Inspiration and Balance

One blog from feministe.com inspired me today to start thinking about what I exactly do on the Internet. And I thought, well I change me mind a lot more on here and I spend a lot of time deciding whether or not I like my blog. It's really unhealthy. So I am thinking I have to be in the real world now and not so much time online. But it doesn't get anymore real than having a new job and spending all the time you have doing it. That and coming home to tired and exhausted. So I have been trying my best to adapt while practicing my religion and blogging at the same time. Success, but to what cost am I willing to pay? I am totally imbalanced! So I am going to go out right now and enjoy the fresh air.

I know I want to talk about more important things on this blog but what I want to write about is myself and my personal, spiritual epiphanies. For someone to have a successful blog they have to know themselves well. And I don't. Sometimes I don't know who I am and then my blog has the same identity change. I read one of my favorite blogs this morning: Viva La Feminista, it's a feminist mom blog. I love reading it! I would like to be a more professional writer and feminist

What's Happening

Nebraska Judge blocks abortion screening law.

Take action and repeal DOMA!

The racist facebook app. This pisses me off  because not only Indians look just fine with their regular skin color we don't need anymore white-washing.

Another BP Oil Spill.

U.S Passports should represent all families.

Bus driver refused to take a woman to Planned Parenthood.

Motivated, yes....volunteers, no.

I was going to create a whole new blog about Pagan feminism and to have some peeps come over and write about it, but that fell through. I am really disappointed because I was hoping for some kind of blogging community. Instead I got nothing and I am one lonely Feminist Witch. One person can not simply write about everything about a pagan path, it takes a village.

But oh well, I guess I have to do it all by myself. There is a lot if misinformation about Feminist Witches. Feminist Witches are supposed to hate men and think they are not really cut out for magic. I think that's bullshit, of course, but some people think that's what Feminist Witchcraft is.

 That's why I have a blog, I am not sure if it's good enough to to get the word out that at least some of us can give good criticism to the ones before us and eventually blaze a new and better path.

I could have used someone who knows more about certain deities, I am not much on mythology (that's why I am more of a Witch than a Pagan) and I wanted to create a Goddess of the Month/Week to fill in that gap. I am still working on that.

Hopefully my blog will help in getting a little information on Pagan feminism. I am trying my best but I don't think it's enough.

New new developments

I think I am holding back on my amazing posting abilities and since I don't have a lot of followers I think I will just write....about anything to feminism to my dog. I think I want this blog to be my personal, opinated blog chock full of wonderful Heather-ness!

What inspired me to start writing a more opinated and awesome blog was from Blag Hag, I think her blog is funny but also very serious. I think I would like to be that kind of blogger, informed but also entertaining.

How I became a feminist

I read a review on the book CLICK: Young women on the moments that made them feminists and I wondered when my CLICK moment was. I know why I am a feminist. It's because I never, until I did call myself a feminist, liked being female/a woman.

Way back when I was in Fifth or Sixth grade was bullied by boys. I was terrified to go school every day. I feared for my life. Back home it was no better. I did say I was slapped for masturbating, something that is completely natural for any girl or boy to do. I was told that I was stupid. I was told that I was a “cuntsucker” (by my sister). My mother hated hugging me and I beat my head over a steal railing when I was really upset. So my childhood was very weird, abusive, and I never really had rest from self-destruction.

As I got older and eventually went to seventh grade I wanted to be a boy. I hated being female because I was constantly being told on how to dress, act, and how to say things. I hated my life, officially. I wouldn't say I was transgender but I wasn't confused either. I knew that I wanted to be anything but a girl.

Eventually I became a girl. I was in Eighth grade and I was transition. I don't know why I was turning back into a girl; I think it was because my Mother was instilling the girl gender in me. My hair became longer and I wore more tighter and low cut shirts. Eventually guys started to notice me and I was scared. One guy who was in the same grade as I was had asked me out. It scared the fuck out of me and I had an anxiety attack because really I was scared of him. He was a really big guy! Other boys liked me but I tried not to pay attention to them and went on my way. My heart was pounding in my chest and my thoughts racing as I walked down those halls.

