How do I deal with being put down by family?

It's been a little since I've been on here, hello. I made dandelion root tea for the first time, because I do practice witchcraft and I heard it has both medicinal and spiritual benefits. My family didn't like the smell (the recipe said to charcoal the roots and it gave the kitchen a bit of an I made something I was really proud of but I showed my family and they don't like it I made dandelion root tea for the first time, because I do practice witchcraft and I heard it has both medicinal and spiritual benefits. My family didn't like the smell (the recipe I had said to charcoal the roots and it gave the kitchen a bit of an "earthy" scent) and they started making fun of me for it and mocked me saying I was "burning incense" I do burn incense as a spiritual practice, as well as just because the scent makes me feel better. I only burn it in my room, which my family hates even though I've found ways to make sure they don't have to smell it unless they walk into my room. My mother knows that I am pagan and that my craft is really important to me. Yet she and the rest of my family always ridicule me whenever I try to openly share that I am this way. I'm not even asking them to indulge with me. I just want to practice in peace without hostility. I get not liking something but they didn't need to put me down like that :[ This isn't the first time either. In fact, they've always had similar reactions whenever I try to take up a new interest. My dad was the worst when it came to this. Fortunately I don't have contact with them due to unrelated reasons. It's caused me to develop a lot of self-hate. I'm starting to become more aware of how badly I think and speak to myself on a daily basis. I don't want to be that way anymore. I try to love my family, but I'm tired of constantly being hurt by them, in this way and in other ways. I'm a minor living with most of my household so it's not like I can actually distance myself. I just don't know what to do anymore - Ponka

Oh, ignore the second paragraph. It was part of a previous new thread attempt that bugged and now it's reappeared. Just peachy. - Ponka

Goodness love, this is a tricky one. I feel really badly that you're not allowed to exercise your beliefs, even when you've-gone out of your way (well done) to be mindful of them and mask the odour. It isn't about the witchcraft, though, is it? If this comes up time-and-time-again whenever you're beginning a hobby or exploring an interest, it's something built into the dynamic. I say just continue to do what you desire, so long as you are, again, respectful... and if they can't deal, they'll have to; they can't keep you from yourself, can they? And if they never have a change-of-heart in their heart-of-hearts, when you're old enough, might as well just stop talking to them? Wish you luck Ponkan!

I had wanted to steer clear of using the same resources to respond to everyone, but it's been fitting lately. So a few weeks ago I pointed a user towards the Mythical team and Rhett and Link since they were discussing some things pertaining to religion on a recent Ear Biscuits podcast. It just so happens that last week's episode of the Ear Biscuits podcast had them responding to a listener about a person they were dating that practiced witchcraft. It's been a few days since I played the podcast, but I think there was some good advice across the hour, hour-and-a-half of its runtime. I think Rhett did a good job of pointing out that there could be some science behind certain studies that we sometimes call "witchcraft", in the case they were talking about the woman in question was invested in some form of... It wasn't quite Astrology, but it was Astrology-adjacent. "Planetary Magick", I guess is the main subject, but they discussed adjacent topics. And they also made the case that believing in those things or following them might generally be pretty harmless. It's another tool to help people make sense of the world. I do think they made a point about ensuring you don't base every decision you make in life off of something like that, also. Well, I'm not trying to shamelessly plug Mythical here or anything, but they did a better job of tackling this subject than I can in ten or fifteen minutes. I definitely suggest giving that episode a listen. I guess that would be the March 17th episode. (Since a new episode just came out today.) Hope it is helpful.

(I'm just observing because you guy's have got it covered perfectly. Coolio Iglesias! :) PS Balance - you got any links you can paste in, please? PS: Hi again, Ponkers! :) White Witch/Wizard High Five! :))

FYI Ponks - I want to add some stuff here, but I caught another bug. Soon as I get my strength back, though (Arnie voice) 'Iii'll beee Bach'.

Sure, here's a link to that podcast episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRVHERKSuxY I haven't listened to it in nearly two weeks now, but I think Ponk' could find something useful in the conversation.