Wait, you want it…when?!
me.
Hmmm….where to begin. I think I was sitting in the waiting room at the cardiac center inside EMMC about a year and three quarters ago when the crazy idea to pitch a book to Llewellyn occured to me.
Call it hubris. Call it the need to feel busy. Call it hope for some sort of future. I don’t know. But, it actually turned into a book contract! Now, the cat’s out of the bag. Well, the cover is. And as for bags, I’m wondering if I need to breathe into one.
Seriously, it’s a good thing. It’s just…a lot. Keeping it real.
So, I have an announcement all prepared. But for you all who ever read my blog, you get the real scoop. I’m in that carnival ride zone half way between laughing, screaming, and puking. I didn’t even want to talk about this whole project until a certain point. But I guess that point is here. You’ll look the other way and pretend I didn’t say anything if it all turns to pooh, right? Kay. Here’s all the stuff that I already wrote down about what this thing’s about.
“Spinstress” refers to magickal womxyn who weave and spin their own lives. It vibes off the old-school term “spinster,” because working womxyn at the dawn of industrialism often worked in the textile factories. The term spinster became something very negative, and that is what we are trying to smash (along with the toxic elements of what we call “patriarchy” that no longer serve any damn body in the long run).
“Womxyn” invites anyone of any gender to join the path if womxyn’s magick calls to them. The spells are about love, money, sex, career, family, power, arcane occult lore, and just a little bit of chocolate.
Seriously, you won’t believe the layers of magickal and semi-random awesomeness I’ve curated for this. I’ve got pumpkin spice lattes. I’ve got yoni eggs. I’ve got consecrated sex toys. I’ve got wards and sigils for self-defense (as well as security cameras and safety plans).
I’ve got glamour magick that works on a pair of Docker boots just as well as some Louis Vuitton heels. I’ve got obscure outtakes from infuriating Medieval manuscripts and Victorian “medical” books.
I’ll teach you how to call dragons, make and charge magickal oils, and speak the secret language of flowers. I’ve got unicorns (as sexual psycho-pomps). I’ve got black cats, broomsticks, and badass pointy hats. I’ve got the effing holy grail. I don’t even know what else to say.
Sound good? I hope you will find this book both helpful and fun. Some of the topics are heavy and some are just a laugh. Most are a bit of each. I hope that you find it a jumping off point to take the spinstress path and weave a lot more magick of your own.
One thing I encourage in the book is the use of our own musical playlists. These will come in handy for rituals, sex, cleaning the bathroom, or maybe even trying to do all three at once. Let me know if you figure out how to make that work. I’ll want your playlist.
I hope you can access it, because I tried making an introductory spinstress playlist on youtube. I’ll list the songs and what topics in the book they go with. If you can’t get my list, you can download them on your own at the platform of your choice. Feel free to share your own music ideas that seem to have the same vibes! I’m breaking it roughly into the types of chapters I have in the book.
Witchy and Magickal (hey, it’s that kind of book):
- Yes, I’m a Witch by Yoko Ono. The completely incomprehensible lyric (you’ll know when you get there) is “Don’t try to make cock-pecked people out of us.” Now you’re gonna download it just to hear that, right?! Yoko. Effing. Ono.
- Witchy Woman by the Eagles. I know, it’s old school. I shouldn’t say old because it came out the year I was born. Good ole ’73. Not too ole though.
- Witchcraft, by Frank Sinatra, cause Frank reminds me of NY. Shout out to my home state.
- Magic by Coldplay. The video is quite good. Lush.
- I put a spell on you. Nina Simone is untouchable but IZA did a very good recent cover.
- Sinnerman, by Nina Simone. Because I went through ridiculous angst about which version of the prior song to give you. Bonus Nina Simone. You’re welcome.
- Season of the Witch. Okay, this was a Donovan single but there have been so many good womxyn covering it. Erykah Badu, Joan Jett and recently Lana Del Ray. Pick your poison (apple).
