SCROLL FROM THE EDITOR
Welcome to the April 2023 edition of The Midnight Sun!
Happy April, everyone!
However you celebrate Spring holidays or Equinox, I hope that the weather is kind, the allergies are leaving you alone, and that you are having a lovely Spring-y experience in life right now. Because [Content Warning; Dad Joke] Hope SPRINGS Eternal! (I’ll see myself out…)
In any event, some days can feel harder than others, and there are a lot of things to have hard days over it feels like right now. I’m not going to get into specifics, but we’re all aware. We know. We have eyes and the internet. So I also have hugs for anyone that wants them or needs one but is afraid to ask. It’s okay to have struggle days too… even when the weather is nice.
BUT! Hopefully, we have some good news, good content, and a pleasant and welcome intermission to your day here in the form of The Midnight Sun. This month we have articles from Hex, Izzy, myself, and Abri. Meghan is our Member spotlight this month, we have a member-submitted art piece, photo gallery, and comic strip, and of course, we have a Spring playlist, for you to check out!
The Road to Gather is ever before us, and I am starting to get excited! Are you gonna be there? Do you have questions? Check out our Discord, come join the community, and join the conversations and Pre-Gather hype!
With or without allergies, whether Spring Break plans have come and gone, as graduations and summer vacations approach (so close, but feel so far away!), I hope this month’s newsletter finds you and yours well!
Enjoy, and we will see you again next month, friends!
Miranda (Frick)
Curator and Editor of TMS
Join us Sunday, April 16th for a free meditation presented by Cat Rogers on House Kheperu's Discord. Beyond the Flesh is a meditation that explores the unique power of the self that inhabits each of us. This meditation is intense. Participant discretion is advised. Content includes death, decay, and body horror. Group aftercare will be provided if needed. Are you interested?
HK Jams - Toxic Blooms
Spring be sprungin’ and HK is prepared with antihistamines and creative energies. Check out this month’s playlist and submerge yourself in the tunes that are keeping our members moving. Whether that be toe tappin’ or shaking your fist at having to resort to a roll of toilet paper once the allergies tapped you out of tissues.
A Guided Meditation
Something different today, readers. Won’t ya join me for a little guided meditation? A little reset? It’s Spring where I live, so the land is flush with green buds and a crisp breeze. Let’s use that to reset ourselves.
Sit back. Lay down. Get comfy. We’re finding our center today. (Can’t exactly tell you to close your eyes, how would ya read? Haha)
Breathe. In through the nose, feeling the rush entering your body. That is life. That is new beginning. That is an opportunity. Every breath is a new moment for change, a new cycle that keeps your heart pumping, your mind working, and your blood rich. Every breath is only a moment, and every second is an opportunity. If it takes a few breaths before you feel it, that’s fine. Keep breathing slowly until you feel it. Inhale… One. Two. Three. Four.
Hold that breath within. Where did it go? It went into you, your center. Your body is absorbing that life, that energy, this moment together. Count slowly. One. Two. Three. Four.
Exhale through your mouth. You are ridding waste, back into the universe to be reused. With it goes your stress, your illness, and your uncertainty. With this exhale, you release everything that isn’t you. One. Two. Three. Four.
Pause. Empty of breath. Stillness. This is the silence, a time for processing, of rest. You are flush with new breath, with new life. You are freed from what you held within for so long. Sit in this stillness for just a moment. One. Two. Three. Four.
The best part about breathing is that we do it our whole lives, and we get so good at it that it becomes a subconscious process. Your breath is a gift, and paying attention to it can give you insight into your current state of being. You can use this technique for a reset, anytime. Be blessed~ <3
-Izzy
House Kheperu Member Spotlight
Meghan
“It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness; that is life.” -Captain Jean Luc Picard
What interests you about energy work?
I love the discovery and mystery of it all; finding new ways to interact with the energy around me and observing the impact that it can have on the body, mind, and spirit. I’m always experimenting with different methods of energy working and thinking about the ways that it can be applied to various aspects of life.
What is one of your favorite movies?
