Musings and Wanderings 8/1/18

I'm going to start this blog with a statement that is equal parts exceedingly obvious and painfully vulnerable:

It's ridiculously hard to write about important things when you don't trust your own voice or experiences.

Just pretend I'm the scared minifig and this blog is the mummy behind me.

I've been resisting starting a "business" blog (aka something slightly more formal than my shenanigans on Tumblr) for quite some time because of this very issue. I have over a decade of spirit work under my belt, I'm actively engaged in a variety of nerdy communities from fandoms to writing circles to gaming groups, and I'm definitely queer--so I know I have the "expertise" in my field(s) that all the marketing gurus say I need in order to succeed.

But I hate thinking of myself as an expert in anything. Especially things that are so personal and unique to individuals. I can't be an expert in anyone's experiences but mine. I can provide resources and things to mull over, cautionary tales and exciting new creations, but I don't feel like an expert.

Which certainly ties in with not trusting my own voice. I've always had trouble believing people would want to hear my point of view, my experiences, or my general thoughts--and I know I'm not the only one with that problem. I think it's a pretty common experience, especially among those of us who are marginalized in some way--aka those who have had to deal with being silenced in the past.

So I'm trying to put myself out there.

The entire concept behind Wandering Jotun Crafts is to provide a safe space, resources, and fun art for my little subsections of marginalized communities. For better or worse, that starts with being brave and creating a safe space around myself first, so I can expand that to those who want to join me on this quest.

So it's time to start this blogging thing and force myself to acknowledge the strength and importance of my voice and experiences.

Voices are capable of lifting weights, right?

Hopefully I can help a few people along the way.