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Talk to Me Through the TV

Filed under: Pagan Life — Leave a comment
September 7, 2013

So, I was contacted again by another TV head hunter, some casting director that, although got my name wrong (It’s not Crystal, it’s Black Witch. Crystal Blanton is a different person), didn’t write out nearly as poorly a letter as a casting person from VH1 did. As usual, I always check out the website because I prefer to run a tight ship when it comes to Black Witch and the image of it. If it doesn’t pass my pretty decent standards of:

– Actually educational
– Informative
– Lack of proliferating stereotypes/authentically progressive, not “lip service progressive”
– Non-existent to near non-existent track record of playing Spin Doctor
– Matter taken seriously/Not a baiting attempt

Then I pass almost immediately. I have worked with media a little too much to be over naive about how it works, especially when it comes to portraying someone who is Black and Pagan. Already I know for fact that media doesn’t exactly like giving an honest spotlight on anything that doesn’t really benefit White, middle-class guys and gals (pref. guys, this is media after all) so to be an intersection is just going to bring me trouble.

I do not believe at all in the saying “Good press, bad press, any press is good press” because if people are going to pay attention to me, I rather it be for what I say and not how otherized I can be displayed. Bad press is bad press, period. Think about it: have you ever been the butt of a rumor? Even people who didn’t know you existed learned about you but it probably was more trouble than it was worth and if you had the choice, you possibly would have preferred if people didn’t focus on the bad (regardless of whether it is true or not). While I would like for BW to do bigger and better things, I’m not that desperate for attention to work with people who will just try to drag my name through the dirt.

A reason I’m not teaming up with these tv people is because I already know how they would portray me, which, given what they’ve shown me they have made in the past, would most certainly be negative for me. I am not even going to think about “Well, maybe I could use this as an opportunity to educate.” A person can be bright but people, in general, are pretty stupid and take things at face value. If the face value of BW is going to be displayed as some “crazy Black girl who think she has magical powers”, then I don’t care for that because I already know how much damage that would cause and no one would listen to me. Not down for that. Already seeing how these show creators and the channels usually depict Pagans and usually depict Black people and particularly depict Black women, I really don’t want to work with them because I won’t be treated any different. If anything, I’ll be treated worse because I’m a combination.

Would I never want to work with media? Of course I would! I don’t mind doing radio and visual appearances but they have to be worth my while. I already said on Twitter that as far as TV is concerned, the lowest I’ll consider is PBS. I mean, Al Jazeera is pretty good and at least I view media from PBS and Al Jazeera – so far, of all the networks that have contacted me, I don’t watch their channels or their shows. I don’t mind doing talks about being Pagan but also talks about mental health, talks about gender, talks about race, talks about the intersection and deconstruction of those concepts/realities. That’s perfectly fine. But whatever these current people are writing to me about, I already know the last thing on their mind is anything that is thought provoking.

This stuff reminds me of the prowling show producers would do on message boards for alternative culture, psionics and cosplay years ago and even now. Always on the look out to grab some random kid who is doing something “weird”, tell them something earnest and honest sounding just to bait them to get on the show, only so the show can rag on them in the final product. I’m incredibly familiar with this because always some senior member would try to tell the star struck noobs what really was gonna happen and to not fall for it and off the show producers and casting directors would go in hopes to find that very special dingbat floating about somewhere else online. Totally not worth all the trouble one will get put through and it is usually a bait and switch.

I rather if someone contacts me, it’s worth it. I like talking to small media start-ups, especially if they are minority-ran and focused with a track record of being dynamic. I especially like talking to them if that minority-ran media is women-ran or led and have that dynamic track record. I rather have people who can show they can handle touchy topics with sensitivity and sincerity and without framing the topic as “Hey, look at these whiners/weirdos here.” I of course, wouldn’t mind Pagan media contacting me either but I strongly feel they probably wouldn’t want to, given my criticisms on the intersection of race and Paganism. Black Witch has been around for three years and I still hear the “but I can’t find any Black Pagan blogs, they’re just not out there or defunct!” excuse. And Black media is still pretty terrified to talk to me because of the whole “witch” and “Pagan” thing.

It’s Just… I rather someone besides the dimwits who make terrible and stereotypical shows that exemplify how stupid Americans are getting contact me because rejecting offers is getting boring. Fast.