The Lord of the Rings trilogy has shaped every part of my being.
The Villain Era
or Fuck Agreeability
Hello friends, and welcome to Tea With Hex!
This month, we're going to talk about taking your power back, in a very specific way. That's right, we're talking about your Villain Era, what that means, why it rocks, and why people are doing it. Make sure that tea is nice and hot this time. I recommend a spicy chai, as well, because that's the flavor profile of this article.
Let's get into it.
So what is a "villain era"? There have been all kinds of discussions about people, especially women, entering their villain era throughout the pandemic, right up through the present day. Spoiler alert: it doesn't actually have anything to do with committing crimes, or taking over the world. Well, maybe a little bit of taking back your own *personal* world. Pop culture is rife with imagery and obsession with archetypal "bad guys"; just look at how many people stan DC Comics' Joker. Although personally, I vibe much more strongly with Poison Ivy, who's just trying to take the world back from the nature-destroying capitalist patriarchy (and also protect her girlfriend from the aforementioned clown-painted abusive narcissist).
I remember as a child the first Disney villain I saw was Ursula the Sea Witch, and for no reason, I could pin down at the age of eight, I was immediately captivated. She was sassy, and strong, she had magic (a little foreshadowing, eh?), she didn't take any crap, and she was all the things. Of course, eight years later, as I was coming out and learning about gay culture and drag queens, I realized why Ursula spoke to me the way she had. Her dramatic demeanor, the way her burlesque background music merged with her movements, everything. Ursula was powerful, self-possessed, goal-oriented, and absolutely in charge.
The "villain era" trend is about tapping into the less agreeable parts of ourselves in a galling display of boundary-setting and self-advocacy that makes jaws drop and the narcissists in our lives shiver in their timbers. It is the antithesis of people-pleasing behavior. But why is putting yourself first considered villainous behavior? In an age of patriarchal oppression, it has become expected for marginalized groups to adopt agreeability so as not to ruffle the feathers of the regime in power. The very act of reclaiming our power becomes a rejection of agreeability. Rebellion against the status quo becomes a villainous act, from the perspective of our oppressors.
But it is also more than that. Entering your villain era is the next level of rejecting societal standards. People are in a renaissance of the self that embraces radical truth, owning your power, honoring your anger and your shadow, and becoming wiser in ways that enrich our relationships. We're not making the terrible judgment calls that we would normally make when we move with all emotion and no logic, and we're rescuing ourselves from low self-esteem. We know our worth, and we're not accepting anything less than what we deserve.
In order to keep a positive trajectory with this era, we need to set out with intention and an understanding of what we're trying to achieve in the long run; it wouldn't do for us to become actual villains in our quest for personal liberation. So let us embrace this radical attitude shift and reimagine a world where we don't need to be liked by everyone at all times. Set those boundaries. Learn the power of "no". Make better choices for yourself. Exist unapologetically. Take yourself on dates. You do not exist to please any of these assholes.
May First - Yes, I know it’s April. But seeing as the Newsletter comes out on the 14th of the month, Beltane will have come and gone before we chat again! And, if you’re up for it, I have a challenge for you. It takes a little explanation, though.
Celebrated as the first day of Summer in Ireland, May Day in many traditional circles and Pagan practices is called by a version of its original name, most commonly "Beltane". I have also seen it named Beltaine or Bealtaine, and a few other anglicized versions, but the original Scottish "Latha Buidhe Bealltainn" or in Irish, "Lá Buidhe Bealtaine" means 'the bright or yellow day of Beltane', means the first of May.
Traditionally celebrated on May 1st as the first day of ‘Summer’, I have no shame in admitting this used to mess me up as a kid! Why? Well, if May 1st was the first day of Summer (as even the Modern celebrations indicate), then why was Summer Solstice ALSO when "Summer officially started" in late June?!
But Frick, you say, May Day / Beltane isn't a recognized US holiday! This is true. But as the descendant of many different immigrant families including German, Irish, Scottish, and English in origin, there were some interesting (and in my opinion very cool) little tidbits of that heritage that came through in my upbringing.
