Switches Gathering 3. Part 6 Once more with feeling

Sunday morning and a significant event in the history of Motherland conventions. Taylor was not there. This was the first time ever that Taylor was not present. As she herself said, ‘It was time to let other people enjoy this experience’. Taylor had been presented with the Thank You cards at the end of Saturday, with the instruction not to read them until ‘tomorrow’.

It is Sunday and our guest panel was joined by Ess for the Opening Ceremony and the group panel.

Cat. Team Euro Spicy. Woke up to ‘last day, last one’. Need a reset. Enjoy the magic today. Enjoy the now. Take care of yourself. Hydrate. Don’t be overwhelmed. You are with people who get you.

Demetria. This crazy chick to my left (Cat) is the Michelle Obama to my Whoopi Goldberg. We offer wisdom. Enjoyed yesterday, the energy, the gifts, the laughs. Vote for me to win today

Ess had major FOMO yesterday. So it was wonderful to see faces they hadn’t seen for 2 years. For some it is not the first time, so it is a repeat joy. Seeing the cast, seeing each other. So many languages. Time goes on. We get stronger, we all want to do this. Thank you for the love.

Then Ess did their own translation. Ess speaks French.

[Then Cat and Ess fixed a wobbly table leg on the table in front of them]

Lyne. Been crying again. Love these people. Let’s have a fantastic Sunday.

Jess. Maybe silence. Take a moment. Deep breath. [Passes tissues around, Cat is crying] Come to the power of shared space. Facilitation is a way into a space. Resonate. Here today to breathe with you all. Love. Quoting Jack Gilbert ‘we have to be stubborn with our delight’. Delighted to be here today.

Ashley. Grateful to share space with you. Thank you for coming to meet us. Grateful to meet you. Fill my cup up

[At this point Demetria is the only one not crying. Cat poked her – was she still alive? asleep?]

Ashley. Makes my heart full to know the love for the show, the characters and for us. Never thought I would ever experience this.

Question. [Commented on Demetria not crying] Which god or goddess is your character the child of?

Demetria. Let’s be clear about something. It’s not that I don’t possess tear ducts. You have come from everywhere. I have just been crazy enough to not fall for the fact that we’re not going to see each other again. I’m not going to sit here are cry that I won’t see you again. Amen

[She got an Amen from other cast members, then got back to the question.]

Two answers. First there are seven African gods and goddesses. I think I am descended from them. But in a space that my son would recommend, I am a fan of Storm. I absolutely love Storm. She’s from African descent. Like asking what Anacostia’s mega power would have been – never got a chance to fully explore that – like Storm. Electricity and all that stuff. She can astral project, she can go into space. So a descendent of the seven African goddesses or Storm

Ess. Was sitting here like ‘which one’? Which one do you think?

Ashley. I think Abigail is the daughter of Athena. She never backs down from a fight.

Ess. In English because don’t know their Greek mythology in French very well. M might be a descendant or second cousin of Hermes, a healer, the son of Aphrodite. The dude with wings on his feet. Also associated with the caduceus. Or the Roman version is Mercury. [Then Ess translated into French]

Lyne. Had just read a book by Phil Knight, the creator of Nike. She highly recommended it. Lyne thinks Alder would be descended from Nike, because she stands for victory [Lyne translated herself]

Cat. Her first thought was Athena, that is where Petra starts. But where we leave her and take the wisdom into her own life is Diana the huntress. To hunt effectively you need to be wise and tactical and patient and observant. After that the goddess of love, trying to find how to use love over war to affect change

Jess. Goddess? One of the gods of mirth or joy. Or love. Aphrodite

Question. Neuro spicy. Which character gives the most neurodivergent vibe?

Ess. Izadora.

Jess. Emilie says ‘Hi’ by the way.

Question. The end of season 3 and the outcome. There are two possible effects of the first song. Either everyone is a witch or there are no witches. Which outcome would you prefer?

Cat. Wonderful question. The most powerful element of storytelling is transformation. If we have to pause that story, we should choose the higher self rather than being reduced from the greatness within. There is magic power of our own voices. So we should be left in a place where everyone is tapping into inner magic is the higher nature. It is a hopeful place to pause those characters. An allegorical character is everyone tapping in. I’m team everybody has the magic within and is using it.

Question. If you were in a karaoke competition and you could choose one character to be your singing partner, who would you choose and what song would you sing?

Demetria forces the microphone on Ess, who takes it reluctantly

Ess. Anacostia. Never done it, won’t do it. [translate]

Lyne thought Alder would not partner up. She would take the stage solo. Lyne was not sure what Alder would sing, so she chose one of her own favourite karaoke go to songs. She loves karaoke. Black Velvet by Alannah Miles, written by Elvis. [sings briefly]

Jess. Was with Ess. Doesn’t possess that amazing skill. Demonstrates rhythmic finger clicking. Do something amazing with my body. Watch Abigail and Raelle do something amazing. Sing Edge of 17

Demetria. Anacostia would want something soulful and hopeful. ‘When you believe’ by CC Wynan. Want to partner up with Scylla. Their arc. Coming out of a dark place to hope. Amalia is wonderful and sometimes not. [She recaps the story about Amalia not knowing the difference between a dairy allergy and not being able ‘to eat diary’. Then Demetria sings ‘When you believe’ [at least I think that is what my notes say.]

Cat. Thought I avoided this. But when I do, rumour has it Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Abba. ‘Don’t stop believing’. Turn up the volume and listen

Ashley. Told to choose Edge of 17. In season 3 she would choose her man Adil to sing with. In season 1 she would choose to sing with her unit. Song choice, Man Eater by Nelly Furtado