At Freshman year an older guy asked me out and we only dated for about a week, but he was really gross. It was like he never bathed. He smelled like cigarette smoke which was horrible. So I cut him lose. And then I dated a guy for over a year and a half starting when I was a freshman. He knew my sister, which a good ticket to meet the girl of your dreams. Be friends with her family, get it in. He watched me all through that Valentine's dance and eventually asked me if I was Mandy's sister. So I said, yea. And he asked me out. I was like, why not? He knows my sister so I guess he is alright.

I really never liked him and I had girl crushes so I went to the dark side. Dun dun dunnnn....hooray for gay!

Being gay really made me realize what I was missing. I liked it a lot. All the girls I went out with never had a problem with me being Pagan or vegetarian or anything. Except that one girl who was crazy, I had some amazing adventures. I was thinking, why couldn't I be gay years ago? Oh yeah, now I remember everyone is taught as if they are straight. Duh, how I can I forget that?

I eventually told my parents but they reacted in a way that was weird. My mother got up from her chair to get my father and tell him to come in. She said, "Stan, get in we need to talk about what we have been talking about."

So they already knew they just never bothered to talk to me. They would rather talk about it by themselves which is weird to me because usually normal people ask their children what's wrong instead of rambling on about it by themselves. I can't remember what happened next, I think they just told me that I thought I was gay, whatever.

I read so many CURVE mags. Oh my Goddess, it was amazing to read so many stories about wonderful LGBTQ peeps. Then I started to move onto BITCH and Ms. I was so turned on. I guess my CLICKS came upon me then when I was reading those mags. I was thinking "Wow." I realized that there was sexism. There was sexism/misogyny everywhere. I was beginning to understand that feminism can help me. I started asking myself can I be a feminist, too? I read and read and read all the books and magazines I could get my hands on. It made me happy to know that feminism is helping the LGBTQ people because women can be LGBTQ as well as straight. So I felt that feminism was right for me. I also read Starhawk's (a Pagan feminist) books over and over again, too. I became aware that feminism and witchery can be intertwined. Working and reading as a Witch and a feminist helped me reconcile with my self-esteem, my self-destructive patterns and it helped me become the person I was meant to be instead of the person that my parents molded. Poorly, I must say.

I also realized that I did undergo sexism myself that and homophobia. I was once called a fag for being a dyke in High School by boys of course. Yea, I know it's insane how far people go to insult someone. No other girl went through this bullying that I knew of. There is barely any mention of boys bullying girls on T.V. so I am very disappointed with that. When there is media attention it is usually covered up by the "boy love" scenario. There was only boy hate when I was in Fifth and Sixth grade (and maybe in High School). The only reason why they bullied me was because I didn't fit into the small definition of what girls are supposed to be like. I wore corduroy overalls, I danced in the rain. I hung out with a fat girl. I am not anybody typical girl (I am grrrl!).

After High School, I became bisexual. Hey, things change. And then I hung out with my old friend, Ryan. Then we went out. My parents took this huge sigh of relief and than asked me if I would lose Ryan and go out with more guys, like it's really their business. In fact Ryan is probably going to be the only guy I would let myself be involved with.

Anyway, I moved to his house and I underwent a huge identity crisis. I was a Witch but I couldn't reconcile with the other definitions of it. Definitions I wouldn't consider myself to be. Anyway, I decided upon feminist. And viola' Feminist Witch!!!!

So there is my long story of how I became a feminist or Feminist Witch. I am aware of the works of Starhawk, Z. Budapest, and T.Thorn Coyle but I am willing to blaze a new path. A path of enlightenment, empowerment and a path that can help other women through their troubles as it did for me. It is my mission to help all women. Remember I want to be a Counselor for women!

Goddess Bless All of Her children.

What is Magick?

I know that I have been mostly focused on feminism. I wanted to talk about my religion with you. I know I spoke if me being a Witch. But what about magic or majik has some like to call it?

Paganism has a different view on magic (that's why it is spelled differently) we take it a little more seriously than the regular viewer of stage magic or the stage magician. In fact it is a huge part of our religion. Most Pagans (I have to say most because we all different) believe that Divinity is immanent on the earth. More importantly She/He/Spirit is Nature. We all revere Nature, because we know that the Divine is part of it.

In other words, all things have energy. Trees, people, even the buildings that we make have energy. Moving, or bending that energy through conscious work is called magic(k).

