Everything Under the Moon

First of all, don't rush to 'choose' a religion. If it's the right one it'll choose you, just keep learning, observing and living.

Now as far as telling people, you have to be careful. I don't believe that anybody should have to hide anything but it's a sad truth that sometimes you have to. Consider what your family's beliefs are and how you think they feel about your religion. Do you think they'd be accepting and respectful or do you think they might ostracize you? Do you think there would be shock at first followed by a period of curiousity? Perhaps start by just bringing up ideas and principles from your religion from time to time and see how they react in conversation - this way you can see how they feel about aspects of the religion before knowing that it's yours.

In the end, if you think that it's going to hurt your relationship with the people you love then don't tell them, or take your time 'softening' them to the ideas before you do. But whatever you do don't feel ashamed of your religion. It's yours because it's your Truth, and unfortunately we sometimes have to hide our truth from people who misunderstand and fear it.

Or you can just come out and tell whoever asks. That's what I do, but I'm way too open about stuff already...

i have a policy, meaning i dont deny it but i dont draw attention to it. meaning if its brought up i'll talk about it but i dont go making a point of bringing it up for the fun of it.

That is my policy too. I was practicing for six years before my mother found out. Only my very closest friends and children know. None of my Christian friends have a clue.
It is a good idea to study a religion before declaring it. I have always felt that you should study it for at least a year before you claim it as your path. That way you are actually believing in what you choose to believe not something that was fed to you. Also, it is a way of enriching your mind and soul.

I agree with sobek. It is not easy to be a pagan in today's age, however, it has become easier than before. Be who you are, if someone asks you tell them, but don't go around preaching it.

I agree with you all - the best strategy is to neither conceal nor advertise your spirituality. I find that many people (even Christians) are open to many of the ideas of paganism so long as you don't label it that.

People who know me well have observed that I've become noticeably happier, more even-tempered, more energetic, more productive over the past few years, so in the few cases where I have been completely forthcoming about my spirituality, I haven't met with much criticism. Of course, I'm a mature adult and don't have parents to 'fess up to, but I think the idea is the same. If a spiritual path is right for you it will effect some changes that will help people realize that it's a true spiritual change, not just some crackpot phase you're going through.

i also agree with sobek and the others, i was confronted by my family and just told them i was pagan they kept pushing if i was a witch i told them not all pagans are witches, they dont need to know, so i left it at that, very few people know and i like it that way.

morak

I'm like many others who replied, but I'll answer this anyway. If someone asks, (at least in a lot of cases anyway) I will tell them what I do, and what I believe. If I'm not asked I don't say anything about it. I live in a smaller type town. The people here are usually either Christain or non-religious,and I just feel most of the time that most of them wouldn't understand. Like one day when I went out to a bar to have some fun with some friends of mine. One of them noticed that I was wearing my pentagram, and he started teasing in about worshipping Satan. I was lucky in that he didn't really mean anything by it, ans was simply kidding around, but that gave me a good idea of what I will have to put up with by choosing this path.

My parents still don't know and I've been practicing the craft for about three years now. (I don't call it Wicca because that's such a fluffy term). They know I'm not christian, which is how I was raised, but they do know that I do believe in something, they just don't ask. They also know I believe in reincarnation and that sort of thing, and they accept that.
When it comes to friends or anyone who asks, I judge by the person. Most people if they were to ask "Are you a witch?" I either say flatly "no" because I'm not the kind they are implying, or I make it fun by saying things like "Oh but wouldn't it be interesting if I was?" Or "Oh yes, I'll put a spell on you baby" just to joke, so your not saying no or yes and they usually leave you alone after that.
My best friend knows but she is the one that introduced me to the religion. A few of my friends know but they are the kind of people who are open to just about anything and anyone.

If your still scared to tell them or don't think they'll handle it well then don't. Give them some of your ideas so they kinda know what you believe, just don't put a name to it.