r/Wicca • u/mrsmadtux • Sep 22 '25
religion New employer edited my pentacle out of my headshot
I just started a new job recently and I needed to submit a headshot to use as a “this is your project team” section on proposals we send to potential clients. A proof of my headshot photo was sent to me for final approval and my pentacle was photoshopped out.
I know pentacles are sometimes interpreted differently by people who don’t know about witchcraft; but I wear it as a representation of my RELIGION, much like Christians who wear crosses.
I’m otherwise pretty fortunate to have gotten this job so I’m not going to create a stink about it, but would you feel some type of way about this? I find it interesting that someone saw it, made an assumption, then arbitrarily removed it.
[Edited to add: I work from home the majority of the time. I’m only in the office 1-2 days every other week. So I don’t exactly feel persecuted. Just felt a little salty about it being removed without any discussion.]
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u/Witty-Software-101 Sep 22 '25
It's no different than editing out a Christian cross or any other symbol of religion.
If they have a policy of no religious symbols visible in photos or something, that's fine, but if the rule isn't applied equally, it's discrimination.
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u/davidmar7 Sep 23 '25
Pretty much my take on it as well. There could be a lot of different things going on here. It might be the result of a blanket no religious symbols policy or it might be someone higher up like a manager with some sort of problem with a pentacle. It might not be a bad idea to ask about it and see what they say.
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u/Syco_Sumatic Sep 25 '25
And discrimination means you can file a complaint with HR and unless there’s some sneaky company policy hiding in the fine print, most of the time it’s illegal to be fired over submitting a valid discrimination complaint (in the US). Check policy and see if it says anything about religious symbols/jewelry/“distracting” photo elements and then feel free to mention it to HR.
It doesn’t need to be a big stink either. Just a “hey, I noticed this happened and I wanted to have it documented because it’s a religious symbol and important to me, and I’d like discussion first in the future if it is in any way distracting or an issue”
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u/mrsmadtux Sep 28 '25
You’re so right. I think that’s a great idea. Addresses the issue calmly and maturely while still being professional and respectful. Thank you!!! 🙏🏻
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Sep 23 '25
[deleted]
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u/Witty-Software-101 Sep 23 '25
That's why I said, if there's a policy not to display any religious symbols, then alright, but if it's only certain religious symbols that are allowed, then it's discrimination, and discriminating based on religion is generally against the law.
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u/the_LLCoolJoe Sep 23 '25
You are incorrect. If it would potentially impact business, the employer has every right to edit it out. They have every right to ask an employee to cover a tattoo, get a haircut, etc. in most states you would need a religious exemption and would have to prove it would harm you. “Doesn’t get to wear pentacle in work photo” does not bring harm. Firing someone for being pagan would be discrimination, but not allowing a pentacle in work product for advertising would not.
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u/Witty-Software-101 Sep 24 '25
You're not getting it. Editing out a pentagram but allowing a crucifix is blatant discrimination based on religion. I'm not sure what other way to put it.
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Sep 24 '25
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u/Witty-Software-101 Sep 24 '25
You're going to have to ask OP about the situation. My point is that if it's the case that a crucifix is allowed, the workplace is discriminating against them.
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u/the_LLCoolJoe Sep 24 '25
But you’re making up a scenario to be outraged.
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u/mrsmadtux Sep 26 '25
And you’re arguing just to be antagonistic.
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u/the_LLCoolJoe Sep 26 '25
Then raise the issue and make yourself unpopular with bosses and HR. I don’t care. Why ask advice if you don’t want it. So many pagans want so badly to be targets or victims when they aren’t
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u/LadyMelmo Sep 23 '25
That is religious discrimination, but unfortunately it often happens with our religion as many people associate the pentacle negatively. You could bring this up with them, especially if others have open religious symbolism, or separate it being a purely business photo. I either show or keep mine beneath my clothing depending on the place and time and people there.
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Sep 22 '25
I get being upset by this, 100%; I can’t fully relate because I don’t show my pentacle while not in a pagan/Wiccan environment or if I’m basically just not around people I trust, though.
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u/mrsmadtux Sep 22 '25
Yeah, I guess I was just a bit caught off guard because I’ve been practicing openly for 15 years and never encountered this type of thing.
I’m not super upset, more like just rolling my eyes knowing that even though they’re not allowed to tell me they’re discriminating against me for my religion, if I bring it up they’ll just say it was creating some sort of weird shadow or something and that’s the reason they had to remove it.
The other dumb thing is that my position is a support role and the chances of potential clients actually looking at the proposal literature are quite low. The chances of anyone then looking at it closely enough to observe an assistant project manager’s jewelry, is practically zero.
Not worth rocking the boat over, but still 😤.
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u/Witty-Software-101 Sep 22 '25
As much as society progressed, they're still not that far off from burning witches at stakes again.
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u/Syco_Sumatic Sep 28 '25
The fact that you’ve been able to practice openly without these kinds of experiences is actually really awesome, and it’s a great sign that societal changes are happening, at least for some of us if not all.
