Every time…

mythotica:

I see someone telling parts of the pagan community to “calm down” and to “stop the negativity”, all I can think about is how many times in my life I’ve been told this.

As a child I was told to calm down whenever I got upset about animal abuse, about the mistreatment of others, about the horrors even then that I saw on tv and around me - and this is a pre9/11 time which I know changed so much in how many see the horror around them.

As a young adult I was told it when I objected to the dehumanization of women and pocs. Or when I stood up for friends who weren’t like others because I wasn’t like others and I was told I was risking myself so I should just “calm down”.

As a mother I was told that I shouldn’t express opinions around my child because she would grow up with them. Opinions about women’s rights, sexuality, big business, politics. I was told that kind of negativity was harmful, forget that it was honesty.

Now as a person coming up on forty, one who is active in many spheres working against injustice and speaking out against ignorance, I get it now from the one community I’ve been closest to since I was sixteen.

What bothers me so much about this is that we’re being told it when speaking out against discrimination, against racism, against sexism - and then on the other side of the coin for not being all accepting because boohoo we hurt the feelings of racists and sexists.

I’m sick to death of being told to calm down, to stop the negativity. What this really means? Sit down, shut up, stop making waves. Stop being the dissenting voice in a sea of bleeting. It’s the same rhetoric I’ve been told my entire life to shut me up and keep me down. Guess what?

I’m not shutting up. I’m not going to stop the negativity. Wanna know why? Because if being honest is negative, sign me up. Because if calling people on their -isms is negative, I will keep sowing negativity. If not suffering willful ignorance makes me a “bad” person in the eyes of some, I can live with that. I can stand up and for my beliefs and accept the slings and arrows. What I can’t abide?

Giving up, sitting down and shutting up because the truth makes others uncomfortable. That I will not do. Not again. Not ever.

threedifferentways:

Dear Tumblr,

I would like the option to reblog a text post in full when using the iOS app. This option was removed when the app was updated and I miss it.

Sincerely, A person that would reblog more if that option came back.

Fucking co-signed.

practical-magick:

It really annoys me when writers, usually wiccan, assume that all modern pagans assume follow the wiccan wheel of the year and traditions.

brashblacknonbeliever:

Pro-Tip: Blocking or avoiding a person does not mean that I’ve “run out of arguments.” It means that my mental health is more important that them and whatever brand of bullshit they were spreading my way. You didn’t “win” a damn thing if someone refuses to engage you or blocks you. That person has simply realized that they are not obligated to spend their precious time and energy dealing with your shit.

asksecularwitch replied to your post: Shaming a person who, despite has different opinions from you– opinions that are respectful and logical, is not cool. Leave RougeSareth alone and go on about your fucking business.

You keep using the word Shaming, but I don’t think you know what it means….

All you peeps be usin the S word

ginandjack:

And I only have a few things to say:

If it’s on a blog whose tag line is “get over it”, maybe you should think about why.

If you can not understand why someone might do something: ask.

Your tastes are not the tastes of others, clearly. Especially gods and spirits. Do not speak for others.

Lastly, if you come at me with the argument of speciesism, I’m not going to talk to you. Want to know why? Because out of all the other species on earth, we are still the only animal who can give or deny consent. Who can communicate needs and wants expressly. And we still treat each other like shit. Humanities, people. People should come first. You spew the word speciesism, and I know you are a privileged shit who doesn’t get how the fucking world works.

I don’t have elders to respect.

tarotblades:

tinypagan:

asksecularwitch:

First, let me be clear as to what I’m specifically addressing. There’s this notion in some of the pagan communities that there is exists these “elders” and sometimes they are literally just people of a certain age, sometimes it’s people of a certain skill, sometimes it’s tradition specific, and other times it’s just who got published by a publishing company. No one really wants to hammer down what makes an elder an elder because that would mean actually telling people that they aren’t elders.

Which, guess what, you’re not my elder. If you are older than me, okay - good for you. There’s a lot more people older and younger than me and a lot of people the same age as me all over the planet. It’s nothing special to have grown to a certain age. It’s what you have done with that age that’s the most important and what you’ve had to live through in order to get too that age. Why should I respect you any more than a 15 year old who has gone through triple bi-pass surgery and cancer survival when you’ve just sat at home for the last 50 years eating corn?

Which, guess what you’re not my elder. If you have a certain skill, then that’s fantastic. You know what, everyone has certain skills. CrookedCrown has more experience with dolls than I do. WitchyWays is more badass than I am. Having a skill or skills does not make me automatically subservient to you. If I want to learn that skill from you, then yes, that changes the dynamic. But otherwise? You’re just another person. 

Which, guess what you’re not my elder. If you’re in a particular tradition, and I am not in that tradition, you are not my elder. You are an elder of your tradition. That does not make you my elder. I am in no tradition. I made my practice by myself. If someone were practicing what I practice, basically because I trained them, then I would be the elder. Does that mean I am your elder now? Because I am an elder of this tradition? No. Same. Fucking. Principle.

Which, guess what, you’re not my elder. You published something? Great. Nice. Awesome. Why does that make you my elder? (PSST It doesn’t.) It’s like you telling me that you sold a piece of fruit and that makes you my elder. Selling a product does not automatically make you my elder. If it did, then damn I’d have a lot of fucking elders and so would you.

The notion comes from a sense of elitism - of getting privilege - of getting by with shit. I am not an elder. I should not receive the passing glance and I don’t. And that’s good. :)

The way I interact with people is that you have my respect until you lose it (and it can be lost easily if certain lines are crossed or you are willfully ignorant) - but that is my choice of how I interact with the world and with people. I don’t expect anyone else to act like that, because it is purely my choice of how I live. Part of why I get along with people is because I respect that they aren’t going to view the world as I do, and I’m okay with that.

