Becoming Dangerous

1. Ritual is how we create meaning and reclaim power in a chaotic world.

What makes these arbitrary actions into rituals is the intention behind them.

Intention makes it powerful. In a world that often feels absurd and out of control, ritual provides a way to construct meaning and pull reason from chaos. Unlike prescribed religious practices, personal rituals are self-created, growing from individual bodies, spirits, and desires. By deliberately choosing to apply significance to actions, we cultivate deeper meaning and gain a specific type of self-wrought control.

Ritual as a response. When traditional methods of fighting, praying, or wishing for a better world feel ineffective, ritual offers an alternative path to survival. It provides strength, patience, community, and hope by centering the individual and their connection to the earth and loved ones, rather than systems of oppression. This act of self-centering becomes a source of power.

Becoming dangerous. Discovering power that hasn't been granted or allocated makes individuals threatening to those who hold it. Ritual helps summon this power for ourselves. It's about finding your rituals, finding your power, and finding your reason to become dangerous in a world that prefers you powerless.

2. Embracing self-possession and inherent power makes you dangerous to oppressive systems.

In unabashedly affirming my own dignity, I am becoming dangerous.

Knowing your power. The fundamental difference between a witch and a layperson is that a witch already knows they are powerful. This inherent self-knowledge, cultivated through ritual and intention, is a source of strength. When external forces seek to strip away rights and agency, adhering to practices that affirm one's dignity becomes an act of resistance.

Challenging control. Oppressive systems thrive on making individuals feel powerless and dependent. Self-possession, the state of being in control of oneself, directly counters this. Those who know their power and can channel it are threatening because they do not rely on external validation or permission.

Alchemy of pain. Self-possessed individuals alchemize their pain into healing, beauty, overcoming, and community. They harness the tools at their disposal, transforming vulnerability into armor. This internal cultivation of power, independent of external approval, is what makes one truly dangerous to the status quo.

3. Resistance manifests in diverse, personal rituals tailored to individual needs and experiences.

Each moment of my life, from the mundane to the magnificent, feels like ritual.

Personalized practice. Resistance isn't a one-size-fits-all approach; it's deeply personal and can be found in everyday actions. From applying lipstick as armor to finding solace in cleaning, individuals create rituals that provide strength and a sense of control in their unique circumstances. These arbitrary activities become powerful through intention.

Rituals for survival. In a world filled with irrational happenings and the normalization of suffering, personal rituals offer ways to survive and thrive. They can be simple acts like taking daily photos, walking a specific route, or even just sitting in contemplation. The key is the deliberate choice to imbue these actions with significance.

Beyond prescribed paths. Unlike rigid, externally imposed rituals, personal practices are fluid and adaptable. They grow out of individual bodies, spirits, and desires, offering a path to power that requires no one else's approval. This flexibility allows for continuous adaptation and discovery in the face of ongoing challenges.

4. Finding strength and agency in marginalized identities defies societal attempts to diminish worth.

I'm a slut and I love being a slut and I'm powerful when I'm a slut.

Defying expectations. Society often attempts to define and limit individuals based on marginalized identities like race, gender, sexuality, disability, or class. Reclaiming these identities and finding power within them is a direct challenge to these limitations. It's about refusing to be ashamed of who you are.

Visibility as power. For those whose identities are deemed "dangerous" or "unattractive" by dominant culture, simply existing visibly can be an act of resistance. Embracing aspects like fatness, queerness, or disability, and declaring them beautiful or powerful, reclaims agency and defies external judgment. This attention, even negative, can be transmuted into strength.

Challenging norms. Marginalized individuals often navigate a world not built for them, developing unique survival skills and perspectives. These experiences, often dismissed or pathologized, are sources of profound knowledge and resilience. Identifying as a "cripple-witch," a "queer femme," or a "slut" transforms labels of shame into declarations of power and self-acceptance.

