VOL 2

NOV 2020

Black Women in Comics Fanzine ESSAYS, POEMS & REVIEWS

LOVE LETTER TO BLACK WOMEN By Daija McNeil

6

HERSTORY OF COMICS PART 2 By Chrissy Legaux

10

CHADWICK BOSEMAN TRIBUTE By Chrissy Legaux

14

ORORO’S INFINITE PLAYLIST By All Contributors

5

DRUGGING WONDER WOMAN By Unity

18

USING THE DIVINE FEMININE TO WEATHER THE STORM By Kamille Barnes

20

8

By Chrissy Legaux VAMP

16 By Lune Noirr

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Cover Artist: KERAUNIC TONIC https://keraunic-tonic.com Logo & Graphic Design: STACYE GRIFFIN https://stacyemgriffin.com

www.infromthestormzine.com

FEATURES

SPOTLIGHT ON CREATIVES BLACKTOBER ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

CREDITS Chief Editor: CHRISSY LEGAUX

2020 has been a pretty rough year for a lot of us, but it has especially been hard if you’re Black. From the pandemic to protests to a highly anticipated election, it seems that this year hasn’t given us much room to collect ourselves. It has indeed been a year, but know that you are not alone. There are lessons to be learned and reflection on ways in which we can help others. Knowing that there is still much work to be done is necessary for us to take care of each other. We had amazing Black women in politics all year long who have stepped forward to the front lines, fearless and relentless. The wave of black women elected to office in the last election cycle demonstrates the ongoing evolution of political diversity, power, and leadership that will be felt for generations. They are our real superheroes. We may want to forget that this year ever happened, but let’s never forget the lessons. We can enter 2021 with more resilience and ready for whatever trials come our way. We thank you all for making our first issue of In From the Storm such a success and we are more than happy to bring this next installment to you.

Artists Rocharlotte Mecca Stacye Griffin Miss Pictures Keraunic Tonic Emily Ewings Tajae Keith Chris Leaux Writers Emily Ewings Alex Sullivan briGis Miss Pictures Unity Cosplayers May Hemmer Lune Noirr Lucky Lune

Hashtags to Follow #BlackCosplayerHere #28DaysOfBlackCosplay #BlackTechTwitter #blackauthors #blackwriters #shopblack #SupportBlackBusiness #blacktech #Blackpreneur #DrawingWhileBlack #BlackGameDevs #blackgirlscode #AnimeWhileBlack #BlackVoiceActors

The “We Exist” list will be presented in every issue of our zine to highlight Black womxn creatives who are available for hire. If you would like to be added to our growing list of Black womxn content writers, artists and cosplayers, please email us at [email protected]

Infinite

PLAYLIST Listen to QUEENS as you read about QUEENS.

on Spotify. Sharon Jones - This Land is your Land

Natalie Cole - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

Lionbabe - Hot in Here

Shirley Bassey - Light my Fire

Erma Franklin - Baby, What You Want Me To Do

Leela James - A Change is Gonna Come

Janelle Monae - Smile

Tina Turner - Come Together

Rosetta Hightower - Big Bird

Nina Simone - Here Comes the Sun

Amber Mark - Thong Song

Sarah Vaughan - My Funny Valentine

Macy Gray - Creep

Meshell Ndegeocello Who is He and What is He to You

Ella Fitzgerald - Sunshine of your Love Lion Babe - Western World Yola - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Karizma Duo - Hero

Credit: Emily Ewings @elle_em_ink

You are smart. Loved. Calculated. Wise. Authoritative. Honest. Free. Caring. Kind. Generous. Reliable. Brave. Hard working. Considerate. Trustworthy. Helpful. Encouraging. Ambitious. Clever. Upbeat. Understanding. Observant. Compassionate. Witty. Insightful. Supportive. Humorous. Persistent. Motivated. Patient. Independent. Focused. Dedicated.

“Throughout the scrutiny and uneasy glances, you know who you are. You know what you were supposed to do on this Earth.

