zine 1: d.i.y. magic

as kids, we made up a system of magic out of seemingly thin air, and it served our particular needs. magic allowed us to settle disputes between our friends, develop our morality, hex mean kids, and create a world controlled by us instead of the adults. we thought we created it from scratch, but of course we stole from the culture around us (90’s Berkeley). we used what we were given. cultural appropriation is very tempting when trying to rediscover magic as an adolescent and adult. don’t do it. old traditions, religions from around the world, and practices of “shamanic”, “tribal”, “primitive” cultures look like powerful tools to add to your magic toolkit. don’t do it. use what you were given. practitioners in positions of privelege (white, cis, male, etc) should be especially cautious when “borrowing” from other cultures and covens. even if you are invited into a magic practice, or taught by an “expert / ambassador” from another culture, bring a grain of salt with you (besides what you need to draw a rune circle). magic is largely about power, and empowering those who are marginalized in society. don’t take power that isn’t yours to take. bsides, we don’t need established religious and social traditions to do magic. we just need crayons, tape, and our childhood suspension of disbelief.