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Ask Black Witch: Is My Friend A Witch?

Aside
Filed under: Ask Black Witch — Leave a comment
August 30, 2013

Hello,

I know this email may come as very random to you. I found you online after doing a little searching. I wanted to ask if you would check out few pics of my friend.  I think they may be a witch but not sure how to ask the question. I think it may be an altar or potion or something.  I can explain more if needed.

Thanks!

Mike

The pictures, thankfully, weren’t of some raunchy images or overly weird stuff but of what actually does look legitimately like an altar – not necessarily a Witch’s altar, the person could be Wiccan or Pagan instead. I’m not showing the pics because I’ve the sneaking suspicion these were taken on the sly and thus not with permission or at least permission to be shown about.

Ok, so you have a friend and they’ve a really Witchy/Wiccan/Pagan-looking altar, now what? Well, there’s always the direct approach of saying, “Hey, so I noticed your table and its really fancy set up. It kinda looks like an altar of some sort. Are you Wiccan or Pagan by any chance?” You can clear the air faster and if the person thought s/he was fooling someone with her really obvious set up, s/he can be made aware that she should be more out in the open…given you didn’t happen upon this via sneaking about (you would be surprised how many people employ their sense of wonder and inquisitiveness at the wrong times).

Now, if they say yes – I really recommend the direct approach because that gets you the answer faster – don’t be judgmental, don’t become a super waterfall of questions (especially dimwitted ones) and if your friend is freaking out because you found out, try to allay their fears that they’re about to lose someone over their practice. One major reason Witches, Pagans and Wiccans alike don’t really announce who they are from rooftops is because of all the unnecessary blowback they, understandably, don’t want to get. People have outrageous responses to hearing that a friend/family/person-they-know practices magick or is some type of Pagan that usually range from “Bad to “Pretty Bad” to “Quite Catastrophic”. Instead, just be a good friend. If they want to talk about it, talk about it. If they admit and then want to drop the subject, then drop the subject. Just try not to make them feel like you’re going to get very weird on them and possibly dart out their life or turn them into the local laughing stock.

And don’t become suddenly paranoid that they’ll put a fix on you or anything mental like that. Life and magick doesn’t work that way.

If they deny, then just ask them to explain in detail exactly what it is that you are looking at and why you came to the conclusion – remember, in detail – of thinking that your friend was practicing magick. They have a legit altar setup with besom, chalice, bell and all so they should come clean but if they say it isn’t, then after you explain how you arrived to your conclusion, drop the subject.

So go on and talk to your friend. You may learn something new about them

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The Arts!: Short Films (Roper, Electronic Purgatory, Children)

Filed under: The Arts — Leave a comment
August 23, 2013

I’ve been busy, busy, busy this week. That means short films!

The Roper

I saw this at Artscape during their short films. It was very captivating for me and really cool to see a Black cowboy in action doing what he loves. The second song beginning with accordion is absolutely poppin, too.

Electronic Purgatory

If you have seen the Afro-Punk Documentary (and by the way, Afro-Punk Festival is this weekend. I won’t be there though), then you’ll love this. It’s about the Black rocker, the history of rock and why s/he does not receive the shine they deserve.

Children

This fantastic animated short film is brilliantly made about how schooling does not exactly breed thinkers and intellectuals but can be more of a crushing institution that can apply enough pressure to make one pop.

That’s all for this week! Next week is Ask Black Witch! Remember, good questions are appreciate, bad questions are eviscerated!

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Don’t Watch the Throne

Filed under: Pagan Life — 2 Comments
August 16, 2013

So, I was perusing the Black Witch Tumblr (as I frequently do) and up came a couple discussions that provoked a memory from when I was 17.

When I was a wee young lass (ok, this was, like, 9 years ago) I wound up unknowingly summoning a Throne when I was in my room practicing a song for choir. It was blue (as all ethereal beings look like to me because it’s already hard enough to see them, ha) and a fairly big thing that looked like a wheel with an eye in the middle…and coming towards me. I was pretty scared since I sensed a lot of energy coming off it and had no clue what it was and it was coming towards me in a quick fashion in my bedroom. It disappeared (or I got rid of it, I don’t remember but I do remember a forceful energy) before it got to me but not before I nearly fell over my scattered clothes in my junky room. It was there for roughly half a minute but the memory stuck with me for far longer.