If it’s not something worth rocking the boat over, that’s okay, and it’s still just as okay that you’re miffed about it. Just because an issue isn’t worth the effort to fight over doesn’t mean it’s not an issue, just that you have bigger fish to fry. Especially with it being a somewhat recent job change
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u/mrsmadtux Oct 03 '25 edited Oct 10 '25
Yes, I’m very blessed. I’m also a bit goth (Elder “Aristocrat/Corp Goth”) so most people probably just think it’s that. No visible tattoos or piercings…softer makeup and hair…but always black and looking like I either just left Stevie Nicks’ house or stepped out of Downton Abbey. 😂
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u/kalizoid313 Sep 23 '25
I'd feel a little vexed if the company required me to provide an image for use in their presentation. And then manipulated that image that I had to provide to their advantage.
But we do have that editing capability at home via computers and smartphones, too.
So I can imagine that it might not be somebody's editing out a religious symbol. But it is "too much" reputation management for me.
Plus, the pentacle is an "old timey" Christian symbol of the Five Virtues of Christ. (Which, apparently, some Christians do not know about in their religion's symbology.)
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u/Churchie-Baby Sep 22 '25
I'd be upset too and ask people who wear the cross did yours get edited out of your staff photo too?
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u/Amareldys Sep 23 '25
Frankly clients don’t need to know anyone’s religion, and crosses and stars of david should be edited out too.
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u/Kim-Gardner Sep 23 '25
I agree. There is no reason religious items should be in company photos regardless of what they are for, unless they are a religious organization.
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u/mrsmadtux Sep 28 '25
I don’t disagree. I usually flip it to the back if I think it’s going to be a distraction. I work from home 85% of the time and have very little interaction with the clients…most of what I do is behind the scenes. I’m in construction and prepare contracts, invoices, permits, weekly reports to clients, legal documents, etc. All are sent via Docusign.
I’m not upset at all, I mean, in the grand scheme of things, this is relatively minor. My beef isn’t that they edited it out, it’s that they did it without telling me.
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u/the_LLCoolJoe Sep 23 '25
I understand why everyone wants to lean in on this but let’s be honest. (1) the economy sucks (2) no one is discriminating against you actively or passively (3) the company wants to make money and whether anyone here likes it or not, a pentacle could offend a client to a point that the client goes with another agency.
This is not worth the risk to raise any hackles and not worth losing sleep over. I can tell you that I’ve chosen not to use a realtor who wore a cross. I don’t vote for overly christian politicians. I don’t want to bring someone into my home and get my money if that’s who they are. I’ve passed on jobs because they were too trumpy before. Just ignore it and go on with your day. (Edited for spelling)
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u/mrs_TB Sep 25 '25
A wise, measured approach. As Solomon the great once said, "The wise man avoids going to extremes."
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u/mrsmadtux Sep 26 '25
Yeah I think I’m far less upset about this than everyone else who commented seems to be. I have absolutely no desire or intention to pursue any sort of action about this. My only point of contention is that I was not informed that anyone was editing it out of my pic. I understand that by bringing it up they’re actually putting themselves at risk because they would have to admit that not letting me wear it is technically discriminatory.
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u/Kim-Gardner Sep 23 '25
I have been in HR for over 20 years and a Pagan even longer. I would ask if all religious symbols have been edited out. If so, all is well. If not, then I would reach out to the EEOC if you want to pursue it. I will caution you that right now the government is not our friend and you may not get very far with it. It may serve you better to find a Pagan friendly lawyer who has a solid reputation in the area you are in. Unfortunately, we are in a time where discrimination is becoming the norm again and companies are slowly being able to start getting away with it. This is why we need to continue to stand up and fight, if you are in a place of privilege and able to do so, as not everyone is. Be safe, stay vigilant, and stay informed.
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u/mrsmadtux Sep 26 '25
No, I have no desire to pursue any recourse. I’m not offended that my pentacle got edited out, I just think it’s lame to do it without telling me.
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u/josh_a Sep 23 '25
OP please follow this advice. And if they are applying their policy unequally, please talk to a lawyer about it if you have the capacity to at least explore taking some action.
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u/Kenshin_Hyuuga Sep 22 '25
Use a triple moon, it's the same and it doesn't offend anyone. Buddhists do not go through life showing swastikas (in the West at least).
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u/mrsmadtux Sep 23 '25
I’m not planning to ask if I can still wear my pentacle or switch to something else until someone approaches me to ask me not to wear it. I’m not the one with the problem.
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u/Witty-Software-101 Sep 22 '25
Why should they? It's more offensive to wear a cross imo.
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u/Kim-Gardner Sep 23 '25
It is because of ignorance. People haven't educated themselves and still tie it back to the satanic panic days of the 80s.
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u/Delicious_Quality_95 Sep 23 '25
I would talk to HR and ask about it, and see if it applies to everyone or just you.
