Pagan Pride At Work

So after a particularly stressful day at work and needing a bit of relief I reached for my pentagram pendent and rubbed it so I didn't go all bat-shit crazy on some associates I work with. It took the whole day, but eventually I was able to keep it together and continue my "accident" free streak of not bugging out. After that whole situation of needing some Pagan prayer the thought of wearing my pentagram publically came to thought. Of course it is something that I normally prefer not doing for the simple fact that I don't like getting strange looks from people or questions from people that deter from me actually doing my work. After that personal nightmare though I found myself routinely looking at the mirror trying to see how I would look wearing it. Afterall, once I walk out of the job I throw it out of my shirt and wear it proudly, so why would I or should I care what others within the store think? I've encountered ignorance sparsely throughout my tenure as a nature spiritualist, showing pride if nothing else would enhance my work ethic and skill since I would always be reminded of my vows upon my conversion only months before.

I understand that there's a time and place for everything, but let's be honest that displays of faith are plastered across the work world in varying concentration depending on the person. If I wanted to no one could stop me since its a constitutional right and the fact that they're plenty of others who display their faith despite the probability of encountering ignorance. At the end of it it's all a matter of personal preference, but I have to consider what may happen if the bullshit gets started with customers or other associates. I could do the easy thing and file a complaint and if things go straight to hell contact my local news agency which will go all out against the store if they go all shitty to them, though knowing the leadership of the store that'll most likely not happen. I always have options, I just need to decide if I want to act or not. Acting means I'm being true to myself on a secular and religious basis and can do my job with a clearer conscious. Not doing it means always remember to hide an important aspect of myself, saving face for the sake of those who may be ignorant...

Lets also not forget the outreach that can be done if I decided to wear it, bringing the face of diversity to a business that could use it. From an educational perspective it could be great because then its like I'm being a 24/7 representative of my faith as well, normalizing it to dispell misplaced fears against it. I wonder how many minority faith adherents considered this very thing when they were first getting off the ground. I may very well not do it, its such a simple act but could have unforeseen ramifications. .decisions decisions.

Is Any Place Sacred?!

And yet again there is a disruption in my space as a bulldozer cut straight through my ritual area, smashing through my elemental pillars, and voiding the space I dedicated to the Deities of nature for some simple manholes. It makes me upset that a direct path was cut from the road straight through the heart of the woods for them, let alone the fact that whoever was there actually tried to smash apart my altar but couldn't since I reinforced it underneath. The altar itself was clearly out of the way, but in whoever it was' attempt to be an ass they tried anyway before quitting. Though I had already moved my things after the flood that mudblasted the area into a dripping sticky mess, I'm still somewhat shaken as to how close I came to all my struggle and getting the little bit I could afford being found and destroyed for simple pleasure. I long thought after that massive flooding that it happened for a reason, not knowing that had it not happened, everything would be gone, left to the mercy of ignorant outsiders who don't understand why they're there.
Thank the Gods for such a blessing, but I ask myself if there is any place that is deemed untouchable in my local place of residence. The woods where I live have been ransacked over the past five years, taken by a small nearby city for wetlands, the other side being hit to destroy a junked up tennis court, which opened new trails that forces me into one spot that could be found were someone to look closely enough. Its sad how much woods were snapped up, but I pray to the highest Divine that I am still able to retain my outside area or I won't know where else to go. Its impossible for me to do celebrations where I live, and I have some private materials I don't want being seen by my noisy mother. I am left in worry, but I know I must stay strong.
This reminds me of a previous incident I had when some kids who lived I'm my neighborhood decided it would be the best thing in the world to trash my space. My garden, wind chimes, everything that made my little slice of heaven beautiful was mercilessly thrown, broken and torn. The amount of hate that erupted in me was inhuman and vastly different from me, and I hope to never go back there again, but it saddens me all the same to see this type of ignorance situated against someone who doesn't even bother anyone. A long time from now I think it would be best to live in a forested area where I'll be free to do as I please and be at peace in the woods, away from trivial and often daft beliefs and customs that I see as destructive and self serving. My outlook on life is vastly different from mainstream society, my beliefs make me an essential misfit that can't be placed in many social groups on any deep level because my simple beliefs run in the face of what many people my age are taught to value. Its not that I see myself as better than anyone, but that my views and beliefs are a fundamental 'other' that many people don't normally see in an everyday black teen.
Anuway, I was thinking of perhaps having a mobile altar or ritual area so that I can practice wherever I choose and not be rooted to any singular space. The issue itself is where to have all of my items in the first place. With the entire section of woods where I live now being accessible by whomever decides to walk throyght the woods my choices are severely limited. If the last area of woods where my altar is housed now is compromised then I may have to vacate the woods entirely until further notice. It'll hurt very badly since I've been celebrating holidays and doing meditations there for all of my Pagan conversion, but I suppose that if I must that I'll have no choice.
May the Gods be with me, Divinity knows I need an awesome blessing right now...