My Weapons of Choice

I know, this is a fiber arts blog, but I just love my new tattoo so much that I had to share! All credit for this amazing artwork goes to the talented Dr. Z at CryBaby Studio. Bear with me, and I promise I’ll tie this post back into my fiber arts theme!

All of my tattoos have deep meaning for me (yeah, I’m one of those people). This one is a symbolic reminder of my role as a warrior in the fight for justice and equity, the dedication of my life to try to make the world a little better for my presence in it. The Labyrs, the double headed axe, has always been my symbolic weapon of choice. It’s got ties to queer and trans symbolism, and it has meaning for me from one of my favorite RPGs (Black Furies, of course, IYKYK). Plus it just looks really damn cool! Ultimately, this tattoo is my reminder that being in this fight is part of who I am, imbedded deep in my skin, and inseparable from all that I do in the world. I’m not literally out there fighting people with a giant axe, but as my symbolic weapon is inked on my arm, so my actual weapons are my hands and my heart and my mind, and everything I do is part of my role as a warrior fighting for the ideals most precious to me.

As we approach election day next week I’m truly scared for the future. No matter what the election results, I think the next few months are going to be hard and scary. Even if the results are “good” we still have the looming threat of the rise of fascist ideology gaining mainstream support. Even if we “win” I’m terrified for the inevitable backlash and potential violent reaction of those who don’t respect the democratic process. And I don’t think I need to articulate all my fears if we “lose”.

So what am I doing with my fear? How am I fighting; what am I doing to help? Honestly, right now I’m knitting. This is the first cycle in years that I’m not intimately involved in the political process. My day job is in political advocacy, but the election itself is mostly tangential to my role other than some polling analysis and scenario planning. I’m not door knocking or running text banks. I’m not working on any local campaigns and I’m not making calls for national races. I’m not even really reading the polls beyond what my job requires. None of my lack of engagement is because I don’t care, to the contrary it’s because I care too much.

My Goddess, Athena, has long encouraged me to step back from the fight as needed, to let others step forward into the front lines, to rest and to heal so that I can live to fight another day. That’s part of what I’m doing now. I’m surviving. But I’m also still knitting, and to me that’s not just self care but also an integral part of the fight. Remember, Athena is a renowned weaver, the goddess of the Polis as well as of wisdom and war. The creation of art, and the gifting of handmade crafts to beloved friends and family, is not only self care but also a ministry of hope and love that is a crucial part of the tactics of social justice activism!

My art is part of this fight. Every fiber of my being is dedicated to trying to make the world just a little bit better with every action I take, and my needles and my loom and my yarn are my tools, my weapons, just as much as my voice and my mind and this axe on my arm. Take care of yourselves friends, and also know that whatever your skills and capacity, you have a role to play and you are important and valued and appreciated. And go vote!