A Year and a Day

Fairy- What is something that you get excited about? 

Mermaid- What are you looking forward to? 

Elf- What are you proud of? 

Dragon- Sexuality? 

Griffin- Gender? 

Unicorn- Who do you look up to? 

Spirit- Have you ever been in love? 

Ghost- Favorite song? 

Poltergeist- Favorite song lyric? 

Ghoul- Who is someone that makes you laugh easily/who’s company you enjoy most of, if not all of, the time? 

Goblin- What makes you happy?  

Dwarf- Favorite tv show? 

Vampire- Are you currently reading any books? If so, what book(s)?

Werewolf- Who is your family? Who do you live with?  

Siren- Favorite color? 

Hobgoblin- Do you like anyone? 

Wraith- Any scars? 

Specter- Have you ever been in love? 

Chimera- Will you/do you want to get married? 

Changeling- Do you want children? 

Oracle- Do you like children? 

King- Describe your ideal day. 

Queen- Age? 

Princess- What is your relationship with your parents like? 

Prince- Birthday? 

Necromancer- If you could spend a week with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be? 

Castle- What is something that not a lot of people know about you? 

Tower- What is (at least one thing) something that you’re afraid of? 

Magic- Describe your crush without saying their name. 

Enchanted Forest- Height? 

Magic Healer- Any pets? If so, what are they? 

Potions- Relationship status? 

Potion Making- Would you kiss the last person you kissed again? 

Divination- What do you think about yourself? 

Visions- Do you miss anyone? 

Curses- How do you show affection? 

Charms- Are you religious? 

Hexes- What’s your favorite smell? 

Latin Witches: Brujos

BRUJOS IS A QUEER-OF-COLOR, RADICALLY POLITICIZED WEB SERIES FOLLOWING FOUR GAY LATINO DOCTORAL CANDIDATES–THAT ARE ALSO WITCHES. THEY NAVIGATE MAGIC, SEXUALITY, AND SURVIVING A WITCH-HUNT LED BY A SECRET SOCIETY OF WHITE HETERONORMATIVE MALE DESCENDENTS OF THE FIRST NEW WORLD COLONIZERS.

Installment 1: The Devil

Episode 1: Aries

Episode 2: Taurus

Episode 3: Gemini 

Episode 4: Cancer

TV can be art. TV can be revolutionary. TV can be popular entertainment AND incite critical dialogue. Audiences are hungry and intelligent enough for challenging work. This describes the philosophy behind BRUJOS, a counter-hegehmonic web series. Produced by Open TV (beta), conceived, written and directed by Ricardo Gamboa and to be shot by cinematographer Ben Kolak, BRUJOS is a queer-of-color web series.

BRUJOS blends the Latin American soap opera, American sitcom, and critical theory as it follows a coven of four queer Latino doctoral candidates as they learn magic, indulge in nightlife, navigate intimate relationships, and write seminar papers all while trying to survive a witch-hunt. These young protagonists confront histories and realities of racial and gendered inequality as they battle the secret society of white, heteronormative male descendants of the first New World colonizers behind the witch-hunt. Twelve, seven-minute episodes corresponding to signs of the zodiac cycle have been developed through queer men of color testimony; interviews with actual practitioners of divination and magic, i.e. psychics, santeras, tarot readers, etc.; and with academics of cultural studies, performance studies, and queer theory.

BRUJOS addresses the current the landscape of television: Gay men and people of color are more apparent than ever in mainstream television. Sitcoms like “Blackish” and “Fresh Off The Boat” depict families of color attaining the American dream. Programs such as “Looking” and “Modern Family” feature middle and upper class white gay men searching for love or functioning as an all-American family. While these shows are representational achievements, they are not revolutionary ones.

In these cases, ethnic, racial and sexual minorities are portrayed in ways that support dominant culture, narratives, values and relationality. Commercial television studios and networks preoccupied with “scale” and “big data” seldom produce aesthetically or politically challenging work to secure mass viewership. This only further marginalizes non-normative people who’s lives, realities, and stories do not fit within their depictions and who devise new ways of being under the pressures of inequality that are never affirmed.