- I never wear white, by Suzanne Vega. I actually do wear white, but it’s a badass song.
- Which Witch, Florence and the Machine. The video is super weird.
- Lily, by Kate Bush. We had to have some classic Kate Bush. Cast your magick circle with this song and you’ll be rock solid.
Sex and Love: It was hard not to let Lizzo just take over this whole thing but I did leave room for a couple other folks.
- All is full of love, by Bjork. There’s a lyric nobody can understand and doesn’t show up on any transcriptions, which is “And even in my doubt (all is full of love).” It irritates me that nobody knows that one so there you go. Beautiful song.
- Adore you, by Miley Cyrus. A little on the nose but I think it’s pretty and the sentiment is good.
- Angel, by Sinead O’Connor. Gorgeous song.
- Truth hurts, by Lizzo. Watch the official video. Fab.
- Scuse Me, by Lizzo. Ditto on the video. In fact, this video and the song itself tell us so many counter-cultural things it may take you two or three viewings/listenings just to get over your case of amIreallyhearingthis? Enjoy.
- Fuck love, by Iggy Azalea (playing devil’s advocate, I guess).
- Boys, by (guess who?) Lizzo. Good video.
- You are, by G Tom Mac. Alas, this one’s not on youtube. It’s obscure but it’s on his 2008 album, “Thou Shalt Not Fall.” This guy only gets credit for being a one-hit wonder for the Goth classic, “Cry Little Sister.” He’s actually got a lot of good songs, most of which he wrote himself. He collaborated a lot with Roger Daltrey at a certain point. They did a duet cover of “Child of mine” that’s a face-melter. But I digress. I do that.
- You’ve got the love, by Florence and the Machine. I’m pretty sure this one is about god, but you call it.
Power (Note, a lot of these songs use words some find triggering like b***h and n****r. Where they are used, they are used by people who have a right to claim them based on identity and context. I think so, anyway. Just letting you know there are power words in here that we have to be mindful about):
- Big God, by Florence and the Machine. Video is amazing.
- Power, by Rapsody and featuring Kendrick Lamar. It was the other way around in the mainstream release, but this is her cut.
- UNITY, by Queen Latifah. It’s old but it paved the way for womxyn in hip hop. It’s also really frikkin good.
- Goddess, by Iggy Azalea. The girl can spit.
- Like a Girl, by Lizzo. So awesome.
- Mother’s Daughter, by Miley Cyrus. Watch the official video if you dare. She more than compensates for the gooiness of Adore you, here.
- Greater Powers, by G Tom Mac. His voice is, well, powerful. Interesting use of the Indian frame drums here.
Self-esteem:
- Crown, by Rapsody. Nice video.
- This is me, by the cast for The Greatest Showman soundtrack (or solo by Keala Settle).
- You Need to Calm Down, by Taylor Swift. You need to watch the official video. It’s at least half the impact of the song.
- Run the world (Girls) by Beyonce. The video is weird. Just saying.
- I’m Better, by Missy Elliott with Lamb. Her videos are incomprehensible gorgeousness.
- Fitness, by Lizzo. Video. Now.
- Impossible is nothing, by Iggy Azalea.
- Good as Hell, by Lizzo. I told you she was trying to take over the whole list!
Holy Grail (Yes, there’s a whole section of music for Medieval research and such like. Just me? Also, I like soundtracks.):
- Outlander, Season 1: People disappear all the time, The skye boat song, Dance of the druids, The woman of Balnain.
- Kingdom of Heaven: Burning the past, Coronation, Sibylla, Path to heaven.
- The DaVinci Code: Kyrie for the Magdalen, Poison Chalice, Malleus Maleficarum.
Listening to all that should keep you busy until the book comes out! I’m not sure exactly when that it. It’s going in the 2021 catalog. Beyond that, I’ll keep you posted! Wait, when’s the second draft due? Tomorrow? Where’s that paper bag?
