I've been following the path for a good while. Back in 2006 when my father allowed me to practice. I've read online sites, followed this site for a very long time, read books, and looked outwards into the world itself. With everything that I have learned there was one lesson that I learned from here that I always kept close. "There is more than one way to get something done."
With how this site is currently I just wanted to leave this post for the new comers that are starving for information but get conflicted about what is right and what is wrong. This one person said use this for protection, but another user is telling me to use something else. Who is right in this case? Well, no one is wrong here. There are multiple ways to create protection for yourself. You can use salt, black salt, acorns, sigils, string (cord/knot magick), and ect. You can even go as far as creating a witch jar to protect yourself. This is all just an example of how many ways something can be done.
I was reading one of my books today to catch up on Yuletide when the author wrote that most pagans are more akin to nature. Because of that, most pagans are vegans." When I read that I disagreed. Not about being a vegan, but writing it to make the reader who is looking for more information on being a pagan that most pagans are this one path. If you are curious about being a pagan or anything else just remember that there are different paths you can take, different end goals to reach. When trying to do your own research, don't feel forced that you have to be something that you don't feel like you are. There are so many different Gods and Goddess as well Demi Gods, Outer Gods, Old Gods, and people reaching such heights. You don't have to worship all and can have your pick of whom you'll keep close to you throughout your path.
I learn this lesson on this site back in the day from a user named Turtle_girl who was a mod. A user was asking what is the best way to cast a protection spell before they do their ritual. In which case I offered my solution but Turtle_girl answered back saying how my way was wrong and they should just listen to her. It was a good bit but I remember offering a simple way to protect them with black salt and acorns if they cannot do the first. I don't remember what she offered but it left me confused of why we were fighting over something that can be done in different ways. Ever since then I kept that lesson close to heart. I do believe that this is a useful lesson for those seeking answers to many things.
With that, I do hope that this small post was able to help a couple of people curious on finding their path. It is a long journey but it does have its reward on each of your milestones. I wish you all the best and bless be.
Thank you for sharing this as I whole heartedly agree with you. No matter what you label your own practice as, it will be wholly your own. Just like in religion not every Christian, Hindu, Jew, Muslim, etc. will practice the same way. You take pieces that resonate with yourself and add them into your craft.
Best piece of advice I can add into this thread is to always trust your gut. There are many ways you can do protection (or anything else) for yourself, so trust your gut to help you decided what you can do the best.
It is indeed a common instinct that people fall into. We all want to offer what we think is best. But what we think is best, is based on our personal experiences and learning. It is what is familiar. What we trust. The ideas of another person are always foreign and separate, so we are naturally biased.
In sociology, it is referred to as ethno-centrism. In psychology it is frame of reference. If other circles it goes by other names. But despite the different contexts it functions in the same way; "What I know is better than what you know... Because I'm the one who knows it."
And in those many circles, one of the early lessons taught is to work hard at being self-aware of when that instinct starts directing your thoughts. Such that you can remember to set it aside and be objective to your situation. The tricky part, though, is not in seeing when others are falling victim to this instinct. Rather it lies in recognizing it in yourself. After-all, the door necessarily swings in both directions.
In short, it is all well and good to have enough confidence to trust yourself, your assumptions and instincts and learning. But you must also be aware of the possibility that someone might be telling you that what you are doing is wrong, un-productive, or even harmful because it actually is. Self-confidence has a very fine line between being emotionally healthy, and being a crutch to avoid hurt ego.
I suppose that is one of the reasons why I've been a long-time proponent of the Golden means. It is like living on a fulcrum; step too far out on one side or the other and you lose your balance.
