witchescollection

[witchescollection]

okay i keep seeing call out posts in the witchblr space and this is my biggest pet peeve rn.

if someone's doing something harmful, report it. if it's in the weird grey area where they suck but it's not violating guidelines, just block them.

like, just because someone used AI, doesn't mean they need a 500 word call out post with screenshots. it's just not appropriate.

similarly, just because someone spells something differently, or uses terms differently, does not make them worthy of a call out post.

please master the art of blocking and touching grass, please and thank you <3

[witchescollection]

not really a question, but i saw how you handled a debate on abortion and wanted to say i’m absolutely awed at how respectful you are! it’s always such a breath of fresh air to find another abortion-critical/anti-abortion non-conservative woman :3❤️ have an awesome day!!

ah thank you! i took that debate down just because I was finding it quite exhausting. i'm always happy to debate, but the amount of bad faith assumptions (and frankly, nasty words) i got was really difficult.

i'm always open to having a discussion about it again, of course, but that post just seemed to only attract folks who wanted to yell at me, and I have no interest in being a punching bag.

[witchescollection]

I saw in other Ask that you haven’t seen enough evidence to cause concern around AI and its impacts on the environment and human health. I’m really struggling to believe this because I’ve seen many pro-AI friends change their minds after a preliminary ~15 min of research.

The evidence has been reported on for over a year with very clear data on the huge amount of freshwater required to cool AI data centers, the excessive energy demands from those centers, and the resulting emissions that impact human health, like the Tennessee community around the xAI data center Musk built that’s releasing historic levels of NO2? Google announced that AI’s energy demands will prevent them from meeting their 2030 climate targets in July 2024.

I’m wondering if you’ve legitimately made an effort to research or understand the impacts of AI — even companies like Google admit to them, knowing it’d bring backlash. So, what have you researched to inform your claims? Are you staying updated as new information comes out? Why should anyone who’s spent time educating themselves on this topic see your opinion as valid when only climate change deniers express your viewpoint?

Hi! It's more so less that I haven't seen evidence, and more so the evidence I have seen has issues (as all pieces of evidence do). To me, a year is not long enough to accurately gain a complete understanding of future predictions, especially as the ways we utilise AI are rapidly changing. It's not to completely discredit this evidence, of course, but I do take it with a grain of salt. There is also, obviously, a huge bias with reporting in this area (both with some of the evidence, and with the anti-ai people who bring that evidence up) that needs to be accounted for, as it's a very sensitive issue right now.

With the example you gave, of Musk generating high levels of NO2 in Memphis, my critique there is less to do with the data, and more so to do with the bias in reporting and the idea that this is representative of AI. Of course, the high levels of NO2 there are terrible, but Memphis has a long history of air pollution due a coal plant, gas plant, and an oil refinery located there. Additionally, the supercomputer facility has given folks more jobs (and a six billion dollar investment in the area). This of course does not negate the issues, but I hope you can see why I'm sceptical of the reporting around AI, as it's often missing the nuance.

Additionally, here I'd argue my main point - I'm not against AI, I'm against Capitalism. My issue with Musk's supercomputer facility being set up in a vulnerable area is not the AI, it is Musk and his capitalism. I firmly believe there are better ways for the environment to run AI, and that would be something better to lobby for than no AI. I also think this argument speaks to a more philosophical difference in the way we live our lives differently, what we value, and the tribalism these movements can generate. I'm not pro-AI or anti-AI - I think AI should do better, but to completely remove it would be difficult, and stun our progress. I view it more as trade-offs, rather than ideal situations.

And as for your final point - it is, of course, healthy to have a level of scepticism. You don't have to think I'm arguing in good faith at all. But I would just question whether you feel that would be a fair question to ask back. I feel like I am educated on the subject, and I feel like most pro-ai people are not - would it be fair for me to completely decide your opinion is invalid without listening? I extend a level of courtesy by assuming you're a noble person who's decently researched, and only change that assumption if you show me otherwise, and I'd hope you'd do the same - otherwise debate cannot function.

I'm always happy to debate more if you'd like to send another ask!

[witchescollection]

genuinely important question for tumblr staff.

why do i have to manually block someone from all of my blogs separately (on the same account)? why does that not auto-block all their other blogs (on the same account)?

and why, for the love of god, can i comment on someone's post who has blocked my main account but not my side? and see that they've blocked me through that feature?

[witchescollection]

Welcome to @witch-hot-takes, a space for your spiciest takes on witchcraft, paganism, spirituality, folklore, and more!

This is the place to submit your spicy opinion, start discussion, and I'll be running polls on whether people agree! You can also submit your own polls through the ask box, just say it's a poll (i.e. Poll: Are love spells ethical?)

Submit your hot takes anonymously or with your username in the ask box and share your thoughts, and feel free to debate in the replies or reblogs!

