Taylor's faith evolution into a seminary-bound Christian witch - a podcast by Avery Smith

Taylor's faith is constantly evolving, from Presbyterian to atheist and back again, with their Christian faith expanding to include witchcraft. Learning from their family from a young age that politics and activism are part of following Jesus, Taylor has also discovered how queerness and tarot, symbolism, and astrology enrich their relationship with God. Taylor hopes to find a seminary where they can learn and grow even more, in the company of people who embrace all aspects of their identity as a fat, disabled, leftist, nonbinary, A+/B- asexual, Christian witch.



*Content warning: a teenager's death is discussed from 12:06 - 14:58. If you need to, you can skip this section without losing the thread of the conversation too much.*

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Find Taylor at Gender_Splendor on Twitter!

Reach out there if you're interested in a tarot reading; their rates are:

- 20 dollars per 15 minutes on video chat or phone (up to an hour per client)

- 35 dollars for an 8 card write-up sent to the client's inbox



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Talking points:

- (0:00 - 2:57) Introducing Taylor -- New England, chronic pain, fat activism, B+/A- asexual

- (2:58 - 4:53) Growing up as a child of divorce, mixed class, Presbyterian

- (4:54 - 12:06) Taylor's faith evolution, Act One: mental illness and isolation, discovering they don't have to be solely responsible for their own well-being; first sense of calling to ministry

- (12:07 - 16:57) Act Two: grappling with the death of a friend in high school; starting college and feeling disengaged from faith; finding a friend with whom they could talk through faith and figure out how things like tarot and symbolism can mesh with their Christian faith

- (16:58 - 21:18) Steps toward seminary; "What are other people gonna think about me in this space?"

- (21:19 - 23:58) Connections between faith, witchcraft, and queerness; "My nonbinary-ness is a reflection of God"

- (23:59 - 27:43) Another look at childhood -- Taylor's queerness was accepted at their church; family taught them that activism is part of following Jesus

- (27:44 - 34:40) The challenges with being a Christian witch in leftist spaces, and a leftist in Christian spaces

- (34:41 - 36:04) Naming oneself versus being labeled by others -- naming as a sacred act

- (36:05 - 39:36)The desire for others to fully understand oneself

- (39:37 - end) Wrapping up; "haters gonna hate, but God just loves."

Further episodes of Blessed Are the Binary Breakers

Further podcasts by Avery Smith

Website of Avery Smith