Elizabeth Barrette (ysabetwordsmith) wrote,
Elizabeth Barrette
ysabetwordsmith

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The Magic of Chocolate

Here is a fantastic article about the history of chocolate with regard to magic, power, feminism, colonialism, and Latina heritage.  \o/  I am impressed with the depth, breadth, and respect it covers.  Some highlights:

* Chocolate is an entheogen and an aphrodisiac.  Yes, that actually makes it a terrific vehicle for magic

* It isn't addictive, but it is supremely seductive.  Despite banning a bunch of other native stuff, not even the asshole conquistadores could resist the sweet siren song of chocolate.

* Ethics of magic rely a lot on cultural context.  Where people routinely get screwed, the ethics tend to focus on survival rather than respect.  If nobody gives a flying fuck about anyone else's free will, then the magicians in that culture tend to use magic to balance a very stacked deck.  This is also why all the Afro-Caribbean stuff is so hardcore: only the most effective bits survived brutal oppression. 

* Men would rather risk being hexed or poisoned than make their own morning brew.  

* If you oppress people and force them to work for you, then you damn well deserve  to be afraid.
Tags: ethnic studies, food, gender studies, history, magic, networking, reading, spirituality
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