I was singing “When Ezekiel Saw The Wheel” and when I was visited by the faint blue entity but had no clue what the relation was for the longest time until I had gotten deeper into my metaphysical studies.  I had learned that it wasn’t a random visit nor anything my imagination could cook up but I mistakenly attracted it. It turns out the song was about seeing a Throne:

“Ezekiel saw the wheel
Way up in the middle of the air
Ezekiel saw the wheel
Way up in the middle of the air
And the little wheel run by faith
And the big wheel run by the grace of God
A wheel in a wheel
Way up in the middle of the air”

Yah, I thought it was about the sun and its rays.

I had never heard of a Throne when I was that age but I really did like the song and thus sang it often and with heart. Putting all that energy in the song and singing it so frequently probably is what mistakenly brought the Throne I saw. Oh, and I’m sure it didn’t help that I’m in an area that’s surrounded by old churches, an old synagogue (that was bought by the Freemasons) and the Freemasons main building is roughly a street away.

For those who are probably going, “What…is a Throne? You’re not talking highly bedazzled chairs, are you?” don’t feel bad, it’s not common knowledge. A Throne is an angel. A high ranking angel as that. Google search the image of “Throne – angel” and you’ll see that angels are not exactly “people with wings”. The “people with wings” concept is from European artists for people to better connect with the imagery… and not frighten them. The Throne I saw is an Ophanim, which is a high ranking Merkabah angel that guards the throne of Glory. They’re mentioned a lot in The Encyclopedia of Angels (Rosemary Guiley). I highly recommend reading the book.

So, that was a “Wow” experience I kinda never wanna have again. Only thing that surprises me is that I could summon such an entity at a young and magickally inexperienced age.

See you next week for The Arts!

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Getting Under My Skin

Filed under: Pagan Life, Race — Leave a comment

Now, I always like reading and responding to readers. Makes me feel like there is dialogue and that I’m accessible. However, do not come here like this:

Dislike

Wanna get me viper fast? Come in here promoting something so offensive to my race and skin color. I don’t stand for racism so I definitely don’t care for its little brat sibling, colorism/shadism, and can’t stand those who promote it. I don’t care if this is spam or not, I don’t like it.

I’m Black, been Black, gonna be Black and forever gonna stay Black. I’m not gonna act like my skin tone and my racial make-up is the worst part of me because it is not. But my reciprocal vindictiveness is and this stuff definitely brings those traits out in full effect. Don’t like it? Drink skin lightener.

Skin lightener is disgusting and the mindset that greenlights it is highly disturbed. It’s internalized racism because you are actively believing the bullsh*t our Eurocentric culture pushes to the point you’re willing to put caustic chemicals on your skin to achieve it as if it’s gonna buy you a ticket out of the woes of the Negro. It won’t and never will.

Lemm’ tell you a story ’bout a Black girl I met who was ashamed to be Black. She wasn’t light enough to pass but definitely enough to get confused for another ethnicity like Greek by folks who are too dumb to tell the difference. She just didn’t like who she was because she didn’t see positive Black representations and already felt to be a fish out of water because she didn’t like activities and behaviors that are constantly aligned with “Blackness”. If anything, she liked Eastern alternative culture and was a J-Fashion enthusiast. She just wanted to be someone else and preferably not Black because she felt her Blackness, from her features to what she saw in her community, was holding her back. If anything, she wanted to be White because she believed the ads on tv, in the magazines, in the movies, on the internet, that if she was White, she would be easier loved, easier desired, clothes would fit her better, her whole life would be better. She internalized the subtle “White is Right” thinking that so pervades our culture from literature to moving media to the digital world.

I never was angry at her for thinking the way she did, she was a nice person. She wouldn’t hate on others for being Black or being darker, she just wanted to be White because she felt she couldn’t be pretty otherwise. If anything, I tried to help her figure out that being Black doesn’t mean you are ugly or stupid or have to like crappy hip hop (or hip hop at all, for that matter). She told me about how people in alternative fashions would pass over her because of her skin, she wouldn’t be respected as much as her White counterparts and that she would be so much better off if she was lighter, not Black, skinner, all these things that she just internalized. She told me a White lolita had thrown coffee on her dress because of her weight and race. She told me about how she just wanted life to be easier because being Black was weighing heavy on her self-esteem.