It takes years, to practice. This is when Witchcraft comes in. The type that most people talk about is Pagan Witchcraft but it doesn't matter at this point. Witchery is a practice; it's work. You would have to be trained or self-trained to go into alternate states of consciousness, and of course there is training for focus.

Spells are a different species. You always hear that Witches do spells (or curses depending on who you are talking to). Spells are a well thought out recipe of magic(k) geared toward a desired goal. Like if I want a new job, I would wait until the waxing moon. I wear green or brown colors, I use a green/brown candle, call a Goddess of prosperity, etc. But doing a spell isn't going to solve the problem. Doing magic isn't going to get you everything, it might even make things worse. That's why I would advise to do some inner work before anybody does magic.  That's important.

Not all lesbians are feminists

We all know that not all feminists are lesbians. Some feminists are straight, are getting married and having children. I have had a total of five girlfriends throughout my 21 years of living and a couple are on the evil ex list. One of my ex girlfriends is the worst, I wish I never went out with her. She was very controlling and dominating.  Besides listening to Bikini Kill, she wasn't much of a feminist. I think she could really care less about my feelings.

I heard from a friend that she was cheating on me with one of my other friends. Then she made her friend call me and tell me that she wanted to break up with me. That night she was with her ex girlfriend and in the morning she told me this fucked up story on how she realize that I was the one. It included a bluebird, bluebird crap and a crappy shoulder. She knew I was a Witch, so I think she was working off that to make a stupid story on how she finally realized that she wanted me. It seemed to weird for my seventeen year old mind so I told her no. I was pissed that someone only goes out with someone just because they are gay. I hate that and then turn around and cheat.

Well, anyway, aside from the obvious mistreatment of women this particular lesbian has done. There are always going to be others who turned to the feminist side.

My tale is different. I became a feminist because I was lesbian. I really didn't like guys for the longest time. I thought they were gross (I wasn't really attracted to them). I saw the misogyny from a far away scope because I wasn't rapped up with a guy anymore. I got introduced to BITCH from Curve. Then moved to Ms. and that really opened my eyes.

So I guess some lesbians are and some aren't. Gayness surely doesn't make someone a feminist, or vice versa but it's definitely possible.

What's Happening

First off, work was fine. A little hectic and crazy. I know how to do my own job now. It's just a temp job right now. I do hope that this will go on because I am sick of looking a job. I test solutions that have sodium, potassium and lithium heparin. That's the long and short of it. There is a lot more do with the job, so mind is very tired today.

Since when is ordaining women as priests equivalent to molesting children?

This is HUGE. I am well aware of fat people and proclaim fat acceptance so when I saw the trailer of HUGE I was glued to my computer screen.



I thought it was a very cute pilot. I liked how there was also bulimia/anorexia awareness. The show clearly tells you that younger, big people can be bulimic. Unfortunately all I have seen is the first episode so, I can really gauge this show on the feministometer. More reviews in the future!


DC + condoms= arrest for prostitution. And that is for very everyone.


Polanski released after raping a 13 year old girl.

Whoopi defends Mel.


Check it out. New HIV/AIDS strategy.


Iranian woman still set to die.


Argentina passes bill for same sex marriage.

Obama puts ban on abortion coverage. Tell him to put a stop to the abortion ban.

Senator Vitter says that Rachel Maddow doesn't look like a real woman.

The Question about Queer-ness

I thinking about the many articles I have been reading about gender and sexuality.  So I thought "Oh, I really do like the word queer. "
I think it is a great way to describe my sexual orientation to a key. In all actuality "queer" best describes me in general. Whenever I do something out of the blue (or out of the rainbow) people tend to look at me weird. I say things out of context and I go off on tangents that have really no relation to the topic I am having with someone (usually with my boyfriend).

I got my new BITCH mag in the mail (go me) and I read the article about the lesbian label going out of style. I definitely related to the article because I used to consider myself lesbian. I didn't do it because of the label but because I grew out of it. I became bi. The term bisexual is just too much for me. I feel like I have to like males and females at the same time or the same way. I feel like my sexuality is more complicated than that. I feel more attracted to girls/women but I really don't like guys/men (especially men), but I can't be without Ryan for more than three days. Using queer is like drinking hot cocoa in the middle of January (that's really cold here in Maine) it's warming and refreshing, tasty yet satisfying.

