express their religion than I can wear a pentacle to express my religion. After that she never asked again. Then again I also haven't steped inside a church either.
Serephina
Date Added: 12-11-00

I have worn my Pentacle for about 15 yrs. I have only had a couple of negative encounters because of it. The most memorable was at a large county fair. A couple approached me and asked if I knew what the symbol i was wearing meant. A circle of silence grew around us as I answered that it represented the 5 elements. They then wanted to know when the last time i sacrificed a baby was!! I was so surprised by this that i started laughing. The couple became quite agitated. I then explained that the only thing I "sacrifice" is incense--and predjudice! The couple started screaming that i was a Satanist. I got irritated and said that i dont even believe in Satan and Hell and that i also thought that a county fair was the wrong place to conduct this discussion. My statement was met by a round of applause from the onlookers and a fair official asking the couple to leave. I was pleasantly surprised by the reactions around me and the pats on the back i received as I walked away.
Merelan Silverwind
Date Added: 12-11-00

I was once a blind faith christian, i actually tried to convert wiccans (which is to me now one of the most annoying things in the world to have to deal with{those bible quoting our way or the "hell"way in your face hard core christians}). But i did that out of fear more than want. I wasn't scared of or for them ,but for me. i was scared that dif i didn't i would too go to hell. But once i got passed the fear trapping part of the religion i realized that it was more of a cult than witchcraft could ever be. And when i first started to study wicca seriously {study not practice} i went to a thrift store with my mom. and when i got to the counter i had this overwhelming feeling to buy a ring. so i looked through the glass case and saw only one sliver ring that was in anyway suitable to me. It was a band style with a tiger's eye in the middle and on each side of the stone were three intertwined circles each with one tiny ball at one point. And i just HAD to have it. I have been studying for a few months now and i never knew what the circles meant but one day i figured that they had to mean something. So i got online and asked about 10 wiccans if they knew any thing about symbols and if they could tell me what they meant. i drew them with paint on my pc and sent them to the people i asked. 5 gave me answers. one said it might be a symbol of the triple goddess,one said it was definately celtic and the were called celtic knots and they were a symbol of my faith in the wiccan religion and the goddess, one said it was a scrolled celtic cross and again a symbol of my faith, and two said that they were celtic knots representing love faith and hope together for all eternity. At that point i decided to start on the path of praticing. But even though i don't have a pentagram, i think that my ring is the best representation of my faith. Lots of people admire it and as soon as they do i am more than happy to tell them the meaning of the "knots". I have not as of yet recieved any negative comments. but i plan in the near future to have a neklace made with the "knots" on it. I think that you should represent your faith in the best way possible for you. Always
Rain (17yrs old)
Date Added: 12-11-00

Yes, I wear my pentacle but not all the time. Just cause of fashion sense not anything else. I also wear different necklaces like my quartz charm or other types like this. My mom has asked me what it means and I told her. That was that. She doesn't really mind but she still tries to get me to go to church with her and send my kids to sunday school. I just tell her no!!
Amy
Date Added: 12-11-00

Merry Meet
I not only never take my necklace off, but my daughter doesn't take hers off either. My family all has matching pents and we proudly display them. Sure, some store clerks look at us funny, but I just smile and be extra friendly. As we walk away, I tell my girls..."She just can't handle such a large group of beautiful women. Maybe she has some self-esteem issues." and my husband and I have a good laugh. We are very out of the closet and I encourage my girls to not be ashamed. Sometimes it makes me sad, but I try to remember that even if they don't love me, I love them. If they knew what a good person I am, they would not be rude, so I don't take it personally. Blessed Be.
dreamwolfapw
Date Added: 12-11-00

Hi, I'm a 13 year old from the UK. I'm in the process of searching for "the perfect pentacle". I go to a very christian school, with church services and those who are comfirmed are allowed to wear cross necklaces (no other necklaces allowed). I'm angry about this, and will make a point of wearing it. BE PROUD - you're a follower of your beliefs, at one with nature, and are religiously forfilled. Being a witch has filled an empty space in my life - one which is now filled with happiness.

