Happy Pride Month (& weekend for many of us,) y'all!
I started the week on a bit of a downer. My super queer, radical theatre company decided to let our lease go for the art gallery we've been running, primarily because of the disconnect between accessibility and pricing on the space. We've grown a lot in the space though, and having a place where people could find us made our business a million times better so this was a hard decision and is a very sad (although necessary) decision. It does feel empowering to know we could have kept going in the space. We were doing well with renters, and even if we increased rates a little we would have been fine--but there are key issues in the space itself and it just wasn't the best place to pour our resources into anymore. That decision and announcement felt like a rough start to Pride BUT we've got lots of great queer art planned for next season, and it is going to be a fabulous weekend regardless. One of my favorite theatres is running Queertopia 2017 Revolting Bodies * Beyond Flesh. It's always a mind-blowing experience that I'm hoping to catch. I always have very mixed feelings about the actual Pride festival in the park. I have trouble stomaching major corporations that just pulled out of funding major arts events to err on the side of conservatism tabling like they're so radical and queer friendly. This year though, Twin Cities Pride has scaled back on police presence in the wake of the heartbreaking Philando Castile verdict as much as they legally can. Tons of my friends are performing on various stages throughout the festival. I might even be jumping in for a quick improv set on Saturday. On top of that I've got two great shows to see outside of Pride: The Funny by Raw Sugar and Tease by Little Lifeboats. Not Pride related but featuring tons of LGBTQ+ artists and perspectives. I'll be ending the week then on notes that feel exciting and gay and radical as humanly possible, and I am grateful for that.
I'm feeling even more excited and hopeful after my Litha ritual with my closest friends last night. We had a private spot in a wooded area, a secret beach, and a beautiful bouquet of roses to wish on & with. It was the witchiest I've felt in awhile, and I'm so full of love and thanks for the people in my life and the trajectory my life seems to be on. We created beautiful magick, both aesthetically and spiritually.
I've stayed off the internet more than usual over the past couple of weeks. Some of that was related to being so on-the-go busy as opposed to "I have a lot of clients coming in and deadlines coming up" busy that I couldn't physically stare at the internet a lot. Some of it was to save myself energy. I've been watching the news, reading personal Twitter accounts, and taking part in direct action and creations instead of reading endless thinkpiece about how screwed up everything is. I've been taking friends to lunch to celebrate grad school graduations and birthdays instead of voraciously reading their stuff online (though I do keep up). So we're a little quicker today for the monthly link round-up. I also just felt like the series was a little too lengthy the past couple of times, so I wanted it to be quicker for y'all too. I did read some really fabulous things though, so here are some of my favorite links from the end of May and June.
On Resistance and Transformation
Pollen Midwest has a wonderful piece on successfully confronting white supremacy in the workplace that originated on the Twin Cities Daily Planet.
Teen Vogue continues to crush it with their take on lack of police accountability.
Some bittersweet musings on Pride that I relate to a gajillion percent.
One of the number one ways to create substantial change is to VOTE. AND in these next few elections, there's a couple of candidates worth your attention. Teen Vogue talks to four trans candidates running for office. (Two of them in my city and looking good to win!)
Alternatively, one of the reasons I'm losing even more faith in the system. Democrats don't care as much about pro-life legislation as they used to. Meanwhile I continue screaming into the abyss.
Tarot & Magick
There are a lot of scam "psychics" out there, and I do feel myself defending my field and my craft a lot. But what happens when you, as a tarot reader (or any small entrepreneur) get scammed?
HUGE SOLAR ECLIPSE IS COMING AND I'M BESIDE MYSELF.
Struggling to learn to read tarot? Jess Carlson has some lovely tips for you.
Similarly, Jessi Huntenberg talks about How to Give Awesome Tarot Readings here.
Over at The Tarot Lady, tarot deck creators delve into their creative processes for us.
If you're having trouble at work, Llewellyn has a great list of protective crystals to utilize.
Another easy to follow list, this time from The Witch of Lupine Hollow, and on starting your first magickal toolkit!
Getting Your Life Together
Zen Habits is a great beginner's guide to simplifying your life and incorporating Eastern philosophy in. This guide to "How to Love Your Dark Side" touched on a lot of recent conversations I've been having lately.
Sarah Von Bargen has a frank post about the choices you make (and how they create the life you lead) here.
I love quick quote round-ups and I love business advice from people who. have. been. there. This list of launch lessons from When I Grow Up Coach is both, and features some really high profile bloggers and solopreneurs.
Another great Tarot Lady post, this time on her writing process. This one is pretty juicy and full of tidbits for your own writing process.
Seth Godin on why you're missing out if you're only hitting greatest hits lists.
Queer Lifestyle (IE Not Politics)
My beloved Wonder Woman's queer history. (Seriously how are constant references to Sappho even considered coded?!)
The Mary Sue pays homage to five great bisexual TV characters from nerd-dom here.
David Sedaris has a new book I haven't bought yet, primarily because I need paperback for big, heavy books. Thanks, arthritis. But here's a lovely Q&A with him leading up to that.
Theatre & Art
If Black Lives Matter, why aren't you disrupting the narrative of white supremacy better? A scathing, important piece from Bitter Gertrude.
I loved this article from Howlround on your basic job as a director: getting out of the way.
Of Misc. Interest
I adore Halsey not only for her music, but because of her brazen conversations about bipolar disorder, being bisexual, and living an openly feminist life. Here's a great convo between her and complete and utter idol Debbie Harry.
A thing I relate too way too much from Jenny Lawson: "I'm less sick than before, but I'm also less than I was before."
One of the best things on veganism I've read in awhile. (I identify as "mostly vegan".)
Posters & art for the upcoming Black Panther movie are awe-striking. But some of y'all had the absolute most wrong response to them.
An in-depth history of advice columns and our obsession with them. I loved this!
AND the absolute only piece I read this month that it is fitting or appropriate to end my post today with: Mermaids are Cruel Bloodthirsty Succubbi...and Why That's A Good Thing.
That's it for me y'all! Have a good one!
Blessed be.
