Anthropologist Wade Davis once said of indigenous cultures, “These other cultures are not failed attempts to be us; they are unique manifestations of the spirit—other options, other visions of life itself.”
This powerful idea of "other options" and "remember(ing) what was never lost, only forgotten," is so encouraging and uplifting in these constricting and unimaginative times. I love your essay, Swarnali, and its reminder that we might still have the possibility of resurrecting "other options, other visions of life itself," if we welcomed the witch back into our hearts and minds.
I'll need to read it again of course, but my initial feeling is wonderful. Thank you.
That quote is so powerful Jonathan! Thank you for sharing it. My hope with this series is to tread on that path to search for those “other options”. As we begin looking we might find our eyes awash with wonder and awe, in possibilities of a new way of life.
Our times are tough and unyielding, demanding not only our focus on a more healthier way of coexistence with nature but also a holistic approach to both health and social life. In this attention grabbing world where respect and adoration is tokenised and hate is weaponised, I wonder, in trail of these stories, of what wisdom passed us by through these years of colonialism and capitalism, what opportunities of utopia we missed because we were focused on accumulating.
Thank you so much for your presence and attention to this. The world hence forward is a world of our making. Only we can decide how we can put the scattered pieces back together.
I shall be coming back to this essay and quoting from it, Swarnali. Such a powerful and gentle rehabilitation of witches the world over! Thank you for this gift in these darkest of times ✨🙏🏻
This was so powerful and fulfilling and beautiful and heartbreaking and … my goodness, my friend! I am so glad you lent your voice to this conversation because what a gift it is. I felt like I just left the most fascinating class, and I can’t wait to revisit it.
I love love love the bit about the found seals and amulets. I recently found a chunk of research on rediscovered seals of women in 13th century France and I can’t wait to get into it. The hidden power, the stripped narratives. We deserve them, thank you for this.
Anthropologist Wade Davis once said of indigenous cultures, “These other cultures are not failed attempts to be us; they are unique manifestations of the spirit—other options, other visions of life itself.”
This powerful idea of "other options" and "remember(ing) what was never lost, only forgotten," is so encouraging and uplifting in these constricting and unimaginative times. I love your essay, Swarnali, and its reminder that we might still have the possibility of resurrecting "other options, other visions of life itself," if we welcomed the witch back into our hearts and minds.
I'll need to read it again of course, but my initial feeling is wonderful. Thank you.
That quote is so powerful Jonathan! Thank you for sharing it. My hope with this series is to tread on that path to search for those “other options”. As we begin looking we might find our eyes awash with wonder and awe, in possibilities of a new way of life.
Our times are tough and unyielding, demanding not only our focus on a more healthier way of coexistence with nature but also a holistic approach to both health and social life. In this attention grabbing world where respect and adoration is tokenised and hate is weaponised, I wonder, in trail of these stories, of what wisdom passed us by through these years of colonialism and capitalism, what opportunities of utopia we missed because we were focused on accumulating.
Thank you so much for your presence and attention to this. The world hence forward is a world of our making. Only we can decide how we can put the scattered pieces back together.
Well-said
I shall be coming back to this essay and quoting from it, Swarnali. Such a powerful and gentle rehabilitation of witches the world over! Thank you for this gift in these darkest of times ✨🙏🏻
Thank you Annette for your presence and attention. Come back whenever you feel like. Berkana and I are always here for you.
Thank you for this gift on solstice 🙏
Thank you for the gift of your attention 💜
Happy Solstice!
Happy Solstice to you too!
Thank you
This was so powerful and fulfilling and beautiful and heartbreaking and … my goodness, my friend! I am so glad you lent your voice to this conversation because what a gift it is. I felt like I just left the most fascinating class, and I can’t wait to revisit it.
I love love love the bit about the found seals and amulets. I recently found a chunk of research on rediscovered seals of women in 13th century France and I can’t wait to get into it. The hidden power, the stripped narratives. We deserve them, thank you for this.
Amen