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Dealing
With Roommates |
I'm not trying to scare anyone here, but some people may have to deal with it. But actually, talking to your roommate shouldn't be a bad experience. It will give you both a chance to learn about each other. And for all you know, your roommate may be Wiccan, too, and was too shy to tell YOU about it!
Some important things to discuss with your roommate include ritual times, space, the use of incense and allergies, and displaying your items and their friends give them a hard time.
Ritual times are probably the most important. If your roommate is on the Crew Team, for example (I am...the early mornings can be killer!) you don't want to be chanting at midnight when your roommate wants to sleep. Work out sleep schedules together, and then you can fill in your ritual time. A good time for your rituals will always be when your roommate wants to study...it's Murphy's Law. (Beltane falls during Reading Week at my school.) You can ask them to please find a study hall, but don't kick your roommate out. You don't want to alienate them. You never know, your roommate may want to sit in on a ritual and see what it's all about! Otherwise, you may have to be the one to bend and try to find another place for your ritual.
If your roommate has allergies, incense may be out of the question. It would certainly be best to use it only when your roommate is gone, with the windows open to keep as much of the smell out as possible, and not use a lot. Just remember that it's not necessary in college, and for all you know, it could be against the rules. If you have access to it, try getting ahold of dry ice to replace incense. The smoke makes good images for scrying, too!
For those who are concerned with public images, your roommate might not appreciate the display of pentacles and other items in the room. True, it may inhibit your sense of comfort in the room, but if your roommate is easily swayed by their friends, the roommate may begin to hold it against you for displaying "Satanic" images. If you want to keep the Medieval look, but in a tasteful manner, you can always get some nice art prints. Some that I suggest include The Accolade, Stitching the Standard, God Speed, Tristan and Isolde, or Call to Arms by Edward Blair Leighton, La Belle Dame Sans Merci by either John William Waterhouse or Sir Francis Dicksee, The Magic Circle, The Sorceress, and Circe Invidiosa by John William Waterhouse, Meeting on the Turret Stairs by Frederick Burton, or The Priestess of Delphi by John Collier. You can find these prints and more at The Glastonbury Romantics.
Always remember to keep the needs of your roommate in mind, but never give up who you are. You're in college now. Don't feel bad about skipping a party or a chance to hang out with a group just because of a ritual. Half the experience of the Wiccan religion is living life to it's fullest.
| COLLEGE
WICCA INFORMATION
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To better deal with others who may not agree with your religion, it helps to see it from their point of view. It also helps to be armed with some information so you can better explain your position. They may not grasp your beliefs, but hopefully they'll come away a little less ignorant. Try some of these books for further ideas:
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