See, even though the girl didn’t irritate me, the thinking sure did because it is really common for Black kids in alternative culture. I never felt like being White was going to make my life better (Glad too, I like the fact I don’t peel like an onion when exposed to sunlight for longer than an hour), but I do understand the aching feeling of displacement from Black culture and the idea of Blackness. Commonly, Black kids who break the mold start to feel like they’re the broken rejects of their culture because they didn’t follow along the usual narrative somehow. They don’t fit in with the alternative kids always because they’re Black and they don’t fit in with the other Black kids because they’re alternative. This is how the girl I knew felt, but with the added idea that if she were White, people would like her more and respect her more. That’s not good. At all.

That’s why I don’t like people like the commenter up there because they capitalize on such a painful and unhealthy thinking. And then on top of that, they come to a site that is painfully pro-Blackness trying to peddle that crap. What? Did they expect I would just think, “Eh, that’s just who they are. They simply asked a harmless name even though their website is problematic”? Yah, no. That earns nothing but disrespect from me and rightfully so. If their site was about the physical and psychological dangers of skin lightening, I’d be fine because we could definitely use sites like that around. It’s absolutely disrespectful to me that someone would think I would be okay with it. I’m not going to see it as someone’s different life choice. I’m not going to respect it as a “different folks, different strokes” kind of thing. It is just trying to aspire to Whiteness, regardless of whether that is done for intrinsic or extrinsic reasons.

It took me a long time, as well as with the help of other Black lolitas, for this girl to actually be okay with being Black and learn that there’s nothing wrong with being Black and different from the crowd, it doesn’t affect your Blackness. She’s actually starting to like herself. She not walking about letting out her inner Janelle Monae but she’s getting there. Getting a little more confident everyday. Feeling more comfortable with who she is everyday. She is getting better and her life seems to be positively improving slowly but surely. That’s what being comfortable with who you are gets. She wasn’t going to find that kind of happiness nor get better at taking care of herself by trying to be something that she’ll never be nor should strive to be. I made sure she tried to understand that being Black is not the worst part of who she was and that anyone who tried to make her think that way was not a friend of hers nor worthy of respecting. I also explained to her the history, psychology and sociology of what she was feeling so she didn’t feel terrible but just understood how she and others got that way because it’s important for her to understand the mechanics of the society she was participating in and how those bad feelings occurred.

So, please, do not come to my website pushing that carcinogenic crap and asking me for tips on how to improve your site. There’s no reason for me to treat you with an iota of respect nor civility. If you were just about any other subject on the ‘net, you would have fared so much better than right now. Just keep your wonders of unnecessary skin scorching treatment to yourself, that’s what you should do.

Alright. Next week is The Arts!

– The Roper
– Electronic Purgatory
– Children

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How Not to Hex Your Coworkers

Filed under: Pagan Life, Spells & Potions — 2 Comments
August 2, 2013

I was reading Ask a Manager and there’s a post I never thought I would see in the longest time: someone actually asked about a co-worker threatening curses on others, the post was titled “An Employee is Putting Magic Curses on Her Coworkers”:

I’ve recently been contacted by a supervisor in our company who has heard that one of his subordinates has been regularly “cursing” both him and his daughter (who also works for our company). By “cursing,” I don’t mean using foul language. I mean she considers herself something of a witch and has been literally putting curses on these people.

It was quite surreal, I tell you. Alison of Ask a Manager gave fairly good advice about the situation, I figured I may as well put my 2p in it since, well, I’m an actual Witch and I have had an office-setting job before. (Metaphysics training or not, everyone has to have a job. Bills don’t magically pay themselves.)

My take:

Oh. My. Gods. Anyone who regularly curses is totally batty. It’s one thing to curse once in a while (and note, as rarely as possible) but to be regularly cursing people because you never learned other, more useful coping mechanisms? Batty and rightfully insane. Seriously, just learn some better coping mechanisms when it comes to dealing with crappy people, the world is full of them so why waste the time and energy to choke up an effective jinx?

So Ms. Alison asked for more info and it turns out the person writing in works HR in a school division and the basic story is there are four janitors, named here as Jeff (head janitor), Mandy (assistant head janitor), Whitney (cleaner) and Roberta (cleaner).* Mandy doesn’t like Jeff and Whitney and expresses so. Roberta tells the OP that Mandy has said something along the lines of “When people make me angry, or cross me, I don’t worry because I have ways to get rid of them. And I’ve cursed them. I have a place in my house with candles and other items and I know how to do that.” Whitney is scared silly of being cursed and is looking up ways to ward them off online (bad idea because the internet is full of crazies), Jeff doesn’t care. The OP just wants to know if this can be taken as a bona fide threat between employees.

