Utopian Impulse.
& my cover of Don't Let Me Down.
Dear Reader,
I’ve been thinking about utopia.
I’m just starting Cruising Utopia by José Esteban Muñoz, a book of queer theory, and it’s already firing off inspiration for me. This week I’ve been buzzing around the house meditating on ideas like futurity and the confines of “straight time”, potentiality and desire.
Since birth I’ve wanted what isn’t here yet. Not just for myself but for the collective. A rooted, in-my-dna kind of feeling. It turns out this wild drive needs consistent, loving protection from the mechanisms of society that are designed to snuff it out. I’m taking my rare stretch of time at home to try and do just that. I want to hold on despite the heartbreak and I want what we’re told is impossible.
I was talking with a friend, the glorious and trusted witch named Dori Midnight, and she tells me about Prophets. In the long ago times, prophets were known to wander together in groups. They’d drum into the night once they set up camp and would play until visions would come, sharing with each other the messages they received. This made perfect sense to me even though I’ve been fed a very different image- of a wandering man, who he and he alone, has the gift of communing with god.
Thinking of the traveling band makes much more sense to me.
First off, it informs us of the power of community ritual. It also makes the path of the prophet a bit more accessible being that there’s a whole gaggle of them hanging together (would be a great party btw), and it’s demonstrating the practice and discipline of staying open to inspiration. Of course for us to allow this information from the divine, (or whatever force outside of ourselves and our daily task brain) we must carve out the space and time. We also must turn to each other, listen to each other, and share what we are downloading from the beyond.
As I turn these ideas over and study them like stones, I share with you what I consider some utopia informed art to carry with you into the week.
All are links below & my cover of Don’t Let Me Down is included as a treat for paying subscribers. Talk next Sunday.
don’t take any shit,
xo alynda mariposa segarra xo
