Octavia's Parables

It can't be postponed, can't be avoided. Mary and Doro must face off. Mary tries to send the Patternists away, but she's too late. She does not anticipate surviving. And yet, and yet. Can the power of the many confront the power of the one? We are invited, as always, to urgent questions. Have you learned to fight while in the battle? How could we bring our opposition into our pattern? What is the cost of freedom? You can support Octavia's Parables on Patreon - we are ad-free and independent, and your support helps us stay that way. We appreciate you! Transcripts are at readingoctavia.com, and you can follow us on Twitter @oparables, and on Instagram (finally!) at @oparables.

Mary tries to obey Doro, she does. But sometimes obedient intent isn't enough. Pausing the pattern is killing her. The showdown is inescapable. The patternists, once reluctant and resentful, refuse to leave Mary's side. We are invited, again, to pressing questions. Have you met someone afraid of your power? Do you understand your power, individually? Collectively? What size pattern sustains you, what can you hold? You can support Octavia's Parables on Patreon - we are ad-free and independent, and your support helps us stay that way. We appreciate you! Transcripts are at readingoctavia.com, and you can follow us on twitter @oparables, and on instagram (finally!) at @oparables.

Toshi Reagon and adrienne maree brown discuss and analyze Chapter 12 of Octavia E. Butler's book, Mind of My Mind. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. We lost our detailed episode descriptions when episodes were taken down, more soon! We're glad to be back. Follow us on twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠@oparables⁠⁠⁠⁠, and support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Octavia's Parables⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Toshi Reagon and adrienne maree brown discuss and analyze Chapter 11 of Octavia E. Butler's book, Mind of My Mind. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. We lost our detailed episode descriptions when episodes were taken down, more soon! We're glad to be back. Follow us on twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠@oparables⁠⁠⁠⁠, and support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Octavia's Parables⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Toshi Reagon and adrienne maree brown discuss and analyze Chapter 10 of Octavia E. Butler's book, Mind of My Mind. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. We lost our detailed episode descriptions when episodes were taken down, more soon! We're glad to be back. Follow us on twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠@oparables⁠⁠⁠⁠, and support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Octavia's Parables⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The original pattern members - the first family - spread out, then draw close. Mary and Karl unshield, meld, lose control, find themselves. They decide to have a baby, despite the Patternists struggling around children. But Doro is still seeking to control the Pattern, and the tension between him and Mary comes clear. For us, in our world, these questions of control and transition are urgent - and for Mary, too. You can support Octavia's Parables on Patreon - we are ad-free and independent, and your support helps us stay that way. We appreciate you! Transcripts are at readingoctavia.com, and you can follow us on twitter @oparables, and on instagram (finally!) at @oparables.

A beast of a chapter. Two years have passed. The pattern is enormous, and still growing. Mary continues to weave and transition latents. She has taken over towns, and their non-telepathic residents - the patternists control the “mutes,” and use them as slaves. Doro is confident he can still control Mary, and all those in her pattern. But Emma is not as sure. You can support Octavia's Parables on Patreon - we are ad-free and independent, and your support helps us stay that way. We appreciate you! Transcripts are at readingoctavia.com, and you can follow us on twitter @oparables, and on instagram (finally!) at @oparables.

After Mary's show of force, the group cooperates - for the most part. But the biggest surprise is Clay, a life-long latent, who is now in transition. As Mary begins to bring other latents into the pattern, Doro feels his breeding project slipping out of his control. He watches “with carefully concealed emotions of suspicion and envy.” You can support Octavia's Parables on Patreon - we are ad-free and independent, and your support helps us stay that way. We appreciate you! Transcripts are at readingoctavia.com, and you can follow us on twitter @oparables, and on instagram (finally!) at @oparables.

Mary calls a meeting of the pattern members. Emotions are high: resignation, resentment, fear and anger. Some try to challenge Mary, and learn quickly just how much control over them she has. She is coming into her power, and likes it. You can support Octavia's Parables on Patreon - we are ad-free and independent, and your support helps us stay that way. We appreciate you! Transcripts are at readingoctavia.com, and you can follow us on twitter @oparables, and on instagram (finally!) at @oparables.