Feel free to email me,
Dreamer
Date Added: 12-11-00

In sociology class I learned that the only universal reason for wearing clothing would be creative expression; identification for who you are. I do own a pentagram necklace, a tiny sterling silver one on a sterling silver chain, and believe it or not I bought it in the tiny Amish town of St Jacobs! Or was it a mennonite town...Hmmm....anyhow it's one of those strict old fashioned christian religions. I was suprised to see it there ;) I do wear my pentagram all the time; it never leaves my neck. A catholic woman once asked me what it meant and I told her it was an earth symbole that represented the elements.

Strangely enough, we were talking later and she mentioned that my (catholic) school was rumored to have some Satanists in attendance there. I've only encountered one satanist in all my time at the school so I politely mentioned that perhaps it wasn't so many satanists as there were Wiccans, who were pagan students who follow an ancient, earth based religion. (okay, I know it isn't ancient but it's older than I am!). So she didn't say anything much more except pondering out loud why a non-christian student would be attending a christian school....I just mentioned that it was a good school and we left it at that. Asides from that no one has ever commented. My mother knows my beliefs and I am very out of the broom closet so it doesn't matter.

There is one thing though, I also have some gay pride jewlerry. Everyone knows my orientation except for my mom...

But as soon as i tell her (which may not be too soon!) I'll wear that as well. I'm proud of who I am and don't see a reason why I shouldn't let others know what I am. I like being easy to identify to others like myself, it helps to make friends ;-)
Kay
Date Added: 12-11-00

I don't have a pentagram, i'm still looking for the special necklace and I haven't come acrost it yet. However I am always asked to explain why I have a pentagram on one of my boxes in which I keep my power stones and people ask "isn't that a sign of the devil?!!!" and I calmly ask them if they would wear an upside down cross. They of course say no, and I tell them "neither do I wear an upside down pentagram which some of the satan worshipers around here wear as their symbol, I don't believe in satan or hell so I have no need to worship him. The devil is something that mankind has created in my honest opinion, someone to scapegoat for all the wickedness that is in all of human nature. If you did something wrong say the devil made you do it, its not your fault you were tempted and so on and so on." and then I calmly explain what the pentagram really stands for. I've noticed if you don't get ruffled or insulted and explain in a calm manner, that people who oppose you end up looking stupid to themselves and their peers if they jeer you or choose to pursue the matter of you being evil.
Callie
Date Added: 12-11-00

I wear my pentacle every day. I have two. one is on a necklace and the others a ring. My best friend who is very catholic bought the ring for me. It just so happens to match the necklace even though they were bought many years apart and different places.

The only time I wear my pentacle in my shirt and turned on my finger is to talk to my land lord (Southern Baptist in the deep south) and when I went to a job interview. I got the job and wear it out all the time. Some have asked and I ve explained truthfully I want them to understand due to the fact that I am their Manager. It has worked and I have a wonderful staff. When I first came to my store they asked the District manager if I would put a spell on them if they mad me mad and she just laughed and said I don't know Make her mad and find out!
HaHa HA
willows Rain
Date Added: 12-11-00

The legal name of my business is Rose & Pentagram Design, to head off questions I felt the need to write a disclaimer for our website.

Many of our products are decorated with Celtic knotwork that is inspired by ornate, hand-decorated manuscripts such as the "Book of Kells" or the "Lindisfarne Gospels". Many of these medieval Bibles, or Gospels were created when Christianity was still a relatively new presence in the British Isles. Thus, our business name and logo reflect the mix of Christian and native cultures that helped inspire these masterpieces of Celtic religious art.

