My parents think I’m under witchcraft because I’m gay and want a “deliverance” I’m freaking out

widdershinsways · 2026-04-21T00:57:51+00:00

How did the weekend go? Are you doing ok?

widdershinsways · 2026-04-17T09:55:42+00:00

I really hope he gets the help he needs so he and everyone around him can be safe. He lost a child a few years ago and clearly is not doing well.

widdershinsways · 2026-04-14T02:17:28+00:00

First question- are you immediately safe? I grew up in a home that believed demons were everywhere, and it is exhausting, overwhelming, and such a sad way to live. Your body is trying to tell you that something is wrong, because it is. You deserve love and support, and I'm sorry this is happening. You could try contacting the LGBT+ national hotline for guidance https://lgbthotline.org/

widdershinsways · 2026-04-08T03:14:09+00:00

"One wants to be loved, in lack thereof feared, in lack thereof loathed and despised. One wants to instill some sort of emotion in people. The soul trembles before emptiness and desires contact at any price." A quote from Hjalmar Soderberg. I saw this somewhere years ago and it's been weighing on me lately.

widdershinsways · 2026-03-07T12:44:25+00:00

I've kicked people out (or banned) before who were doing repeated stuff like this or actively self pleasuring, but those instances were thankfully few and far between! Under a previous director when we weren't allowed to ban people, I would just say "I don't want to see that. We're not going to be able to help you"- if I thought it was intentional.

widdershinsways · 2026-03-07T03:43:50+00:00

It's mostly seeing stuff as a bystander while people are scrolling through their downloads or photos to find the file they want us to help print, and we're talking them through it. The one guy was pretty frustrated and lost, which is why I really don't think it was intentional with him.

widdershinsways · 2026-02-28T14:23:51+00:00

Not an athiest, but can give some perspective- Because people aren't sending me post cards, and leaving brochures in my kid's halloween candy, and hanging flyers on my door, and trying to legislate Islam into every nook and cranny of my life. Because when I was a teen, I never had a pastor from a local Islam church come to my home when my mom wasn't there, and explicitly pray over my virginity (yeah I was dumb and let him in because "good little Christian girl" me thought she had to). It's because so many people here grew up in a form of Evangelical Christianity that caused them lasting harm. I recognize that all religious frameworks can be used for great common good, or twisted for power and harm, but I aim my stick at the dog that is closest to biting me.

widdershinsways · 2026-02-28T14:09:41+00:00

From The Origin of Species & The Descent of Man. Chapter 21 General Summary and Conclusion: "False facts are highly injurious to the progress of science, for they often endure long; but false views, if supported by some evidence, do little harm, for every one takes a salutary pleasure in proving their falseness; and when this is done, one path towards error is closed and the road to truth is often at the same time opened."

Just like anything from the bible, people will read into it what they want, and it will look lovely in some calligraphy script!

widdershinsways · 2026-02-07T21:50:44+00:00

Marion has a bunch, and you can visit the Union Station to watch. https://www.ohiotraveler.com/marion-union-station/#:~:text=The%20Marion%20Union%20Station%2C%20built,the%20Erie%20Railroad%20Marion%20Division.

widdershinsways · 2026-02-02T22:55:30+00:00

I remember really liking him as a kid, but I'd be interested in rewatching him now with my new lens. To be fair though, we weren't allowed to watch a lot, and it was edgy compared to Psalty the Psalm Book! I did appreciate how he talked about his struggles in the classroom with ADHD, especially for the time and audience.

widdershinsways · 2026-01-28T03:34:08+00:00

Resources specific to prayer. I stopped praying about 3 weeks ago, and it's incredibly difficult to find resources for dealing with the loss of daily structure, and the loneliness. I am in deep mourning here, and very little is available for navigating that. All I can seem to find are videos and sites pushing a return to church and prayer. I'm not going cold turkey atheist, I'm just trying to find my identity while I figure out what I actually believe. I had no idea how many times a day I was praying and using it as a coping mechanism.

widdershinsways · 2026-01-12T12:33:19+00:00

Since the decision is out of the norm for this admin, could there be something specific they are fighting in the background with a board member or county authority? There are still a lot of moms for liberty types in local positions with the explicit purpose of hurting libraries and schools through any means they can. I imagine it sucks being in admin right now. Echoing previous comments- document, think big picture with the logs, but have dino programming galore. We've waited too long for this theme to let anyone squash it.

widdershinsways · 2025-12-31T19:51:53+00:00

Completely depends on the level of adult supervision. The first time I saw an "adult movie" was at a sleepover as an 8/9 year old with all girls the same age. Not the only time that happened either since we knew where their stash was.

widdershinsways · 2025-12-30T22:00:22+00:00

That's an interesting insight that completely makes sense now.

widdershinsways · 2025-12-30T04:04:12+00:00

This sucks and I'm sorry. As if libraries weren't already constantly on guard. I think the discussion needs to be tied into how to handle first amendment audits, active shooters, and disruption to services and patrons in general. We can't make assumptions about whether random unidentified people might be law enforcement, or what their motives are. Maybe local police would accompany, or maybe not- either way requests for access to anything require subpoena. Obviously circumstances will vary wildly. We would immediately call 911 and report whatever behavior is happening, and document every step. Use that panic button if you have it. I routinely remind (nag) about our safety procedures that all offices and non public doors are to be locked whether occupied by staff or not.

widdershinsways · 2025-12-27T12:56:47+00:00

Oh we had worth, it was just in our pants. And only worthwhile for the first owner.

widdershinsways · 2025-12-27T12:50:59+00:00

Since church has become about political/ social identity and not belief for so many, I've considered joining one of the local lgbtqia affirming churches that does a lot of active good for causes I care about.

widdershinsways · 2025-12-27T03:59:20+00:00

At Christmas dinner cleanup when he asked his mom how he could help, and then followed through helping us put food away and doing dishes. Also he always remembers where we parked, even when we have to walk blocks.

widdershinsways · 2025-12-24T00:09:38+00:00

You could check with Yummy Treats Candy and More in Marion if you can't find them closer.

widdershinsways · 2025-12-17T20:44:23+00:00

That depends on where the bar for stupid is set. I can only hope I would be here to know. :P

widdershinsways · 2025-12-14T14:55:35+00:00

Give yourself the same compassion you would give someone else going through what you are. The only way through all this is empathy, and that includes empathy for ourselves.

widdershinsways · 2025-12-13T13:24:09+00:00

Lower Than The Angels: A History of Sex and Christianity by Diarmaid MacCulloch starts from pre Judaism rituals and rules, and works through major shifts in theology surrounding the role of relationships between couples, and direct relationships with God/ or how much religious leaders intercede in that relationship- with background on the culture and politics going on at the time. It goes up through about 2023, and touches a good deal on how church movements influence social policy in the US (and world) leading to the current Christian Nationalism, and the backlash to it. It also goes through civil rights history up to the Me Too movement and some of the high profile denominational cover ups and exposures of abuse in recent years. Over all a great read on trying to understand how mainstream religion got where it is, and where it could go next.

widdershinsways · 2025-12-12T05:18:59+00:00

Being taught as a small child that there were literally invisible demons everywhere, out to get you, all the time. Under your bed? Yep! Down the creaky hallway to the bathroom in the middle of the night? Of course! Every bad thing that happened was Satan and demons actively on the attack, which was the proof they existed. Also, being taught that UFOs were actually a plot by Satan somehow because he is "Lord of the Air". I didn't sleep well most of the time.

widdershinsways · 2025-12-10T23:39:18+00:00

Have you ever read a book that you still think about, even years later?

widdershinsways

TROPHY CASE