Ep. 24: Creating Inclusion by Listening and Learning with Mawiyah Kai EL-Jamah Bomani

Our conversation covered a lot of ground and of course, as those of you that listen regularly know, I asked her what queer spirituality means to her. Here are some the highlights from our conversation, but do yourself the favor of listening to the whole interview. I think you'll find Mawiyah's grounded approach to creating greater understanding and everyday approach to making magic powerfully compelling. I know that I did. 

Appreciation vs. Appropriation

I have to admit that going into this interview my knowledge of Hoodoo was rather limited. Mawiyah explained that Hoodoo is black folk magic. It's not a religion and there's no initiations or gatekeepers. You learn the practices and practice them. In this regard, it's not unlike any other folk magic tradition.

This point led very naturally into a discussion of spiritual appropriation. I mentioned noticing a lot of white people being drawn to traditionally African traditions. Mawiyah talked a bit about the differences between appropriation and appreciation. Magic folk traditions often have some overlap. In this way, it's not appropriation when people from another culture do work that overlaps with other cultures. An example of this is reading playing cards. Many folk traditions do this. Likewise, appreciating black folk magic and using it is not appropriation, and there may even be some overlap with other folk traditions. Mawiyah explains that it becomes appropriation when someone takes aspects of a tradition that can really only be understood through the experience of the culture it belongs to. It becomes appropriation when we claim something for ourselves that we cannot truly understand.

Grounding and connecting

Naturally, any conversation around inclusivity and marginalized people, including LGBTQIA+ people, leads to a discussion of how to cope with anxiety around our current political climate. Mawiyah's advice was to ground. Connect with the earth. She suggests getting off social media, stop reading the news, and go put your bare feet on the earth.

She makes a good point. We talked about how the news in particular is often generated to create anxiety so that you'll keep reading or watching. Limiting your exposure to that much negativity will do wonders for your mental health.

She also offered connecting with community as a strong antidote to anxiety over the state of the world. Mawiyah has a study group where they're reading books together and discussing. This allows her to share her wisdom with the younger generations, but she also learns from them as well. 

The Power of Dialogue

I asked Mawiyah about the division in our society and the marginalization of people of color and LGBTQ+ people. She says we need to continue to have dialogue. It's important that we keep speaking up. We have to keep talking about the issues and she points out, it must work, because there's a lot of energy being spent trying to get us to shut up. In telling the story of her daughter's coming out and fighting for a LGBTQ+ club in her school, Mawiyah offers this takeaway: "You don't give up the fight because that's what they want."

Episode Show Notes

About The Guest(s):

Mawiyah Kai EL-Jamah Bomani is an award-winning writer, educator, and spirit woman. She is an 8th generation witch, Egun medium, and priestess of Oya in the Yoruba system of spirituality. Mawiyah is the editor-in-chief of the culture in Afrikan traditional spirituality e-zine Oya N'Soro. She is also the host of FishHeadsinRedGravy, a podcast dedicated to celebrating marginalized people of the esoteric occult world. Mawiyah's writings have appeared in numerous magazines, and she has won several awards for her plays and literary work. She currently lives in Louisiana, where she conducts rituals, consultations, workshops, and divination.

Summary:

Mawiyah Kai EL-Jamah Bomani is a writer, educator, and spirit woman who practices Hoodoo, a form of African American folk magic. In this episode, she discusses the inclusive nature of Hoodoo and its acceptance of all sexual orientations and gender identities. She emphasizes the importance of embracing queer spirituality and creating a safe and inclusive space for all individuals. Mawiyah also talks about her book, "Conjuring the Calabash," which empowers women with hoodoo spells and magic. She shares her advice for navigating the current social and political climate, the significance of community, and the importance of listening and learning from different cultures and perspectives.

Key Takeaways:

• Queer spirituality should be inclusive and embrace all sexual orientations and gender identities.
• Hoodoo is a form of African American folk magic that is open to everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
• It is important to be grounded and connected to nature to navigate challenging times.
• Community plays a vital role in queer spirituality and provides support and understanding.
• It is essential to listen and learn from different cultures and perspectives to foster inclusivity and understanding.

Quotes:

• "Queer spirituality means to be inclusive, to have magic that includes everyone, so no one feels left out." - Mawiyah Kai EL-Jamah Bomani
• "The practice of Hoodoo is about including everyone and does not factor in a person's sexual orientation or their love." - Mawiyah Kai EL-Jamah Bomani
• "We have to keep talking about race relations, homophobia, and other issues to address and overcome them." - Mawiyah Kai EL-Jamah Bomani

Resources:
Mawiyah's Website

Listen to the Full Episode