The logo itself originated as a coat-of-arms I designed for fantasy story. The Rose represents Christ, and the Crown of Thorns. The Pentagram, or 5-pointed star, and its association with magic, represents the aspects of pre-Christian culture that were adopted into the distinctive practices of the early Celtic-Christian church.
Chas
Date Added: 12-11-00

Yes I wear my pentacle all the time.I have a necklace and a slave braclets with one on it.I was bapitsed as a Christian at 3 and at 6 I told my parents that the Christian religion was bull.She said that was fine she didn't belive in all of it and she told my aunt about it who practiced wicca and I belived in way more of wicca then I ever would of Christanity.I'm now an in Junior High 8th grade.If people say something rude or ask me why I wear it and I notice that they are wearing a cross I say either why are you wearing a cross or the same reason your wearing a cross or the Star of David or whatever.I'm very proud of my religon and don't hide it at all. I go to a public school and students and teachers have tried to send me up to the princiable about me having a Pentacle on or cause I'm reading a wicca book. I think he frankyl is sick of me and people like me getting sent up there.Its just like someone reading a bible or Christian stuff or them wearing a cross.Supposedly I scare people wearing Pentacle & reading wicca books but hey forall they know they could me scaring me with their religon saying I'm gonna go to hell.
Blessed Be'
Robin

Yes I wear mine at all times. I am well enough established in mu profession to have no fear of being fired for my beliefs, good pro cooks are hard to find. Also after following this path for 30 years I feel that I have the right to express my feelings . If anyone has a problem with my faith it is just that. Thier problem, not mine.
Blessed Be :
Lon Dubh

I just wanted to say I wear my pentacle 90% of the time I wear it to work, I wear to take my daughter to school, i wear it at the store. However I never seem to get some of the awful remarks others do. When some one notices it (for some it my take a while before they do) usually they ask me if I'm a Witch I say yes and they ask me questions I do my best to answer them. I've had a few who strongly believe thier religion is the only one but after we talk they seem to understand the usefulness of religious beliefs no matter what religion. Many of my co workers have become less judgemental abot other people because of thier religion. I love the fact that just by having a calm conversation with someone and allowing them to express thier views and fears while I express mine can make a diffrence in my community. Even though there are few witches in my town I'm sure for the most part more would be welcome if only to be allowed our beliefs.
With love to all Inanna Blue
jkgffd@aol.com

I wear mine everyday. When I first started wearing it, about three years ago, i was looked down upon. I wasn't allowed to wear it at work because my boss felt it scared away the customers. People at school tried to get me sent to the office constantly because they thought I was going to terrorize the school. I've never been asked why I wear it, everyone just assumed I worshipped the devil. I don't know how many times I've had to defend my right to wear my pentagram. it's cost me numerous friends and a lot of ignorance. I can't understand why it's so wrong. Other people wear their religious symbols around without being harassed, why are wiccans so different? These past couple of years, I've lost many so-called friends, a lot of trust and had a lot of shame put upon me. I will, however, stand for what I believe. As long as the is support from those who truly think highly of me, I will defend my choice to wear my pentagram forever.
Love + Light and Blessed Be!!!
(§îléñ† wHî§þé®ér)

Since my self initiation ceremony last year, I have always worn my pentagram. I added a set of earrings for Winter Solstice. I understand others' feelings for not showing the symbol of their faith in public. I do not hide my faith or flaunt it. I see every confrontation ( there have been very few) as an exercise in spiritual growth. I check the experience, bless the experience, absorb what I learn from it. If I must explain my faith to someone who doesn't understand, the God and Goddess intended a learning process.
SSVinke@aol.com

Merry Meet!

I am 21 and have been studying (solitary) for ten years now. I have worn several articles of jewlery through my careers in HS and the military. I was never given too much flak about expressing my beliefs through jewelery. When asked to tuck it inside my shirt or take it off, I would agree, but with the stipulation that all others have to do the same to their crosses and whatnot.