The telepaths in Mary's web begin to arrive. They try her, full of resentment, looking for weakness. The first to arrive finds it, but Mary learns fast. She studies the others before they arrive, and their shields can't keep her out. And despite themselves, the telepaths she has woven begin to see the benefit in what she has done. You can support Octavia's Parables on Patreon - we are ad-free and independent, and your support helps us stay that way. We appreciate you! Transcripts are at readingoctavia.com, and you can follow us on twitter @oparables, and on instagram (finally!) at @oparables.

Toshi Reagon and adrienne maree brown discuss and analyze Chapter 9 of Octavia E. Butler's book, Mind of My Mind. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. We lost our detailed episode descriptions when episodes were taken down, more soon! We're glad to be back. Follow us on twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠@oparables⁠⁠⁠⁠, and support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Octavia's Parables⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Toshi Reagon and adrienne maree brown discuss and analyze Chapter 8 of Octavia E. Butler's book, Mind of My Mind. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. We lost our detailed episode descriptions when episodes were taken down, more soon! We're glad to be back. Follow us on twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠@oparables⁠⁠⁠⁠, and support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Octavia's Parables⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Toshi Reagon and adrienne maree brown discuss and analyze Chapter 7 of Octavia E. Butler's book, Mind of My Mind. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. We lost our detailed episode descriptions when episodes were taken down, more soon! We're glad to be back. Follow us on twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠@oparables⁠⁠⁠⁠, and support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Octavia's Parables⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Toshi Reagon and adrienne maree brown discuss and analyze Chapter 6 of Octavia E. Butler's book, Mind of My Mind. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. We lost our detailed episode descriptions when episodes were taken down, more soon! We're glad to be back. Follow us on twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠@oparables⁠⁠⁠⁠, and support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Octavia's Parables⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Toshi Reagon and adrienne maree brown discuss and analyze Chapter 5 of Octavia E. Butler's book, Mind of My Mind. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. We lost our detailed episode descriptions when episodes were taken down, more soon! We're glad to be back. Follow us on twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠@oparables⁠⁠⁠⁠, and support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Octavia's Parables⁠⁠⁠⁠.

We go deep with Mary and Doro. We learn of Doro's childhood, millennia ago, and the years after he came into his power. We learn more of his breeding programs, and his hungers. And we learn of Mary's power, as she feels into the shape of the pattern. You can support Octavia's Parables on Patreon - we are ad-free and independent, and your support helps us stay that way. We appreciate you! Transcripts are at readingoctavia.com, and you can follow us on twitter @oparables, and on instagram (finally!) at @oparables.

Toshi Reagon and adrienne maree brown discuss and analyze Chapter 4 of Octavia E. Butler's book, Mind of My Mind. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. We lost our detailed episode descriptions when episodes were taken down, more soon! We're glad to be back. Follow us on twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠@oparables⁠⁠⁠⁠, and support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Octavia's Parables⁠⁠⁠⁠.

We meet the other members of the pattern - children of Doro, varied, powerful, damaged, dangerous. Mary's tether hits them like a bolt of lightning, a command they cannot resist, but do resent. Angry and confused, they each begin their journey to California. You can support Octavia's Parables on Patreon - we are ad-free and independent, and your support helps us stay that way. We appreciate you! Transcripts are at readingoctavia.com, and you can follow us on twitter @oparables, and on instagram (finally!) at @oparables.

Mary is in her transition, a perilous time. Others with her strength have not survived. Karl rushes home to support her - aid she rejects, at first. But as her transition peaks, she pulls his mind to hers. And then, she can't let him go. The pattern has begun. You can support Octavia's Parables on Patreon - we are ad-free and independent, and your support helps us stay that way. We appreciate you! Transcripts are at readingoctavia.com, and you can follow us on twitter @oparables, and on instagram (finally!) at @oparables.

Doro introduces Mary to her soon-to-be husband, Karl, a rich white telepath with a fancy house and a partner. No one but Doro is happy. Mary flexes independence in her way, but the choices are few. You can support Octavia's Parables on Patreon - we are ad-free and independent, and your support helps us stay that way. We appreciate you! Transcripts are at readingoctavia.com, and you can follow us on twitter @oparables, and on instagram (finally!) at @oparables.