The cool thing about considering yourself queer is that nobody knows what you mean by it. Is she a lesbian or bisexual? Is he gay? Who knows! Maybe that's why so many people have having trouble with the word, so many meanings.

Anyway, those are my reasons. I like the word queer, not because it's a new fad, but because of the awesomeness of the word itself.

I identify as a woman. So I guess I am one of those cisgendered folks right now. My gender changes, so bear with me on that one. I did consider myself genderqueer, which is even more frustrating and confusing than the later. Being genderqueer means that you are two spirit; bi-gendered is a better way to put it. Like the words cunt, bitch, whore, dyke,  queer has been revitalized and remade. We should use it.

Feminist Witchcraft Part Three

Feminist Witchcraft is....

Revolutionary.

Evolutionary.

Full of empowerment.

Amazing.

Awesome.

Okay, yes I just wanted to make another post on the Wise Grrrl religion. Sue me.

New Developments

I apologize for any inconvenience to all my readers and I like to thank all (three) of them for their patience. My blog had an identity crisis, along with me. I am hoping that I will keep the Wise Grrrl motif because well it's pretty awesome. Not to mention it is obviously due to me being a Feminist Witch (if you already don't know).
I have ADD, along with an ADD personality, that includes extreme indecision (I don't take medication). I know I haven't mention it before but it has been brewing into a bigger problem now. It was never this bad and it never has affected other people so I never bothered to talk about. So I lost one follower out of my measly four readers, and I felt bad about leaving blogger because I did eventually undo my deleted blog.

So my goal is to keep this Wise Grrrl theme in my blog. I hope that my indecision or 'creative' mind doesn't get in the way of my sudden blog stabilty.

More on "Should I care that my Parents don't care?' post

As all of you know I am twenty-one and I live with my boyfriend right now. I don't own a car and I have been trying to get my license (by myself) for ages so I can be a normal person.
Whose fault is that? I really do feel completely ignored by my parents. I have an older sister who gets everything she needs. Instead of me using my new room in the new house (remember we had a house fire) she is using it because apparently her boyfriend does most of the work in the house. I don't have any thing against my sister but the inequality between us both is staggering.

So I have been feeling resentment towards by parents, especially my Mother. She never talks to me about personal stuff and when we finally do it's extremely awkward and upsetting. Not to mention I feel hurt that I have to buy myself a car when my sister got two for free and two that my parents helped her buy. It's like what about me?

So when I talking to my Mother on the phone the other day I was worried about this new job. At the time Ryan's car was in the shop. We had zero transportation. I told her about our car crapping out. Mandy got a car from our dear ol' Aunt and Uncle and I asked if Mum can run that by them (she did that for Mandy).

She said, "No, that was only a one time deal. That will never happen again." 
Yeah, that will never happen for me.

There was a pause and then she said, "So I guess you and Ryan need to buy a car, now."
Yeah, no shit.

I just got really mad at her. Instead of yelling I was trying to sound annoying. I made my voice high-pitched (like Stewy on Family Guy when he was talking to Brian about that book he was working on) and started saying things like, "Mandy is your favorite, heh? Yea, hmmm, gave her a car, heh? Oh I see how it is, yep." She started in with the that's no fair stance and kept on saying that Mandy isn't her favorite. 

I was really just kidding, but I sounded really sarcastic and since I have been feeling completely ignored and hurt by my own parents I kept on doing it. I just kept going on and on.

She then said I was making her upset and she hung up on me without saying I love you or Goodbye.

So that made me even more upset that my Mother is that ignorant of my feelings and, well, me in general. I didn't mean to sound mean, but what would you do if you were in my position? What if you were young and you didn't own a car or a license and your parents never helped you out, but oh, their first born gets everything handed to her.

I don't know why they are so bent on not helping me. I am really sick of the excuses such as. "We didn't have money after the house fire." or "We didn't have money after your father got this and this such a job." and the worst one about not letting me drive: "We just didn't have time for you."

Yeah, I pretty much heard it all. My parents all full of excuses for me, but not for Mandy. They will do anything for her.

Reflections & Realizations

Today I was reflecting back. I remember when the thought of connecting my feminism and my spirituality was a little risky. I began asking myself questions (and trying to answer them the best way I can). Right now I am trying to find my place in the world.


Can I be both a Pagan and a feminist at the same time? Do I want fullness? Do I want wholeness and connection?

