older and wiser?

[shadowkitten]

So, I did the thing. Funny how something can be new, yet feel so familiar at the same time.
I almost decided against it because of the required time and money that would be a monthly sacrifice .For the past few weeks, They have been playing little tricks on me and stirring up trouble. The final straw was when my latest poison plant book was delivered and all the pages were upside-down AND backwards! Over the weekend I made my offerings, I've done what was asked. Hopefully things settle down a bit. 


I'd like to think that part of my wisdom as an elder will always be that I am willing to learn from those younger than myself. Even when they are speaking out about a topic that may be difficult or uncomfortable, I hope that at the very least, I will let them speak and not simply dismiss them based on their age. This doesn't mean I will always agree with them, and it doesn't mean that I won't challenge them in debate but at the very least let them speak and genuinely listen.

Yeah, it is 2021 and women want to attend pagan festivals without feeling like they are about to be attacked by a bunch of dudes trying to climb in their tent, telling them how they aren't spiritually evolved because they aren't polymerous. I mean...sex is awesome, ritual sex is special and I don't think there's anything wrong with casual sex either but some events really just end up being hunting ground. Instead of thinking toward the future, organizers say "this event may not be appropriate for you" and refuse to change. You get called a prude if you dare to ask "hey, can you please spank your husband somewhere else?" The younger generation is not focused on Wicca and the fertility cult,  yet many festivals really hold onto those traditions with a death grip. And they continue on, with dwindling numbers and wonder why...as if we haven't been telling them why for the past 10-15 years now. At this point, I only go to Convovation because they have at least made attempts at changing things and banning people permanently who are known to be predatory. 

The younger generation of goths aren't being beat up, bullied or called satan's whore like I was at 17.They can have cotton candy rainbow unicorn hair and get a cashier job when we couldn't at that age. 
Boo-fucking-hoo. Get over it, middle aged goths. Quit wearing your trauma like a fucking badge of honor. 
It is a good thing that these kids don't have to go through so much BS. 
Quit dismissing the younger ones when they complain about "beauty standards" in the subculture or how they feel pressure to know everything simply because they have google. Like yeah, ok we had to save up money for books and CD box sets and whatnot. That doesn't make us better than them. It was just a different era. 
A little gatekeeping is a good thing.
Nothing wrong with earning your stripes. 

However, there's no need to be fucking assholes. 

And yet people wonder why certain scenes and events are dying out.
You did it to yourselves. 

Comments

[poisonedgrace]

Personally? I feel like I fought long and hard for colored hair etc to be accepted. I am GLAD that my battles have paid off, and kids can get jobs looking like that. I can't understand people who want them to get beaten up and not accepted. Like... that's what we were fighting for all along. Why are we mad that we did good and accomplished change? It's fucking crazy.