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mopinko

(71,597 posts)
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 10:39 AM Jul 2014

women and gardener's 8th intelligence. apparently, i am a witch.

This discussion thread was locked by Gormy Cuss (a host of the Feminists group).

so, gardener's 8th (last. hmm) intelligence is the naturalist.
the grower, the nurturer and the teacher of all things wild.

i am this. i always was this. my dad was this. both my gramps were this.
4 of my 5 kids are this.

the randomness of the universe delivered me a chance to spend my "golden years" doing this. my little farm is the place i am. i spend ssoooo much time teaching, especially kids. i get visitors all the time. i have no fence. i live in a less-than average density area of the city. but it is still the city

i also, of course, get a little more than my share of freaks.
since i started this 2 1/2 years ago, i have had a dozen visits from the city, long chats with my alderman's staff, and a bazillion hours of tense neighborhood relations work.
when you have ZERO of the 8th intelligence, i can talk to you all day, and you wont get it. when you have it, which is to say, a lot of adults, and pretty much every kid, you fall in love with the whole place.

i have taken to making jokes about being a witch. i believe that this is what the whole archetype of the witch comes from. or vice versa. but i do think some of these people watched too many disney movies.
i actually had one neighbor react to my excitement that we once again have breeding crows in the hood, a decade+ after west nile virus wiped them out, with horror. oooo i hate the crows. i am afraid of the crows.
this fool actually called the city to complain that i was attracting crows. and the fool from the city actually repeated that complaint to me, like it was a legit complaint.

and of course, there are the complaints about rats.
i have places of harborage. not rats, just hiding places.
i keep chickens. just look on the interwebs for chickens and rats i was told.
(i keep one of the tightest coops in the city.)
when i acquired some formerly feral cats to combat THEIR rats, (we are nearly 0 food waste here, it isnt me.) they had a shit fit about that.
i have 4 working dogs. 2 terriers, yes, rat terriers, and 2 big bull dogs.
i am to blame for all animal noise on the block.
and that includes my roo, who i can barely hear on my own back porch.

so, anyway, why i bring this here is this-
i would like to tap the hive mind about witch trials.
i would like to be able to cite specific, documented instances of women like me, who were stripped of their property.
and ftr, i am the crone of story and song.
i am 60 yo, skinny, wiry, tattooed. unkempt white hair.
property.
a propensity to subvert parental authority by talking to children without permission.
a plot full of weeds. which i know the names and uses for.

and a very short temper attached to a very big mouth.
my first tat was my avatar, with the wording-
you say i'm a bitch like it's a bad thing.

and of course, i am master of dogs, cats, chickens, rats and crows. so far. i have my eye on a little black squirrel that just ventured out of the nest the other day.

so, my beloved hive mind-
load me up. i want the cites and the names.


(ps, yes, there may be a law suit in the future. we shall see. i may just pack up and move this act somewhere where i dont have to take this shit. my divorce settlement would keep my in umbrella drinks and fresh mangos for the rest of my life in costa rica. and i wouldnt have to work like a rented mule. either way, i will have the last laugh here.)

