Out of the Broom Closet: 50 True Stories of Witches Who Found and Embraced the Craft

by Arin Murphy-Hiscock (Editor), Kendra Vaughan Hovey (Editor), Rob St. Martin (Contributor)

How do you tell your mother you're a witch?

Coming out as a witch isn't easy. You may feel misunderstood, rejected, even discriminated against by friends, family, and coworkers. If you haven't come out, you may be leery of criticism from those who don't really know what it means to be a witch. In this one-of-a-kind collection, you'll meet fifty witches just like you who reveal what drew them to the craft and how they dealt with coming Out of the Broom Closet. Inside you'll find inspiring stories like:

Empowered by My Faith: Debra's belief in the God and Goddesses is strengthened when she asks for their guidance during energy-healing to save her son from a near-fatal gunshot wound
Yes, We Are Working Professionals: Deb stands up against discrimination and shows her Wiccan pride during a meeting at work
I Am Pagan and I Am Proud: Gwinevere explores her faith and strength when she becomes a published Wiccan author at sixteen years old
An Exercise in Tolerance: Joshua risks at losing the woman he loves when he has to convince her strict Christian family that he doesn't worship the devil

Out of the Broom Closet will give you the encouragement and inspiration you need to practice magick with pride and dignity, no matter where you are on the path.

Genres: Witchcraft, Wicca, Nonfiction, Paganism, Spirituality, Religion, Magic

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Currently a resident of Montreal, Canada, Arin works as a freelance writer and editor. She is the author of Power Spellcraft for Life: The Art of Crafting and Casting for Positive Change (2005), Solitary Wicca for Life: A Complete Guide to Mastering the Craft on Your Own (2005), The Way of the Green Witch (2006), The Way of the Hedge Witch (2009), and Pagan Pregnancy: The Journey From Maiden to Mother (TBA). She is also the editor of the anthology Out of the Broom Closet (2009).

Arin is a third-degree Wiccan High Priestess in the Black Forest Clan, a tradition linked both by lineage and practice to several other branches of Wiccan thought and philosophy including the Caledonii Tradition, Druidism, Gardnerian practice, Seax-Wicca, general Celtic Wicca, and German witchcraft. She works as a priestess in her community performing rites of passage and giving occasional workshops, and leads a private coven.

Her hobbies include playing the cello, handspinning, and weaving.

Reviews

[Bon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmmm. I admire the diversity among the writers, and the overall sense that we've all struggled with who and when and if to reveal something like our craft practices and beliefs. I didn't relate much to some of the specific, individualized practices in this, but the general sense of everyone having "come home" to witchcraft. This is pretty dated, published in 2009, which might explain some of the disconnect for me.

Instead, I was drawn in by the introduction, written by editor Arin Murphy-Hiscock, and her own story added at the end of the compilation. Her tone is always friendly and engaging and approachable, and the same went for her introduction and own story. I'm a big fan of her witchcraft books, and I was so touched by the introduction of this book, which didn't say the connection out loud but for me paralleled a witch/spiritual identity journey with queerness. Both identities have made people look askance at me, and both have ignited dicey confrontations in real life. It felt good in that sense to read stories of others who've confronted these things, at least the witch side of them.

[Varian Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: This review is deeply personal. There's going to be some UPG (unverified personal gnosis) and lots of ramblings. You have been warned.

What to say about this?

I loved it, because it was my *actual* introduction to Pagan beliefs, to paths that weren't the version of Christianity that I grew up with. Reading stories from real people as opposed to "believe ABC because of XYZ and these guidelines..." made me think Maybe this is the path for me.

I loved it, and read many of the stories multiple times.

However...

Now, as a practicing Pagan, trying to find my way and the proper path for me (Celtic? Eclectic? Kemetic?)...having to hide my beliefs...not being able to say "this is what I'm learning"...

Dealing with how to answer questions about why I wear an ankh (many people have mistaken it for a fancy cross)...and what my triquetra stands for...and why I don't wear them at the same time...and what's up with the black onxy I almost always wear...?

Trying to explain why I'm yelling at the movie/TV show/book when it portrays Anpu(Anubis) as either a monster or "scary doom and death God" without saying that He's my main Deity can be...interesting...

Today I flipped back through this and thought "Huh. This is all about Wicca. Why didn't I realize that when I got it?"

*facepalms*

I look at this book fondly because, in a way, it introduced me to Paganism, to the concept of Gods that I was already worthy of following and honoring (being thwapped by the Morrigan and Anpu weeks later truly brought that idea home).

