“She was a great influence on the women’s spirituality movement.”

October 9, 2023 6:40 AM

Rachel Pollack saw miracles in the world, and she was someone who taught other people to see them. (slXtra Magazine)

previously

posted by Kitteh (9 comments total)

Wow - this is fascinating. I've never heard of her before - definitely going to dig deeper. Thanks for posting!
posted by Mchelly at 8:32 AM on October 9, 2023 [1 favorite]

Wow, thanks for posting! I had never heard of her before but what a fascinating person and life. "Pollack’s is that rarest of stories: a total trans win. Pollack did not stop with asking for 'inclusion' or 'acceptance' in a cis-dominated and transphobic community. She transformed that community, re-created it in her own image and emerged as a leader—and, what’s more, she lived long enough to see her victory.”
posted by lizard music at 8:46 AM on October 9, 2023 [7 favorites]

This is a wonderful appreciation of Rachel. Thanks for posting it, Kitteh.

(This podcast interview was my first introduction to her, and it's great.)
posted by minervous at 9:44 AM on October 9, 2023 [3 favorites]

I've been a fan of Rachel Pollack since my teens.

(I got a quiet minor thrill because I shared a publisher with her, and when there was space in the back of one of my books my editor asked if I'd be OK with them using it to place some book ads, and if there was any of their authors I'd particularly like there if so. I said "PLEASE YES RACHEL POLLACK.")

She is deeply missed.
posted by kyrademon at 10:07 AM on October 9, 2023 [7 favorites]

Her novel Unquenchable Fire is amazing.
posted by doubtfulpalace at 11:22 AM on October 9, 2023 [5 favorites]

I first read her when she took the unenviable task of following up Grant Morrison on The Doom Patrol comic from Vertigo Comics. There was grumbling, but I found her stories to be very much in the style and mood Morrison had set. When I found out that she had regular books too, I was very happy to follow her there.
posted by jkosmicki at 1:32 PM on October 9, 2023 [4 favorites]

Thank you so much for posting this! I knew of her through my study of the Tarot, but none of the details of her life. I was so struck by her confidence and faith in herself and her own power. Just simply in awe.
posted by fairlynearlyready at 1:34 PM on October 9, 2023 [1 favorite]

Thank you for posting. What an interesting woman, what a fascinating life! I've seen her book Seventy Eight Degrees of Wisdom recommended in multiple places. Going to get myself a copy.
posted by tuesdayschild at 3:42 PM on October 9, 2023 [1 favorite]

Her Shining Tribe tarot is a beautiful deck full of mythmaking.

I will forever be grateful to her for her Doom Patrol run that spoke to me for reasons I couldn't understand until 20ish years later when I finally figured out that I'm trans femme and to her for meeting just-figuring-things-out-me for coffee and offering so much kindness to that version of me.
posted by kokaku at 4:40 AM on October 10, 2023 [6 favorites]