xo du


19 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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women and gardener's 8th intelligence. apparently, i am a witch. (Original Post) mopinko Jul 2014 OP
As you suggest, the 8th intelligence is with us all in childhood. Later, it's beaten out of us. NYC_SKP Jul 2014 #1
there is a du'er in costa rica mopinko Jul 2014 #2
It's on my to-do list, let me know what you learn. NYC_SKP Jul 2014 #4
it was already on my bucket list. mopinko Jul 2014 #5
I think you'd make a terrific speaker! NYC_SKP Jul 2014 #10
also trying to convince a certain sailor mopinko Jul 2014 #6
That wouldn't be a bad cruise, if that certain sailboat is of a certain size, or larger! NYC_SKP Jul 2014 #12
why are you both talking about 8th level intelligence as if it were a commonplace term? CreekDog Jul 2014 #9
Many educators and others are familiar with Howard Gardner's "Multiple Intelligences" theory. NYC_SKP Jul 2014 #13
pps- i talk about this a lot. i had a bunch of teenaged volunteers recently. mopinko Jul 2014 #3
Happy to k&r for you, mopinko. brer cat Jul 2014 #7
I think they'll hang you for "misusing" your linguistic intelligence, if you're not careful.... NYC_SKP Jul 2014 #16
If I understand your question correctly,you're looking for citations of women accused of witchcraft Gormy Cuss Jul 2014 #8
yeah, i am looking for that connection to owning land. mopinko Jul 2014 #14
Property was seized from some in the Salem witch trials. Gormy Cuss Jul 2014 #15
yeah, the property went to the guys at the other end of the rope. mopinko Aug 2014 #17
Interesting. Bkmrking to read more later. Thanks. N/t Tuesday Afternoon Jul 2014 #11
gee mopinko Aug 2014 #18
The OP has cross-posted this discussion in GD Gormy Cuss Aug 2014 #19
 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
1. As you suggest, the 8th intelligence is with us all in childhood. Later, it's beaten out of us.
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 10:50 AM
Jul 2014

A few of us refuse to let it go.

But our culture, our systems, our educational programs and our economy and the marketplace, all of these require that we not only deny the naturist in us all, we are expected to work against it and can expect to be ridiculed if we don't get on board.

Screw that shit, Mo!

Keep up the good work and if things don't get better I'll meet you in Costa Rica.

Or Belize!

mopinko

(71,597 posts)
2. there is a du'er in costa rica
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 11:05 AM
Jul 2014

that sends me listings for plantations.
actually hoping to visit this winter.

 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
4. It's on my to-do list, let me know what you learn.
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 11:10 AM
Jul 2014

I've been in Mexico, almost to Belize, never to CR but love the idea.

mopinko

(71,597 posts)
5. it was already on my bucket list.
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 11:25 AM
Jul 2014

gato is from the hood. he is supposed to be coming up soon.
also got a friend that might be able to get me a cheap plane ticket.
my days of rich lady travel may be over, but i also am finally a free woman, and my feet are starting to itch.

if the farm proves successful, i have a half a mind to hit the lecture circuit. boy do i have the stories to tell.

 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
10. I think you'd make a terrific speaker!
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 01:19 PM
Jul 2014

And there are a number of venues that would suit your stories, educational, societal.

I attend and know of some great educational and sustainability conferences that fit, but I can also easily picture you in small venues-- at the community level and in several countries, where people still get up and fight the powers that be.

Here, I'm afraid we've mostly sold out to NASCAR, professional sports, Barbies and Botox.



mopinko

(71,597 posts)
6. also trying to convince a certain sailor
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 11:27 AM
Jul 2014

to meander down there to hook up.
cruise ship time?

 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
12. That wouldn't be a bad cruise, if that certain sailboat is of a certain size, or larger!
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 03:49 PM
Jul 2014

CreekDog

(46,192 posts)
9. why are you both talking about 8th level intelligence as if it were a commonplace term?
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 01:00 PM
Jul 2014

if you're going to talk about universal principles, one thing to make them not so offputting would be to explain yourselves and not heap judgement on people that aren't familiar with them.

first, there is no scientific evidence that these principles are true, just as with religions in general.

second, there is nothing wrong with not knowing universal principles or teachings.

third, there is nothing specific to feminism about universal principles, so it shouldn't be assumed as common knowledge just because you post it in this group.

 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
13. Many educators and others are familiar with Howard Gardner's "Multiple Intelligences" theory.
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 04:02 PM
Jul 2014

He proposed that there were seven, including music, linguistic, kinesthetic, math, etc., which I remember seeming eerily similar to the classic seven liberal arts.

(nothing new under the sun)

Eventually, the list grew from seven and an oft-cited "eighth intelligence" was termed the "Naturalist Intelligence".

