I’d understand if I get skewered for this but people who don’t leave the witchcraft stuff behind when they grow up are on par with disney adults and hardcore weebs. I used to think I could gather chi to perform powerful attacks but if I still thought that, people would rightfully make fun of me.
This opinion is gender neutral but I’m always afraid to express it because it might come across as misogyny.
I think there’s a difference between “these rituals and metaphors help me deal with the struggles of the world” and “yo I totally hexed him that’s why he got the flu”.
The former is pretty harmless. Some people meditate. Some people lift weights. Some people draw cards from a deck and reflect on how they feel about getting The Tower when they asked about their boyfriend. It’s just a lens to focus your thoughts.
There is a difference for sure but meditation and exercise are not really comparable since there’s proven benefits, a closer comparison would be…religion. Consulting the deck is even sillier than praying because you get an “answer” every time which probably just reinforces your preexisting belief
I’m not sure you understand witchcraft from the perspective of those that practice it. It sounds more to me like you’re talking about a caricature of witchcraft and pagan practices, rather than what most witches actually believe
I mean that’s the whole idea, you don’t create knowledge out of nothing. But it’s more than just preexisting belief, you try to grab it from collective unconscious.
Plus, card on itself doesn’t tell you anything SPECIFIC. The whole point of cards and magic is to believe that this specific card has bigger meaning, thus you need to interpret it, and think about it’s meaning. And thinking is useful. What conclusion you come up with depends more on the situation than the card itself.
But I don’t expect them to care. It’s not like I’m making fun of them to their faces, I’m just thinking “wow what a dork” when I see an adult obsessed with Disney movies
Pick your poison, witchcraft, zen, Christianity… Being able to see things the way a child sees them is an essential part and something you might want to work on.
I’m going to take a guess and direct you (and most readers) towards a Christian reading, but I assure you, this observation is made by almost all traditions, secular or otherwise, across almost all the world’s cultures.
Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 18:3
Just something to think about: the next time you have a difficult task in front of you, ‘gather your chi’. Do the breathing, feel your chakras spinning up, visualize that white light flowing through your body. Direct your ‘chi’ towards the task, then open your eyes and go. See how you feel about what you did by the task’s end. Even better if the same task comes up and you don’t do this so you can compare notes.
This is kind of the level this stuff works on for sane esoteric practitoners. Are you actually conjuring up something mythical? No, not really - you’re psyching yourself up and/or shifting your focus using a psychological tool/metaphor. I personally find it hard to judge that too harshly - save that for folks doing the same thing for health problems without also doing evidence-based treatments.
That said, you’re entitled to your opinion. Just be kind to folks you think are dorks if they aren’t otherwise causing harm.
I love to collect herbs. But I hate to tell people about that because just after then, I ccan discover how much people love to believe in “cancer curing herbal medicine”.
My father once suggested a toxic plant is great for health.
It sucks when a hobby you like is full of weirdos. I’ve been looking into both solar panels and getting rid of a lot of my lawn but SEVERAL times I’ve been watching a video and the host drops something about homeschooling or religion. I just wanted tips on growing potatoes, man.
I’d understand if I get skewered for this but people who don’t leave the witchcraft stuff behind when they grow up are on par with disney adults and hardcore weebs. I used to think I could gather chi to perform powerful attacks but if I still thought that, people would rightfully make fun of me.
This opinion is gender neutral but I’m always afraid to express it because it might come across as misogyny.
I think there’s a difference between “these rituals and metaphors help me deal with the struggles of the world” and “yo I totally hexed him that’s why he got the flu”.
The former is pretty harmless. Some people meditate. Some people lift weights. Some people draw cards from a deck and reflect on how they feel about getting The Tower when they asked about their boyfriend. It’s just a lens to focus your thoughts.
There is a difference for sure but meditation and exercise are not really comparable since there’s proven benefits, a closer comparison would be…religion. Consulting the deck is even sillier than praying because you get an “answer” every time which probably just reinforces your preexisting belief
I’m not sure you understand witchcraft from the perspective of those that practice it. It sounds more to me like you’re talking about a caricature of witchcraft and pagan practices, rather than what most witches actually believe
I mean that’s the whole idea, you don’t create knowledge out of nothing. But it’s more than just preexisting belief, you try to grab it from collective unconscious.
Plus, card on itself doesn’t tell you anything SPECIFIC. The whole point of cards and magic is to believe that this specific card has bigger meaning, thus you need to interpret it, and think about it’s meaning. And thinking is useful. What conclusion you come up with depends more on the situation than the card itself.
People with harmless hobbies? I see no problem with this. Why would a self-respecting adult care if others cringe at their interests?
This was such an online reply.
I’m saying it’s weird that wirchcraft is “culturally acceptable” while the other extremely similar “hobbies” draw widespread derision.
I think you said more than that. You said people would “rightfully” make fun of you, suggesting the derision is warranted.
But I don’t expect them to care. It’s not like I’m making fun of them to their faces, I’m just thinking “wow what a dork” when I see an adult obsessed with Disney movies
Pick your poison, witchcraft, zen, Christianity… Being able to see things the way a child sees them is an essential part and something you might want to work on.
I’m going to take a guess and direct you (and most readers) towards a Christian reading, but I assure you, this observation is made by almost all traditions, secular or otherwise, across almost all the world’s cultures.
(Edited for block quote)
I’m not sure coming into a witchy community and shitting on witchcraft is going to get you a ton of agreement
Just something to think about: the next time you have a difficult task in front of you, ‘gather your chi’. Do the breathing, feel your chakras spinning up, visualize that white light flowing through your body. Direct your ‘chi’ towards the task, then open your eyes and go. See how you feel about what you did by the task’s end. Even better if the same task comes up and you don’t do this so you can compare notes.
This is kind of the level this stuff works on for sane esoteric practitoners. Are you actually conjuring up something mythical? No, not really - you’re psyching yourself up and/or shifting your focus using a psychological tool/metaphor. I personally find it hard to judge that too harshly - save that for folks doing the same thing for health problems without also doing evidence-based treatments.
That said, you’re entitled to your opinion. Just be kind to folks you think are dorks if they aren’t otherwise causing harm.
I love to collect herbs. But I hate to tell people about that because just after then, I ccan discover how much people love to believe in “cancer curing herbal medicine”.
My father once suggested a toxic plant is great for health.
It sucks when a hobby you like is full of weirdos. I’ve been looking into both solar panels and getting rid of a lot of my lawn but SEVERAL times I’ve been watching a video and the host drops something about homeschooling or religion. I just wanted tips on growing potatoes, man.