There are those who say that when you venture out into the world, you should always have a map to hand. The map-makers of old covered their blushes at ignorance of parts unknown with the phrase ‘here there be dragons’. The idea that something unknown must be dangerous has lingered. The mystery has gone from our world, stamped out by commerce, dogma and insecure men with small hands. Queen Sheherazade spoke spells for one thousand and one nights, in order to free herself from the violence and tyranny of a man who almost definitely also had very small hands.
The mystery has gone from our world, stamped out by commerce, dogma and insecure men with small hands.
The murderous king that Sheherazade had to enchant hated women because he couldn’t control them or their sexuality. The sheer mental load that my girl She had to carry to ensure she finished her spell on a cliffhanger every night to save her life was intense. But women are doing it all the time. Trying to appease angry, insecure men.
I fear for the straight young women in my life who are dating now because ‘here there be dragons’. (I say ‘straight women’ because I am one and only have that experience, but it is not intended to be exclusionary.) One no longer knows what type of man you’re likely to get. One of those sexist, awful misogynists or a kind, modern man who wants to get to a place of equality. The truth is that I’m not sure I’ve met many heterosexual men who are truly happy being equal to a woman. You get plenty of pseudo-feminists who do the dishes and change the nappies, but then expect to have their own nappies changed on a regular basis. Personally, I blame Sheherazade and all women of that ilk. The ones who stay and try and charm their way out of trouble rather than getting the hell out of dodge. Say the right spell and he won’t behead you in the morning. Walking on eggshells but never getting to eat the omelette.
In my youth I was Sheherazade. Now I am Circe. A different breed of witch altogether and, if you will behave like a pig, you’ll get turned into a pig.
