Drumming Amazon

Drumming Amazon
Drumming DykeAmazon

Big Dyke from SF Dyke March

Big Dyke from SF Dyke March
MasterAmazon

Monday, February 28, 2011

Controversy around wbw space for Amazon Lilith Rite at Pantheacon

This is my response:

I AM an Amazon Warrior and a Butch Dyke. I circle in mostly Dianic circles and certainly women only ones. I also teach Amazon mysteries and for me, they are meant to be for bio female women born women only…the womb is a part of it, but there is also an energy between women that stems from our bodies since birth, and for those retaining their Female proud identity. While Z spoke perhaps unskillfully about the Dianic tradition, and it’s unfortunate that Rabbit didn’t make it clearer that the Amazon workshop was exclusively for born females only, there has been an onslaught against not just women born women space, i.e Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival both by those born male living as transfemales, but also those born female living as male/genderqueer. I’ve heard all the trans rhetoric before, have known my fair share of trans of either gender, ect. ect. ect. There is an impasse. In many folks mind there is NO reason why we should defend born female space, by and for those born as females, whether you’re Butch, Femme, androgynous, Amazon, whatever, living in a Female body AS a Female. And Females come in many stripes.

Those born male have had privileges they won’t own up to, especially autogynophilic transsexuals/transgenders who had successful careers as powerful men, married to women AS A MAN, with very male privilege, then come into the Lesbian community and expecting us to kowtow to them and their needs in the same manner as straight women kowtowed to them in the straight world. A stridency and assumption of privilege NEVER taking ‘no’ for an answer.

Those transitioning or considering themselves male or some version of male don’t belong in women born women space either because they are not Female Proud. They reject their female identity. I understand the pain being a Butch Lesbian of the discrimination in the work world, out on the street and in my own family of what it is like not to be ‘feminine’ and rejecting of femininity WHICH DOES NOT EQUAL WOMONHOOD OR FEMALENESS, ANY MORE THAN MASCULINITY EQUALS MALENESS, both are social constructs, and NOT physical or sexual realities, and the discrimination for not fitting into society’s boxes. This I do thoroughly understand and have my OWN incidents on the streets and with folks in the world for not being ‘gender conforming’.

And yet Dianic Wicca has given me immense pride in being Female, in being a Lesbian(the Dyke Witches brought me out)and in the POWER of bio Females of all stripes coming together to worship Goddess. There is a special magic to it that goes beyond words, but to pure energy. I have felt it particularly in Amazon rituals I have led where there are more Butch Females present, many Lesbians and very strong Femmes. It IS a bio-female Mystery. And the Amazon Traditions are somewhat different and even a bit wilder than strictly Dianic Wicca….but very parallel to that Tradition in many ways. AND WBW ONLY!

Trans individuals HAVE THEIR OWN MYSTERIES to explore rather than riding the coattails of Lesbians, Lesbian and Female Traditions, communities or spaces, and it goes back to the Castrati of the Goddess Kybele, who removed their male members(penises) in ecstatic rites to the Goddess Kybele, and lived as eunuchs and/or MTFs the rest of their lives. Janus was another bi-gendered Diety as well that could be honored, and there’s NOBODY saying that ANY individual cannot invoke ANY Diety, Male or Female or Both or Inbetween that Calls to them.

What we are saying is that we have our OWN Rites and it is just as discriminatory to INSIST on having access to them, as it would be if I INSISTED on attending Native American ceremonies without permission by actual Natives because I ‘vibe’ with Native Traditions and identify hugely with their people and energies….OR I ‘vibe’ with African American folks and insist on being part of THEIR rites, whether invited or not, because I have a right to, and they’re being discriminatory if they don’t allow me….that is cooptation at it’s very worst, and the trans community in either direction have particularly focussed on the bio female women’s communities and Lesbian communities and INSISTED on their ‘rights’ to be in our spaces, whether we agree to it or not.

There is an integrity to the Female body, from birth, from coming outside our Mother’s wombs as born Females, being raised as Females whether we conformed to appropiate ‘gender roles’ or not, or resisted feminization like so many Butches have, went through puberty AS FEMALES, came into menarche AS FEMALES, and chose whether to have children or not, come out as Lesbians and be free from childbearing, or practiced a lifetime of birth control, and looked to all of the world for a place to find home, as I have with Amazon mysteries, from the age of 10, in 5th Grade, when the Goddess first Called to me through studying the Greek religion and myths in school, searching for a Female Diety that more reflected my Female body, and a people that reflected my tomboy sensibilities that WAS NOT MALE…the Amazons, and the Maidens of Artemis. To get into the martial arts in the mid ’70′s when few girls or women were doing martial arts, and even full contact, that grew my Amazon capabilities; and to see that same Amazonian energy in other bio Female women I sparred; and to eventually come out as a Dyke and to meet Dyke Witches in my Feminism and Philosophy Class and go to my first women only rituals and wake up something that has stirred inside me lifelong.

This is a VERY DIFFERENT Path than what those born male, or even intersex have gone through, and later decide to transition to female; and certainly those who decide they really are male and that Lesbian or Butch identity is not enough for them and they really feel they are males.

