So now that I've calmed down a little bit, I want to talk about what prompted my previous Post. I had recently joined the most ridiculous group on Facebook called "all things occult". And there was just the strangest environment in there, but I was just curious and wanted to see if I can engage with people on there in a healthy way, I learned very quickly You cannot lol. Now I probably talk a lot about folk magic on here, folk magic is very important to me. I grew up with bits of folk magic from both Appalachia and Italian-American culture. Pretty sure I said this before but I'll say it again. My father is Appalachian, my mother Italian American. My father would often have all sorts of stories and little bits of mountain wisdom for me when he was having a good day. He taught me a lot about respecting nature and animals, he taught me that you don't just take from nature essentially saying that nature could get back at you. He talked a lot about dreams and having the sight. On my mother's side there was always talk of the Dead visiting my family After funerals.there could be found Catholic talismans hidden around the house for Protection, my grandmother kept a St. Michael pendant by the hot water heater because she was always afraid of fire. And you want to know something,We never had a fire. This growing hate boner for folk magic is incredibly problematic. It is incredibly culturally insensitive, And without even meaning to it's classist. Religious trauma, particularly at the hands of Christianity, is a massive problem. But here's the thing about christian folk magic traditions. Folk magic cannot be separated from Christianity, but folk magic is sorcery and animism and is not sanctioned by any church or any Christian authority. It is still heretical and blasphemous to them. You can hate Christianity, and you do not have to practice folk magic , but folk magic belongs in Pagan And occult spaces no matter your feelings on the issue. There are plenty of trad witches and folk practitioners who are dual faith, and there are many who Care very little about religion and more about the relationships we build with spirits and the religions that they come from.