In many countries outside of the U.S. and Canada, May Day is celebrated as International Labor Day - more a day off, worker appreciation day like our Labor Day in September, but obviously possessed of far fewer flowers, ribbons, and Maypole dancing than the ancient traditions. However, I suspect only slightly less drinking may be involved. As to why May Day or Beltane isn't recognized in the U.S. is quite a history. Resistance to promoting working-class unity, Puritanical persecution - y'know, the usual.
"The ruling class did not want to have a very active labor force connected internationally," said Peter Linebaugh, author of The Incomplete, True, Authentic, and Wonderful History of May Day. "The principle of national patriotism was used against the principle of working-class unity or trade union unity."
Surprised? Naw. Not me. But the knowledge can certainly make my personal and shared Beltane celebrations all that much more meaningful. To acknowledge and participate in a vibrant and historied celebration of life across the globe, to ride the natural energetic wave of "coming back to life" with the Northern Hemisphere after winter, and maybe a little biting of the thumb at the various forms of oppression and control that impacted the holiday to begin with, just add to the joy of the festivities.
Beltane traditions were tied to the waxing of the sun, the turnover of livestock to the summer fields, and protecting that resource, as well as beliefs that the Fae were more active at this time (as well as Samhain, the first day of Winter). Ritual and symbolic use of fire were (and are used) symbolically, as well as fertility practices. It's not hard to draw some conclusions about The May Queen and the Maypole... [clears throat]. I don't personally have any solid traditions, but I observe the changing of the season, the changing of the natural energies of the world, and what that means not only for me and my possible energetic endeavors but how that affects the world and people around me.
So, if you want that little challenge I mentioned, I'll leave you with this experiment in potentia;
As full Summer approaches, and the modern energetic tides turn to warmer weather, storms, school getting out, vacations, and the like - Does the world feel changed for you? What energies can you notice shifting?
There's a lot happening in the world right now, and there may be other more prevalent energies that shout the natural order down. Don't be discouraged by that, but acknowledge that you might have to really still, quiet, dig deep, and pay very close attention. Because the beauty of nature, and more acutely May Day, is that regardless of our actions as people, how we choose to define what a specific day or date means in a given decade or country... nature still turns. Weather happens and continues to change and react to us, and we continue to change and react to weather and nature, even if we're not conscious of that reaction in the moment.
So give Beltane / May Day a little mindfulness this year. Write it down. See what you can see, hear, or sense... and see what you might be able to lean into that helps fuel your goals, workings, aspirations, or even just your personal peace and celebration.
You might be surprised by what you'll find.
Call to the Blood
Our personal heritage refers to the cultural and traditional practices that have been passed down to us from our ancestors. These practices and beliefs are deeply rooted in our identity and can be a powerful tool for discovering paths of spiritual development. But what happens when we have lost contact with our heritage? In a time and place where we are becoming more aware of cultural appropriation and how it impacts us, it can be challenging to find a practice that feels right.
For mostly Eurocentric and white American cultures, the loss of our ancestral roots stretches back to the spread of Catholicism and Christianity. The same can be said for Black Americans or even Asian Americans who immigrated here or were brought here against their will via enslavement. Many of our recent ancestors felt the need to integrate into American culture, which meant abandoning our ancestral roots. Some did their best to preserve the family traditions and heritage via obfuscating aspects of the prevailing and dominating religious and cultural practices at the time. They are not to blame as they did the best they could for survival at the time. These more recent ancestors deserve our love, support, and respect for the hardships they faced, for many did not have that choice.
American culture is one dominated by Christianity. For some, Christianity is a spiritual path or practice that works for them, but what happens when it doesn’t or there is still a craving for something more? How can we supplement our current spirituality to achieve something that feels better for us on an individual level? What do we do to honor that empty space where something empowering should be? For those who are interested in searching, the answer may lie in our blood; our heritage. A reclamation of our ancestral roots may be the very thing we are craving. But how do we even begin? How do we reach back in time and connect with what feels at the moment like a chasm of loss?