We meet Mary, child of Doro, grandchild of Anyanwu, small and strong-willed. She is powerful, long-sought and nearing a challenging transition. She's in love with Doro, but he has other breeding plans. You can support Octavia's Parables on Patreon - we are ad-free and independent, and your support helps us stay that way. We appreciate you! Transcripts are at readingoctavia.com, and you can follow us on twitter @oparables, and on instagram (finally!) at @oparables.

Toshi Reagon and adrienne maree brown discuss and analyze Chapter 2 of Octavia E. Butler's book, Mind of My Mind. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. We lost our detailed episode descriptions when episodes were taken down, more soon! We're glad to be back. Follow us on twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠@oparables⁠⁠⁠⁠, and support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Octavia's Parables⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Toshi Reagon and adrienne maree brown discuss and analyze Chapter 1 of Octavia E. Butler's book, Mind of My Mind. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. We lost our detailed episode descriptions when episodes were taken down, more soon! We're glad to be back. Follow us on twitter ⁠⁠⁠@oparables⁠⁠⁠, and support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠Octavia's Parables⁠⁠⁠.

We are once again with Doro and Anyanwu, who we left at the end of Wild Seed - but we are now in modern times. Doro has continued to breed his powerful offspring, with the same flawed results, full of suffering. Anyanwu, going by Emma now, continues to carry the weight of his cavalier arrogance. You can support Octavia's Parables on Patreon - we are ad-free and independent, and your support helps us stay that way. We appreciate you! Transcripts are at readingoctavia.com, and you can follow us on twitter @oparables, and on instagram (finally!) at @oparables.

Anyanwu and Doro find an uneasy peace. But Doro will not, cannot, understand or respect what is sacred to Anyanwu: those she loves. She is done. But yet again, Anyanwu chooses life. At the end, she draws boundaries and makes compromises. Is this survival? Toshi and adrienne break down the final chapter and epilogue of Octavia E. Butler's Wild Seed. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. We'll be back in a few months, with Mind of My Mind. And we're working on merch! So check out our Patreon for more info soon. Follow us on twitter at @oparables, and support us on Patreon at Octavia's Parables. Visit our website at readingoctavia.com for transcripts and more.

Conflict with Doro, and a suicide. Anyanwu, in her grief, returns to the sea to heal. And when she comes home, Doro is waiting. She finds strange comfort in this long-known being, and as always, danger. Toshi and adrienne break down chapter 13 of Octavia E. Butler's Wild Seed. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. What would look different in the US if we had enough space for the grief that we're currently holding? How vulnerable are we when we are tired? Follow us on twitter at @oparables, and support us on Patreon at Octavia's Parables. Visit our website at readingoctavia.com for transcripts and more.

Doro left his son with Anyanwu, to marry her daughter. But the son, Joseph, is a sly, vicious, untenable danger. A murderer, a rapist. Only the leopard can respond. Toshi and adrienne break down chapter 12 of Octavia E. Butler's Wild Seed. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. Follow us on twitter at @oparables, and support us on Patreon at Octavia's Parables. Visit our website at readingoctavia.com for transcripts and more.

Forward in time. Doro has been hunting Anyanwu for decades. He finds her, her children, generations of her line. All she has built, he wants. Yet again, she compromises to keep her people safe. And yet again, there is so much he fails to understand. Toshi and adrienne explore chapter 11 of Octavia E. Butler's Wild Seed. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. Follow us on twitter at @oparables, and support us on Patreon at Octavia's Parables. Visit our website at readingoctavia.com for transcripts and more.

A short but fierce chapter. Funerals for Nweke and Isaac. Doro's emotions push him to change bodies. Anyanwu's emotions push her to flee. As a dolphin, as a bird, she finds a new clarity, and finally, finally a new sense of her own power. If not partners, then adversaries. Toshi and adrienne explore chapter 10 of Octavia E. Butler's Wild Seed. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. Follow us on twitter at @oparables, and support us on Patreon at Octavia's Parables. Visit our website at readingoctavia.com for transcripts and more.

We learn more about Doro's childhood, and more about Anyanwu and Isaac's love. Nweke's transition continues with Anyanwu's support. But Doro's breeding program doesn't go to plan. Isaac, Nweke, and everyone come to grief. Toshi and adrienne explore chapter 9 of Octavia E. Butler's Wild Seed. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. Follow us on twitter at @oparables, and support us on Patreon at Octavia's Parables. Visit our website at readingoctavia.com for transcripts and more.

