transtheology - Tumblr blog

[transtheology]

(x)

[transtheology]

In the NRSV translation, Genesis 37:3 says, “Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with sleeves.” The NIV translation describes Joseph’s garment as “an ornate robe,” and the NET translation calls it “a special tunic.” Why so many different translations?

Well, it turns out that one of the ways we understand the vocabulary of the Bible is by looking at where that same vocabulary is used in other passages, and the Hebrew words ketonet passim, which describe Joseph’s garment, are only used in one other place in the whole Bible. That place is 2 Samuel 13:18 which says, “Now [Tamar] was wearing a ketonet passim; for this is how the virgin daughters of the king were clothed in earlier times.”

So what do we make of the fact that this piece of clothing is worn once by Joseph, and then specifically described as a dress for princesses? We’re left to draw our own conclusions!

— What does the Bible say about gendered clothing? (Deuteronomy 22:5) on queergrace.com

[transtheology]

Some ideas for Kemetics looking to mark the Eclipse if this is of interest:

Eclipses may have been seen as bad omens as it was potentially representative of Ra being defeated by a/p/e/p. Each year at Wep Ronpet (the New Year) Ra's process of triumph over a/p/e/p and evil is celebrated, so the disappearance of the sun in the middle of the year would certainly be of some concern. The concepts which we use for the New Year could also be helpful during an Eclipse:

Light candles where possible, electric candles will also work

Images, Statues, representations of Ra brought out

Imagery of Ma'at who is both a Netjeru / Goddess and the concept of truth, justice, and balance is also appropriate

Offerings, as simple as cool water, in specific to Ra and/or Ma'at

Prayers / Devotion / Poems to Ra and Ma'at

Loud noises! Scare away the evil -- sistrum / rattles / drums or percussion / music / etc.

Depictions of the smiting of is/fet and/or a/p/e/p

Various ideas for smiting of a/p/e/p that are used in New Year traditions include images of snakes that are in some way destroyed, the destruction of clay pots with images or words written on them, or similar concepts. The most common way to depict a/p/e/p is as a snake having been cut or stabbed with a knife or multiple knives, spears, etc.

You should avoid depicting a/p/e/p as a whole entity or representative entity (eg: whole snake) that has not in some way been shown as sliced-and-diced / destroyed / defeated / etc. Words and images have serious power in Kemetic practice, and we take away the power of a/p/e/p through depiction of its destruction right from the beginning.

Written down or drawn depictions can be destroyed additionally by tearing, burning, crushing, breaking, etc. the medium on which they were depicted (safety first, ideally try not to burn paper indoors, use a fire-proof vessel, and when in doubt avoid burning entirely unless you know you can do it safely).

Dispose of whatever remains ideally in an outside trash area if you can (to remove it completely from your home). If you can't get it outside right away, at least contain it within its own trash bag which you tie up securely, and then put in the household trashcan.

Light, prayer, noise, and smiting of evil: The perfect recipe for those who are interested in fending off darkness.

A/p/e/p's depiction as being stabbed 5 times - Temple of Edfu

[transtheology]

A heart ate Loki, / in the embers it lay,

And half-cooked found he / the woman's heart;

With child from the woman / [Loki] soon was,

And thence among men / came the monsters all.

— Hyndluljóð (The Poem of Hyndla), translated by Henry Adams Bellows [describing Loki eating a woman's heart, causing him to become pregnant with a monster]

[transtheology]

well first of all we’re supposed to conform ourselves to Christ, not to gender, so jot that down—

[transtheology]

Highlighting LGBTQIA+ spiritual traditions.

This is from Candelora 2023, held at the Sanctuary of Montevergine in Avellino, Italy in honor and invocation of Mama Schiavona who protects the Femminielli. The Femminielli are their own gender, native to what is now Southern Italy. They bring good luck and have been a part of the sacred landscape of Southern Italy for pretty much all of recorded history. Naples itself never historically persecuted homosexuality, even when many other parts of Europe did the opposite.

In addition to Candelora, the Femminielli also participate in the feast of la Madonna dell'Arco and the Easter Monday tradition of the matrimonio dei femminielli--a magnificent ritual wedding celebration.

