RAISING LUMINARIES
Hi, I’m Ashia, founder & Head Custodian of Infodumpery for Raising Luminaries.
I create free tool kits to help overworked caregivers ignite the next generation of leaders.
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Tricksters - Story characters who reveal unspoken rules of their culture and disobey the culture's power structure.
Cultural Fluency - Understanding the differences what different groups consider acceptable behavior, and using that knowledge to treat members of other cultures in a way that feels respectful.
Reading trickster stories from around the world increases our cultural fluency and inspires us to consider which cultural rules we're willing to break. Tricksters reveal the unspoken rules of a culture by breaking the rules and facing consequences so kids don't have to test misbehavior on their own.
Tricksters often push up against entrenched power systems - whether as underdogs or petulant brats, they give us a creative outlet to imagine life without the restrictions of social expectations.
In raising a generation of kind and courageous activists, we share trickster stories to show kids that there are both benefits and unavoidable consequences to rejecting the status quo.
If we don't care about an issue, we won't take action. Kids have the right to choose curiosity-provoking resources that connect with our values and abilities.
Process with adults who are willing to be honest and challenge our assumptions.
Which stories and videos make you interested in learning more about this issue?
Which would you recommend to other kids? Add your own suggestions in the comments below.
Ask & answer these questions with an adult who you trust to be honest with you..
Which trickster characters do we feel kinship with? Which do we disagree with?
Which trickster stories did we inherit from our ancestors?
Which stories are indigenous to the people and places we call home?
Who is allowed to share these stories? Under what conditions?*
How do these stories connect us to our ancestors, and to each other?
How have these stories changed over time?
How can we learn what the people who share this story view as 'good' or 'naughty' behavior from the way they tell the story?
How do our favorite tricksters help us identify rules worth breaking?
*Do your research and be respectful of the people whose culture the story belongs to before sharing a trickster story.
Many stories, particularly those originating from Indigenous and First Nations people through Turtle Island, are respected as living or told as a closed practice due to cultural and historical reasons- or under threat of distortion from colonizers, can only be shared by authorized storytellers.
Some may only be shared during specific events and seasons. Some stories are sung, or shared in a rhythm of call-and-response.
Some trickster stories coincide with religious faiths and cultural creation stories, while others are relatively recent additions from pop culture. Some must be told exactly the same while others are welcome for anyone to make their own spin on them.
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Time to move from theory to reality. Use creative play to integrate what we've learned, take responsibility, and own what's within our control.
Welcome a sense of rebellion and critical thinking early with your infant with high-contrast, newborn-friendly calls to rebel against the system. This downloadable PDF guidebook includes Sun Wukong (Monkey King) printables that will make the boring folks in your life question your parenting choices and back away slowly, so you have more room for mischief-making.
Trace or print these full-color printable affirmation cards to give you a pep of energy when you've had enough of this bullshit kyriarchy and are ready to wreak havoc on systemic injustice.
Listen to stories of tricksters both familiar and new to your family. Start with this bingo chart of popular tricksters in lore, faith, and stories from around the world.
Simple step-by-step guide on how to draw a chibi-style Nine-Tailed fox, via Aram of How To Draw For Kids.
Create a drawing of your favorite trickster and tell us about your creation in the comments below.
RAISING LUMINARIES
Hi, I’m Ashia, founder & Head Custodian of Infodumpery for Raising Luminaries.
I create free tool kits to help overworked caregivers ignite the next generation of leaders.
ABOUT | MISSION | FINANCIALS | ACCOUNTABILITY
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
STAY IN TOUCH
Get free monthly email notifications when I publish new Family Action Toolkits
FREE STUFF
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY
SHOP
Posts may contain affiliate links and sponsorships, which allow me to earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
PARTNERS IN CAHOOTS
TOPICS
CONTACT
RECIPROCATE
Collaborate with Raising Luminaries on an issue important to you.
You’re welcome to share & boost this toolkit, with attribution to Raising Luminaries.
Every month the Luminary Braintrust tackles a new member challenge to make talking about social justice easier in real life.
Feeling overwhelmed? Not sure how to start?
Whether it's time, money, or influence - we all have something we can share to change the world.
Children's book censorship targets the traditional and lived stories of BIPOC, LGBTQi2S+, disabled, and other people forced into silence and stigma. Learn how to advocate against censorship with in your local elections to end and prevent book bans motivated by bigotry.
Share what worked for your family (and what didn't).
Add the resources you suggest in the comments below to help families like yours.
Collecting our favorite trickster stories for older kids & adults as we find good ones. Share your favorites in the comments.
Via Raising Luminaries
Zetta Elliott advocates for opportunities so under-represented creators can share their stories - and how to circumvent the gatekeepers who prefer us silent.
via Zetta Elliott
Join me as I unpack a new kids movie every week to celebrate diverse representation and rip apart problematic tropes.
via our Luminary Braintrust Membership Community
I couldn't resist making some subversive kids shirts out of our Rebel Baby Mobile graphics.
Grab a trickster t-shirt with Sun Wukong,' Nezha about to set shit on fire, or a pooping bunny. Your orders support my work on this toolkit.
Raising Luminaries reduces the workload on overworked caregivers
igniting the next generation of kind & courageous leaders
kid-tested toolkits spark connection with your kids, without the confusion & busywork of searching for resources.
Each toolkit condenses over 41 hours of research, testing & outreach into a simple guide to enjoy with your kids.
Your $5 to $30 contributions cover my costs & labor - keeping these resources free for families who can't afford a paywall
I’m an Autistic, multiracial (Chinese/Irish) 2nd-generation settler raising two children alongside my partner on the homelands of the Wampanoag and Massachusett people. My goal with Raising Luminaries is to collaborate with families and educators in raising the next generation of kind & courageous leaders, so we can all smash the kyriarchy together.
Help me keep these resources free & accessible for all
RAISING LUMINARIES
Hi, I’m Ashia, founder & Head Custodian of Infodumpery for Raising Luminaries.
I create free tool kits to help overworked caregivers ignite the next generation of leaders.
ABOUT | MISSION | FINANCIALS | ACCOUNTABILITY
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
STAY IN TOUCH
Get free monthly email notifications when I publish new Family Action Toolkits
FREE STUFF
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY
SHOP
Posts may contain affiliate links and sponsorships, which allow me to earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
PARTNERS IN CAHOOTS
TOPICS
CONTACT
RECIPROCATE
Collaborate with Raising Luminaries on an issue important to you.
You’re welcome to share & boost this toolkit, with attribution to Raising Luminaries.
Raising Luminaries is anchored in the land of the Wampanoag & Massachusett People.
Support Wôpanâak early childhood education here.
©2023 Ashia Ray of Raising Luminaries™. All rights reserved.
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Photographs via Unsplash & Illustrations via Storyset, used with permission.
