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If You Haven't Yet Realized that We are Political...

9/28/2020

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I’ve had a realization lately, y’all. Honestly, it’s a little embarrassing that it took me this long to get there. But here we are; better late than never.

So, what is this realization?

It’s impossible to separate Wandering Jotun from politics, and that’s not a bad thing. 

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Due to a variety of reasons, I have a pretty intense knee-jerk reaction when it comes to “being political.” For better or worse, this aversion to being openly “political” has seeped its way into affecting Wandering Jotun. Something I am creating to help marginalized folks, like myself.
So how did I possibly convince myself that politics had no place here? Like, wow, self. That’s some impressive denial.

I have the ability to step away and hide from political conversations, thanks to being a white, cishet-passing person--and I’m fully aware of that being a manifestation of my personal privilege that so many others don’t have.

I’ve been wrestling with this intense guilt and shame of using (maybe even abusing) that privilege over the last several months. As I’ve watched from the sidelines as social injustice runs rampant through my country, I’ve struggled with wanting to speak out but also wanting to keep this “safe space” where I just provide support without drama or politics.

Yeah, okay, that was ridiculously naïve and silly, and I’ll be the first to admit it. 

This realization that Wandering Jotun is inherently political, because society politicizes the very existence of marginalized people has been a fire under my feet and a hammer to my chest. It’s made me want to get back on the horse, to speak out, to do something to provide the support and community that inspired this entire project. And it’s also activated intense anxiety that I haven’t done enough, shame that I hid inside my own privilege, and outright fear of going down this path while the world grows more and more dangerous for marginalized communities.

So. What now?

Now, I think, I work toward embracing the fact that this is my resistance, my way to fight the injustice, and that it’s also a place where my political views have to co-exist with creating. I have to find my own personal balance between caring for my mental health and being out here as a creative activist.

I don’t have any answers. I don’t know what’s coming down the pike (but I have a feeling it’s going to be pretty shitty).

But I do know that I can’t hide any more. So, here I am. In all my messy, depressed, anxious, liberal-as-fuck glory. If we can call it glory.


I’m not a fighter, and I’m not a politician, but I have skills and support to lend to those who are. And, as much as part of me rails against it, that is political. And it’s okay.

- Nonir

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P.s. Don't forget to grab a copy of the Apocalypse Survival Kit before the price goes up on October 20th!
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Brain Beasties Oracle Reading Ideas II

2/25/2020

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Ready for more ideas on how to use the Brain Beasties Oracle? Check out last week’s ideas and get ready to dive in.

As a reminder: it’s important to remember about oracle decks (and, in my opinion, all divination techniques) is that we can’t tell the future. They’re used to help with introspection and discovering hidden parts of ourselves, and sometimes for communicating with spirits. Though the Brain Beastie deck was definitely designed for the goal of self-knowledge and self-improvement. 


So this week, I want to give you some ideas on using the deck in the more well-known format of card spreads. Yes, you can use oracle cards in spreads just like you can use tarot. This deck may not be the best for all types of card spreads, but you can definitely get creative!

Three spreads I particularly like for the Brain Beasties deck:
  • This Healing Insights spread from The Traveling Witch
    • Card #1: What energy brought me to my current situation?
    • Card #2: Who do I need to be to move through my current situation?
    • Card #3: Who in my life can help me out of this situation?
    • Card #4: Who do I need to release to move out of this situation?

  • This self-care spread from Pinterest:
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  • This spread to cope with burnout and fatigue from Emerald Lotus Divination.

And, of course, you can totally make up your own spreads to suit your needs. Autostraddle, of all places, has a great post on how to create your own tarot spreads, which applies to oracle cards, too.

Do you have any favorite oracle card spreads? Share them in the comments!

- Nonir

P.s. Brain Beastie Oracle Deck preorders are open right now! Just click here to order your deck. <3
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Being Seen in Media

1/28/2020

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We’ve all heard that representation is important in media. I would bet you’ve come across that Whoopi Goldburg quote about seeing Nichelle Nichols on TV for the first time (I’ve put it in here, just in case).
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Representation is important. 

I see the GLBTQ character and automatically assuming the creator is going to make them a stereotype, or kill them off--and I’m pleasantly surprised when it doesn’t happen. I see the Pagan and know the story’s going to involve blood sacrifice and really extreme, bizarre Satanism.

I see the nerd and know they’ll either get a makeover to be the pretty, popular kid, or be the butt of every joke until they have the random, obscure knowledge the save the day. I see the neurodivergent character and know there’ll be some ‘snapping point’ eventually where they go on a murderous rampage or the people around them just can’t deal any more.