So I do respect people in most traditions that aren’t my own, but I try not to tell people they have to (or even should) respect someone because of [x] reason. I don’t expect people to respect [x] person for any reason. I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to tell people who they should or should not respect. I will, of course, defend people I like and respect, but I won’t tell other people to respect them because I do.

People decide who to respect, and unless you are in a tradition or specific culture you can chose who to ID as your ‘elders’. There is nothing that makes me more huffy than to be told I have to respect [x] person because they are an elder in [x] community. No, I don’t, because I am not a part of [x] community, nor do I necessarily want to be.

And too often respect is equated to total agreement and compliance with a person. Even though I really respect Isaac Bonewits and am a part of ADF, I think his views on Satanism are pretty disgusting and wrong-headed, and just because I find a lot of what he wrote useful I won’t simply sit by and act like the views of his I find disagreeable are okay. We should be allowed to call people on their shit.

Basically, sec, I think what you wrote is an important message. We don’t have to respect people just because, or for any reason. We each get to decide, we each get to choose.

Bam.

Some things don’t require spells.

asksecularwitch:

tsukiath:

littleyaga:

Seriously? Why would you cast a spell when you can by a hair care product? Or lotion? Or makeup? Or something like that?

Spells…they’re supposed to use your will to tilt the scale of the fates in your favour. They’re also good to use as an aid to put you in the right frame of mind for things. They are not a replacement for health care, exercise, normal socializing, or beauty products.

Think before you cast. 

Everyone else seems confused by this and I’m not sure why. I understand what’s being said. I also agree. Don’t use spells as your first go to for serious things. If you can fix something on your own, then go fix it. And never, never, never use spells for things that you should be going to a doctor for (if you are scared to go to doctors, do a ritual or spell work to help you change your frame of mind so you get yourself into one!). Spells are an aid, not a means to an end. It seems like there are people who are new to these things and want an easy way out. It doesn’t mean you can’t and shouldn’t do them. It means you shouldn’t depend on magic to fix all your problems. Sometimes you need to fix things on your own.

Or you seem to be confused about what the fuck I am saying specifically. 

Stop. Shaming. My. Spells.

If I want to do a spell instead of ‘going and fixing it’ then I will fucking do a spell for it. If I don’t want to go to a doctor, and instead what to do a spell for it, then I will fucking do a spell for it. They are a means to an end, for me, and if they aren’t for you. Then they aren’t for you. If I depend on spells to fix all my fucking problems, then fuck Imma do that. BIG FUCKING WHOOP.

But don’t pretend like what works for you and what you think is perfectly acceptable behavior should be spread around to other folks too. Keep your behavior constraints on you, and not other peeps. :)

EDIT:

And a GIANT what the FUCK IS THIS SHIT on the “changing your mind to go to a doctor.” There is so much privilege in that shit I don’t even……

What’s that you say?

hellboundwitch:

sculcuvant:

skadisdottir:

abunnyleaps:

You’re Wiccan? You’ve taken up praying to Loki and Thor, recently? I bet the avengers movie had nothing to do with that.

You’re also 13 and militantly derisive of your parents, hate your life because you’re in middle school, and you write poetry?

I bet you’ll go far.

AHA, AHAHAHA.

You’re “a witch?” You’ve taken to doing “runic magic” while calling on Odin, Hecate, and Kali? Better mind your own business then, because you’re already borrowing Gods from Heathenism, and we don’t appreciate your shenanigans, either.

[Gurl.gif]

You’re a Wiccan who’s fairly young and was inspired to worship Loki and Thor, partially because of the recent Marvel movies?  Cool.  I’m glad you found deities you jive well with.  Now, do the effort, take this time (while you’re 13, and thus can’t have too much on your schedule) to read the Eddas, do some research, maybe do some networking to find others in your area.  Realize that there are differences between the movies and the myths and the gods themselves, and that opinions are valid.

You’re writing poetry?  Cool.  Read some poets from various time periods or cultures, and keep writing.  That’s great.  

You don’t like your parents?  It happens, but give them time.  Most teens think their parents are shit until they grow up, it’s a natural stage of development.  That said, if what they’re doing is actively hurting you or anyone else, do say something, or contact authorities if it comes to that.  But if not, just give them time.  

You’re using runes to contact non Nordic deities?  Okay.  It may not be as successful as it could be, because they may not be huge fans of Runes, but if you already have a relationship with them they may consent to working with Runes if they know it’s a system you use.  

On the flip side, you’re an older, more experienced pagan who isn’t a fan of fluffy bunnies?  That’s valid.  But instead of bashing the newcomers and being elitist, offer advice or education to help people grow.

I’M DOING THIS IN REAL LIFE

Also, for the record, I have this saved as preach that shit motherfucker.gif

^^

Some things don’t require spells.

asksecularwitch:

littleyaga:

Seriously? Why would you cast a spell when you can by a hair care product? Or lotion? Or makeup? Or something like that?

Spells…they’re supposed to use your will to tilt the scale of the fates in your favour. They’re also good to use as an aid to put you in the right frame of mind for things. They are not a replacement for health care, exercise, normal socializing, or beauty products.

Think before you cast. 

Why would I? Because I fucking can. Don’t fucking shame my shit because you are too busy buying hair products. If I want to do a spell, I will fucking do it. 

Think before you post, brobama.

^^