Before I continue: this, people, is why I am so glad I don’t post spells here on BW. Alright, moving on.

Ms. Alison said yes and I agree. If I were fielding the question, I would also inform the OP to treat it as a threat and respond to it accordingly, which should include possible termination from position for Mandy.

Look, I know I’ve dealt with not-cool people at work – everyone has, and will – but threatening to jinx? No way. There are much more mundane ways to handle annoying or bad co-workers and that includes going to HR. No one at your job (hopefully) is worth the energies that casting a spell, especially a revenge spell, will cost. Instead, just know your rights as an employee and speak up when things go awry. Like a normal worker. And if it is that bad, feel free to use this handy guide of employment I wrote and find a new job. Otherwise, you look completely mental if you go the “I’ma hex you!” route. Either deal with it like a normal person or start looking about on Indeed.com.

I really feel bad for everyone involved – except for Mandy – because they have to put up with such foolishness. Mandy is an assistant head janitor so it is clear that she has some power of authority and should have used that to solve whatever problem she was having with her co-workers instead of going the vindictive route. Instead, she hexes when someone makes her angry or crosses her? Oh, come on. Welcome to real life, where not everyone is going to be sugary sweet to you and crap happens. Occasionally, people are going to make you mad because the human experience is complex. Does it make it right? Not always, but you have to learn how to deal with the fact that people can be jerks in a better way than looking for your jinx kit. That’s just a sign of a really vitriolic, hot headed person who won’t deal with the problem directly for whatever reason. And that is not someone that the OP should want to continue working for them because it’s going to be a slippery slope.

Yep, I said “slippery slope”, here’s the thing: if Mandy is already easy to get hot under the collar for some non-descript reason, she probably will also get pissy at the OP/HR Person and use her usual “I’ma curse you!” because she will feel angered by the fact s/he is siding with Whitney and Jeff, and try it on Roberta because she spoke up (and good on her for doing so). Mandy doesn’t seem to have the wherewithal to handle the fact that not everyone likes her and how to respond to that in a professional manner, which she really needs to learn if she wants to be an effective member of the American workforce.

So, moral of the story for my more witchy readers: Don’t jinx your coworkers if you have a problem with them. Instead, handle the problem like a rational person and use the methods that should already be provided for you within the company/school/business/whatever is provided to you. If those methods are not provided or ragged with corruption, then look for a new job. I know the economy is hard but it is possible with the correct tools. And if you’re hot-headed like Mandy was, learn some cooperation and mediation (not “meditation”) skills.

*Of course they’re not real names.

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Ask Black Witch

Filed under: Ask Black Witch — Leave a comment
July 26, 2013

So, here is Ask Black Witch where you ask me questions and I answer ‘em. Good questions are appreciated, bad questions are eviscerated.

Hello, I am not Wicca or Pagan but I seem to have an ex who is . . . . he has gotten obsessive and I have it on good word that he is “scrying” for me and a friend. im not sure what all that in tells but im a little worried so I have two questions for you if you are willing to answer A- what all is this “scrying” I cant seem to find out much on it and B how do I stop it Thank you for your time and consideration

– Shayla

Oy, this sounds pretty bad but not too incredibly.

A) Scrying is a form of divination that is great for finding things, location and people. Think of it as ye olde school geotagging. It also can be used to ask yes/no/maybe questions. Given it takes a lot of skill to be really good at scrying to the point you can best a GPS tracker, you may be ok.

B) How do you stop it would possibly be a binding spell since this seems to be irritating you and rightfully so. You mentioned that you’re not Pagan or Wiccan, however so you can use binding prayers. Not sure what religion you are but if you’re Abrahamic (Christian, Muslim or Jewish), after thinking about it, I would recommend you do some research to find some prayers to provide protection and to bind his obsession inactive.

Do you know of any Witches/Pagans who may need an apprentice?