From an ASCD article:

Naturalist intelligence designates the human ability to discriminate among living things (plants, animals) as well as sensitivity to other features of the natural world (clouds, rock configurations). This ability was clearly of value in our evolutionary past as hunters, gatherers, and farmers; it continues to be central in such roles as botanist or chef. I also speculate that much of our consumer society exploits the naturalist intelligences, which can be mobilized in the discrimination among cars, sneakers, kinds of makeup, and the like. The kind of pattern recognition valued in certain of the sciences may also draw upon naturalist intelligence.


Not that Gardner is the supreme being on matters like this, he merely coined the phrase, but he speaks to the Naturalist in the same ASCD article, here:
http://tinyurl.com/8th4CreekDog

Now, as the naturalist view of things can be a scary way of looking at the world, and challenge many conventions, social and religious, it's easy to imaging how many could be threatened by such ideas as communing with nature, womanhood being the powerful thing that it is, relationships with nature being greater than relationships to a patriarchy. And, further, it's easy to imagine the threat presented by powerful women who channel their eighth intelligence becoming the targets of harassment, lawsuits, and having their property taken from them.

I hope this helps.



mopinko

(71,597 posts)
3. pps- i talk about this a lot. i had a bunch of teenaged volunteers recently.
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 11:07 AM
Jul 2014

i told them that the 8th intelligence is the only one they hang you for.
i have yet to be refuted on that.
please do if you can.

(and pls k&r for more eyes)

brer cat

(26,047 posts)
7. Happy to k&r for you, mopinko.
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 11:55 AM
Jul 2014

Interesting read.

 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
16. I think they'll hang you for "misusing" your linguistic intelligence, if you're not careful....
Thu Jul 31, 2014, 10:06 AM
Jul 2014

But they'll burn you at the stake for naturalistic!

Kicking for more input.

Gormy Cuss

(30,884 posts)
8. If I understand your question correctly,you're looking for citations of women accused of witchcraft
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 12:08 PM
Jul 2014

as an excuse to take their property?

And are you looking for examples where the property was seized without the 'witch' being executed?

mopinko

(71,597 posts)
14. yeah, i am looking for that connection to owning land.
Thu Jul 31, 2014, 07:46 AM
Jul 2014

yes. i hadnt thought about whether or not they were executed, but if there are examples out there of women being stripped of their property and not executed. i just sort of put the 2 together in my mind, but i am sure that stealing of all sorts went on under cover of this bs, so stories of other crimes are illustrative.

i just have this opinion that the grief i get is related to being female. and i swear it is stepped up this year because my husband left 
i am foia-ing the calls for the past owner, a rich white developer who was also a ROTTEN landlord who owned a bunch of other property.
i am thinking i get more shit than he did. for letting a house rot, and letting the land sit, a mess.

we shall see.

Gormy Cuss

(30,884 posts)
15. Property was seized from some in the Salem witch trials.
Thu Jul 31, 2014, 09:38 AM
Jul 2014

The property would revert to the colony or the Crown if the accused was a landed widow or a property-owning man (and several of those were accused only because they had defended their wives.)

mopinko

(71,597 posts)
17. yeah, the property went to the guys at the other end of the rope.
Sat Aug 2, 2014, 07:53 AM
Aug 2014

whether they filtered it through the crown or not. it ended up in the hands of someone. someone powerful.

Tuesday Afternoon

(56,912 posts)
11. Interesting. Bkmrking to read more later. Thanks. N/t
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 03:17 PM
Jul 2014

mopinko

(71,597 posts)
18. gee
Sat Aug 2, 2014, 07:53 AM
Aug 2014

am i on that many ignore lists?

Gormy Cuss

(30,884 posts)
19. The OP has cross-posted this discussion in GD
Sat Aug 2, 2014, 05:44 PM
Aug 2014
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025328203

and in the interests of consolidating future comments in the new thread I am locking this thread now.

Gormy Cuss, a host of Feminists Group.
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