Teenage Frustration!!!!!
Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2022 7:42 am
More of a rant than anything else, but maybe some young person will read this and maybe take a second to think on it.
I have been a practicing hearth witch for just about 2 decades, and while I believe that one never stops learning, I am also confident in my ideals and beliefs. My family is also aware of my practices and for the most part are accepting and even inclusive and curious.
This summer my niece (16) decided that she was going to become a wiccan/pagan/witch, partly because her bff is, and partly to tick off her conservative christian mom.
she came to me and started asking me questions. That was great! till she started telling me that I was WRONG. That my way wasn't the RIGHT way. Lets just say I was less than impressed.
This isn't the first time I have run into this either! I have had quite a few new/young practitioners ask me for advice, then tell me I'm wrong because my ideals didn't line up with theirs. They don't realize that IT DOESN'T BLOODY HAVE TO!!!!!!!!! My beliefs and practices are just that, MINE! and I would understand it if I was giving unsolicited advice, but these are people who have come to ME asking. As far as my niece goes, we had a good loooooooong talk about how to not judge or critique someone when you have no idea what end of the book to start at, and they have 17+ years of study and practice under their belt.
You don't have to agree with them, but you damned well can't tell them they're wrong, especially after asking them about it!!! What is right for one person can be wrong for another and we all have to find that path ourselves.
Moral of the Rant:
If you ask someone about something, and don't get the answer you want/expect, you don't have to do it their way, but just don't be a dick!
I have been a practicing hearth witch for just about 2 decades, and while I believe that one never stops learning, I am also confident in my ideals and beliefs. My family is also aware of my practices and for the most part are accepting and even inclusive and curious.
This summer my niece (16) decided that she was going to become a wiccan/pagan/witch, partly because her bff is, and partly to tick off her conservative christian mom.
she came to me and started asking me questions. That was great! till she started telling me that I was WRONG. That my way wasn't the RIGHT way. Lets just say I was less than impressed.
This isn't the first time I have run into this either! I have had quite a few new/young practitioners ask me for advice, then tell me I'm wrong because my ideals didn't line up with theirs. They don't realize that IT DOESN'T BLOODY HAVE TO!!!!!!!!! My beliefs and practices are just that, MINE! and I would understand it if I was giving unsolicited advice, but these are people who have come to ME asking. As far as my niece goes, we had a good loooooooong talk about how to not judge or critique someone when you have no idea what end of the book to start at, and they have 17+ years of study and practice under their belt.
You don't have to agree with them, but you damned well can't tell them they're wrong, especially after asking them about it!!! What is right for one person can be wrong for another and we all have to find that path ourselves.
Moral of the Rant:
If you ask someone about something, and don't get the answer you want/expect, you don't have to do it their way, but just don't be a dick!