For a newbie struggling with finding their way (I am very much one of them), I'm not sure I'd recommend it. It's nice to read stories from others of how they deal with being in the broom closet, the question of if you should walk out and throw away the key or stay in the quiet darkness with your Gods just a little longer because coming out may cause a major shit storm in your community...

Overall: I'd recommend this for people more interested in a Wiccan path than other branches of Paganism. It's enjoyable, but by the end feels like "Chicken Soup for the Wiccan Soul."

[amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such an interesting read. I picked it up because I was curious to see the differences between the atmosphere for magic use and identity in a "then vs. now" sense. It's so much more common today and fewer people raise an issue with witchcraft. I remember a time not that long ago when it was scarier to let people know that you identified in the realm of magic. As a queer person I have come to understand that every few years you look at your community and see ways that things have changed so vastly and other ways that things have very little difference. I really like looking at other communities that I either identify in or have loved ones who do and observing the changes and growth.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate the existence of this book, but it was a little fluffy for my taste. While some stories went into depth, others seemed like "lather, rinse, repeat" stories of "I grew up catholic and hated it and now yay I'm Wiccan." I wish that this anthology had gone deeper.

[Julie Furman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an inspiring collection of stories about pagans coming out of the proverbial broom closet. They come from all walks of life and follow various paths, although Wicca is heavily represented. I'm not sure if it's editor bias, or if Wicca really is the predominant form of Neo-Paganism today.

I'm not Wiccan myself, but have found these stories to be helpful for my own path. Our stories really are different but the same.

I like the short author summaries at the end. There are a few Web site recommendations from those authors who run them, as well as a few book titles that aspiring pagans can read.

Recommended read for Pagans and those interested in understanding Neo-Pagan beliefs.

[Helda Krause · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable book filled with 50 stories of witches coming out of the broom closet. It was well-written and the stories were interesting.

[Emily at Reaching While Rooted · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this anthology on paganism and the special importance it has in these individuals’ lives. I enjoy how each story is unique and shows how diverse and personal the Craft truly is.

[Cat Treadwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

While both Witchcraft-focused and American, this little gem of an anthology may well be of interest to those just finding their feet in paganism of all stripes anywhere in the world, being a selection of very honest and heartfelt mini-tales of how fifty very different individuals found their way to pagan spirituality in very different circumstances.

Yes, some of the tales could easily be marked as ‘fluffy’ (the movie ‘The Craft’ gets an inevitable mention!), but to disregard the book as such is misunderstanding its purpose. Each story IS very different. Each person is unique, and in several cases very brave in telling their story. It’s not all ‘I wanted to be a witch in college so bought myself a ton of black clothes and silver jewellery’. Some participants are teenagers – and tell of the problems they have had being ‘out’ as pagan in very traditionl Christian environments. Some are mature adults, parents from ‘Muggle’ families. Some are dealing with issues of life and death. Some just try to explain what it’s like coming to understand the joy they feel from standing outside to watch the sun rise.

This book contributes by telling the myriad different ways that finding your faith inspires, and fuels lives in a positive way. It isn’t ‘enlightenment’, it’s living truthfully and honestly, with all the mistakes and pitfalls along the way – and picking yourself up to keep going. It’s easy to dip in and out of, to witness different perspectives but also to remind us that we were all beginners once. And I’m sure Muggle friends and family would get something out of it too, if only an understanding of the wondrous variety there is out there!

[Jax F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very simple and beautifully written. The entire book outlines stories, in short bursts, of how people from all walks of life found their calling within the varied areas of the pagan world.
The one thing i would have loved to have seen included was a glossary of some sort describing the different areas of practice within Wicca.
For example, there is one account of someone following the "Gardnerian" path. Had no idea what that was-thank goodness for Google. So basically, the book assumes one is pagan and therefore understands the various terms.

[Jasmin]

Out of my broom closet

I loved reading this book. To see that I was not alone in how I felt about family and close friends finding out what your beliefs are. I would recommend this book to any new persons to the craft. It made me want to step out of the broom closet with my family and friends. I'm a witch and proud of it and happy that I now have the confidence to be able to fly out of my broom closet without any fear. :)

[Kristina Forsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it was a great book. It helped me realize I am not alone and there are others who are being made fun of and condemed by family and some friends.

[Jasmyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ehn, it was ok, but most of the stories seemed to be less coming as how I found paganism. Towards the end of the book I was just waiting for it to end.

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very interesting read. It makes one think about many different views of life and death.

[Judi]

I just wasn't feeling this book, so I won't rate it. I got half-way through and it really didn't interest me, even though I am Catholic-Wiccan

[Vicky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not too interesting.