At your core, you are a human, but you are looked at as so much more. You’re a blueprint on how to navigate the world, an unwavering confidence, the light in everyone 's day. The weight of the world is on your shoulders, but you allow others to understand it should not be all up to you. You bring people together and give them hope. Often, your actions are described as aggressive. Just standing your ground, comes off outlandish to others. Others are not used to you speaking out. They like you back in your corner allowing the inequality to happen, enjoying their power over you. You have gained the confidence to go against it. Although they say you’re “Reading too much into this” or “Making a big deal out of nothing,” you understand all you have to go through to stay afloat. Others are given brand new boats, life perseveres, or a ship. You are given a wooden board and are forced to make it work. And despite that wooden board being your only device to float, you use it and find a way. When you make it past, you make sure to mention to others all that you have done, because in the end you are the most impressive thing the world has to offer. Throughout the scrutiny and uneasy glances, you know who you are. You know what you were supposed to do on this Earth. And you do it. You may be nervous, but you know it must be done. No one else but you can. You shine a blinding light on the dark corners of society. Demanding time, attention, and power to yourself and others like you who deserve it. With you, we will no longer be tossed to the side. We will no longer be skipped over. In the end, we will be black women standing high and proud for ourselves. You have raised so many people. From your own children to others. From teenagers looking at you for guidance or other black women just needing a helping hand. You are looked to for care. You are welcoming arms in a time of need, a warm fire on a winter night. Giving support to anyone and everyone. Advice spoken from the wisest tree. Knowledge going back years and years. You have an understanding like no other, helping anyone at a moment's notice. You don’t hold back in anything you do and you shouldn’t. Take the space you have earned, the space that’s been stolen continuous times. Own it. Rule it. It’s yours to have. Your wisdom and wit will bring whatever is needed to the take. You will make changes and shake tables. And the most important thing: you will be a strong black woman. So, thank you black women. Thank you for holding your ground. Thank you for going against the status quo. Thank you for speaking up and protesting. Thank you for being the backbone of so many people in existence. Thank you for living. Thank you for being confident. Thank you for knowing your worth. Thank you for teaching me to love the most important black woman out there, myself.

“Blacktober is an important way to give a much needed focus on the lack of representation in all fandom spaces which are predominately white.”

Blacktober was last month and we picked one of our favorite pieces from the event. What is Blacktober? It is a hashtag event on Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr where Black folks draw or cosplay themselves into the fandoms that they love. It’s a reimaging their favorites characters to resemble them. For many, this is an important way to give a much needed focus on the lack of representation in all fandom spaces which are predominately white. Panoramic Ambitions share her Daria piece with In From the Storm. As a 90s kid, I appreciated this piece so much because it is not just white kids who were into this show. The cynical, sarcastic outsider that was Daria Morgendorffer was felt by all. Daria and Jane are just two misfits trying to survive high school relatively unscathed. Check out more of Panoramic’s Blacktober art on her Instagram.

In From the Storm is a free quarterly fanzine highlighting Black female characters in comics and sci-fi. The fanzine is for and by Black womxn featuring original artwork, interviews and cultural criticism. All updates and information will come from our blog:

www.infromthestormzine.com.

If you would like to be a contributor, email us!

[email protected]

In From the Storm does not own Storm from the X-Men, which is trademarked by Marvel Comics, or any other character shown in this zine. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of issues on representation in media. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this zine is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.

The Beauty of Black Women Leadership Black women get things done! From the Underground Railroad, to the unsung leaders of the suffrage movement and being the most consistent voting block in the United States to fight for marginalized groups, Black women have led the way for centuries. In ‘80s comics, many Black heroines went from being tokens to leaders, showing that diversity is not about how characters look but about how they think and act. ‘80s comics celebrated Black women leadership before it was ever recognized anywhere else and as always, it starts with Storm. While Cyclops excels at leading a superhero team in the field, there is no doubt that Storm is best at inspiring and developing strengths in her teammates. In The Uncanny X-Men #201 (1986), Storm becomes the first Black woman to lead a mainstream superhero team in comics history, beating Cyclops for the role without the use of her mutant abilities. She would remain one of the pivotal X-Men leaders for many years to come. This was a groundbreaking role because previously, Black superheroines tended to be sidekicks. Storm gave many fans the first look at Black women leadership and it inspired many future Black women characters as leaders in comics.

“Storm gave many fans the first look at Black women leadership and it inspired many future Black women characters as leaders in comics.”

