Self-Guided Studies: Afro Futuristic Feminism
Afro Futuristic Feminism.
I’m delving into a new topic this month in my self-guided studies. In November of last year, I decided that I wanted to immerse myself in a variety of topics over the next few years, and especially in time for my Saturn Return.
I made a list of things I definitely wanted to become more knowledgeable about, including:
- Black Feminism and Basic Feminist Theory,
- Ecofeminism and Other Third Wave Feminisms,
- Narratives of Queer Black Men,
- Reading the Jim Crow South,
- Community Organizing, Anarchism and Basic Political Theory,
- Slavery in the Diaspora,
- Healing Emotional Trauma and Codependency,
- The Creation of America as Concept and Place,
- Native American Resistance Past and Present,
- Queering Femininity,
- Biology, Botany and Herbology,
- Astronomy and Physics,
- Nazi Germany and the Roots of Whiteness,
- Poetry,
- World Mythology,
- Astrology and Planetary Symbols,
- Afro Futurism,
- Classic Black Literature,
- Classic Western Literature,
- Music,
- Women in Ancient Africa,
…and more. These are some of the actual names that I used to describe what I want to study.
I then ordered the list and called my entire self-guided program “Afro Futuristic Feminism.” :-) I am literally visioning the topics I am studying as courses and Afro Futuristic Feminism (or AFF for short) as the name of my major. At first, I literally thought that I would be able to read fast enough to go over one topic in 1-3 months. But since November, I was able to complete two courses, which I labeled Spiritual Activism and The Pre-Patriarchal Matriarchy and the Divine Feminine.
- In Spiritual Activism, I became centered in the idea that relationship restoration is my personal focus in any activist work I might feel inclined to do. Creating pathways for humans to be in “right relationship” with one another, animals, plants, and other beings is very important to me.
- In The Pre-Patriarchal Matriarchy and the Divine Feminine, I learned that what came before patriarchy probably wasn’t matriarchy, but it was almost certainly a much more balanced state of affairs where Goddess was a central player.
I decided that my next course would not be one directly delving into feminism, like I originally planned, but that I instead would continue reading more (and watching films, attending events, etc.) about the human psyche and spirit. I also decided that I would relax about the amount of time it ultimately takes me to read the books I want to read.
I’m calling this next course Transpersonalism and the Psychology of Shamanism.
Right now, I’m reading “The Undiscovered Self: The Dilemma of the Individual in Modern Society” by Carl Jung.
I also plan to read:
- Brain Magick by Philip A. Farber
- Consult Your Inner Psychic by Carole Lynne
- The Power of Silence by Carlos Castaneda
- The Earth Path by Stawhawk
- Teachings of the Hindu Mystics edited by Andrew Harvey
- Daughters of Isis by Joyce Tyldesley
- Riding the Nightmare by Selma R. Williams
- Synchronicity by Carl Jung
- Aspects of the Feminine by Carl Jung
- Silent Power by Stuart Wilde
As inspiration for choosing to educate myself in this way, I cite my experience as a homeschooled child, my friend Akeema, and especially, this post on the blog 1TBM entitled “Coming Out as a Homeschooled Adult.”
