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"Go. Get your pen. Altar. Now."
Unsure if my heart was burning up or burning out--
I needed to drum up some personal power,
give my system a shock of sovereignty.
There was urgency in it.
"Go. Get your pen. Altar. Now."
Quickly lighting candles, fumbling to find the *good* pen,
sloppy spiral notebook flopped opened to the first fresh page.
"Go. You know. Say it."
A gush of remembering.
A wave of power.
After tumbling out, I read the words out loud.
It was an Art Witch Manifesto.
Truths I'd forgotten or have been trained to forget,
All swam up to break the surface of my heart
and help me Remember.
It could just as easily be called a Fledgling Artist manifesto, or A Recovering Creative manifesto, an Overwhelmed, Shaky But Still Trying My Best as A Human At This Time manifesto or Remembering My Magick manifesto.
So I'm sharing this spontaneous altar scribble with you, Moon Baby.
Just in case you might need it too.
[Raise your Face to the Heavens and Repeat Lustily After Me]
"I have the right to not be All Things to all people. I have the right to Be as many things as I want. I have the right to be a supply magpie, change my mind like the moon and dabble in many flavors of beauty.
I have a right to create things that interest me, tell my story and speak to my experiences. I have a right to deny *any* request that debases my creativity and disrespects my magick. I have the right to exist and call myself an Art Witch (Or any sexy descriptor I like), even when I'm not actively creating, producing work or casting spells at this very second. I have a right to care for myself, not because it will "ensure future productivity" but because it ensures the preservation of my miraculous mortal humanity. I have a right to create for the hell of it, for pleasure, to bring about tears or to blow off steam. I have a right to create things no one else will see. I have a right to create stuff no one likes, because I am worthy of following the awkward growth and ultimate destiny of my passions. I have a right to pursue hobbies, interests, loves and whims that do not appear outwardly creative, "witchy" or "productive". I have the right to make piles of experimental stuff outside my comfort zone for my growth and delight. I have a right to dry seasons, hibernation and rest. I have a right to abundant inspiration and prolific wet seasons.
I have a right to silently hold special moments and potent dreams close to my heart until they are strong enough to be shared, if ever. I have the right to express myself respectfully, freely and with gushing integrity. I have the right to a dignified and fulfilling creative life outside the algorithm. I have the right to ask for fair compensation for my creative work if I want. I have the right to generously give away whatever and whenever I desire. I have the right to be uncool and unedgy and as soft, humble and messy as I please. I have the right to throw style and aesthetic to the breeze and create what needs to be made now. I have the right to exist beyond the scope of usefulness. I have a right to complexity, nuance and exploration. I have the right to want to create something different today than I did yesterday. I have the right to become something different today than I was yesterday." [CLAP YOUR HANDS AND YELL "WOOP WOOP!"] So it is.
So it always has been.
So it will be.
What rights would you add to your Art Witch manifesto, Moon Baby? Wherever you are in the world, Wherever you are on your journey-- I'm sending you waves of Strength, Love
Power, Memory and Sovereignty.
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Molly is an artist, witch, teacher and author dedicated to unleashing your creativity and the witch within. Support this work and instantly unlock a magickal library of DIY's, books, videos and How To's on Patreon.
I have the right to not share my aesthetically pleasing craft.
I have the right to uncover my soul with my art, on my terms.
I have the right to define "art" however I see fit. I have the right to see that definition as fluid and ever-changing.