Local author and activist LaSara FireFox recently released her new book entitled, “Sexy Witch,” an in-depth look at the relationship women have with their bodies.
The book deals with deconstructing the unhealthy cultural image that society has placed upon women, and reconstructing a healthy, happy relationship with their bodies, their sexuality and their sense of self.
“I think that there’s a lot of material in the book that will appeal to people who are looking for ways to define their relationship with mass culture and define their self-culture interface,” said FireFox. “What I mean by that is the culture that we live in has a lot of elements that lead us to feel bad about ourselves, such as marketing techniques, the consumerist drive, and a lot of consumerism works by way of eroding inherent self-esteem. The whole idea is to find ways that the culture is eroding out self-esteem and find ways to take control of that in a positive manner.”
While the book deals with these issues on a spiritual level, FireFox stresses that it is interfaith, with no focus on deity. The books utilizes ritual as a tool for changing self image.
“A lot of what the book does is it encourages you to think of yourself as a divine being,” said FireFox, “and allow that part of yourself to shine through and become dominant.”
The book is structured so that the first three chapters are about disassembling cultural conditioning, while the last three address the process of rebuilding a world-view through a continuous process of self-definition.
“The layout of the book is super fun and user friendly,” FireFox said. “It has revolutionary ideas and magical thoughts. It is magical to love our bodies. If we spent more time taking care of our bodies, and feeding them the way they need to be fed, exercising, being healthy, I think that a lot of the rest of it would come naturally from that.”
According to FireFox, “Sexy Witch” delves into women’s relationships with gender, sexuality and creation myths and offers two sections dedicated to rituals. The book can either be worked alone or in a group.
“I have a lot of stuff in here about making exercise a part of our daily lives, and how exercise can become a ritual,” FireFox said.
About taking the time to make ourselves feel good, and that when we feel good we look good, and vise versa, and creating self adoration mantras. And then silly exercises, like what I call do it yourself fashion statements,’ like making T-shirts that say things that you want to be reminded of and that you want to remind other people of as well.”
Though the book does include a section for solo rituals, FireFox recommends that readers find a group to work with. She says that the foundation of a shared experience and the formation of a community helps to remind people of the commitments they have made to themselves.
The book has sold very well even though it is not yet on the shelves, FireFox said.
“It’s not on the shelves yet but it will be on the shelves Sept. 1,” FireFox said, “but there are 10,000 preorder which is a record for the publisher [Llewellyn World Wide]. It was a 15,000 print run so it may go into a second running by the time it goes on the shelves. I got that number two and a half three weeks ago so it could be heading to a reprint right now.”
FireFox is planning a Witches’ Ball, to celebrate the release of “Sexy Witch,” on Aug. 28. The location is available with ticket purchase, and more information can be found at www.tribe.net , by typing in LaSara.us in the search engine. There will also be a Halloween party this year at Three Sisters in Ukiah and other events scheduled through the year.
“It’s totally still keeping me busy,” FireFox said. “I’m going to do at least 24 cities with multiple events in each city at this point. I’m going to be on the road doing a book tour for the next four months.”