There are some very old non-binary genders in this world, particularly around the Mediterranean. Some Femminielli may identify as Trans Women while others may not. Gender is complicated. The Femminielli serve a vital spiritual role to the religious hygiene of their communities. Bringing good luck, joy, and blessings to all from the depths of time itself.

In the video, I think I hear the familiar voice of Roberto de Simone--the very same musical legend responsible for the Neapolitan Opera, "La Gatta Cenerentola," which also features Femminielli in the cast. I did a dive on that one a while back. You can also see musicians gathering to sing and drum for Mama Schiavona. The music they are singing for her is a Tammurriata. Tammurriata refers to the rhythm as well as the dance of the same name that goes with it. The giant tambourine you see in this video is called a tammorra and that rhythm is absolutely ancient. These are extremely devout lay people who are performing this invocation. They have processed here through the city to the sanctuary and this is just how it is done. They have come to pray for protection of the marginalized and to celebrate everything Mama Schiavona and the Femminielli stand for. This is what folk religion looks like.

[transtheology]

memes by @dionysiandevotee

[transtheology]

To me, being trans is one of the most incredible blessings a human can receive from HaShem. From the moment we take our first breath, we are given the wondrous opportunity to mould ourselves b'tzelem Elohim–in the image of G-d. Every day we get to decide what b'tzelem Elohim means for us; we get to lovingly form ourselves like clay, every iteration a reflection of the Divine all on its own, into the image… the person that HaShem always knew we could become.

—G-J-B (Queer & Jewish Musings)

[transtheology]

צַר־לִ֣י עָלֶ֗יךָ אָחִי֙ יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן נָעַ֥מְתָּ לִּ֖י מְאֹ֑ד נִפְלְאַ֤תָה אַהֲבָֽתְךָ֙ לִ֔י מֵאַהֲבַ֖ת נָשִֽׁים׃

I am pained over you, my brother (kin) Yehonatan. You were the most pleasant to me, your love was most wonderful, more than the love of women.

[Shmuel 2, 1;26]

[image description in alt text]

[transtheology]

hail Dionysus, patron of trans, nonbinary, bigender, trigender, multigender, genderfluid, agender, and intersex people

hail Dionysus, man of curves and woman of sharp edges; hail Dionysus, ever-changing Liberator of all like us, all like Dionysus… rebel Prince and Princess with the long, wine-dark curls and the sweet, feline grin

hail Dionysus, god of gender euphoria and dispeller of body dysphoria, great Lord and Lady and Protector of us all. may You protect us this month of pride, and bring even those who do not follow You home to warm beds and happier bodies.

[transtheology]

the extremely transgender pagan moment when you’re working out as a devotion to The Morrigan and then I’ll Make A Man Out Of You comes on and as you go you start sobbing + grinning out of sheer exhilaration and love and pride and the feeling of being watched + held + guided through this journey by such an amazing force and you look crazy but you don’t care because you know you can do anything with Her on your side and She’s SO on your side

[transtheology]

Happy Trans* Day of Visibility!

[transtheology]

Happy Transgender Day of Visibility in honor of El Roi, God Who Sees, who made all things, visible and invisible. We know a God of justice and protection, of vulnerability and truth, a God transfigured and transubstantiated, unashamed of scars, breaking gender roles, bringing resurrection. The God who loves us knows firsthand the rotten fruit of political oppression. They have commanded and blessed name changes. They are father and mother, beyond and encompassing our ideas of gender. To all my trans siblings: I am so lucky to know you, to see your God-given gifts, to be present in your joy. I pray today especially for those for whom visibility brings danger, and for those only fully seen by God. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Amen.