Media is very, very slowly catching up and beginning to include more representation. But it’s still exhausting seeing yourself on screen or on the page as a stereotype. And, sometimes, we can start to internalize those messages that that’s who we are.

But we aren’t. We’re living, breathing people--not stereotypes and clichés.

Every time I do a panel or workshop about writing minority characters, someone inevitably asks if I have examples of writing them well. I struggle to come up with some, every time. There’s a few standbys I always go to that make me in particular feel seen (listed below), but the list is...depressingly small.

That’s why I write my own stories, both fanfic and original.

I write stories that feature diverse casts as people, going through the same fantasy and scifi adventures straight white cis folks get to go on. It’s cathartic, terrifying, rough, and wonderful. But I hope that, someday, they can at least help someone feel seen the way I want to be seen.

Because we all deserve to be seen, represented, and respected. It shouldn’t be that hard.

- Nonir
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My examples of good minority writing: 
  • Steven Universe 
  • Tamora Pierce’s Circle of Magic series 
  • Elementary 
  • Leverage 
  • I, Zombie (the show; I haven’t read the comic) 
  • SAGA 
  • Wicked and Divine 
  • Gail Carriger’s The Fifth Gender 
  • Aces High, Jokers Wild, and the Parmeshen webcomic by me and my cowriter 
  • Time Taken by C.B. Lewis
  • Young Avengers (2013) 
  • Monster Prom (okay, technically, it’s all monsters, but there are some really beautiful arcs that echo trans and queer narratives) 
  • Finding Life on Mars by Jason Dias
  • Travelers by V.S. Holmes 
  • American Gods (both the book by Neil Gaiman and the show) 
  • Good Omens (the show)
  • Perception
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Spiritual Imposter Syndrome

1/21/2020

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Raise your hand if you’ve ever had imposter syndrome! So, that’s like, all of us. Sweet.

Most of the time, we talk about imposter syndrome is the context of creating or working. That feeling that you’re just making shit up and don’t know anything and sooner or later everyone’s going to figure out that you’re only here because of a mistake. It’s a really awful, shameful feeling.

But imposter syndrome doesn’t only hit us at work. It can also crop up in unexpected places, like our spiritual lives.

I find this to be particularly true for those who do any sort of magic, or psychic/spirit work, but it can hit anyone at any time. Because our brains suck, let’s be real.  If I’m honest, spiritual imposter syndrome is one of the things I struggle with the most.

So what might spiritual imposter syndrome look like?

  • Dismissing unexplained experiences and sensations 
  • Constantly seeking approval from folks positioned as teachers or leaders 
  • Getting way too many divination readings instead of trusting your own instincts 
  • Feeling like you’re just fooling yourself about your path or experiences 
  • Etc. 

Basically, it’s that nagging worry that you don’t quite fit, aren’t quite right, are making things up, or are just faking things for attention. Not to get all psychological up in here, but a lot of these feelings can stem from the shame of being different (or being “too normal,” depending on the circumstances). Especially on a pagan path in an Abrahamic-leaning world, where intimate connections with astral beings aren’t really A Thing.

But here’s the good news.

You aren’t alone and you aren’t an imposter.

One of the things I’ve noticed is that most people who struggle with spiritual imposter syndrome tend to be on the right track, for lack of a better term. Sure, we might not be 100% on top of things all the time. But we generally have a better grasp on our experiences, beliefs, and discernment than we think we do.

So go forth and tell that imposter syndrome to fuck right off. You’re better than that.

- Nonir

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Facing 2020

1/7/2020

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Well, 2020 is definitely...a year so far. I know a lot of us were hoping this year would be better than the last and are already staring down tragedy after tragedy. I’ll be honest: it’s exhausting. Even as someone who has the privilege of safety, it’s hard to know that all of this awful stuff is happening in the world, and feeling like I can’t do anything to help. Anyone else struggling with feeling useless?

I feel like I’m trying to stop the ocean with a sandcastle. Except the ocean is the shittiness in the world and the sandcastle is art and compassion.

Photo of a very elaborate and tall sandcastle
It’s easy to stand tall and strong when the tide is out, when we focus on the rare moments of good and joy. But the tide of war and hate and bigotry is always creeping toward us, eating away at the foundations of our castle--or simply ripping it away into the churning waters.

