Today I was on Facebook, a service I joined reluctantly last year to attempt some networking. It quickly has become part of my regular routine, especially since my lovely wife joined. I am currently addicted to the Castle Age application, and seem to be on it far more than I ever intended. Today some of my friend requests were granted, and now the renowned Raven Grimassi is part of my newsfeed.

Times have sure changed. As I wrote about before I remember being so excited when those “magic tones” sounded and the modem connected to AOL. I could check on bulletin boards, read my email, and go into chat rooms to talk with other pagans. Being out in the countryside it was hard to find pagans any other way. One of my first screen names was TwoSnakes. I became known to rooms filled with people using their pagan name, their “Witch Names” as screen names, or in my case vice versa; my screen name became my witch name.

I have friends that I eventually met face to face that really only know me by that name. “Hey, it’s TwoSnakes calling.” I have loved and hated the name over the years, finally coming to accept it. I have tried using others, but it always returns to TwoSnakes.

Now, my experience might be different, and maybe people are using a “public” version of the witch name along with a private one, but it seems like over the years my case is not uncommon. I have come to know more and more people by at least nicknames if not witch names. Buckland wrote “your witch name need not be a solemn secret, but at least respect it. Use it only with other Witches or, at least, only with those close to you.” We have been taught that names convey power, and people knowing our names gives them power over us. Along with written codes and vows of secrecy, hidden names have been ways of preserving our powers for ourselves.

There will always be reasons to keep some things hidden. Whether it is a name, a special item, a location, or some teachings. Certainly in times past there was a much more hostile environment toward minorities, religious minorities included. Even now there are elements that are not exactly favorable to paganism, as witnessed in some recent quotes by conservative talking heads.

But as I saw the notice to accept a new friend, a thought came to me today. I now know more pagans by their “real” names than I know by their witch/pagan or nicknames. I know Randy and Doug. I know Karen and Amanda. I have seen their quotes, read about their jobs and favorite books. I have looked at vacation photos and pictures of their kids. And whats more, by and large, I am not looking at a nickname like they would use on other sites. I don’t know them by the name they gave me at a party.

We pagans, who have always valued secrecy are doing something I’ll bet we never thought we would be doing; we are mainstreaming. For pagans, Facebook is an amazing tool. It allows us to list our religion in whatever terms we see fit, and not be limited to predetermined terms. We can list ourselves as Wiccan, pagan, neo-pagan, animist or whatever suits us as individuals, and then expose those terms to non-pagan friends and coworkers. Without a bit of proselytizing, we are showing our humanity, and helping the rest of the country and world to understand and accept our ways.

“Pagans are ruining our country!” does not stand much of a chance against “Oh, I know some pagans. Jim on Facebook is a pagan. He works a regular job, and has some cute kids. His son is a boy scout.”

The days of needing secret signs and symbols to find other pagans are, thankfully, rapidly fading into the past. It is easier to meet other pagans than it ever has been. We are a growing thriving community. And without the least bit of coordination, without any planning or intent, we have taken up the task of making sure that it will be even better for our children, and all while uploading pictures and chatting with friends. Which is not a bad trade off at all.

I’m a proud Facebook pagan, how about you?