A specific trigger warning for this chapter, for abusive relationship. Anyanwu helps her daughter Nweke in her transition; Doro leaves them to it. We see anew the power of Anyanwu's empathy, and Doro's inability to understand it. We learn of Nweke's fraught conception, rooted in punishment, power, and death. Toshi and adrienne explore chapter 8 of Octavia E. Butler's Wild Seed. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. Follow us on twitter at @oparables, and support us on Patreon at Octavia's Parables. Visit our website at readingoctavia.com for transcripts and more.

A specific trigger warning for this chapter, for child sexual abuse and incest. Fifty years have passed. Anyanwu is married to Isaac, and is mother to many. Her daughter Nweke is nearing her transition; Doro returns, called by the girl. When he arrives, he sees in Nweke an opportunity to replace and humiliate Anyanwu, and takes it. Toshi and adrienne explore chapter 7 of Octavia E. Butler's Wild Seed. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. Follow us on twitter at @oparables, and support us on Patreon at Octavia's Parables. Visit our website at readingoctavia.com for transcripts and more.

Toshi Reagon and adrienne maree brown discuss and analyze Chapter 14 of Octavia E. Butler's book, Wild Seed. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. We lost our detailed episode descriptions when episodes were taken down, more soon! We're glad to be back. Follow us on twitter ⁠⁠⁠@oparables⁠⁠⁠, and support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠Octavia's Parables⁠⁠⁠.

Toshi Reagon and adrienne maree brown discuss and analyze Chapter 13 of Octavia E. Butler's book, Wild Seed. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. We lost our detailed episode descriptions when episodes were taken down, more soon! We're glad to be back. Follow us on twitter ⁠⁠⁠@oparables⁠⁠⁠, and support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠Octavia's Parables⁠⁠⁠.

Toshi Reagon and adrienne maree brown discuss and analyze Chapter 12 of Octavia E. Butler's book, Wild Seed. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. We lost our detailed episode descriptions when episodes were taken down, more soon! We're glad to be back. Follow us on twitter ⁠⁠⁠@oparables⁠⁠⁠, and support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠Octavia's Parables⁠⁠⁠.

Toshi Reagon and adrienne maree brown discuss and analyze Chapter 11 of Octavia E. Butler's book, Wild Seed. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. We lost our detailed episode descriptions when episodes were taken down, more soon! We're glad to be back. Follow us on twitter ⁠⁠⁠@oparables⁠⁠⁠, and support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠Octavia's Parables⁠⁠⁠.

Anyanwu, Doro, Isaac and the rest of the Silver Star's passengers arrive at Doro's land. Anyanwu is adapting to new language, new food, new customs and expectations. The extent and goals of Doro's breeding program becomes clearer to us, and to her. Intimacies and abominations. Toshi and adrienne explore chapter 6 of Octavia E. Butler's Wild Seed. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. Follow us on twitter at @oparables, and support us on Patreon at Octavia's Parables. Visit our website at readingoctavia.com for transcripts and more.

Toshi Reagon and adrienne maree brown discuss and analyze Chapter 10 of Octavia E. Butler's book, Wild Seed. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. We lost our detailed episode descriptions when episodes were taken down, more soon! We're glad to be back. Follow us on twitter ⁠⁠⁠@oparables⁠⁠⁠, and support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠Octavia's Parables⁠⁠⁠.

Toshi Reagon and adrienne maree brown discuss and analyze Chapter 9 of Octavia E. Butler's book, Wild Seed. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. We lost our detailed episode descriptions when episodes were taken down, more soon! We're glad to be back. Follow us on twitter ⁠⁠⁠@oparables⁠⁠⁠, and support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠Octavia's Parables⁠⁠⁠.

Toshi Reagon and adrienne maree brown discuss and analyze Chapter 8 of Octavia E. Butler's book, Wild Seed. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. We lost our detailed episode descriptions when episodes were taken down, more soon! We're glad to be back. Follow us on twitter ⁠⁠⁠@oparables⁠⁠⁠, and support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠Octavia's Parables⁠⁠⁠.