Maybe in a way, I am trying to focus at the most simplest tasks like meditating (something that I did all the time when I lived with my parents). I know there is such a thing as 'getting older' but I refuse to take that argument to account. Plenty of Pagans are adults.

What are my views? What is Feminist Witchery to me? Am I willing to answer questions about it? Is it okay to say I don't know to some questions?


Maybe that's why I feel so distracted from life. I don't know and I am trying to know. I am trying to find who I am and what Feminist Witchery/Pagan feminism is. Another question is can there be a difference between the two?

What is my mission at this time?
My mission at this point is to spread the word about Pagan feminism and it’s alive and kicking. In the long-term I have always wanted to be a counselor for women. Right at this moment in my life I feel like I am in a crisis of some sort. I feel completely useless without 'material' resources such as a car. I know there is way to help myself but somehow I feel distracted.


Five years back I thought I would have the things that I needed and I would be well on my way to begin my destiny and wake up everyday with the bird's singing (the second part is actually true). Today I find myself scattered, distracted and two steps behind the original starting point of my life. I am definitely more grown up then I was then. I am certainly more knowledgeable. I am with a great person and I notice things more than my 17-year-old self did (myself five years ago). I am not as angry as I was before, although I do get frustrated.

One of the most important things I have to work on at this point is the feeling of inadequacy. Everyday I think that I am ill prepared. I am worried that I might forget or do something wrong either at a job or as a Pagan Feminist. Worry is what causes me to run away from my problems such as the feeling of inadequacy. After getting worried I get anxious; depressed and I sink into a hole. Not having the right stuff causes me to give up or be distracted from my spirituality in turn myself. I was thinking that a new job may give balance to my life. Maybe a feeling of some sort of security will give me stability. I noticed that I feel more inadequate at work than at home. I am more apt to be aware of my body, my clothes, how I talk, etc. I start marking off the mistakes that I made in every single moment. And then I flog myself for noting such silly things that really don't matter. What I learned from the many Pagan books (lol, and nature) I own there is always destruction before there is creation. Maybe this is the crisis before the unfolding of a new me.

I also realize that I have been making everything else outside of myself malleable. I keep changing things and then I get confused as to who I am exactly. For example: I was working from blogspot, now here and I find myself doing the same insane things over and over again I change my blog or template or picture or title. I realize that I am actually covering up the fact that I want to change myself. I am faking my way to transformation. So I now know that I must be stable in this life. In order for things in my life to become stable I need to make them like that. I am going to stop changing everything outside and focus what's inside. First I have to change my negative feelings about myself AKA tell stop being so conscientious!



I choose to use the image of wildflowers to help me through my negative feelings. Every time I feel myself not measuring up I will visualize my inspiring picture. This will then remind me to see the story beneath the story. Then I will try to move on. I am going to try to do this each day for the next few months and see what happens.

Why I Love Shows that Have Strong Female Characters

The fictional character Abby Scuito on NCIS continues make me fall in love with her over and over again. As an ex-Goth, I am glad to see a happy goth portrayed on T.V. Not to mention that she is a fantastic woman character.

Other than run-of-the-mill female characters who are ultimately two-dimensional Abby is smart, sassy, and, well, has character. Like other female characters on shows Bones (Dr. Temperence Brennan) or Hawthorn or even House (Dr. Cuddy) these women are strong, intelligent, and have a wonderful character build. I really like the fact that these women are different from each other. I am afraid to say that all of them are skinny, to see no big, full body women on T.V. is really annoying to me. Hawthorn has a black woman as a protagonist but she is the only one of all the shows. I read a great article in BITCH mag about female characters in movies and shows. BITCH (in their Art Issue) was interviewing Molly Haskell. The author of the book From Reverence To Rape. In the article there was no mention of NCIS, Bones, or Criminal Minds (all my favorites) with all strong female awesomeness. I was a little bummed but I think the interveiw was more focus on criticizing movies for not having great women acharacters

What's Happening

Women judicial candidates are being questioned about their sex lives. It's assumed that Kagan is gay.

It's time to offer the pill over the counter-choose change.

BP Spill hurting our reproductive health.

Hawaii Governor vetoes Civil Union Bill.

Kathleen Parker responds to her last column about her calling Obama a woman.