Storm is portrayed as a highly competent leader who at times will sacrifice herself for the team. Storm is overall a better leader than Cyclops; his lack of trust for his teammates often makes him at odds with them. Storm’s leadership style was more collaborative and she has a good working relationship with her team. However, Storm was by no means perfect. She makes mistakes, grows, and comes back stronger, forming a compelling character arc about leadership. Storm is constantly doubting whether or not she is a good leader, which makes her one of the most caring leaders.

Vixen First Appearance

Monica Rambeau First Appearance

JULY July 1981 1981

oct Oct 1982

Storm leads the X-Men

JAN 1986

Amanda Waller First Appearance

nov Nov 1986 1986

While Storm was making strides in the X-Men, another Black woman leader was making waves in the Avengers. Monica Rambeau, the first woman to be Captain Marvel, was the lieutenant of the New Orleans Harbor Patrol, a loyal member of the force who worked her way up the ranks despite constant discouragement. She received her powers after being exposed to an energy disruptor weapon while on a mission. In 1987, the Wasp resigned as chairwoman of the Avengers, the team needed a new leader, and Captain America nominated Monica for the role. Over at DC Comics, Philippus first appeared in Perez’s Wonder Woman 1987 reboot. She’s Hippolyta’s righthand woman, second in command and captain of the guards. She is excellent at combat, teaching young Diana everything she knows. When Hippolyta fell into depression and went into exile, she gave the rule of Themyscira over to Philippus, making her Queen. Phillippus is said to love Hippolyta very much and for many years, we did not know the full extent of her love, but in 2016, it was revealed that Phillippus and Hippolyta are in fact lovers who raised Diana together. Representation is important even when a character may or may not be a hero. DC comics created one of the most complicated anti-heroes to ever exist that will have you questioning authority. You can’t get any more complicated than Amanda Waller a.k.a The Wall. Amanda Waller is a survivor of violence who grew up in the Chicago housing projects and lost her husband and two of her children to crime. Losing faith in the traditional crime fighting methods of superheroes, she obtained her doctorate in political science, became a congressional aide, and vowed to make conditions safer for everyday people. She created and runs the Suicide Squad, a super-villain team that does insane tasks for the government in exchange for reduced prison sentences. This team does the dirty work that no superheroes would do. She has good intentions but her methods can be extreme. Whether or not you agree with her, one thing is certain, Amanda Waller always gets the job done! She is a complex antihero with no superpowers. With her authoritative personality and administrative prowess, even Batman is cowed in her presence.

Oh The 90s? The 90s are filled with things we’d like to forget, especially in the comic world. When Comic Code Authority (CCA) loosened their ban on suggestive posing of women, this left the big two comic companies, Marvel and DC, to focus more on art than on stories. A slew of superheroines were reduced to sexual objects. Women were drawn with unproportional figures (huge chests and tiny waists). Marvel even created a Sports Illustrated styled pinup magazine that showed characters in sexy two-pieces. Everyone from Cyclops to Storm got a fold-out