Blessed Be,
Aracos

This question assumes that every Witch or Pagan identifies their religion with the symbol of the pentagram. I am an eclectic witch and do not even own a pentagram. I prefer to wear an ankh, a symbol that is more personal for me. However, if I chose to wear a pentagram, I would wear it in public if I felt like it. I don't feel the need to wear any symbol at all times otherwise I would have it tattooed somewhere. It's just all a matter of personal choice.
Michelle

Very nearly the first item of Witch jewelry I received was my Pentagram. It is very special to me because my partner gave it to me (it was hers first), and a lovely gentleman who was an SCA silversmith hand-made it. He has now gone on to the Summerland. I've had all kinds of reactions to 'the wearin' o' the Star'---from abject horror and cries the I have the mark of Satan on my body to people who like it and want to know where they can get one. I did not always wear it until I read my first Laurie Cabot book. She is so very inspirational to me, how she has no fear of opinion and lives her Witch life just like everyone else lives their lives. Unfortunately, my situation is not quite like Laurie's, so I do make some concessions. I wear the Pentagram always, but sometimes (like at my workplace) I wear it under my clothing. My family has never really been accepting or eager to understand, so if I am in a religious (i.e., Roman Catholic) setting with them, it gets tucked in. Otherwise, when I am out in my personal life, I very proudly wear in out and upfront. Reactions vary as widely as types of people. On the average, I would say most people really don't care. Funnily enough, some people are prejudiced because they don't like Jews and think it is a Star of David! I have actually had people ask me if I'm Jewish and comment on my Star. Everyone has to make the decision for themselves if it is safe for them to wear the Pentagram out of their clothing or at all. For awhile, I used to keep it in my 'personal items' pouch in my purse, so I did still have it on me at all times.
Lilith :)

Yes, I do wear a pentacle necklace in public. I feel it is my right as an American citizen to be able to wear what I choose. At first, I was shy about it. I would hide my pentacle under my blouse and stuff. Now, I wear it openly at college and when I go to the store or something. I usually wear one of my smaller ones though. At work, it's harder to keep from hiding it. There are a lot of Christians that I respect around here and that I think respect me, but I know what they think because they told me. They think it's silly at best, and satanic at worst. I think they know, though. They don't confront me about it. When I go to get groceries or something, sometimes people will look twice when they see it...I guess they have this image on what they think a witch looks like and I don't fit that image. Maybe they expect a gothic girl or a hippie chick...that's just not me. I'm the one wearing jeans and a t-shirt an a pentacle around my neck.
lecia@us.ibm.com

I am a 24 year old female who was born and raised Dianic, I have had a pentagram all my life. When i was 10 my mother had special silver pentagrams made for me and each of my sisters, and blessed in our names. I can't tell you the amount of crap I have gotten from people, from "Oh, you're Jewish" to " Oh, you worship Satan". It is always my goal to educate these people who talk to me. I explain what the pentagram symbolizes, where it came from, that it is one of the oldest religous symbols in existance, and on and on. To add to the difficulty, i am heavily tattooed and am very opinonated, so many of the people i meet are not very understanding. No matter how eloquently I speak or how carefully I try to explain, I usually end being told that i'll burn in hell, or that i need to be saved. I just smile. I am already saved.
LeahRH666@aol.com

Oh yes, I always wear my silver pentacle ring, every day. It's just like any religious sign, Like a Christian wearing a cross or a fish and a Jewish person wearing a skull cap or a star of David. No one has ever made a big whoop about my ring, some people said it was really pretty and others just ask me where I got it. A few other people around my school wear pentacles to, some of the guys even wear pentacle necklaces! But I don't know if they are wiccan. I just think most people wear it for looks and some people don't know what It means so it's no biggie.
-Anna

I work in a high profile job where people trust thier loved ones and thier lives to me. At first, I received some negative feedback on my pentagram. When I asked the question to my co-workers if they ever known me to be evil or bad. Their comment was "no" . In fact, they were willing to ask me questions reguarding my religious beliefs. Many found that it made since. We shouldn't be any more embarassed about wearing a pentagram than wearing a cross or a cruicifix. Just remember that YOU are representing the Craft. and any thing you do will reflect all of us good or bane.
KQuoka2939@aol.com

