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Same for me, only my mom is a Jehovah's Witness. I can't have ANY books/supplies, anything XD. I can burn incense/candles because I told her I just love fire(which is very true, I'm a pyromaniac =D), but even being in this guild online would get my net taken away(even though I pay for half of it) if she knew about it lol.

Man, that sucks.

Yeah, it's - very- nice to no longer live with her. I can do whatever I want to now. Granted, the years did not go by quickly, but I can finally say that I don't ever have to put up with that again. Now I mostly just feel bad for people who do, because I know that compared to some, I actually had it easy.

Of course, I'm no longer on speaking terms with her now.

A few other suggestions--have a trusted friend who's aware of your religion and doesn't have a stifling home environment? Have them keep books for you, so they're not in your house. They could keep tools for you, too.

A somewhat more difficult but possible means of hiding a book:
Acquire the slip-cover from another hardcover book of similar size. Place it over the book to be hidden. Put it on a shelf or other unremarkable place where it's unlikely to be flipped through. Voila.

On the list of places to keep papers: In your locker at school. Just keep track of where it all is so you can remove it before the end of the year when clean-out time comes.

Hiding tools: as decorations. Inside a potted plant. As a different kind of tool.
Crystals? Start a rock collection. Keep them all labeled, and keep many non-crystal stones as well.

Hah, I was and am that trusted friend. I've kept some books for a Wiccan friend who's mom is a little controlling and judgmental. She's the kind of person who thinks Cynthia is a "disappointment" because she wants to wear a tuxedo to the prom. (Which she looks great in, btw, and we met an awesome dude at the tux shop. But that's another story.)

But as you can tell, we don't let bad people keep us down.

This made me think of something else. Cover a book in brown news print, lable with the name of a class, and decorate as you would a text book for school. Random doodles, etc. This may not work year round, but during the school year when parents are at their most nosey, it should keep them out of the way.

For smaller books, cover, and label with things like "The Scarlet Letter," or "Great Expectations," and tell them it's for your lit class. (if you pick something like Great Expectations or War and Peace though, make sure that the book your covering is the right length.)

Do you have old hard backs in your room you never read? Pages loosening from the binding? Stick stuff in the empty space.

If you have clothes in the back of your closet that you never wear, hang tools or smaller books from the hanger where they are covered by the garment.

If you keep a three ring binder for school, make one section magickal notes.

If you are an artist, particularly a painter, you can hide books in the backs of canvases. They'll slip right over.

Folded cloth is a great place to hide things, particularly small, cylindrical, or flat objects.

Do things the old fashioned way. Historically, witches used only everyday objects in their working. Their athame was used to cut carrots fro dinner, their alter candles worked every night to keep their homes light. Their herbs were used in cooking. And you know what? Wood knitting needles make great wands (so do drum sticks and hockey sticks ^^ Sorry. A little Dresden Files humor). If you can, substitute something you already have, rather than going out and buying something new.

You can keep small stones in piggy banks.

I'm going old school here, but if you have VHS tapes in your room, remove the tapes, and hide books or other materials in the empty cases, then place on a shelf with the spine facing out. If you stack them horizontally, you further discourage people to look through them, and you save room on your shelf.

As for the stacking thing, same is true with books, particularly if you have a large collection. Magickal books can be hidden behind these stacks.

Wow, it has ben forever since I hung around this guild... It's nice to be back.

It was very nice to read some of these suggestions. I've recently enrolled at a Catholic College, and while the campus is traditionally very liberal, I do not want prying eyes to discover too much. Plus, there are frequent computer checks (I'll get a campus-bought laptop) and there are room checks frequently too (to make sure people don't have alcohol and drugs...)

I think I'll take people up on the suggestion to hide things in plain sight (mostly), to make it look like it isn't as big of a deal. My computer notes i'll probably hide in a folder titles "My Studies." Makes them fairly non-descript, like they might actually be school work (plus, I'm a religion major anyway...)

Sadly, my altar will probably have to stay mostly at home...

Hey, Martin Luther was one of the good guys! *used to be Lutheran*

....

Okay, you have a point there.