[transtheology]

Happy Transgender Day of Visibility everyone! You are loved and you are perfect just the way you are🏳️‍⚧️

[transtheology]

[ID: a 7 panel black and white comic drawn in pen and depicting a conversation between jesus and doubting thomas. jesus is dressed in loose jeans and a t-shirt. thomas is dressed in a tank top with a binder visible underneath. both are middle aged men. panel 1: jesus’s torso as he lifts up his shirt. he has uneven top surgery scars cutting across his chest horizontally, nearly meeting in the center. the scars, including the scars around his nipples, are slightly stretched but still fresh with visible stitches in some places too. he has sparse chest hair centralized around his nipples and stomach. jesus says, “my bandages are off.” panel 2: thomas is crouching downwards to look at jesus’s chest closely. thomas looks impressed and says, “no way!” panel 3: thomas looks suddenly unsure, holding a finger up to his mouth. meanwhile jesus is in the process of taking his shirt the rest of the way off, momentarily obscuring his head. thomas asks, “are your drains gone too?” to which jesus replies, “yeah.” thomas asks, “can I touch?” jesus responds, “are your hands clean?” thomas says, “yeah”. panel 4: jesus pops his shirt off and holds it above his head. he’s now fully bare from the hips upwards and is smiling warmly. he answers thomas previous question saying, “then yes”. panel 5: an extreme close up of jesus’s torso. thomas’s left hand is placed flat to jesus’s right breast. thomas’s right hand is lightly touching jesus’s left breast with just the knuckles of his first finger. there is fabric from no specific source framing the side of jesus’s torso, and this panel is drawn in a slightly more detailed style than the previous.

panel 6 and 7: both drawn in even more detail and with more values than the last. these panels are placed directly next to each other, and are filled with more fabric that blurs the edges between the two drawings. although both panels are extreme close ups showing only jesus’s post-op chest and thomas’s hands touching it, panel 6 is clearly modeled after the oil painting “the incredulity of saint thomas” by matthias stom. and panel 7 is modeled after “the incredulity of saint thomas” painting by caravaggio. what was a side wound in the original oil paintings has been replaced by jesus’s healed surgery scars, and with thomas only touching the surface of jesus’s skin. there are three disembodied speech bubbles over these panels, reading as follows. 1: “hey, jesus?” 2: “yes?” 3: “I think I might want top surgery too.” End ID]

something about seeing other trans people, and realizing what’s possible for yourself too.

[transtheology]

Palm Sunday Was a Pride Parade

A reflection by K Kriesel, shared with their permission.

Rev. Winnie Varghese preached on Palm Sunday a decade ago "When there was a parade [in Jesus's time], it was Rome coming in to show them they were conquered, that their God had been humiliated, that they would never be free. And Jesus comes in looking like David... This is not a bunch of people thinking resurrection comes at the end of this week."

Each Palm Sunday we celebrate the Lenten Pride parade - the one without corporate sponsorship. While everyone lays palms down, they form a can-can line and sing "Hosanna to the son of David! We are the Stonewall girls! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We wear our hair in curls! Hosanna in the highest!"

Irreverence in the face of somber Empire. A parade that says "you might extract taxes from us but you don't own us. You might put your soldiers on this land but it's not your land." After all, a “Lord” owns land/labor so those who laid down palms were very clear about who they were celebrating, and it wasn’t the Roman Empire.

Within Holy Week we have a sharp pivot from celebratory procession to an unjust execution. This clash in tone is not unlike switching from June 30 to July 1, when the thirteen colonies replace the rainbow; Empire doesn’t care who you celebrate, it exerts power. The wheel of Empire crushed Jesus’ followers just days after they celebrated His arrival, and it continues to crush us.

We need the camp of Palm Sunday, to lay down bedazzled palms and sequins-covered cloaks. When church/state pass laws to restrict us & to protect those who harm us, irreverence shows we won’t be touched at our core. Don your septum piercing and laugh in the face of fear!

In John’s gospel there were 2 angels inside the tomb, they were Trixie Mattel & Katya Zamolodchikova and the sound of the stone being rolled away was UNHhhh. When Mary Magdalene tried to embrace the risen Christ, Jesus saith unto her “touch me not, for my nails are not yet dry.” 💅🏻

Find more of K's art and words at kkriesel.com or on Instagram at kkrieselart. You can also hear my podcast interview with them here.

[transtheology]

happy trans people can't be killed in any way that matters day. have a yonic side wound