I honestly fail to see the need to wear one in public. It's the symbol of my faith yes and it looks really cool that's true but it can also lead to alot of trouble. If I can avoid and unecessary amount of negativity from coming my way by wearing and alternative symbol (a Berkano or the Green man being my fav's) then I will. Non-pagans have absolutely no clue what they mean 99% of the time and it serves it's purpose of identifying me to other pagan and wiccans. What more can you ask for? With me it's not that I'm not proud of my religion. But why should everyone know anyways? And with and alternative symbol I can choose when to have those *religious* conversations with people. Everyone reacts differently, and to have people constantly trying to tell me the good news about (you fill in the blank) is not my cup of tea. If you do wear your pentagram openly and you don't mind the barrage of emotions and comments more power to you. But I think I've discovered a better way.
taurusthebull_99@usa.net

Merry Meet! I am Ravenmoon, solitary for 11 years. I feel very strongly about this topic. I do wear my pentagram in public with pride and confidence! I do not "flaunt" it or brag about it, and people usually don't have negative comments. Sometimes I am confronted, and I have been called a "Satanist", and I have been asked to not wear it. But I simply say " Do I ask you to not wear you crucifix?" "Do I call you a Christian?" I don't let it go any further that that. It is usually someone who is talking to hear themselves talk! To me it is really not important to explain my beliefs and my religion to a person that is so narrow minded that they need to criticize or belittle a person simply because they don't understand. I have also had people ask me what it stands for or what it means. And eventhough I know they are just trying to be a "smart-ass" I answer them honestly, and usually end up in a very interesting conversation with them. I could go on and on about this!!! So, Blessed Be!
Ravenmoon

Well, I think most people are just too frightened to ask or say anything directly to me about my pentacle. (By the way, I never take my pentacle off) If someone says something to me about "devil worshipping" because they've seen my pentacle, I usually remind (or should I say "educate") them that I don't know anyone by the name of "devil" or "satan" as they are icons of that person's own beliefs, not mine. I also ask them what they think a "witch" is and when they tell me (if they can) all of their misconceptions (having warts on the nose, slaughtering animals, etc.) I just tell them "You've obviously been so close-minded, miss-informed and mis-educated, and you really should sit down and learn about the things that you fear so much. At least then you would KNOW what you fear." Thank Goddess I have friends, who are NOT witches, but, who are at least willing to ask and learn more about me and my beliefs. After my non-witch friends see me in action (holding animals higher on the totem than most humans, baking a batch of muffins, etc.) sometimes I think they can even see, literally, the energy that's coming from my heart and watch it pour, literally, into everything I create. And as for work, well, thank Goddess, again, that the company I work for does not restrain anyone employed from being who they are and believing in what they want. They definitely don't hold anyone's religion against them.
Amethyst Fields

I used to wear my pentacle in public and at work. I also used to work at a company that was completely cool about this. It helps when the VP of your division is an open Voodoun priest. :) Over the years I have stopped wearing, but not because of anyone else's opinions or any hollywood stereotypes. I stopped because I now have other symbols that are far more meaningful to me. The one I wear the most often is my Bridget pendant, which shows the three faces of Bridget (naked) with a carnelian stone under the feet.

When I did wear my pentacle regularly I had good and bad experiences. I found other pagans very easily. One of my best friends found me in the grocery store, of all places! I also had people tell me it was satanic. What I typically do is ask if they would like to know the symbolism behind the pentacle. Most say no, but if they say yes I tell them the truth. The pentacle has been a symbol for many religions. Judaism used it to symbolize the five books of the law at one time. Christianity used it to symbolize the five wounds of Christ. And I use it to symbolize the five elements, spirit ruling over the others. I have also shared with others the symbolism behind the the inverted pentacle, used by one of my friends' coven. To this coven is simply means that instead of spirit ruling over the four elements, it is ruled by them.