5. Connecting with ancestry, land, and history grounds and empowers resistance.

To unbury history is to keep our ancestral traditions alive, and to connect with our ancestors is revolution.

Inherited strength. Many individuals find power by connecting with their ancestral lineages, particularly those with histories of resistance, survival, or spiritual practice. This connection provides a sense of belonging, inherited knowledge, and a link to a strength that transcends individual experience. It's a way to honor those who came before and draw on their resilience.

Land as a source of power. The land itself holds memory and energy, offering grounding and strength. Rituals that connect with the earth, specific places, or the history embedded in the soil can be deeply empowering. Understanding the history of a place, including its traumas and resistances, provides context for present-day struggles and inspires action.

De-colonizing self and practice. For those with colonized histories, connecting with pre-colonial traditions and ancestral messages is a vital act of decolonization. This involves rejecting imposed narratives and practices, listening to inner wisdom and ancestral guidance, and reclaiming cultural heritage as a source of power and truth. This process is essential for healing and authentic self-expression.

6. Beauty, adornment, and self-care are powerful acts of self-possession and resistance.

Beauty is dangerous.

Adornment as armor. In a world that polices and judges bodies, especially feminine ones, acts of self-adornment become powerful rituals of resistance. Applying makeup, styling hair, or choosing clothing can be seen as creating "femme armor," challenging expectations and reclaiming agency over one's appearance. This isn't about conforming to beauty standards, but about using appearance as a tool for self-expression and defiance.

Self-care as radical. Prioritizing one's own health and well-being, especially through dedicated self-care rituals, is a radical act in a society that often expects marginalized individuals to prioritize others. Taking time for oneself, whether through skincare routines, rest, or personal grooming, is an assertion of self-worth and a refusal to be depleted by external demands. It's a way to recharge and maintain the energy needed for resistance.

Beyond external validation. While beauty practices can be influenced by societal pressures, they can also be redefined as rituals for the self. This involves shifting the focus from seeking external validation to cultivating internal confidence and self-love. Whether it's painting nails, wearing lingerie, or creating art, these acts become powerful when performed with intention for personal empowerment and pleasure.

7. Physical training builds resilience and challenges patriarchal power structures built on perceived weakness.

Being weak is dangerous.

Strength as defiance. In a patriarchal society that often equates physical strength with power and leadership, particularly for men, women and nonbinary people building physical strength is an act of resistance. It challenges the implicit basis of male dominance and undermines the idea that physical difference justifies control. Becoming strong destabilizes the system.

Rituals of training. Disciplined physical practices like boxing or weightlifting become rituals that build not just physical strength, but mental and emotional resilience. They teach focus, discipline, and the ability to remain calm and effective under pressure. These skills are directly applicable to navigating a world that can be physically and emotionally threatening.

Beyond appearance. Focusing on what the body can do rather than how it looks is a powerful counter to societal pressures around appearance. Training provides a continuous positive feedback loop of improvement, offering a sense of accomplishment and agency that transcends external judgment. It's about prioritizing personal capability over conforming to beauty standards.

8. Healing trauma is a ritual of reclaiming the body, mind, and narrative.

Only self-acceptance through systematic acknowledgement, confrontation, and relinquishment of long-repressed trauma is granting me the release I've longed for.

Reclaiming the self. Trauma can fragment identity and make individuals feel disconnected from their bodies and experiences. The process of healing, often through therapy or personal rituals, is a deliberate act of piecing the self back together. It involves confronting painful memories, acknowledging their impact, and integrating fragmented parts of the self.

Rituals of processing. Specific rituals, whether talking in therapy, writing, or engaging in symbolic acts, provide safe spaces to process trauma. These acts allow individuals to revisit difficult experiences on their own terms, gaining control over narratives that were previously imposed or overwhelming. It's about transforming the experience from something that happened to you into something you actively work through.