If you're new here, I recommend taking a scroll, and reading my statement about why I run this blog and how I respond to feedback.

Guide for sending asks:

Send your takes on or off anon, I don't mind! You can also leave an emoji if you want, and I'll keep a trail here to all your asks (but it'll still be anonymous!)

Asks are at my discretion for if I want them to be shared - so no hate speech, self-promos, or harassment campaigns. We want spicy, not hateful.

Be as specific as possible in your first ask! If you dislike something say why, to help people avoid misunderstanding your point

Keep one point per ask! If you have more than one point please send multiple.

This isn't the space for genuine questions and advice! If you want, you can ask me that on my other blog @witchescollection!

anon tracker!

anon 🦡

anon 🐙

anon 🐌

mod sage

anon 💛

[witchescollection]

Hello everyone! Welcome to the brand new Paganblr Online Fair! Hosted by @jezzzebel and our awesome team:

@bakxeia

@witchescollection

@travels-and-journals

@blessedbethelovelygods

@wayfind-er

@r4iny-m00nlight

@hats-off-to-hermes

@grayladyofthewell

Starting from September 1st, and lasting until 20th September, this fair is here to help strengthen our community and bring together pagans from all across the world with mini challenges and events!

Here are the challenges this online fair offers:

🏷️PAGAN SHOP SHOWCASE

#paganblrshopshowcase

This one is for our fellow pagan small business owners! For this challenge you will share your small businesses and tell us about them! What do you sell? How long have you ran this business for? Why did you start it? Share whatever you wish to share!

🔄SWAP IT UP CHALLENGE

#paganblrswapitup

For this mini challenge you are to swap your practice, rituals, or routine, with one of your friends or mutuals for a day (or more) and then you both share how your day went! Whether you learned something new, did something cool, etc!

🕯️PATRON DEITY SHOW AND TELL

#paganblrpatrondeity

Do you have a patron deity? Or a deity that you worship the most? Then for the patron deity show and tell challenge, you can share something cool about them! Anything you find interesting about your worship and them!

🌿 PATH SHOWCASE

#paganblrpathshowcase

Whether you are a hellenic polytheist, a celtic pagan, or into multiple paths... The path showcase challenge is the one for people who like to share random things about their practices! For this challenge, you can make a post sharing things that make your path yours!

📋PANEL DISCUSSION

#paganblrpaneldiscussion

This event will happen in our official discord server (link at the end of the post) on September 14 (Sunday). Where we will discuss many things related to paganism! (Note that the server is 18+ only)

💌 POETRY EVENT

#paganblrpoetryevent

Are you someone who loves poetry? Do you love writing poems for your deities? Then this is definitely for you! Share your favorite poem you wrote for your deity/deities! (Or write a new one)

🛐 PRAYER WRITING EVENT

#paganblrprayerwriting

Prayers are a crucial part of most pagans' practices! Write a poem for your gods and share it!

📚 BOOK CLUB

#paganblrbookclub

It's not an exaggeration to say that pagans like books. Whether it's informational books about history, religion, and mythology, or mythology-inspired fantasy books. In our server, you can discuss those in special channels!

♠️ READING TRADE CHALLENGE

#paganblrtrades

As the name implies... You can exchange readings for this challenge with your mutuals and share what you learned about yourself, your situation and how they helped you! (Feel free to share what you are comfortable with)

Tip: do this with mutuals you want to interact with more! To get to know them! And you don't have to stick to tarot!

🃏 CREATIVE TAROT SPREAD

#paganblrtarotspread

For this challenge, you can make many different creative tarot spreads! Maybe a spread for a specific deity? For spirit communication? Or a spread inspired by something from your path?

🦄 MYTH EVENT

#paganblrmythevent

As the name suggests! Share your favorite myth! Doesn't have to be from your own pagan path either. Just a myth you love that stuck to you.

🖼️ COLLAGE EVENT

#paganblrcollageevent

Make a collage for your gods, spirits, or the gods you wish to reach out to! Add images, your art, stickers... Digital or traditional!

How to participate in the fair?

Simply by making blog posts with the hashtags corresponding to the challenge / event you are making a blog for and the #paganblronlinefair hashtag. You can make multiple entries for one challenge or one!

We hope to see you all participate ☺️ and feel free to join our Discord server, discuss, and chat!

PAGANBLR ONLINE FAIR (18+):

https://discord.gg/GcVKmPaVYr

[witchescollection]

there are actually several people arguing that, but that aside i do see what you're saying. but my point still stands that the analogy doesn't hold because AI is not a race, and AI is not equivalent to people of colour. the word "clanker" cannot be a slur in the same way other words are, because it lacks the history and oppression behind it.

this is, also, part of what makes these jokes funny. the abstraction of racism, and demonstrating why those words are not okay - because of the historical context and oppression, not just because they're "bad words"

"we can say slurs about robots and AI cuz they're not human" interesting cuz that's what racists say about the people they're calling slurs. "I use clanker cuz it's a funny star wars reference" you use slurs made up in sci-fi series? why are you so adamant about wanting to say a slur? Why not an insult? Why not a pejorative? Why specifically a "slur," why are all your jokes about it always taking real racist things that happen and replacing black and brown people with robots? Why are your "made up robot slurs" all plays on real life racist slurs?