TTFN
tigerheart@mindspring.com

I have a great collection of pentagrams in various manifestations. At my last job, they weren't a problem. Everyone there seemed to know about Wicca and were not offended or threatened by my choice. I was surprised. Most people assume Satanic implications because that's all they are exposed to and they have been indoctrinated by their own religions to fear, rather than learn about and respect, the choices of others. I work for a different company now and it's clear that no one there is aware than anyone is anything but Christian or Jewish. It's interesting, but without even knowing you, someone will ask if you go to church regularly or just go on holidays. They never think that you could be any one of the thousands of other religions out there. That's why I tend to wear my less conspicuous pentagrams around the office. They usually have Celtic designs or the Goddess incorporated into them. Religion is a personal choice and I don't feel like igniting the fires of ignorance and fear in my workplace. Some people do ask what I'm wearing around my neck and I usually respond, "An Earth Symbol" and I tell them what the different points of the star mean. The people at work just look at me a bit confused and walk away, but it hasn't spawned any speculation yet. I wish it wasn't something to worry about but I don't want to get into fights with people about the history of religion so I keep a low profile with people I don't know very well. I do try and educate those who are open to learning about it in hopes that the information will spread from there, but I don't incite any arguments. It ends up leaving pagans with a militant stigma. Another slap we don't need. I don't need anyone to believe what I believe, I'd just like them to be able to respect the choices of others instead of trying to convert everyone.
Kerry

I work in with the public and quite often wear my pentagram. I have had alot of people ask me what it means and I tell them it's my belief. There have been a few of my customers who have heard of Wicca, and I have gotten into alot of debates about it. But we haven't lost any business over it and the customers who know what I practice are my regulars. I have also met alot of Wiccans through my working there and have since become friends. My boss and co-workers know what I practice and have no problem with it. I am lucky that they and my customers are open to it. I won't hide it and try to remain calm when people say I worship Satan. It is pure ignorance.
dstroeve@telusplanet.net

I've been wearing a pentagram necklace for about a year and a half, and this May I bought a pentagram ring. Generally, I get mixed reactions. I'm going into my senior year at an extremely rural high school, but most people there are surprisingly open-minded--or else incredibly stupid, since I rarely ever hear it brought up. So they might not know what it means.

Ever since one of my best friends found out I was Wiccan, she prays every night for Jesus to save my soul, but she doesn't harass me about it, so it doesn't bother me much. Most of my other friends are tolerant if not entirely supportive.

I have had a couple of people tell me I worshipped Satan. The sad thing was that one of them was a nine-year-old girl. I was a counselor at a local environmental camp for a week, and one night at dinner she pointed a quivering finger at my necklace and said, "Do you know what that means?" I looked at her and said, "What do you think it means?" For awhile she wouldn't tell me, but eventually she whispered that it meant, "the devil." I told her that wasn't true, but for obvious reasons I couldn't give her a discourse on my religion. (The camp is run by the school board, and that would be considered religious teaching.) She avoided me the rest of the week. I also had a girl my age tell me that it was "the Star of Satan." I told her it wasn't, that satanic stars have two points uppermost, and that the one I wore was a symbol of Wicca. Apparently she accepted that.

I think that that method is probably the best for all people. Simply tell them they're wrong and a simple explanation why, and if they ask further, then tell them. Otherwise they probably don't really want to know. As for wearing pentagrams in the workplace and in schools, I think that we have an absolute right to wear them, and should do it if we choose to. If anyone asks you to take it off, simply explain that it is a symbol of your religion and you're entitled to wear it.

Probably the strangest reaction I ever got was from my grandmother, who is a devout Southern Baptist who is fervently preparing for "the Rapture." She looked at it and said, "Why, what a pretty star!" I just smiled and nodded.