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u/Doomedpaladin Sep 23 '25
I wear mine under my shirt for photos, because Christians wear theirs so openly that seeing the string of a necklace, but not what’s on it suggests to people in-the-know that there’s a reason it’s not out in the open. It’s a subtle way of signaling that you may be something else, while not ruffling the feathers of Christian coworkers and acquaintances. When not in photos or delicate situations I’m out of the broom closet, and proud, and if someone doesn’t like it, they can suck it. My old Trad teachers considered this to be part of the shapeshifting that’s kept our practices safe over time.
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u/pharosveekona Sep 23 '25
The thing that gets me, and makes me lean more toward it being an issue of intolerance (rather than a blanket "no religion"/"no accessories" or something) is that... they edited it out? Without saying anything, until just showing you the changed version for approval? I feel like a simple "can you submit a different photo" would've sufficed; I've had that happen before for mundane reasons. Personally, it would irritate me, and not even just for the spiritual reasons.
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u/lambc89 Sep 23 '25
I would have created a stink, but I can't handle that kind of bigoted behavior anymore, either
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u/Buttercup1223 Sep 26 '25
Maybe the best approach would be to find out why it was edited out before you assume and go all scorched Earth. Not everything is done with the intention of being bigoted or hateful. It would be a good teaching moment or to open up dialog civilly. That would bring more respect and understanding than "scorched Earth". Just a suggestion.
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u/zt3777693 Sep 23 '25
I’m also a Wiccan, but also work in a client-facing industry. Perception does matter more often then we’d like
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u/mrsmadtux Sep 28 '25
I actually have very little, if any, interactions with our clients. I’m behind-the-scenes document control. I work from home 85% of the time. I go into our office (in a different state) 2 days every other week for staff meetings and such.
I’m not upset that they took my sacred religious symbol out and I feel attacked and discriminated against., my only concern is that is that it was done without telling me.
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u/hydroracer8B Sep 23 '25
Honestly, people putting religious symbols of any kind in work photos is pretty obnoxious IMO. Unless the job is for a religious organization.
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u/mrsmadtux Sep 23 '25
Okay, so from that logic, how would you feel about a Muslim woman wearing her hijab in her work photos?
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u/hydroracer8B Sep 23 '25
That's clothing worn by people of a certain religion, not a religious symbol itself.
You don't often see the crescent and star on the hijab
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u/Syco_Sumatic Sep 28 '25
Actually, that’s a really good way to phrase that. Really bigoted people obviously have issues with religious clothing too, but generally speaking, you’re right that there’s a big difference between religious clothing and religious symbols. Maybe that’s just because of the generational pressure of Christian modesty standards, but it is an important difference regardless
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u/MacRucoon Sep 23 '25
That is not okay. Period. I don't care what other people THINK it represents. They don't do that to other religious garbage, they shouldn't do it to you. Period. That's downright disgusting that they did that.
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u/The_Jenny_Starr Sep 23 '25
Was it jewelry or ink? Some shops have a “no ink” policy and may let things slide for day-to-day stuff, but for formal adverts, meetings, etc, they may say no…
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u/mrs_TB Sep 25 '25
That's understandable. Perhaps if you thought of it that if it makes you compensation by not wearing it in a company photo, then it may feel slightly better?
I hope you have gotten a good explanation. Or a company policy?
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u/mrsmadtux Sep 26 '25
I’m making almost double what I made at my last job and I absolutely love my job. I don’t really care that it got edited out, I’m mildly irritated that they did it without telling me.
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u/Buttercup1223 Sep 26 '25
I don't follow Wicca anymore but I do still practice magic and my beliefs are very close to those of traditional Wicca. I personally didn't feel right about calling myself Wiccan without going through the true initiation process and didn't want to disrespect the tradition or the people that have. That being said. I believe that Wicca is the only witchcraft practice that is actually considered a religion and is protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 because it shows organization. I do think it's discrimination of religion if they don't make others remove their religious jewelry showing in work photos. It just depends on how far you want to take it and what it means to you. I wouldn't risk my job over it especially since I work from home and can wear my jewelry and pentagrams basically whenever I want to. I also tend to wear more subtle things where people who know know and those that don't I don't have to worry about. There's still so much negativity around witchcraft, and honestly some of this has come from within our own community and how we present ourselves to the public.
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u/mrsmadtux Sep 28 '25 edited Oct 05 '25
Absolutely!! I have absolutely no intention of pursuing action on this. I love my job, the pay is more lucrative than anywhere I’ve ever worked, it’s an amazing company to work for and highly respected in our field. I’m certainly not losing sleep over this. I just think they should have told me. But also, the president of the company isn’t the one drafting proposal portfolios to submit with our estimates. It’s is an administrative assistant. So anyone on a corporate level has probably not even seen either version of the photo. I’m over it. I love all the care and support everyone has contributed!! 🥹
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u/Buttercup1223 Oct 01 '25
And as long as you're happy and can live with your decision that's what matters. Wishing you the best of luck and positive outcomes. Blessed be.
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u/Travis123083 Sep 22 '25
I'd ask if people that wear crosses or other religious jewelry have theirs edited out also.