Kickin' It With Mao
Reclaiming Your Self Care as Act of Rebellion Against Capitalism
Alright, buckle up, starry-eyed souls, because it's time for the Aquarius Full Moon! You know, the moment when the cosmos cranks up the quirky and turns on the rebellious charm. If you're tired of the same old lunar vibes and are ready to spice things up, this is the lunation you've been waiting for!
Picture this: The zodiac's resident individualist, Aquarius, struts into the celestial scene with all its eccentric glory. Forget conforming to society's expectations; Aquarius couldn't care less about that! It's all about breaking free from the mundane and embracing your inner weirdo. Oh, you have a unique passion or a bizarre idea? Well, bestie, now's the time to unleash it on the world nofucksgiven.
Aquarius is ruled by unpredictable Uranus, and you betcha, that energy is infectious! Say goodbye to the comfort zone because this Full Moon wants you to dare to be different. Time to let go of those self-imposed restrictions and start dancing to your own offbeat rhythm. It's all part of the cosmic plot to help you grow, evolve, and thrive. Use this lunation to find your community, embrace your chosen family, and support causes that fire up your passion.
So, dear cosmic adventurers, embrace your inner rebel, dust off those quirky dreams, and let the Aquarius Full Moon lead you on a journey of self-discovery, individuality, and embracing your fabulously unique self. Remember, the universe doesn't hand out party invites like this every day, so make the most of it! Stay fierce, stay fabulous, and let your freak flag fly high! ✨🌕🦄🌟
Radical Self-Care Reflection
The Hierarchy of Needs is Bullsh*t
I said what I said, Dr. Maslow.
“Why does that name sound so familiar?”, you ask quietly to yourself. It’s because he’s the one that we learned about in high school psychology class or Psych 101 explaining that certain needs, like getting food, shelter, the safety of employment, and sex, are more important than community, connection, and creativity (see below if you want a flashback of psych 101).
Maslow’s work was informed by the time he spent with the Blackfoot Indians in Canada (Coon, 2006). Although Maslow emphasized the interconnection of needs, he also believed that some human needs were more foundational than others and that both the identified needs and the hierarchal importance of those needs were valid across cultures (Hoffman, 1998).
The issue with the appropriation of Maslow’s hierarchy was that he did not fully incorporate Blood First Nation's understanding of ancestral knowledge, spirituality, and multiple dimensions of reality, nor did he fully situate the individual within the context of community (Wadsworth, 2008), in turn sterilizing the Blood First Nations perspectives and widely announcing his theory. If Maslow had more fully integrated Blood First Nations perspectives, the model would be centered on multi-generational community actualization versus on individual actualization and transcendence.
Applications of Maslow's hierarchy theory to the work of the classroom teacher are obvious. Before a student's cognitive needs can be met they must first fulfill their basic physiological needs. For example, a tired and hungry student will find it difficult to focus on learning. Students need to feel emotionally and physically safe and accepted within the classroom to progress and reach their full potential (https://themicrophone.com.au/index.php/blog/maslow-s-hierarchy-of-needs.)
However, I find the theory of the hierarchy of needs extremely problematic because it stresses individualism over collectivism, creativity, and community care. Without water and food, you would die quickly but without community, play, love, and belonging would be slower and prolonged. It seemingly perpetuates the hustle and grind culture and keeps us hypervigilant that we’re always meeting our “basic needs” which leads to us putting friends, family, creativity, spirituality, and PLAY in the backburner.
Gems Worth Sharing
Binge-Worthy Show
Now that I am an almost home owner in Wisconsin, I am on a mission to start my farming journey. I have binging so much of Magnolia Network's Homegrown show, starring Jamila Norman, a farming celebrity who has turned her love of organic growing into a business advising Atlanta area families on the best way to make edible gardens work in their spaces. She is an inspiration and a complete badass.
The fraught history of Black people and the land in the South has made Jamila, “Farmer J,” as she's known in Southern garden circles, who earned an engineering degree from the University of Georgia , and many of her fellow Black farmers anxious to educate their community about the benefits of healthy eating and the advantages of Black growers working together. She is one of the founding members of the South West Atlanta Growers Cooperative (SWAG Co-op), dedicated to uniting Black urban farmers and their communities in growing healthy food using environmentally beneficial tactics. When she first moved to her Oakland City neighborhood she encountered a food desert with very few healthy options (source).
Book Worth Reading
Like a Mother: A Feminist Journey Through the Science and Culture of Pregnancy
A candid, feminist, and personal deep dive into the science and culture of pregnancy and motherhood that is a great read for every body!
Music is Medicine
This set list takes me BACKKKKKK. Enjoy and try not to back that azz up.
SET LIST "Intro (feat. Mannie Fresh)" "400 Degreez (feat. Mannie Fresh)" "Bling Bling (feat. Mannie Fresh)" "Ha" "Set It Off" "Slow Motion" "Rodeo (feat. The Amours)" "I Need A Hot Girl (feat. Mannie Fresh)" "Project Bitch (feat. Mannie Fresh)" "Back That Azz Up (feat. Mannie Fresh)"