-To my Sister Amazons, Female proud Butches and Dianics stay strong,
-FeistyAmazon

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Boycott these products which support the Wisconsin union buster Koch Brothers Industrialists

February 22, 2011
Boycott Koch Industries Products
Here is a complete list. A bit shorter than the others because I don't list every Georgia Pacific product. Just don't buy anything made by Georgia Pacific.

Angel Soft toilet paper
Brawny paper towels
COMFOREL® fiberfill
COOLMAX® fabric
CORDURA® fabric
DACRON® fiber
Dixie plates, bowls, napkins and cups
Georgia-Pacific (All Products)
LYCRA® fiber
Mardi Gras napkins and towels
PHENREZ® resin
POLARGUARD® fiber
POLYSHIELD® resin
Quilted Northern toilet paper
Soft ‘n Gentle toilet paper
SOLARMAX® fabric
SOMERELLE® bedding products
Sparkle napkins
STAINMASTER® carpet
SUPPLEX® fabric
TACTEL® fiber
TACTESSE® carpet fiber
TERATE® polyols
TERATHANE® polyether glycol
THERMOLITE® fabric
Vanity fair napkins
Zee napkins

"So, the corporate whores have succeeded in “taking their country” back and now corporate lobbyists and apologists are set to take committee chairmanshipsto help screw over the American middle-class in the next two years. This situation would not have occurred without the so-called grassroots “Tea Party” which were actually bankrolled by the Koch Brothers (who are sons of Fred Koch, one of the charter members of the John Birch Society).

The Koch Brothers are two “self made” wealthy industrialists who owe their immense wealth due partly to lucking out in the genetic lottery, but also to billions of dollars in government subsidies they receive for their oil and gas, lumber, energy, and other resource-dependent companies that could not survive in a “true” free market without such support.

Yes, that’s right, the same folks behind the virulent “limited government” and “cut entitlement spending” screeds this past election cycle, wholly survive by sucking away at the government’s teat to ensure their wealth at the expense of economic security for the rest of us.

Well, although the election has passed and the results that the Kochs were putting the money down have materialized, we can still choose to vote with our dollars.

This past August, a list of Koch Brothers products was posted on DailyKos. The following is a reprint of that list, with a simple suggestion that when you’re at the store and you’re about to purchase one of these products, just take a moment and instead buy a similar product that is just to the side.

It is really very easy to boycott Koch Bros products, it only takes a few seconds during your routine shopping trip. Just because they gobble up our tax dollars in their huge maw doesn’t mean they need to take our discretionary dollars as well. “The power of the marketplace”- isn’t it a fun thing?"

-- Juneau Smog - List of Koch Bros. products to boycott

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Empowerment

What is empowering for you? As a Dyke, as a Female, and if you're Butch, as a Butch, if you're a Femme Dyke, as a Femme Dyke...but most of all, overall as a Female?

For me, it's the martial arts. Nothing calms me down like sparring and kicking ass....and testing my skills against another talented martial artist. Gets out my aggressions, but feeds my Amazon power and tests my Will. I work out with a community of martial arts pals, some I've known as long as 20 years. We are a family, Black, White, Asian, Male, Female, though I'm the lone Dyke. Wasn't always so, but is for now, and yet fully accepted. We range from kids to 61. So, at 50, I know I can keep doing this at least till 60 if I keep myself fit enough. It also keeps my skills sharp should I need them on the street or in other situations, or to protect other women if need be. To keep me spiritually, emotionally and physically empowered.

Another is doing ritual with other women, especially Amazon ritual, connecting with Sister Dykes in power and strength. But most rituals these days there are few Butches coming to our women only spaces..so many are identifying as male or some version thereof and 'queer', and not attending women only spaces anymore. I LOVE that I can still ritual in born female women only spaces, but it saddens me to see, other than the Amazon rituals I lead, I am often the lone Butch in most Dianic circles, or there are just a couple others in a sea of mostly feminine women, often most who are straight or bi, and a smattering of soft Lesbians....but nonetheless if it's a well done ritual to Goddess, I leave calm and centered, at peace, and ride that ritual high for at least a day..then I know energy has been moved. And yet, oftentimes women are afraid to REALLY claim their power! They hold back, unless they've been doing it a long time, like myself, or a wildwoman or fierce Dyke.

The thing I must integrate is my worklife...I need to figure out to be fully empowered in my worklife. This I have not yet figured out and may have to change careers since opportunities in the one I have been trained for for so many years has dried up in this economy, with the death of affirmative action, there is no need to hire women in a male dominated field, especially a big Butch Dyke like myself....many are suffering with up to 20% unemployment, or higher. I want right livelihood, but will likely settle for the first job to come along, for survival issues. If I am not on this blog for awhile, that's why...looking for work...in the survival mode. I'm sure many of you have suffered as well, especially the more 'out' or Butch or Dykey in appearance you are. And yet...and yet...I WANT to find a way to do my 'right livelihood' where I can be happy and fully myself. THAT would be empowering indeed.

So, what is empowering for you???
-In Sisterhood,
-MasterAmazon