Monica Rambeau leads the Avengers

May May 1987 1987

Philippus reins over Themyscira

1989 1989

Martha Washington First Appearance

1990 1990

Renee Montoya First Appearance

Mar Mar 1992 1992

spread in these specials, cementing this new style of more muscle bound and scantily-clad comic characters. This was the worst time for women in comics and for Black women characters, who were basically sidelined. Along with unrealistic illustrations, the writing suffered too. Basically the comic industry was catering to a white male audience, which was most of the audience at the time. Women were killed off or depowered to further the plot of stories, which Gail Simone coined “Women in Refrigerators,” the theory that heroines are gratuitously victimized in comics. Despite all the beautiful growth that happened in the 80s, it all came to a standstill in the 90s. Characters like Storm were pushed aside or limited to supporting roles. Schwarzenegger-esque brand of superheroes were in favor instead. Case in point being Cable (whom Storm has no relationship with whatsoever) having a major appearance in her first ever solo series in the 90s (No, really? Why was he there?). Despite the many changes by the big two, there were some good things that came from those days. Frank Miller teamed up with Watchmen’s artist Dave Gibbons to make an epic comic series featuring a Black woman lead in Give Me Liberty. In 1990, Miller channeled the same vibes and artistic approach as the Watchmen comic into creating a believable alternate future. In the series, Martha Washington grows up a poor child in the Cabrini Green housing projects of Chicago. She joins the PAX Peace Force (a satire of our military) and becomes a hero during the second American Civil War. She saves the South American rainforest and stops a government takeover by her white commanding officer. Martha Washington gets devalued as people take credit for her achievements. She does not get a moment's break and she is constantly treated as if she is expendable. Martha Washington is a survivor, the best soldier that America has, and a beautiful example of the resilience of Black women. Comics in the 90s grew in representation of Afro-latina heroes. Much like Harley Quinn, Renee Montoya was a recurring character in Batman the Animated series in 1992. Daughter of immigrants from the Dominican Republic, Renee is one of the detectives on the Gotham City Police Force, graduating top of her class and moving up fairly fast up the ranks of the department. She eventually becomes part of the DC Comics continuum. Renee is an openly lesbian woman who had a relationship with Batwoman. Renee is yet another great example of resilience. Like many of the characters before her, Renee faced a lot of discrimination as a woman and as a lesbian. Outed by Two Face, she is forced to come out to her family, and they disown her. Hitting rock bottom, Renee turns to alcohol and eventually quits the department. She would go on to find a new calling with her costumed identity as The Question. In 1997, a new roster of mutants was formed in the X-Men and one such newcomer was Cecilia Reyes. She’s a nonconformist who finds her own way to be heroic, resisting the X-Men’s team approach and carving her own path. Born in Puerto Rico, Cecilia was inspired to become a doctor after she witnessed the death of her father in a

Rocket First Appearance—First teenage mom in comics

May May 1993 1993

Storm First Solo Series

Feb Feb 1996 1996

Cecilia Reyes First Appearance

June June 1987 1987

drive by shooting. She denied Professor Xavier’s requests to join the X-Men many times, interested in saving lives as a doctor rather than being a superhero. During many setbacks, she eventually joins the team, making her the only member of the X-Men who is a true doctor of medicine. She comes to the X-Men’s aid at many health emergencies. Her mutant power is to produce force fields around herself and others, which makes it possible for her to work on her teammates in the field. Much like Renee and Martha, Cecilia also faces a lot of discrimination that comes at the cost of her work. That, however, does not stop her from being one of the best trauma doctors in the Marvel Universe. The accomplishment of Black women leaders have been ignored and minimized. Much of the narrative about women and Black folks focuses on derailment, plateauing, and offramping, and that is doubly true for Black women. Biases about race and gender could impact judgments of how much a leader is given credit. This even affects comic book characters. There are some people who still do not realize that Storm or Monica led superhero teams and their names do not come up in the top 10 lists of greatest comic book leaders. What is certain is that these Black heroines have built a legacy that is impossible to deny, and they are an example for many generations to come. Next issue: Herstory Part 3...Black heroines in Independent comic books, Comics from 2000’s till now, Black women writers currently in the industry.

“Biases about race and gender could impact judgments of how much a leader is given credit. This even affects comic book characters. “

When the Black Panther movie was released in 2018, Chadwick Boseman became more than just a movie star. He inspired millions through his role as T'Challa, the King of Wakanda. Not only was he a hero on screen, he was a voice of encouragement for many young Black people. Boseman often spoke on the contributions of his predecessors, including the ones he portrayed on screen. When we heard the news of Chadwick’s death, our collective hearts were shattered. Black Panther was the most impactful role of Chadwick’s career. From its release, we experienced a shift in the acceptance of Black nerd culture. There is no doubt that Black Panther was different from other superhero films. While T'Challa is the hero of the film, he is not alone. Unlike many films in the genre featuring a male lead, Black Panther equally shared the spotlight with many women, who not only supported his mission, but were integral to his success. The portrayal of Black women in this Marvel film was extremely accurate. So it is at no surprise that many Black womxn were deeply impacted by this film and its actor. Our contributors shared their thoughts and feelings for this tribute to Chadwick Boseman. “Black Panther meant a lot to me because it was the first film I saw that included Black people in the forefront and they weren’t slaves or stereotyped. All the women were strong and knew their worth. It wasn’t sexual in how they were viewed or portrayed. I think Chadwick embodies Black Panther in everything he does on and off screen. All in all, it was just a great movie to watch, because it made me proud to be black.” - Daija McNeil

