I read Crosstalk by Connie Willis and then decided to re-read The Deptford Trilogy. Then I read a book on Indigenous stories, and then a book on walking in Paris, which I bought secondhand ages ago and only just got around to reading. And then I re-read Terry Pratchett’s last book, The Shepherd’s Crown.
Continue readingMonth: July 2021
Drag
By Yvonne Aburrow
July 16th was International Drag Day, so it seems like a good time to look at the history of drag.
Drag is a subversive art-form that holds a distorting mirror up to societally-imposed gender norms. It is not the same as being transgender, and has a different history. The key difference between drag and being transgender is that drag is an impersonation of another gender for dramatic effect; being transgender is to genuinely experience being a different gender than the one that was assigned at birth.
Please note that, when talking about the LGBTQIA community in historical periods before the current terminology was devised, I have used more clinical terms or ones that reflected the understanding of same-sex love and gender-variance at the time, whilst avoiding slurs, obviously.
Continue readingRecipe: British flapjack
My Mum always used to make this and it is incredibly moreish. I’ve got some in the oven right now. Yum yum.
Continue readingTalking about your spiritual path
There are different ways to talk about one’s religion: interfaith dialogue, enthusiasm without any underlying agenda, evangelizing, and proselytizing. Each of these has different underlying assumptions and values.
Continue readingMark Goddard’s book in hardback
The Book of Dreams was an unfinished typewritten manuscript by Mark Goddard. He had wanted it to be published, and gave it to his friend, Art Quester, who gave a copy to me after Mark was tragically killed in a car accident in 1988. It is now available as a hardback.
Continue readingAdding your pronouns online
Why
“It’s helpful for cisgender people from both within the LGBTQ+ community and outside of it to include their pronouns in their bio as it creates a safer environment for trans people. It opens a safe space to talk about pronouns and it also lets those of us who use different pronouns to share ours without being the odd one out. When cisgender people share their pronouns whether it be in an online bio, on a name tag, or shared face to face during introductions it helps to normalize the act of sharing one’s pronouns in all settings not just LGBTQ+ ones. This helps us not only normalize sharing and asking about pronouns, but it also helps to normalize the larger trans community and its umbrella communities. Everyone should be able to feel comfortable with their pronouns and have their pronouns respected by others.”
from Why cisgender individuals should put their pronouns in their bio
Continue readingRitual writing prompts
Ever had that feeling where you are staring at a blank sheet of paper and wondering what to write for your ritual?
Here are some writing prompts.
Continue reading#DefendOccultBooks
I’ve always disagreed with the view that we don’t need Pagan and occult books.
Continue reading
Dowsing for Divinity 