Spirituality is a personal journey that involves exploring our inner selves and connecting with a higher power or divine presence. Many people find that reconnecting with their cultural heritage can provide a foundation for this exploration. How far back do we go? That depends on the person. It is tempting to appropriate various practices and traditions that are appealing from other cultures who have maintained the rich history and traditions of their belief over the generations. This practice might feel vibrant and rich, and our curiosity coaxes us to try it on for size. There is nothing wrong with resonating or practicing those traditions should they speak to you. Exploration and understanding are critical in our spiritual growth as we learn more about what does and doesn’t work for us. Taking someone’s cultural practice in pieces and parts without understanding the whole of the practice can be disrespectful. However, remembering that our roots provide us with a deep connection to our ancestors is a bold and respectful first step.
A quiet place to begin may be to make an ancestor altar to honor your familial dead. This altar doesn’t need to look any particular way or follow any particular practice. The ancestor space you create can just be a simple memorial space, especially if creating altars feels a step too far for you. The intention of opening the door to invite their presence into your life is a great place to begin, especially for those ancestors of countless generations back. Your instinct and intuition will be your first and most powerful driving force and when you are uncertain, trust in the power of the blood in your veins. It is also important to acknowledge that this practice doesn’t exclude any faith or spiritual practice as it is a practice of working with and honoring those before. It is not a practice of deification of your ancestors but one of acknowledgment and listening.
One way to use your personal heritage to discover paths of spiritual development is to explore the rituals and practices that were important to your ancestors. For example, if your ancestors were Greek, you might explore the significance of offerings to deities or charms and amulets meant to assist and empower you. If your ancestors were from a particular religious tradition, you might delve into the teachings and practices of that faith. This latter part may be difficult, especially for traditions lost to time. In this case, the relationship you build with your ancestors becomes your guide on how to engage with the innate spirituality within you. Do the research and be aware while you are exploring to respect the cultures and traditions. Be open and gentle in your learning by coming from a place of respect and reclamation.
Another way to connect with your heritage is through storytelling. Listening to the stories of your ancestors can provide insight into their values and beliefs, and help you understand how those values and beliefs have been passed down through the generations. This can be a powerful way to connect with your own spirituality. Are there odd traditions your family still performs or participates in? Are there quirks of superstition or charms of good or bad luck that have interlaced into your family? These are excellent points of reference to begin to build the story of your family and come to understand where they came from.
All the while, continue to cultivate your ancestor altar. Allow it to grow. Experiment with it. Does an ancestral grandmother want clean and clear water in a cup? Perhaps some distant relation enjoyed collecting pretty pebbles and stones? Do you have the urge to lay seasonal flowers on the altar or small bits of sweets like cookies or candy? Follow your instincts and meditate with your altar space. Listen to their desires and develop a relationship with them. With time, they may communicate in other ways such as bringing your attention to the practices of your blood.
Finally, incorporating elements of your cultural heritage into your daily life can be a way to deepen your spiritual practice. For example, if your ancestors were from a particular country, you might explore the traditional cuisine or music of that culture. Or you might incorporate elements of your cultural heritage into your meditation or prayer practice. This can be an area of expansion. You may find yourself running into the challenge of not being aware of where your family is from. Modern DNA tests can provide some clues into the cultures that build the unique mix of blood within you. At the very least, it can indicate a direction to begin research if you are deeply uncertain. Feel free to experiment, develop, rebuild, and reclaim aspects that feel correct for you. Honor the cultures you draw from. Forge the practice that speaks most deeply to you. Do not fear the mixing of cultures and also be prepared for there to possibly be a clash of cultures that experience will give you clarity on.
Ultimately, using your personal heritage to discover paths of spiritual development is about exploring the deep connections between your own identity, your ancestors, and the divine. By embracing and honoring your cultural heritage, you can deepen your spiritual practice and gain a deeper understanding of yourself and the world around you. Remember that in the exploration and discovery be respectful, be mindful of cultural appropriation, and know that your spirituality is your own. Just listen to your blood.
Spirit of Spring
by Miranda Harrell 2023
“Spring”
by M. Rutledge