News in my life: Today, July 8th, I had met my new supervisor to tell me what I am supposed to be doing. I will be working at Idexx Laboratories doing a new project for them. Idexx do tests for animals.  It will be for three months or more. I am really psyched about having a job for a while. I might not be writing for a while however, but no avail I will try to squeeze a great post in once and a while.
I bought a great book from the neighborhood college bookstore for only a $ 1.00. It's called "Our Choices, Our Lives: Unapologetic Writings on Abortion." I smell book review.
I am also starting my own biz, with help of course. Check it out: http://.www.divineduo.scentsy.com/


Mel Gibson's racist rant caught on tape.

Judge ruled in favor of Trans woman living in Georgia.

Semenya gets to keep her medals after all.

Google pro-LGBT.

Internet bosses are approving a domain for porn sites. Yuck! Ms. Blog takes this issue on with an interview with Gail Dines.

Here is Gail Dines as a guest post in the website Viva La Feminista and her website.

MetroWeekly talks about trans people and their need for equality.

Boatman commits suicide because of his struggles caused by BP.

The Pentagon sent at least 400,000 surveys to armed forces July 7th to see what opinions they had on the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy.

Abortion may become a problem for poor women.

More on Louisiana's stupid anti-choice bills.

Sen. Vitter doesn't think abortion is a woman's issue.

Should I care that my parents don't care?

I meet with my parents the other day, only it was the same old, same old. They ask me about other people and not myself. They love me coming over for a visit but I am completely bored after twenty minutes of silence. After I tell them I have a blog, my Mom goes, "Oh, that's good, so what's Ryan doing?"

It's always about other people not myself. I feel completely cut off from them and every way. They rarely ask me what I am doing and when I do they become suddenly distracted. My Mom isn't the kind of Mother who sits you down and asks you what's wrong. When there is something wrong all she says is- "I don't know what to tell you Heather." And she leaves it at that.

My Father always says that I never talk to him but he rarely talks back to me. He never responds to me when I start opening up to him. I feel weird talking to myself so suddenly I clam up.

Whenever I mention good news happening for me all they say "Well, that's good."

Living with my boyfriend has taught me that my voice matters and communicating is important. I am so used to talking about anything. So suddenly talking about nothing is torture to me (I hate small talk). I feel like I need to open up, but whenever I do I feel stupid. And when I don't talk to my parents I feel like I am being mean. I realized why I was so angry at my parents and it's because they never talk to me; they never have fun with me. Do they want to? Or are they just like that?

Every time the "adults" come over everybody ignores me until someone asks the dreaded, stupid obvious questions like "Hows Ryan?" "Did you find a job. yet?" etc. After the twenty dumb questions everybody turns and starts talking amongst themselves. I feel completely ignored and unwelcome over my old home. So I am pondering whether I want to stop talking to them or mention that they make it hard for me to talk to them.

I can tell you right now, if I have children I wouldn't treat my kids like that.

Thanks-Giving Ritual

All this week I am going to give thanks and give back to my Goddess and the earth. For years I have always tried and tried to ask and want, and ask again for things. Now I realize that I need humility and humbleness in my spirituality, since I found this and began practicing saying thank-yous to the Great Goddess I have felt so much better and life has become a little easier.

I have been performing rituals for the sole purpose of the Gods and it has been great. I am super excited that I finally got that saying thanks is important. Well, normal people have the holiday Thanksgiving, but we Pagans celebrate it on Lammas (on August 1st.) A Holy Day for celebrating what we have reaped and giving thanks.

Even though I have seemingly nothing, no car, no license, no real 9-5 job, I have everything (after the house fire everything became chaotic and my parents never helped me.) Recognizing that was the first stage. I gave thanks for the existence of Manpower, I gave thanks for my blog, for the Goddess that gave me life and the guidance of that She kindly gave me.

Through the week I will give thanks to the people who support me. Although there is a great deal more people who do not. I will stay within the positive and recognize what people have done for me. Hopefully through this ritual I will let go of the negative thoughts of the people who didn't support me or lacked any involvement in my life. Through gratitude and forgiveness, through realizing and acknowledging all the supportive people, Spirits, and Gods who have been in my life or will be, will help me move on. Who knew that saying "thank you" would get you so much in return?