– Hattie

Nope, ‘fraid not. That’s not something common to ask – unless you’re in a coven, part of certain veins of Paganism/Magick or are paired up with someone to learn a magick trade like herbalism and even then, they keep their selections close to those they know personally instead of shout it out to the world. If you want to learn magick, you don’t necessarily need a teacher to guide you. There are plenty of resources, check out the Resources category.

Hey there, hope your day/night is well. I have a question for ya. How do you feel about astrology?

– S. Dreams

I consider myself an amateur astrologer but I feel that no one should let it run their lives. It is useful but the weight people on it (actually, they put weight on pop astrology) is ridiculous because the average person is not that informed about astrology. And I really don’t like Pop astrology because it is so shallow, stupid, based on erroneous ideas and dumbed down beyond belief. It’s like pop psychology and pop medicine, not useful at all and harms more than it helps. I rather a person actually study this stuff instead of ramble mindlessly about how poorly Cancers and Arieans get along.

Well I fell odd, but I have had this same dream about 15 times I am at this pretty ladies house, on a date when she tell me I can not leave, and that she is a witch, then she smiles at me waves her hand and then I start to shrink, very small she picks me up in her hand , she then sizes me up with a ruler ahh one inch tall you are the perfect size! Odd , I admit fun, am I going to be shrunk down to a tiny man

– Mikey

As much as I like to present myself as fairly progressive and sex positive, I do not like being sent fetish questions like these. At all. Ever. And trust, you don’t score extra points to mention a witch, you actually lose them until you hit the negative. I am not Dan Savage, who probably would have tossed this in file 13 the second he opened it. Go to Dan Savage for sex and fetish questions and please write them better than this.

So, because I was blown away by this and the absolute nerve this dude had to send me this – the only thing that is one inch tall is just the measurement of his IQ or else he would have never sent this – I looked him up and well, look at what I found: turns out he’s been a nuisance for the magick community for years. The dude is in his mid 20s and been asking random magickal practitioners to be shrunk down since he was roughly 21. He asked on Wicca Space, two accounts actually, he has his Meetup where he’s claims he want to learn about the craft but c’mon, seriously? You’re gonna name yourself “Shrinking Mikey” and expect anyone to take you seriously? I don’t know how the St. Paul, MN witches are (which is where this dude is from) but I take it they wouldn’t be nice about it. Pretty disgusted actually because, hello, it’s a fetish and the average person does not like being asked about assisting in a fetish. It is Wicca Space and Meetup, not FetLife.

However, I saw this really funny response to this dude’s antics on Magicka School – where he has posted multiple times back in 2010 asking for the same thing over a span of days – by a poster named Miri:

“You know. That’s a really, really hard spell to accomplish properly. It is intensly time consuming and very complex. It really shouldn’t be attemped by anyone who is unable to trace their lineage back to Merlin, or at least Morgana. But, since you are in such desperate need, I shall share this with you.

First, you must purchase a purebred chocolate Labrador puppy. Must be purebred, and also, it must be an albino. You need to train this puppy so that it sits, no matter what the commotion, as if it stands or moves during the casting of the spell, you will be unsuccessful. When the puppy is 1 year, three months and 14.5 days old, you can cast the spell. No other timeframe will work.

Location – The place you choose to cast this spell must be VERY public, there must be a crowd surrounding you to ensure effectiveness.

Items needed – Powder, made from crushed rosehips or prickly pear. Honey. Albino chocolate labrador.

At the appointed time, smear your hair with honey. As honey is sweet and we all know that tiny things are sweet. Apply the powder to your arms, legs and torso, avoid any sensitive areas as the results could be, ummmn, unappreciated. Sit down, nose to nose with the Albino chocolate labrador. Raise your arms, elbows bent, hands in the outward facing duck position. Recite the all powerful chant 32 times ….

AHHH YAMA SHEET STAH RAH, AHHH YAMA SHEET STAH RAH.

Once recited, stand and do the sacred dance of power. Arms still raised in the outward facing duck position, hop from leg to leg circling the Albino chocolate labrador. Scream the powerful incantation of WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! By this time, the powder applied will no doubt help in perfection of this dance.

You will know if this spell has worked by the number of points and stares received by the onlookers around you. Even if you are not magically one inch tall …. you will feel an overwhelming desire to be one inch tall.

I take absolutely no responsibility for any embarrassment, itching, skin welts or feelings of intense shame felt by the performance of this ritual. Perform at your own risk with no guarantee of success, though there is a small likelyhood of arrest for public nuisance.”