“I think that Chadwick and Black Panther were an introduction to Wakanda and all that it represents. Wakanda is hope, freedom, and excellence for Black people beyond anything we are normally allowed to imagine.” - Unity “It was great seeing dark skinned Black families in their multidimensional glory. I love how strong, soft, and respected these women’s roles are. And it felt good to watch genuine intergenerational male character development. It embodied Black pride from the past through the future.” - Emily Ewings “During the time when Black Panther came out, our president was backing white supremacists. Chadwick gave the world a fictional, futuristic leader that we can look up and look forward to. He showed us all what it was truly like to be in service as far as what we choose to put out into the world. For me as an artist, Chadwick continues to inspire me to choose my roles in life more carefully, finding ones more meaningful for myself and others. “ Chrissy Legaux “Black Panther, for me, was much more than just an all black cast starring in a heroic, Marvel film. For me, it symbolized a true black utopia. An Atlantis, where we, black people, are not inferior, but all equals to each other. Where war is not the main focus, but rather enlightenment, and technology advancement. Chadwick Boseman, was not only a phenomenal actor, but someone with real moral and character. Someone that youths today could really look up to and admire. Him playing Prince T’Challa showed up-and-coming black actors and actresses that you don’t have to accept roles that are less than. Accept roles that will encourage people to aspire to land roles that are bigger and better. The world is a little darker now that his light is gone but the work he left is absolutely remarkable. ” - Lune Noirr Chadwick Boseman will sorely be missed not only to those that knew him but to Black nerds and the millions of fans who fell in love with the important character that he played.

“This particular cosplay character is very powerful, spiritually and emotionally.”

Vamp is my absolute favorite cult film. Keith Haring’s artwork, and costuming for Grace Jones is what really grabbed my attention about this film. Throughout the whole film, Grace has no lines, just really bold, fashion looks that all relates back to Ancient Egypt. A few years ago I created a cosplay/burlesque act in tribute of her iconic burlesque dance number she performs in the strip club. I focused a lot of my energy on the body paint. I love Keith’s style of art, and it was important to me to put in a lot of effort in replicating his body paint work. Whenever I perform this act, I usually have Damballah (a powerful Haitian vodou lwa) painted on my back, mixed in with his paint style. The bra and underwear piece are made of copper, and the headpiece is made out of wire. This particular cosplay character is very powerful, spiritually and emotionally. And, I wanted to make sure that the authenticity of that character and moment in the film came across strong and clear. Check out a video of Lune Noirr’s Vamp performance here.

What happens to strong women? Are they honored and awarded or met with suspicion and scrutiny? Well….it depends. No story highlights this better than the case of Caster Semenya. A two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time World Champion, Semenya made her international debut at the age of 18 during the 2009 World Championships. What should have been the start of an amazing career would be marred by scandal. A complaint had been lodged and Semenya was under suspicion of not being biologically female. This information along with her medical records would be leaked to the press shortly after the IAAF, International Association of Athletics Federation, ran gender-verification tests on her. Semenya would be permitted to finish the event, taking first, but then be placed on an 11-month ban. Semenya has a condition called hyperandrogenism, meaning her body produces more testosterone than the average woman. To deal with such issues the classification of DSD was created, or differences in sexual development. Athletes who fell into this classification had to take a contraceptive pill, monthly hormone-blocking injection, or have surgery in order to compete. Semenya began taking testosterone-suppressing oral contraceptives that left her feeling constantly sick with regular fevers and internal abdominal pain. Unwilling to submit to this policy, Semenya sued the IAAF to be able to compete as she naturally was. While this was happening, the leaks created a media frenzy. Semenya’s body, rights, and achievements were openly discussed amongst officials, scientists, and fans. Semenya referred to this time as: “the most profound and humiliating experience of my life.” These discussions stalled on fairness and the integrity of women’s sport versus the advantages of higher testosterone levels. To be clear, gender-verification testing is sexist. It only exists in women’s sports, since no biological advantage in men is seen as unfair. Men who far outperform competitors are viewed in a positive light, while women must often explain or are shamed for their success. It is worth noting that women subjected to this form of policing are often queer, from the global south, and possess more angular features resulting in complaints of racism and homophobia.

Verification testing is not new, and each iteration of the practice inevitably spells disaster for those who fall outside it’s bounds. Whether it’s certificates of femininity, nude parades, chromosome testing or hormone levels, lives have been thrown into chaos by these policies. Lives like Maria Martinez Patino, from Spain, who in 1986 was found to have XY chromosomes. Patino had her medical records leaked resulting in her losing friends, a fiancé, her home, her scholarship, and having her run times expunged from the records. It took 3 years before she was reinstated, but by then her athletic career was over.

