How can we have fun at a time like this? Is it even ok to have fun?

Urgent action must be taken to fight fascism and dismantle white supremacy.

We also must have fun, because the liberation of joy and peace is what we are fighting to protect. This is not escapist. This is not separate. This is not a break. It is all connected.

It is especially not escapist because often systemic oppression exists everywhere — including… Chuck E. Cheese’s! As we turn to childhood nostalgia for reprieve, what we find there is imperfect. I celebrate being able to see these imperfections with the wisdom of time. I celebrate the courage of those who point out the wrongs. I will continue to use my voice to dance us towards joy: Yes fun: without the misogyny and racism 😇.

So this video is a mix, just as life is a mix. I gush over a current obsession. I consider the paradox of receiving joy in devastating times. I reflect on the problems of this entertainment company, and what we can learn from them.

Most of all — I love what people love. Please stay giddy and excited about whatever random interest is calling to your heart! We need to stay silly.

Love, X

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Sources:

* this book is so good! —> Everything to Play For: How Videogames are Changing the World by Marijam Did

* “Everything To Play For asks if videogames can achieve egalitarian goals instead of fuelling hyper-materialist, reactionary agendas.” 🌟

* NY Times: Farewell, Chuck E. Cheese Animatronics Brand

* Brainna Wu in Rolling Stone: Atari Founder Award Reexamined After Outcry Over History

* Defuctland sparked my interest in Chuck E. Cheese after this video on the helicopter thing, and a longer Patreon video ranking the animatronics

* I’m also enjoying TNT Muffin’s series including this one tracking down animatronics in weird places; this warms my heart and if anyone has animatronics at your local supermarket omg, take that in. enjoy.

Every full moon I delete social media from my phone, and every full moon I announce it. I like to normalise and role model different ways of balancing the virtual world with reality. Over my years of doing this, I learn something new every time!

So when Lorde commented on phone addiction, I thought I’d weigh in on why she doesn’t feel confident in her answer. Here are my Sag full moon thoughts on the reality of being online in 2025! disconnect/reconnect at your own pace. 💓

X

P.S. I’m working on more stuff behind the scenes 👀. You can look forward to (a) the nonbinary priestess diaries column and (b) a secret project coming soon to substack for summer fun. hint: 💌🐌

with magic,⭐️ X. This essay poured out of my pen in pretty much one go, born from days and hours of sleep and rest, honouring my soul-aching tiredness. With gratitude to Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey of The Nap Ministry, and to Simone Grace Seol for affirming rest and slowness as a foundation for truth-telling. With gratitude to my divine feminine teachers, Meg McDermott and Bria Melitta.

I’m Xandra Sunglim Burns, the Witch, and artist of everyday life. This blog, The Priestess Diaries, is about reviving ancient ritual in modern times. It is also about discovering what a priestess is, does, and why I am one, because I am forever evolving my understanding of this mysterious wisdom! Lunar Logbook, my moon planner for creating your life while honouring nature’s cycles, is now available to order online. I live in Edinburgh, and my pronouns are she/they/he/witch/wizard.