This is a rant about magick , entitlement, truth, and transitions. If you hate rants, stop reading. You frakking heard me, stop reading ( I am not supposed to use profanity anymore so I am reverting to Battlestar Galactica curses, I prefer them anyway.) I’m not really sure why I’m writing this rant, I’m not really sure anyone is reading anyway. But there is a lot going on, and it’s making me annoyed.
So what the frak am I annoyed about… probably the more appropriate question is what am I not annoyed about. Many of us have the strange feeling that we are in a waking nightmare. A nightmare magick can’t save us from. A looming border wall, pipeline, Muslim ban, and crotch grab seem to be very real possibilities. It’s like an ugly beast is slouching towards our dystopian Bethlehem … and as the sage bard Leonard Cohen sings it won’t go to sleep.
I am proud of myself and others who have stood up for what they believe in. I am proud of the protesters. I am proud to be part of the 94 percent, at least we tried. I am proud of those who still choose love and compassion over hate. But the times are changing. I did a great interview for my new book Love Magic this week for the folks over at the Down at the Crossroads podcast. It will air later this month. Part of the conversation was about entitlement in the Pagan community. It was nice to have someone ask questions about this difficult problem. Like racism and discrimination, entitlement is an unpopular topic that people don’t truly understand until it lands on their doorstep. Yet it is there. For those of us in marginalized and misunderstood traditions we are used to being victims of these things, but that doesn’t make it right. What really gets me angry is everyone who is up in arms now that these things are affecting them.
My social media inboxes have been filling up with messages pointing out racists and homophobes. Now I hate racists and homophobes, I really frakking hate racists and homophobes (I’m still speaking Battlestar Galactica.) Both of my parents were proud members of the LGBTQ community, and I am a person of color. Where were these people when someone used the N-word in front of my daughter ? Where were these people when a large social media channel banned me for racial profiling when I tried to sell my African-American Ritual Cookbook to African-Americans? Where were these people when my friends and family were gay bashed, or attacked with hate speech? Where were they when they threatened to close down our Voodoo rituals and told they don’t like our kind? For some of us, this oppression is something we have been fighting all our lives. I for one will continue to fight, in whatever way I can.
This brings me to the recent changes at Patheos. This morning I published the following on my Facebook page-
Many of my fellow bloggers at Patheos are upset at the recent changes brought about with the company’s sale. Many are leaving, I don’t blame them. Some don’t have the energy to fight, and some are unwilling to accept the change. I respect their decision. The world is definitely too much with us these days and oppression and suppression are all around us. Coming from the disciplines I do (namely New Orleans Voodoo and other Afro-diasporan religions,) oppression and injustice are nothing new. Personally, I feel that I must take some time, however brief, to see what exactly these changes will bring. I have always struggled to have my message heard, that is a sad fact. And I’m sure people will challenge me on my choice, that is their prerogative, I only ask respect and understanding in the process.
For those unfamiliar with the story the full coverage of what’s happening was posted today on Wildhunt.org For those wondering, I will continue to blog here, and anywhere else they will have me, for the time being anyway. I will continue to post my truth, writing that is pro- LGBTQ, supportive of people of color, and critical of the ultra-religious right. I will keep at it until they pry the keyboard from my cold, dead hands. Frak Yes !!!
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