ALL I EVER WANTED WAS MORE

Granted, the advanced workings of TikTok’s algorithm in my feed probably says more about me and my PMDD than it does about the cultural moment we’re in more broadly. But there’s certainly a subset of women and femmes who’ll know exactly what I mean when I say: the problematic brat is back.

First there was the prevalence of content documenting being in one’s dissociative #FleabagEra. Then there was the trend of indie sleaze, ballet slippers and coquette ribbons, messily placed. Then there was Red Scare catholicism and provocation. Then Pearl, then AI robot Megan. Even Taylor Swift identifies as anti-hero. Now, there’s rewatching Girls.

The first time around, I watched the first season of Girls then gave up. I understood the criticism initially thrown at it—that it depicted a world of white privilege, navel-gazing, and shocking entitlement—but I understood the line fans towed too—that the entire point of the show was to depict and satirize that world. And it did so deftly.

It was probably true that only the children of NYC’s cultural elite could make a show about the bizarre inner and outer landscape they inhabit. And it was definitely true that the lack of inclusion (and a cast full of nepo babies no less) was an embarrassing and telling oversight. And it was also true that Girls and its creator—like countless women-led projects before and after—had infinite shit thrown their way.

And it was also true that Lena Dunham was/is a great writer (see: Catherine Called Birdy). And it was also true that even if she wasn’t, she likely would have had just as many doors open for her. Her gift and her curse was creating the most narcissistic, spoiled female characters to ever appear on TV. A bunch of brats.

And here we are, over a decade later, and every second she/her online seems to be #RewatchingGirls. As something of a brat historian, I had to join in. And it’s good! The breakup scene between the characters played by Lena Dunham and Donald Glover (who improvised his lines) alone is an incredible meta-commentary on privilege and white feminism.

This is a short excerpt from the latest edition of ☆THE DREAMER☆, my free newsletter and online space dedicated to exploring creativity, magic, the occult, neurodiversity, and mental health. Read more from this article at the link below!

BRAT CATHARSIS PRACTICES

Now it’s time to get to know and integrate your inner brat a little more, if that feels like something you’d benefit from. It’s your choice how this looks and it depends on your current relationship to this archetype.

Who is the brattiest figure in the tarot, to you? Is it the 4 of Cups, in the RWS deck? Is it the Queen of Cups? Is it even The Empress, spread-legged and confident as Courtney Love? Spend time with your whole deck and once you’ve chosen a card, journal all the affirming as well as frustrating aspects of this figure.
Carve out some time to do an automatic writing exercise where you let whatever subconscious brat shit you’re holding onto speak freely. If a prompt would be helpful, try this: imagine you’re a kid again (at whatever age and in whatever setting feels supportive to you). You’re screaming and crying. You come over, bend down, and tell this kid to let it all out. You don’t try to soothe them, you simply ask: “what’s wrong?” Now, you write! As messily and nonsensically as you like.
If you want to take that a step further, pick up the automatic writing you’ve done, and read it back out loud, letting your inner brat speak and scream. Do it front of the mirror even. Healing artist and guide Kwonyin provides amazing examples of this kind of catharsis work.
Make a playlist of the brattiest possible music you know and love. Then dedicate some time to listen to it with your full attention—and let it move your body. Thrash, sing, whatever.

A tip: once you do any of the above, put it out of your mind for a while. Spend a few minutes sitting, standing or laying down simply listening to the breath. Let everything else fall away with every new breath. Wrap your attention in the here and now. Then go about your day and note any shifts.

Xo Jerico

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