Okay, so that might not be a metaphor that resonates with everyone. But the point is that we can’t stand solo against all the crap piling down on us, especially as people who are already marginalized and struggling with our own daily struggles.

We need community. We need compassion. We need creativity.

We need to put on our own oxygen masks, then help improve the world in tiny ways as best we can. Sure, we might not be able to change things overnight, or enact the big, dramatic changes we’d like to see. But baby steps help at least ease the feeling of being useless.

Because we’re not useless. Ordinary people like you and me is what’s going to make the world change, even if it doesn’t feel like it. We have to shout louder, create more, and above all survive.

So here’s to 2020: my year of radical, revolutionary compassion. 

- Nonir

P.s. If you want to help me make something to help you throughout the year, click here and take this two-minute survey. <3
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Pop Culture and Mental Health

1/7/2020

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Pop culture has a really complex relationship with mental health.

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On one hand, most media kind of sucks at portraying anything that isn’t neurotypical. On the other hand, most people I know who struggle with mental health tend to use pop culture as an important anchor to keep themselves going or give themselves something to look forward to.

It’s this really fascinating thing--we’re not overtly represented in the media we consume, but we project various aspects of ourselves onto our favorite characters and stories. This is why there’s so much fanfic where canonically cishet characters become queer, or characters have autism or anxiety that isn’t necessarily in the source.
Honestly, I think that’s one of the things that’s beautiful about fan works: we have the ability to create our own representation, and make sure it’s what we want to see.

Just being able to create or consume media that accurately portrays things like mental health issues can be incredibly healing. Representation matters.

But even media that doesn’t have representation can be important in mental health. When I was at my lowest a few years ago, I latched onto a video game and it literally became my lifeline. Making it through the day to go home and play was the only reason I kept going. It got me through that time and, in a roundabout way that involved some Pop Culture Paganism shenanigans, was the thing that finally pushed me to get the help I needed.

Pop culture strikes at the very core of us in ways we can’t expect. It can go way beyond just escapism. And sometimes that means books, TV shows, video games, music, whatever, are way more important to someone than you could ever guess.

So don’t be ashamed if you cling to your favorite show to get you through the day. Do what you’ve got to do to make sure you’re healthy and taking care of yourself mentally and physically--even if people might be confused about why you love something so much.

Is there a piece of media that’s helped you with your mental health? Share it in the comments!

- Nonir
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Habits and Carrots

12/17/2019

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Have you started thinking about the changes you want to make for 2020 yet? I have. Like I said previously, I don't really like the idea of resolutions. But there are definitely some habits I want to form and some I want to get rid of.

I've always struggled to make good habits, if I'm honest. It's hard to change the way we think or behave. But sometimes you just hit this point where the other option is just stagnating and staying in this place that you hate.

So in 2020 I'm going to work on creating the habits I want to have.

To that end, I made up a little something to try and help. It's a little printable to help keep track of what habits I want to make, how often I want to do them, and how I can reward myself for getting them done. Because carrots work better than sticks.
Three boxes with dashed outlines. The first reads:
For example, I want to start exercising more. So I might fill it in with "If I do three pushups every day, I can have a piece of fancy chocolate."

Rewards don't have to be big or expensive. They just have to feel good and motivating to you.

If you'd like to give it a shot with me, feel free to download the PDF by clicking here. I'm also considering making a Facebook group or Discord server for accountability and support in the new year--so please let me know if you'd be interested in that!

- Nonir
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The Pressure to Conform

10/8/2019

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I’ve been reading Brené Brown and working on being authentic and brave lately. It’s rough, but I think it’s an important step in owning who we are as Kickass Outcasts.

That’s great, Nonir, but what’s it got to do with me?

Well, it’s got me thinking about how much society pressures us to conform and how deeply most of us have internalized that message.

I’m out here running this site and business focused on putting myself out there as authentically as possible, right? I still worry about what people are going to think and how I stand out.

My subconscious decided to remind me of this the other night, when I had a dream about a cis woman telling me I needed to shave my legs (which I haven’t done in years, btw) in order to fit in. I woke up baffled and hurt--because I realized it was myself telling me to shave, even though I know the people important to me don’t actually care.

This message that I have to fit the perfect image of an AFAB person--hairless, meek, demure--has dug so deep into my brain that it pops up when I move toward doing anything authentic (okay, so shaving my legs may be a metaphor for something bigger, but the point remains).
Even when I think I’m ready to stand on my own and face the world as my Kickass Outcast self, this burning need to keep my head down and fit in refuses to let go.
I know I’m not alone in this. Talking to friends and hanging on the ‘net, I see almost everyone struggle with this. We’ve been conditioned from childhood to avoid making waves, to follow instructions, to tie our self-esteem to how well we can fit in. It’s an incredibly difficult thing to shake off.