That response was golden and very humorous. And I’m leaving this up here in case you bother other Witches and Pagans about this. Dude, don’t shrink, just disappear.

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The Arts!: P.O.D.

Filed under: The Arts — Leave a comment
July 19, 2013

I am gonna have a jam packed weekend thanks to P.O.D. coming by tomorrow at Rams Head Live (and Artscape and a Straight Line Stitch show). I’ve been a fan of them for the past 11 years so this makes me very excited! As a result, I’m gonna completely get lazy on The Arts! and just post up P.O.D. related music. The hecticness will be over by Wed so don’t be afraid to ask a question for Ask Black Witch.

I really got started with P.O.D. back in 2002, I happened upon their “Sleeping Awake” music video in an air conditioned kiosk during Artscape. I was really blown away by the visuals and the fact that for once, I wasn’t staring at an all-White band. Mainly the visuals.

I really liked P.O.D. and they very easily became my favorite band ever. My favorite album is Brown, which is an acronym for “Believe, Receive, Obtain, Wisdom, Never die”. It’s a fantastic album, I highly recommend it.

My parents…weren’t so keen. Firstly, it’s rock and here comes the stereotype that I’m supposed to like on R&B and Hip hop or something is wrong with me and my Blackness. Then there’s the band’s name of Payable On Death. It’s the “Death” they had a problem with and wondered if I was listening to something Marylin Manson style. I managed to win them over (kinda) with P.O.D.’s convenient religiosity. They’re a bit more accepting of it now than when I was a teenager.

Dude, I really like the music video “Rock the Party (Off the Hook)” because of how lively it is.

Now, they came out with Murdered Love, which I absolutely love. Aw, man, it very much is a great album that has not overly changed in sound too sharply (a la Linkin Park*) but definitely evolved. A like from me on the album is definitely “Murdered Love”

And they just came out with a new music video for one of the gentler songs “Beautiful”.

So I’ll be enjoying myself listening to the band I’ve stuck with for nearly half my life at this point tomorrow (technically today since today is Friday). Huzzah.

Check em out!

* LP would be my other favorite band, sharing a spot with P.O.D., but doesn’t change the fact their sound changed drastically between Hybrid Theory to Living Things)

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BW Sick Day: Pretty Down With The Sickness

Filed under: Pagan Life — Leave a comment
July 12, 2013

So I had a brand new experience earlier this week: I got food poisoning. Yep. It was my fault for ignoring a very dark and runny mustard for my hamburger and now, I have learned to truly respect the expiration date. That was the start of the week and I’m fairly better from that and then ye olde period comes right after that so I’m pretty wiped for the week and thus, no new post. Instead, enjoy this cute vid of a kitty playing tug-o-war:

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White Opinions Need Not Apply

Filed under: Pagan Life, Race — Leave a comment
July 7, 2013

A while ago, I was on the Black Witch Tumblr and saw a reblog from another Black blog about how the term “PoC” (Person of Color) can be really annoying sometimes and I jumped in and added that I agree because PoC can erase individual racial identification whereas “White” is still a standalone. Normal day on the BW Tumblr, right? That’s until the White Opinions started rolling in.

hey man i saw your post about how being called a “POC” is offensive. i’m white, so i don’t know shit about racism and can’t decide what’s offensive to you and what isn’t. to compare, as a gay woman, i find this new term “queer” (used to describe everyone on the LGBT spectrum) offensive, as do many others. do many people share the same thoughts on the term “POC”?

– chihiroschurros

Hi, I happened across your blog on accident and I have to say that your analysis of the term POC is pretty damn interesting. Honestly, I’ve always had an issue with that term. Hell, I’m a white male and every time I or someone else used it it always made my skin crawl and I had no idea why. Now I do. I know for certain that if I wasn’t white, I sure as hell wouldn’t want to be referred to as that, and I’m sorry that people have used that to refer to you. It’s actually slightly dehumanizing.

– elegyforafez

See what I have to deal with?

I responded to them both in a super snarky way because, eh, it’s usually tough to explain to Whites how racism effects minorities because they go (conveniently) temporarily stupid and unknowing about the existence of Google so might as well express my opinion fully, even if they don’t get it. That and I wanted to nip any future White opinions before they could come in because it isn’t uncommon for White folks to latch on like a bedbug to the one minority that will put up with their bullsh*t. Especially in minorities-only discussions such as the term of PoC.

