Mixed Magic

Dear poem,

I’m glad that you’re here. I’m Imọlẹ. I’m a femme boi who can be both shy and bold. Fierce and very gentle. I’m black and white. Mixed. Transmasc, non-binary and femme. It took me a while to embrace that I don’t fit into any prescribed boxes. I see these labels as imaginative tools and joyfully reshape them. Fill them with my spirit and soul. I use he/they pronouns but also she* in a very gay way. You cannot go wrong with they/them. He/him I mostly use with people who are very close to me. I’m more spiritual than scientific but I also find it beautiful to merge these realms. I love mixing ideas with non-ideas. Words with silence. I love mixing what and who seemingly don’t belong together. Because we all do. Everything does. I want to pour some mixed magic into a world that is so full of contradictions. So full of suffering and beauty. I just want whatever is hurting me / you / the world to hurt a little less. We are all interconnected. I believe that sharing vulnerably can be empowering.

I was born and raised in Vienna. I’m Austrian & Nigerian. Joyfully Yòrubá. For most of my life, I’ve lived in Austria. I’ve lived in Nigeria, France, Spain and the Netherlands only shortly. Believe it or not, there are quite a few Black Austrians. We belong here. Always have. Against the odds. Against what the Nazis want(ed).

I’ve always been someone to process the world around me very deeply.

Writing, singing and moving my body have been tools for me to do so.
At this point in my life, it just feels right to share a bit more of myself.

If you don’t know where to start reading, start here:

bringing joy and abundance into liberation

Imọlẹ

·

February 17, 2024

When times are hard, intentionally loving ourselves and each other is what transforms us. Stepping into joy and abundance matters. It’s also our birthright. I have an emotional boundary around anger, pain and shame. I hold. I honor. I release. The anger, pain and shame of oppression are not mine (and ours) to carry. I feel like this should be a political strategy. A politic of love. It’s not something that we are actively taught to practice in activist and community spaces. Even if we are, why not do this more?

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I’m here to dismantle:

• racism

• colonialism

• imperialism

  (May all Empires fall!
  Free Congo & Sudan!

  Free Alkebulan! <3)

• nation-states / borders

• white supremacy

• colourism

• featurism / texturism

• sexism / misogynoir

• fatphobia

• ableism

• domination

• competition

• capitalism

• toxic masculinity
  (I’m all for soft masculinity!)

• homophobia / transphobia

• discrimination against non-binary folx

• discrimination against inter* folx

• caste oppression

• islamophobia

  (It’s Free Palestine over here!)

• anti-jewish hate

• religious fanatism

• authoritarianism

• sexual / emotional / physical abuse

• internalized self-hatred / neglect

• shaming of sexuality / pleasure

• hate towards sex workers

• hate towards witches* &
  non-monotheistic spirituality

• black-and-white thinking

• prejudice against multiracial folx &
  invalidation of mixed experiences

• savourism / lack of solidarity

• devaluation of education
  especially for femmes*

• dehumanization / torture
  of (non-)human beings

• violence out of revenge
  or as a form of punishment

• carceral / prison system

• police / state surveillance

• militarized violence / war

• genocides everywhere

• exploitation / erasure

• lack of accountability

• environmental destruction

• lack of respect towards Ayé
  the Earth / Mother* Nature

I’m here to share with you weeklyish newsletters of what flows from my heart. Words of wisdom from my ancestors. Or just silliness from my inner child. When I have a bit more time & resources, I’ll also delve into formats like reviews & podcasts.

I studied socio-economics and economic law but dropped out. I was trained as an English teacher at language schools but never really practiced as one. I used to be a museum guard and kindergarten assistant shortly. Right now, I’m studying theater, film, and media studies. Also have added comparative literature to the mix.

I’m not an expert on anything but a learner of (almost) everything. *cringe but true*

I hope you’re willing to learn with me and radicalize towards LOVE.

I truly don’t know where this writing-for-liberation journey is going to lead us.
I embrace the infinite possibilities of the Universe. I embrace the Unknown.

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If you want to support me, I’d be truly deeply grateful for a paid subscription. As I say, I also understand if you cannot afford it and know you don’t value me any less. <3