Blessings,
Morgan Silverwynd

yes i do where my pentagram in public . most of my friends respect my choice in religion. the only people how ask me to hid it is my teachers and principles all i say to them is it is my choice of religion. the way i deal with people who call me satanist is i explain to them what i am and tell them i DO NOT beleave in satin. the way i think we should deal with people with closed minds is try to educate them and keep reassure them we only do good for others.
Dykenw@hotmail.com

I wear a pentagram ring, just like a lot of Wiccans, but I have an interesting situation, that a lot of other Wiccan Jews can probably relate to. I am Wiccan, but I live in a Jewish home, go to a Jewish school (oy vey) and work at my synagogue. So when people in those places see it, they usually ask if I got it on my trip to Isreal, immediately taking it for a Jewish star. I was once in a public area, and someone saw the ring and asked if I was Jewish. I told her yes, but that it wasn't a Jewish star. It's just another example of ignorance.

As I said, I go to a Jewish school, and most of you may be familiar with the line in the Old Testament "Thou shalt not associate with a Witch." (Some translations may say sorcerer or sorceress.) One day I was minding my own business and a girl who is not that orthodox walked up to me and said, "I can't talk to you anymore because the Torah says we can't talk to Witches." It didn't make too much of an impact on me then, but I thought about it later. My best friend also has very negative feelings towards me studying Wicca. But I deal with it because I know that her problem is not with me, nor is it with Wicca. She's worried becuse someone of her faith has strayed. So if anyone else out there in cyberspace has a problem similar to mine, you may want to look beyond what they say. Ask them why they are intimidated by your way of life, and you may get an answer you didn't expect.

Blessed Be,
Emily

Yes, I do wear my pentagram in public, and have encountered many negaitive remarks, espcially amongst those I thought my friends. I have tried and tried to explain to them, and then I had to resort to telling them that is protected me from evil. They don't believe me, and now I have just learned to ignore them and not to try to broaden their minds.

That's their job, not mine.

Merry part!
Jessica

I see nothing wrong with wearing anything that makes you fell good and that is how mine make me fell
jmsmith@coserv.net

Yes, i wear my Pentagram in Public and i always get negative remarks and assuptions that i am a Satanist. When i explain it isnt the sign for Satan they are like "omigod! your a Witch" and they treat me like an inferior. I have to put up with alot from school since im always questioned about the Pentagram and Im always known as the Satanic Witch. But still i wear my Pentagram because i am not ashamed of it, instead i am proud to wear it.
mauz@hartingdale.com.au

No as a matter of fact, I don't hide mine. I'm proud to wear mine, in fact, my best friend Elizabeth gave me mine, she got a bad feeling about something one day and told me to wear it for prtection, and then told me to keep it as a sister to sister gift and birthday present.
Linzie

I always wear my pentagram. I receive negative comments now and then but I shrug them off. I recently came out to my family about being Pagan. My parents accept it, my grandparents are in denial, my sisters and close friends could care less. My pentagram represents my religion and who i am, no matter what others think I am proud of who I am. I just wait for the day when all of humanity can live in peace and accept all for who they are.

Peace be with all,
Nathan

I wear my pentagram all the time weather I am in public or not. Nobody has ever ask me to take it off. Have only had one negative comment about it. That was my Aunt said. What is that? Don't Satanist us that only upside down? And My Uncle was standing there. And I just told them both a little about my religion and that I did not belive in Satan. And she started to say something and my Uncle told her to be quite that I knew what I was talking about and for her to leave me alone. Then he pulled me off to the side after she left the room and told me to be careful that not everyone knows what it is and is willing to listen. That there are to many people out there like my Aunt and are afraid of what they don't know and believes everything anyone tells them if it is how something is evil. And forgets to much of the things people tell them are good. Have never had anyone call me a Satanist, Yet. I don't know how to improve the negative image we have. Nature I guess is just going to have to run its course. We are going to have to be more open about who we are, More out of the broom closet. Don't force ourself off on people but talk to those whom are interested.
Gabriel Elani

