In any relationship, respect is one of those very important things. If he does not respect your beliefs, that can put a strain on things.
The same thing goes for your kids.
Of course, I would recommend approaching carefully. Ask questions rather than accusing. If your husband thinks he is being funny rather than scathing, then he may just need to realize his methods are being hurtful.
Revealing yourself is always a tricky thing. People get nervous and don't know what to say sometimes and maybe humour is the way they try to go. Think of a few snappy retorts or comebacks.
Get one of the electric Bug Bats from the Dollar Store for the flies and tell him "Here's my magic wand" Maybe give him a zap!
Anyway, I'm glad you found us here.
Thank you for your thoughts. Yes, he thinks he is funny. He is a jokester and it is not meant to hurt but it does. I will be careful, he is my best friend so I will talk to him as such. Thank you.
HA! Great idea! A little "zap" never hurt anyone! I tolerate a lot of his jokes but this is serious to me (to us all) and every once in awhile, He will get on a week-long teasing "Kick".. that Usually seems to revolve around when I do a good alter cleaning. I will have to just dust off the cobwebs, scrape wax & shine my silver when he is at work from now on so as to not give him any ammunition.
I feel the same way my family teases me about my interest in magic and supernatural etc. i know they think it's just for fun but I can't just help who I am
Re: How to deal with mocking? By: Spirit76 / Novice
Post # 10 Oct 02, 2017
it may also help to do some reflection on why it may be that his jokes bother you. I understand different people have different senses of humor, but sometimes there might be an underlying insecurity or lack of confidence that the jokes are poking at.
Whenever a person comes across something that is pushing at their buttons, it is wise to take some time to examine why. Most often anger appears in places where people feel vulnerable. If you can discover something at the root of your own reactions to the attempts at humor, it might help you find a new source of confidence and levity.
Personally I find it to be important for my own well-being to have a light heart about the things I do. I was one of those people in the center of the bully circle from year one up through to college so I had to learn to not take things very seriously as a matter of survival. So nowadays I can do things like put up a sign at the door of my altar room that says "Witch parking only, all others will be toad".
...or throw bunny ears on a 'laughing Buddha' statue.
...Or put a paper-shredder on my desk at work and lebel it the 'in' box.
People around me of course still see me as the 'weird' one who makes no sense and is a bit crazy. But they also see that I am happy and smiling and that I own that whimsical nature for all it's worth. So, ironically, the more I have accepted myself, the more that others accepted me too.
Re: How to deal with mocking? By: Spirit76 / Novice
Post # 11 Oct 02, 2017
I have been pondering the issue a it more and I realized there was something I forgot to mention. Just like how your sensitivity might have some small root in a vulnerability, his own humor might be coming from a defense mechanism against fear or lack of understanding. Something about your practice might bother him on some level he might not even recognize consciously, but it would still trigger his instinctive defensive measures.
Does he rely on humor when he is feeling stressed or out of place? or when he encounters situations that otherwise make him feel uncomfortable? if that's the case then it might be helpful to sit down with him in a friendly moment to ask him if there is anything about what you practice that worries or bothers him. The vitally important (and possibly tricky) part is being as neutral as you can be, and to demonstrate to him that you are open to hearing out his concerns without getting upset or feeling threatened by his thoughts.
It might bring to light some unexpected results, but if you two can get to the core of the issue, and get it out into the light, then you can also work together to address it.
There is only one thing that will convince people who mock you (and your magic stick): results. Results are not the only alternatives, I know, but it's the only one with 100% certainty that convinces you of your seriousness. The same way a student who shit rules but never passes a qualifying examination... People do not take him seriously. Unlike mock preaching about magic, magick exists to bring results. So nothing better than using magic to bring solutions, with or without coven.
As an example, you mentioned the problem of flies, so it's a great alternative to using magic. And there are dozens of natural resources (formerly magic), currently turned herbal medicine, or "natural technology". Nothing better than using change of habits and customs under the aegis of "rituals" to your family reaping results. Note that this is not to preach any religion, but to use the nature that surrounds you to reap results with your (your) belief.
An alternative is to make an insecticide with 100 ml of DETERGENT, 100 ml of WATER, with 50 ml of VINEGAR (any one) and as an alternative 4 drops of the ESSENCE of your preference. Mix all this content and with the help of a funnel, place in a sprinkler.
Alone this does not solve anything, because to collect results you need to guide the staff to always apply their new "natural technology". Nothing better than putting together a "results coven" ...
