Anti-Racism Magic

Blessings Darlings!

I assume that everyone reading has heard of the attack earlier this week on the people - black people - at the Emmanuel AME church in South Carolina.  I'm going to provide a simple magic aimed at reducing racism.

BUT - before I get to that - I'm going to write about what racism is and what to do in the mundane about it. 

First I'm going to point out that the dictionary definition of racism is totally inadequate.  The dictionary (written by ... whom? think on that) defines racism as the same as 'prejudice'.  As an individual issue.  That's not correct, in my never humble view. In my view, racism is a societal power issue - you can be prejudiced against folks you don't have power over, but racism has IMPACT on daily lives of others. Racism requires power over the 'others'.  That can only happen when privilege is a basic part of society.  BTW - you might want to research why/how the AME church was created.

It can be hard to see privilege if you have it.  I guess that's kind of like not seeing air if you're a land animal, or not seeing water if you're a fish.  If you're not sure what privilege looks like, you can google things like 'how to recognize white privilege'. 

Actually ending racism is going to end white privilege. That's going to be a side effect. If you do the magic right, and it starts working at least in your local area ... if you're white, you may see changes in your life that you might not like. Police and courts might treat you the same way they treat blacks.  Because privilege is built into the legal and enforcement systems.  And the system is going to fight ending privilege.

In the Mundane - move out of your comfort level. 

To work on ending racism in every day life, you're going to have to speak up when you see/hear racism and prejudice.  Speak up when folks make 'jokes' putting down other races.  The terrorist in Charleston made lots of them.  His friends laughed.  

Have those discussions about race, prejudice, racism that might be scary for you to have.  If you're white, you fear of words is nothing compared to the fear of being attacked for your race by the agents of the state.

And, FFS (BTW, on MY blog, FFS means "For Fern's Sake"), listen to people of color when they describe their experiences.  Don't try to rush them to 'forgiveness' when the perps haven't asked for it, and when the attacks are ongoing. 

The Magic

This is real simple magic.  Go weed your garden. Charge the weeds with being 'racism', and root those weeds up. Let them dry to nothing in the light of the sun.  

That's it.  Really. Most magic is simple.

Frondly, Fern

Go Read this! Now!

Blessings Darlings!

I'm glad you're here.   Now, go read the article I'm linking to. It's about talking with others and privilege. History matters.

https://storify.com/balmergal/engaging-with-poc-on-twitter

Frondly, Fern

The Obligatory Mercury Retrograde Post

Blessings Darlings!

About 3 times a year, the planet Mercury is said to go 'retrograde' - that is, from the viewpoint of someone watching it from Earth, it goes 'backwards' from it's usual course.  This regularly-scheduled event leads to a crapload of posts full of strum und drung among the neoPagan community.  "Don't sign any legal agreement!" "Expect all your electronics to break!" Etc.

Well.

Mercury Retrogrades, like Saturn Returns,  CAN be plenty uncomfortable.  But they are, as I mentioned above, a regularly-scheduled part of life.  They are part of the necessary 'clearing out so you can build anew'.  You know, the cycles of nature that most Pagans like to claim that they are in sync with. 

So, get with the program. 

Build up that financial reserve/emergency fund.  You are going to need it - if not this retro, maybe this year.  If not this year, maybe next year.  Cars break down.  Bikes need replacing.  Teeth go bad.  Having that reserve fund will help you handle that.

Get the car's oil changed, and have other preventive maintenance done.  If you can, get your teeth cleaned/checked.  Eat well.  Get some exercise.  Say what you mean, clearly, so you will be understood.  After  meeting, repeat all that you/they have agreed to in an e-mail to keep a paper trail. 

Don't count on privilege - of any sort - to have your back.  You might have to own everything that you do/don't do.

Which is, of course, how we really should be living every day.  But most of us don't. 

Frondly, Fern