Idk personally y'all I think frothing at the mouth to make up and/or say slurs is evidence you're not a good person.

[witchescollection]

Not a question but thanks so much for answering my one about ai!! Your points answered my question really well :)))

thank you! i do hope people stick around to discuss it with me, or at least see another viewpoint!

and i'm always open to changing my mind - i just felt like i should say something as the AI discourse is getting more and more intense, and it was worth weighing in.

[witchescollection]

Non HelPol People: you're worshipping Satan!

Me, who just finished brewing tea for Lord Apollo: No, you want the next house down, that's where the satanist lives

[witchescollection]

man, I otherwise really like your blog and your advice is helpful, but why the ai thing???? What about it is defensible?

i mean i do think there are valid criticisms, and i'll always disclose if i use it so you can block that tag, but a lot of the anti-arguments i've seen seem to lack substance and seem more about virtue signalling that you're a good person.

i also just think ai is such a broad term, and developing very quickly and very recently, that it's hard to get a handle on the harm it might do and the ways we might end up using it once it settles. this isn't to negate all the criticisms, just that a lot of them seem based on preliminary data and/or biased sources.

if anyone wants to debate it or send in resources i might not have seen, i'm more than happy to discuss it! i just have yet to see any compelling evidence, and i think it's such a complex issue that gets flattened by just "AI is bad", y'know?

[witchescollection]

also whilst i'm here just gonna say i'm not anti ai, in case anyone wants to unfollow me based on that!

[witchescollection]

"According to ancient wisdom" is an example of weasel words - a statement that might superficially appear meaningful, but lacks actual specificity, which actually renders it meaningless.

When you see someone claiming that "ancient wisdom" says something, you should ask yourself:

How can I find out whether ancient people really believed this, or whether this person is putting words in their mouths?

Which ancient people believed this? What time and place did they live in? What was the historical context behind these beliefs?

Is there any evidence for this, or is this simply an appeal to tradition?

Who criticizes these kinds of claims? Have I seen what they have to say? How well-reasoned and evidence-based is their criticism?

[witchescollection]

I'm gonna hop on here and knock a few folks on the heads, hopefully.

Stop asking everyone around you to validate your practice. Don't let others dictate your practice.

Some account on Tumblr thinks your offerings are invalid? Fuck em. Last I checked we weren't into this to please other mortals.

See some scathing post in regards to your specific philosophies or deities? Seriously ask yourself why you care.

Shed that hesitation, and that constant nagging need for rules and structure. Get comfortable with standing alone in your own beliefs. Your path is supposed to be different. If you wanted a constructed belief system or a hivemind, go check out a brochure on catholicism.

[witchescollection]

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[witchescollection]

i would like to do some longer posts, like the protection 101-ish post, so please vote on which topic you'd like an in depth look at next! i heard a lot of people say that kind of format was really useful, and so i'd like to do that for a few more topics. i have a few more i'm writing up now, but please vote below!

and feel free to add your own in the comments if there's anything not on this list you'd like me to cover!

[witchescollection]

People asked for change. I am here to bring the change we want to see...

I've been people say they want more events for pagans... But due to be living behind god's legs (a saying in my country) i am not able to make an IRL event, so i came up with an online event for ALL PAGANS TO PARTICIPATE IN! 🌟

This event will include many different interesting aspects to it that y'all will love to see!

If you are interested in helping out with the event, please message me on here and i will add you on discord.

ONE THING THO!

I do nooot want to see this event flop! 🥹 So pleasssseeee boost this post as much as you can and help me out to reach as many people! So we can make this into a big thing! 🌟🌟🌟💫💫

[witchescollection]

i think there are far too many people in the helpol community who think that helpol is simply an aesthetic.

i don't necessarily mean that in the most obvious way, although you will definitely find plenty of mood boards with (often) superficial symbolism of the deities, but that a lot of people seem to think that giving witchcraft an ancient greek flair is enough to constitute being helpol, and are not interested in deepening that into an actual religion.

Helpols, There's actually MANY (thousands and thousands) of FREE historical and archeological sources online on Google Scholar, Persée, Academia, googlebooks etc,... Not having money is actually not an excuse to not do ACTUAL research on your RELIGION. Cause like i said, there's thousands and thousands of free books and PDF written by historians and archeologists... And just wondering, How can you belong to a religion you don't know anything about? That's a real question with no animosity. I just don't get it.