Finding power in vulnerability. Sharing trauma, even just with a therapist or through art, requires immense bravery. This vulnerability, often seen as weakness, becomes a source of power. By speaking the unspoken and bringing hidden pain to light, individuals reclaim their voices and assert their right to heal and exist fully. This process is a profound act of self-acceptance and empowerment.

9. Community, solidarity, and shared wisdom amplify individual power and provide essential support.

My independence is both a result of and dependent upon my coven.

Collective strength. While personal rituals are powerful, connecting with others who share similar experiences or goals amplifies that power. Communities, whether formal covens, online groups, or close friends, provide support, shared wisdom, and a sense of belonging that combats isolation. This collective energy strengthens individual resolve.

Sharing knowledge and skills. Within supportive communities, individuals share knowledge, strategies, and practical skills for navigating challenges and resisting oppression. This exchange empowers everyone involved, building collective capacity for action and resilience. It's about lifting each other up and recognizing that mutual aid is essential for survival.

Emotional labor and care. Building and maintaining community requires emotional labor, often gendered work, but it is crucial for creating safe and supportive spaces. Rituals of checking in, offering support, and celebrating together foster bonds that sustain individuals through difficult times. Friendship and chosen family become vital sources of love and strength.

10. Reclaiming sexuality and pleasure is a defiant act against shame and control.

Reclaiming my body by exposing it to audience members was life-changing.

Defying slut-shaming. Society, particularly patriarchal culture, attempts to control and shame women's sexuality. Reclaiming one's sexual agency, embracing pleasure, and openly expressing desire are powerful acts of defiance against this control. It's about rejecting imposed morality and asserting ownership over one's body and desires.

Sex magic and intention. Harnessing sexual energy and orgasm with intention can be a potent form of magic. This involves directing this powerful energy towards personal goals, whether they are sexual or not. It's about recognizing the inherent power within one's own body and using it consciously.

Pleasure as resistance. Finding pleasure, whether alone or with trusted partners, is a way to center oneself and affirm self-worth. It counters narratives that depict marginalized bodies or sexualities as undesirable or shameful. Rituals around sex, lingerie, or self-pleasure become acts of self-worship and empowerment.

11. Finding magic and value in the unwanted, discarded, or unconventional.

What was not good enough for somebody else, what felt unneeded, becomes essential to their survival.

Trash magic. Power and value can be found in places and objects that society deems worthless or unwanted. Like raccoons building homes from scraps or squirrels foraging for necessities, individuals can find strength and resources in the discarded. This involves seeing potential where others see only trash or decay.

Unconventional tools. Magic doesn't require expensive or traditional tools; it can be found in everyday items or unconventional materials. From milkcrates used as furniture to discarded flowers or bones, the unwanted can be repurposed and imbued with meaning and power. This creativity challenges conventional notions of value and resourcefulness.

Embracing the unconventional self. Just as value is found in discarded objects, power is found in embracing aspects of oneself that are deemed unconventional or undesirable by society. This includes finding strength in physical differences, mental health struggles, or non-normative appearances. It's about recognizing that what makes you different can also make you powerful.

12. Art and creativity serve as portals for resistance, healing, and connecting across time and space.

Art will open doors you never knew existed.

Art as documentation and resistance. Creativity, whether painting, writing, music, or photography, serves as a vital tool for documenting the present and resisting oppression. Art captures experiences, tells stories, and preserves cultures that dominant regimes attempt to erase. It is a form of hope and survival during times of conflict.

Creating portals. Art can function as a magical portal, weaving together time, memory, ancestry, and spirit. By incorporating historical elements, land memory, or symbolic imagery, artists create doorways that invite viewers to connect with deeper truths and energetic messages. This process can facilitate healing and inspire change on personal and collective levels.

Beauty as a weapon. Beauty in art is not frivolous; it is a powerful force. It can convey complex messages, challenge perceptions, and push through the cracks of oppressive systems. By finding beauty in despair or depicting difficult truths through compelling visuals, artists create work that resonates deeply and fosters curiosity, which can lead to revolution.

Last updated: May 11, 2025