I live in a Sorority house and wear a pentacle necklace and have a pentagram hanging on my door. I always wear it. I haven't really gotten any negative comments about it. Everyone I live with knows I'm Wiccan, some of them have even borrowed books from me or asked me to explain it to them. I am asked a lot if I'm Jewish and my little sister, who doesn't know anything about my religion says it's my Walker Texas Ranger necklace, which makes me laugh. But I usually say whatever comes to mind depending on the feeling I get from the person who asked the question. Usually something about the fact it represents the elements. The only time I hide it is when I am spending long periods of time around my very Christian mother or for a job interview.
chiomega@imt.com

I wear my pentagrram, but i keep it covered, because i have had some kids in my HS give me a hard time about it. I also just like to bring up a point, that i took my little cousin out trick or treating, and somebody gave my six year old cousin a phamphlet on how witches are going to hell, and i think that's absolutely absurd to give that to a little kid! They go out trick or treating for candy, not a religous Sermon! PS I LOVE your site! --- (Thanks! - ed.)
Suprsparkl@aol.com

As a matter of fact I do not wear mine. I am still in the broom closset . But one time I brought a book to school it was "teen witch' by Silver ravenwolf a very good book but it had a very subjective cover it illustrated teenagers dressed provocatively in the moonlight and i loved the cover .And one of my pears took it and read it because she was interested in learning about it. And then another boy called me a devil worshiper (although he knew i was not) . . The children and the students would not talk to me soo in the middle of class i stood up and said calmly that i do not "worship the devil" and i explained to them the religion of wicca. They listened but i might as well of been talking to the wall . i decided they were just clossed minded. And how they were raised catholic and not understanding of other religions . So i spoke to my mother and she spoke to the princaple and ripped her a new one . I wish everyone was understanding . i hate being branded the evil one.

blessed be
india

I decided to come out to my family about my beliefs after hiding them for a few years. I let out little clues along the way so it wasn't a total shock. I was basically "out of the broom closet" around family (to a certain degree) my friends and the general public, but I kept it to myself at work because I was afraid I would lose my job. I now work at a hospital as a housekeeper. It's the kind of job where no one cares what kind of person I am as long as I keep everything clean. Therefore, I made the conscious decision not to hide my beliefs. In the hospital they are very PC so NO ONE is allowed to push their beliefs on another. I don't run through the halls yelling I'm a witch, but I do wear a pentram necklace and earrings. when I first got them I wore them occasionally in front of my family, never in front of their church friends, and most of the time at work. It is very important to me to be who I am and not let others push me into conforming. That is why I have now chose to wear this jewelry all of the time. I think that if you are the type of Pagan that tries to tell everyone else what they should beleive than wearing a pentagram is probably just an effort to shock people. But if you have "come out" and you respect others beliefs than there is no reason why you should hide your pentagram. It is a beautiful symbol of our beliefs. If some one has a problem with it than I say that it is their problem and not yours.

It never ceases to amaze me how many people insist that we are satanists. The thing that upsets me the most is that when we say we are not, they insist that we are. When they do that to me I respond by asking "Oh, do you study witchcraft?" and when they say no I then say "then how would you know what witches believe." If that doesn't work then I walk away. Anyone who is that ignorant doesn't deserve my time.

I have found that there are some people who just want to fight, they don't care what they are fighting about, they just enjoy the battle. Those people do not deserve our time. Do not let them get to you. If they don't fight with you they will fight with some one else. Don't let them drag you into their neurosis.

Blessed be.
emarkley@webtv.net

I wear my Pentagram all the time in school. Most of my friends know I'm Wicca, but I still get some strange looks from people I don't know. I have had people ask me if I worship satan, and I just tell them that they are mistaken, I don't worship the devil, or anything like it. I've had a few people ask me what about Wicca, and I tell them basicly what Wicca is, then I refer them to my webpage, or another one I think they would find more informative.

I only hide my Pentagram around my Parents who don't know I'm Wicca. I hope that one day when I tell them they will respect my choice. Sometimes at school I have to hide it because teachers comment on it, and a friend of mine was suspended for wearing his pentagram, and I don't want to get suspended.

I love you're webpage, Keep up the good work! -- (Thanks! - ed.)

Blessed Be
Oleanderstone