I responded to chihiroschurros with this response (wouldn’t be surprised if she thought you couldn’t be gay and not White at the same time) and to elegyforafez with this really scathing response because hey, White folks have a difficult time understanding the comment “Not your discussion, be quiet. And you’re dead wrong anyways, thus why you should be quiet,” I figure that tone and snark would help them understand that hey, maybe they should have been quiet in the first place and kept their White Opinions to themselves.

Oh and one responded to me with this

Oh. Well. Sorry to offend you.

– elegyforafez

What a dingbat. Here was my response. He thought I was offended? Nah. I wasn’t offended, he’s just really annoying with throwing in his opinion – actually assumed he had a place to present one – and if I wasn’t viper, he was probably going to go “hurrrrrr durrrrrrr, I didn’t get any of that. Duuurrrr” like White folks generally do when faced with explanations of why what they said/thought/did was incorrect.

Now for folks who are going, “but they’re just opinions, how is it White opinions? You’re categorizing by race too!” Yeah, the categorizing is on purpose, think of it like the term “mansplaining”, where a guy tries to explain a simple concept but heavily injected with sexism. “White Opinions” are intruding opinions in a subject that generally concerns and primarily affects minorities and White people who express their opinion automatically assume it is the highest opinion or the most authoritative because, well, they’re White. They’re a little too used to their privilege and think that since they’re speaking to minorities, they have the highest word.

It is very important for everyone to understand that in group conversations about race, religion or whatever, if you’re the one with the privilege, it is important not to invade that space and try to dominate the conversation or even inject an opinion that’s not necessary. A White person didn’t have to express how they felt about the term PoC because 1) it’s not their place to determine what we should be called and 2) we minorities already know how Whites feel about using terminology to describe someone’s race and/or ethnicity and given their track record, we really don’t want to hear any more of their thoughts and ideas. Notice in both Asks, the person pretty much implied “Oh my god, I think PoC is degrading, too!” which is really insulting because it tells me that they think PoC is insulting but I bet if the word us Black tumblrs was talking about was the N-word, they would either be silent or go “Hey, a word is a word! People should be able to use that word [especially us White folks because we really want to call you that, oh man, ur so mean. Weeeeeeeh, you’re infringing on my first amendment rights by not allowing me to freely use hate speech, this isn’t what our forefathers died for].” Let’s you know right there that they have a problem with a term that actually has “person/people” built into the name but if it is a dehumanizing term, oh go nuts.

It’s like if there was a Christian in a Pagan safe space, just trying to “correct” people left and right. Telling us, “Oh no, that’s a sin in the eyes of the Lord” or “Your god doesn’t exist so you don’t have to worry about that” or “I don’t think I have privilege at all, I’m just saying, I don’t think that you should take Creationism out of schools because that would lead to more school shootings! Prayer works – just to Jesus though, none of that devil worshipping you do. That causes them.” Notice the Christian is being remarkably rude because they’re completely disregarding a space that isn’t for them and instead of bowing out, they’re just establishing their religious privilege and down talking everyone else. Think this doesn’t happen? It happens all the time, even on national stages, just let a Black group try to talk about racism and prejudice in America and watch the White privilege start flying in through stereotyping, down-talking or trying to have the domineering opinion in an arena they have no business being in.

Now, how does one deal with encroaching White Opinions?

Here are your options:

A) Ignore them

B) Remind them that this is not their convo and you are not their cultural ambassador

C) Remind and ignore

This is really good because let’s face it, you really don’t want to keep arguing with these people forever because they’re going to use every tactic in the book to make you say that they are right or somehow twist your answer into making it appear that you’re proving them right. Nothing is wrong with saying, “This is my position on the situation and after that, we’re done.” No minority has to be a cultural ambassador to White folks. Ever. Google exists for a reason.

Or you can play racism bingo

racism bingo

Let’s see what I hit:

– “Just a coincidence that it looks like racism”

– “Didn’t Mean It That Way”

– Free Space for “White Opinions SMASH!” (I like using my free spaces early)

– “Only saying what people really think”

Remember folks, if you have privilege in that area (racial, gender, religious, cultural, etc), it’s best to just shut up and listen or strongly risk getting snipped at.

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