Lives like Santhi Soundarajan, from India, who won silver at the Asia Games in 2006, only to have it stripped from her for “failing” her gender test. She would never be reinstated and attempted suicide the following year. There are many stories like these and many more we may never know. Not all are as tragic, but none secure the right for all women to compete as they are. Dutee Chand, from India, who has hyperandrogenism like Semenya and Soundarajan was able to win her case. Her precedent protects other athletes competing at 100-meters and 200-meters, events she competes in, but not Semenya and Soundarajan who compete at 800-meters.

“So, what happens to strong women? Are they awarded or shamed?”

These cases are not being handled well. The IAAF uses fear of obsolescence and a neo-liberal idea of fairness to demean their own athletes. It is no one’s business how another person’s body functions. There have always been people with physiological differences and these women do not owe the world deference for existing. Sports are never completely fair. Sometimes, an opponent is bigger, or faster, or stronger and that is the point. That is why we watch them, because they are amazing. Let these women be amazing. What’s really concerning, is that these actions are propelling the exclusion of trans women elsewhere. A bill called The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports has been introduced to Congress, which would ban trans girls from competing in women’s athletics in schools. The Department of Education is threatening to pull federal funding from colleges that allow trans women to compete. World Rugby, an international federation, has proposed a complete ban of trans women from women’s competition. All under the same banner of protecting women and fairness. For those unsure of where this story goes, Semenya lost her suit. She is currently training to compete at 200-meters so that she may compete uninhibited, though she is far less competitive at this distance. School districts in Connecticut are threatening to sue the Department of Education to protect pro-trans athletic policies. So, what happens to strong women? Are they awarded or shamed? Well, that will depend on us.

As a professional tarot reader, I see and speak with people from all walks of life and from around the world. A tarot deck comprises 78 cards, each speaking their own unique language that can be used in countless ways. It can definitely be used as a predictive tool. But it also can be used for self-reflection and discovery, and to gain a greater sense of awareness of the world around us. I think of myself as a student of the tarot, always looking to deepen my connection with its endless sea of information. As with any language, it’s important to expand the vocabulary and command of its nuance. As a practitioner of ATRs (African Traditional Religions) I often make connections between the Spirits we honor and the cards we read. Sometimes it's those Spirits making a connection with me! The original spirits are from West Africa and are called the Orisha. One of the primary Spirits in that grouping is Oya, also known as Iansa. Oya is the extremely powerful personification of wind energy, said to be the winds of change. Just like the wind, Oya is sometimes a breath of fresh air - and sometimes, she’s gale-force winds that blow away all in its path. She, among other Orisha, is also seen in the lightning that flashes across the sky. I've often wondered if this extremely powerful expression of divine feminine energy was the inspiration for Storm from the X-Men. In a reading, Oya will come up for me as: • the Ace of Swords • the Queen of Swords • and the Death card. But before we get into how each card relates to Oya’s energy, let’s take a look at how each tarot deck is organized. First of all, let's look at how a deck is broken down into subsets. In the tarot, there are: • Major Arcana (21 cards) • Minor Arcana (57 cards) The 21 cards of the Major Arcana are archetypes, each representing common life experiences as part of the human condition. Think of them as the “life lessons”. The four suits of the Minor Arcana, however, are a little more about the details. The numbered cards of each suit, from Ace to Ten, are how we as humans relate to the world. Then, the court cards represent actual people or personality types, be it those around us or the person being read. Oya is the Queen of the cemetery gate, as well as the Queen of the marketplace. Oh - and did I mention that she carries a machete? She is not a woman to be trifled with. Here are a few of her major characteristics: • • •

Oya is all about change. She represents courage. She embodies empowerment.

The winds of change are being felt across the entire world, but nowhere more strongly than here in the US. One could argue that it is going to take superhuman strength to see it through. Whether it be on a global scale or in our own personal lives, Oya's energy coupled with the language of the tarot can act as a very effective tool to clear the way. In part two of this article, we will take a deeper dive and explore how to do this with confidence while also showing proper respect to this mighty Spirit. We all could do with nurturing our ability to weather the storm.

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