As an added bonus to our interview with author Bronwen Forbes, I asked her to make up a list of the top ten difficulties of living in a small town as a Pagan. She commented, “I swear I am not making any of these up in full — all are based on actual comments or my own experiences!” Here then, are her Top 10 Problems of Being a Small Town Pagan:

10. Wondering whether or not you should ask your 5th grade teacher (who is also the town seamstress) to make your ritual robes.

 9. Being visited by the Gnome Liberation Front because your front yard is overpopulated with the little ceramic buggers.

8. Having to drive 150 miles one way for incense charcoal — and then realizing you also need the incense to go with it when you’re halfway home.

7. Trying to explain to a horse’s owner just what you’re going to do with her horse’s used shoes — and she’s been your best friend since kindergarten and knows darn well you don’t like to play horseshoes.

6. The funny looks from your neighbors because you have the most decorated house on the block for Halloween and you barely manage to put a wreath on your door for Christmas.

5. For newcomers — getting lost a lot because everyone tells you how to get somewhere by actually using the four directions and you’ve only ever used the four directions in ritual.

4. Realizing you’re allergic to the wheat stalks you’ve brought inside to decorate your house for Lammas.

3. Forgetting to change out of ritual garb after attending a Pagan festival and having to explain to your busybody old neighbor that you really have been camping for the weekend when you get out of the car in robes (forgetting to put on clothes after the same festival is worse!).

2. Dating. Enough said.

1. When your town library shares space with the local tanning salon and the term “sun-worshipper” takes on a whole new meaning for a bookworm like you.

What about you? What are your pet peeves or your trials and tribulations of living in a small town? Share with us!

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Written by Elysia
Elysia is the Senior Acquisitions Editor for Witchcraft, Wicca, Pagan, and magickal books at Llewellyn. She has been with Llewellyn since 2005 and a fan for much longer. ...