But I do believe we can do it. I believe that, with the right support and encouragement and community, we can all learn to truly let ourselves shine. It might take a lifetime, and we’re never going to be perfect at it, but it’s worth the effort.

I’m taking my baby steps forward and continuing to refuse to shave my legs. Because screw you conformity.

What teeny tiny steps can you take to work toward being yourself instead of squishing yourself into a box?

- Nonir
Select pages from the freebie downloads: Punch Your Bade Brains in the Face e-book, Find Your Outcast Superpower, and Daily HP Monitor
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The Person You Want to be

10/1/2019

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The thing about the fact that we’re all always growing, is that it’s really an incredible opportunity every day to figure out how to be more and more of the person that you want to be.
- Rebecca Sugar, in this interview about the Steven Universe movie.
I don’t know about you, but I needed to hear this. It was tucked away at the end of an interview I stumbled across, but it was one of those phrases that just reached in and punched my heart in the face.

There’s this weird idea that once we hit a certain age, we’re supposed to be done growing and changing--that we’re supposed to know exactly who we are and be content with that. 

In my experience, that’s utter bullshit.

Everyone is constantly evolving and recognizing new facets of ourselves. There are people who don’t realize or understand their sexuality or gender until well into their 50s or 60s or beyond. There are people who pick up new hobbies, interests, and passions the older they get. There are people who find their calling years after they’re out of school with a useless degree. [Side-eyes my useless degree]

We’re not some fully-realized human once we become adults. We’re still messy, learning, growing, and changing. And that’s good.

Becoming the person you want to be. 

A big plush Pikachu costume on a crowded platform I decided I want to be a Pikachu. So there.
For a long, long time I didn’t know who I wanted to be. I had a list of labels and jobs I wanted, but that isn’t who I wanted to be at the core. Due to my various traumas and being an outcast in my own right, I just felt lost.

But one of the changes I was slowly going through was figuring out who that person is: confident, kind, funny, giving, creative. I’m still not where I’d like to be, but every day I can make the decision to work toward it, little by little.

Every day is a new adventure and a new chance to understand and realize your own inner truth (yeah, okay, that sounds super New Age-y, sorry). So who do you want to be, and what steps are you taking toward them?

- Nonir


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What is an "Outcast," Anyway?

9/24/2019

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You may have noticed my tagline is “art and spiritual services for the outcast.” Which sounds great, right? But also there’s a little wtf up in there. So let’s talk about outcasts and why I’m doing this whole Wandering Jotun thing in the first place.

First off, what do I mean by “outcast,” anyway?

“Outcast” came from trying to figure out a good term to encompass marginalized people and communities that didn’t sound so...clinical. I ran through a lot of different terms, but settled on “outcast” because:

  • I’ve felt like an outcast most of my life and I know a lot of people who feel the same
  • It reminds me of Robin Hood for some reason 
  • Outcasts are historically different and strange and unwanted--things a lot of us experience when we don’t fit “the norm” of white, cis, straight, neurotypical, etc.
  • I have a weird thing for spinning connotations and trying to reclaim words to empower people 
So, basically, an Outcast here at Wandering Jotun is anyone who doesn’t fit in, who struggles with societal pressures and oppression, and/or who deals with bigotry and microaggressions regularly.

Think GLBTQ people (especially the trans and genderfluid folks), pagans who don’t buy into the New Age stuff or have a pop culture-based practice, people of color, etc. Plus, you know, nerds. Because I’ve found a lot of Outcasts are also major nerds.
The Kickass Outcast logo: a yellow lightning bolt with a blue and purple ribbon and a little purple crown

So, wtf is this?

Wandering Jotun Crafts is my attempt to make the world a better place. It’s a little selfish in that I want to use my creative side to support myself financially--but my ultimate goal is to make art that represents, supports, and uplifts my fellow Outcasts.

This is my attempt at cultivating and encouraging community and support between marginalized people, and to remind you that you’re not alone. Because, when it comes down to it, we have to have each others’ backs. Especially in a world that’s increasingly fixated on trying to ensure conformity.

Take a breath and join me, fellow Outcast. We’re gonna make our corner of the world pretty again. 

- Nonir
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    Nonir is a queer pagan nerd and writes about various things in those realms.


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