Toshi Reagon and adrienne maree brown discuss and analyze Chapter 7 of Octavia E. Butler's book, Wild Seed. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. We lost our detailed episode descriptions when episodes were taken down, more soon! We're glad to be back. Follow us on twitter ⁠⁠⁠@oparables⁠⁠⁠, and support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠Octavia's Parables⁠⁠⁠.

Toshi Reagon and adrienne maree brown discuss and analyze Chapter 6 of Octavia E. Butler's book, Wild Seed. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. We lost our detailed episode descriptions when episodes were taken down, more soon! We're glad to be back. Follow us on twitter ⁠⁠⁠@oparables⁠⁠⁠, and support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠Octavia's Parables⁠⁠⁠.

Anyanwu reveals more of her capacities to Doro and her shipmates. Her danger, her hunger, her transformations. Isaac's powers become more clear. And Octavia graces us with some of her most sensual writing, on the pleasures of being a dolphin. Toshi and adrienne explore chapter 5 of Octavia E. Butler's Wild Seed. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. Follow us on twitter at @oparables, and support us on Patreon at Octavia's Parables. Visit our website at readingoctavia.com for transcripts and more.

Anyanwu shows her true, transformative self to Okoye, her grandson. Both become sea sick. Anyanwu heals herself, but feels the pull of the waves. We meet Isaac, learn his relationship to Doro, and get further hints of their deep danger. Toshi and adrienne explore chapter 4 of Octavia E. Butler's Wild Seed, a chapter full of warnings. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. Follow us on twitter at @oparables, and support us on Patreon at Octavia's Parables. Visit our website at readingoctavia.com for transcripts and more.

Anyanwu and Doro reach the coast. She sees slavers for the first time, meets one of her kin. They board Doro's boat, and set out onto the big water. Toshi and adrienne explore chapter three of Octavia E. Butler's Wild Seed. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. Follow us on twitter at @oparables, and support us on Patreon at Octavia's Parables. Visit our website at readingoctavia.com for transcripts and more.

Anyanwu leaves her village with Doro. Curiosity, fear, protection and attraction all in the mix. We learn more of Anyanwu's healing powers, foraging skills, what she holds back. And learn more of Doro's casual violence and power. Toshi and adrienne break explore chapter two of Octavia E. Butler's Wild Seed. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. Rich text, potent questions. Follow us on twitter at @oparables, and support us on Patreon at Octavia's Parables. Visit our website at readingoctavia.com for transcripts and more.

Toshi Reagon and adrienne maree brown discuss and analyze Chapter 4 of Octavia E. Butler's book, Wild Seed. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. We lost our detailed episode descriptions when episodes were taken down, more soon! We're glad to be back. Follow us on twitter ⁠⁠⁠@oparables⁠⁠⁠, and support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠Octavia's Parables⁠⁠⁠.

We meet Anyanwu. And she meets Doro. We learn of their abilities, their longevity, their strengths and their danger. They feel each other out, appraising, assessing. Wary, compromising. It begins. Toshi and adrienne break down the rich text of chapter one of Octavia E. Butler's Wild Seed, as we launch into a new book and a new season. And as always, we offer questions for you and your people to consider. Follow us on twitter at @oparables, and support us on Patreon at Octavia's Parables. Visit our website at readingoctavia.com for transcripts and more.

Toshi Reagon and adrienne maree brown discuss and analyze Chapter 3 of Octavia E. Butler's book, Wild Seed. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. We lost our detailed episode descriptions when episodes were taken down, more soon! We're glad to be back. Follow us on twitter ⁠⁠⁠@oparables⁠⁠⁠, and support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠Octavia's Parables⁠⁠⁠.

Toshi Reagon and adrienne maree brown discuss and analyze Chapter 2 of Octavia E. Butler's book, Wild Seed. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. We lost our detailed episode descriptions when episodes were taken down, more soon! We're glad to be back. Follow us on twitter ⁠⁠@oparables⁠⁠, and support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠Octavia's Parables⁠⁠.

Toshi Reagon and adrienne maree brown discuss and analyze Chapter 1 of Octavia E. Butler's book, Wild See. And as always, offer questions for you and your people to consider. We lost our detailed episode descriptions when episodes were taken down, more soon! We're glad to be back. Follow us on twitter ⁠⁠@oparables⁠⁠, and support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠Octavia's Parables⁠⁠.