Moreover, Chicago has become a hotbed for television production. However, series such as Chicago P.D. reiterate stereotypes of people of color as criminals. Mega-hit EMPIRE provides more complex portrayals but it’s get-rich-or-die-trying messaging is consistent with popular culture. Too often work that offers alternative images, narratives, and values is not seen as viable by mainstream producers.

its one of Those Days

Major Arcana

The Fool-Beginnings, Risks The Magician- Actions, manifestations The High Priestess- Hidden knowledge, Secrets The Empress- Resources, Abundance The Emperor- Boundaries, Order The Heirophant- Education, Lessons, Unity The Lovers- Love, decisions The Chariot- Progress, determination Strength- Managing situations, endurance The Hermit- Searching, analysis The Wheel of Fortune- Fate, Luck Justice- Decisions, Balance The Hanged Man- Waiting, sacrifice Death- Transformation, Rebirth Temperance- Negotiation, common ground The Devil-Restrictions, Indulgence The Tower-Unexpected failure, breakdowns The Star- Hope and guidance The Moon- Anxiety and deep emotions The Sun- Growth, Recovery Judgement- The past, second chances The World- Success, completion

Minor Arcana

Cups- Water Element, “I feel”- How emotions rule over and work within the meanings of the cards.

Ace- Love, Beginnings Two- Partnerships Three- Celebration Four- Boredom, longing Five- Loss, sadness Six- Peace, reconciliation Seven- confusion, possibilities Eight- Departure, leaving behind Nine- A wish coming true, contentment Ten- Happiness, family Page- Opportunities, Chances Knights- Emotional and dreamy influence Queen- Intelligent and intuitive influence King- Charismatic and Wise influence

Pentacles- Earth Element, “I have”- How possessions rule over and work within the meanings of the cards.

Ace- Money, success, beginnings Two- Decisions, balancing finances Three- Showing talents, chances Four- Stability, hiding Five- Financial loss, chasing Six- Generosity, supporting Seven- Potential with work Eight- Money coming, building success Nine- Comfort, success Ten- Inheritance, something lost Page- An offer Knight- A dependable influence Queen- A genorous influence King- A prosperous influence

Swords- Air Element, “I think”- How thoughts rule over and work within the  meanings of the cards.

Ace-  Success Two- Stalemate Three- Heartbreak Four- Rest, overwhelmed Five- Conflict Six- Leaving conflict behind Seven- Theft of positivity Eight- Restriction Nine- Anxiety Ten- Endings Page- Intelligence, alertness Knight- A opposing influence Queen- An independent influence King- A strong willed influence

Wands- Fire Element, “I desire”- How desires rule over and work within the meanings of the cards.

“Would you like to know the secret to healthy rose bushes,” I asked, knowing that she would not like the answer. 

“Do tell!”

Grin. “Blood.”

The customer paused, waiting for me to say that I was kidding. But I wasn’t so it never came. She became nervous. 

And before I could explain that blood meal is a common soil fixer and fertilizer, she put her hands up, spun around and said-

“Bye.”

.

Evidently, you’re supposed to plant garlic in the same places as your roses because the garlic will repel a rose-specific aphid.

So what I’m saying is that between the romantic symbolism of the rose, the bloodmeal in the soil, and the fresh garlic all over the place-

How did I accomplish this?

But the primary reason why bloodmeal is used for rose cultivation is because roses grow best in nitrogen-rich soil. So plants that need a lot of nitrogen in their soil would benefit from blood meal. Others, who do not benefit from high nitrogen, would not fair well. So I would not use it on the entire garden. 

Bones/bone meal are used to add phosphorus to the soil, which is why its used as a fertilizer. Generally, most plants benefit from it, but that’s not guaranteed. Crushed eggshells provide the same treatment, with the added bonus of deterring ants. 

Coffee grounds will make the soil more acidic. 

Ashes of hardwood trees will fix soil if it’s been overwatered. I think it serves as another nitrogen fixer, but don’t quote me on that. 

Photos from my adventures today 🌿 Willow Oak Flower and Herb Farm