Movie Review: Avatar the Last Airbender

Even though I was told not to watch the movie Avatar the Last Airbender I did for our 2ND Anniversary. Both of us are huge Avatar the Last Airbender (the cartoon) fans. So why not?

Well, besides the blatant racism within the film I rather enjoyed the movie. All the enemies were played by actors of an Indian descent.

First let me explain the movie. First of all there is four nations that represent each Greek element, Earth, Air, Fire and Water. The Fire nation wants independence of the other nations and seeks to destroy the Spirits of each, while destroying all other nations. Depending on the nation, each nation can manipulate their own element.

Meanwhile, the Avatar who can bend all the elements was to be born into the Air nation. The Avatar can reincarnate, usually reincarnating within a specific nation.

Anyway, this movie is based upon the cartoon show, which is so much better than the film. I like how the Asian culture and myth is within the show, however in the movie I think that was lacking along with the non-existence of the Asian actors playing good, main characters.


As you can see here two of the main characters in the show, Sokka (left) and Katara (right) are presumably dark. The actors playing them aren't.


Here is Katara in the film. Here is Sokka in the film.









Here is some of the bad characters in the show and the actors playing them. You can make the call on what's going on:


Zuko below is played by Dev Patel in the film. (bad guy, but becomes good at the end and helps the Avatar.)




Here is Aasif Mandvi playing Commander Zhao (bad guy.) *Sigh* He is so gorgeous.

Cliff Curtis, who is an actor from New Zealand, plays Fire Lord Ozai (really bad guy.)

Finally good ole' Uncle Iroh, who is Zuko's uncle (my favorite character) played by Shaun Toub who is Iranian-American. (Good guy of the Fire nation.)

For the exception of Toub and Curtis, it's just weird to me that the bad people are played by actors of an Indian descent. And the good main characters who were presumably dark in the show are white in the movie. Just one more movie about how great and good all white people are and how bad people of a different race are.

I am not saying that we shouldn't let actors of a different race play in our movies. I love seeing all different kinds of people in films (especially Aasif, I was drooling when I saw him) but as bad guys? C'mon!

And don't even get started on Prince of Persia. Oh my Gods....Listen I don't care if it's based on a video game, all the people in the movie are white and they play Persian/Arabians. How fucked up is that? I have never seen it and truthfully I wouldn't be able to watch it.

Other than the race thing, from a Pagan view (like the movie Avatar, incidentally the same name) the movie lets us enjoy the beauty of a world that honors nature. There can never be enough movies like that! I always think (opposed to our lovely Pope) it's important that we have movies that endorse earth loving. The Fire nation seeks to destroy other nations, but some Fire benders like our friend, Uncle Iroh is in tune with nature and a rather nice guy, too. Again the show was so much better, it really endorsed the Elements. I thought that the way that they portrayed Asian culture within the show was great, along with the Greek elements thrown in there.

So that wraps my review up. I am not the type of feminist who likes making movie and book reviews (especially when it comes to race) so I apologize for the bad writing. If you want more information read the blog I linked above.

A very Eco-feminist analysis

This post on feministing.com addresses Naomi Kilen's post on the BP Oil Spill. Here is the link to Noami Klein's post.

I think that it's very interesting that Klein decided to write about the earth in that perspective and I am glad to read it. I have always thought that that our patriarchal corporations were treating the earth has they treat women (a major belief in Eco-feminism.) Poorly, in fact. Using the BP Oil Spill as an example of that fact is indeed satisfying. But the post raises a point. How can we change the way our corporations run? Can we change the way the earth is treated?

There has always been a sense of connectedness to Pagans and the earth for eons or at least modern day Pagans/Witches feel this. And to have this outlook be (re) introduced at this time is what I have been searching for. Yes. I think it's a wonderful start but Gaia Theorists and Pagans alike are not the ones bring this thought to the table other people are. The fact that religious feminist consciousness is not the norm nowadays makes me wonder.

Besides the non-spiritual feminists, I would like to address the notion that maybe this is either the beginning of the end or the beginning of the, well, beginning. This rather new to some feminists-Mother Earth being seen as a female entity of some sort and is treated the same oppressive way.

I am trying to do the best for the earth and it's people I can but one person is not enough. I try to sign petitions as much I can, recycle, and try to stay on the ball about our environmental problems. I am also thinking about creating a compost. I hope I can do more in the future but for right now I can do my part. Can you do yours?