The Sacredness of Drag with Athena Sylvers by Alanna L.P.

Athena Sylvers is a proud, Black, nonbianary entertainer. They are passionate about sharing insight through the power of performance art. This one is dedicated to questioning the gender binary. They have a strong belief that gender and sexual expressions are fluid and ever changing. This one dances the line between the masculine and the feminine in hopes that, through demonstrating such freedom of expression, they can encourage others to embrace the beauty of individuality. Athena Sylers emanates power and grace as they entertain, educate, and fight for justice for the disadvantaged while being a messenger of love and light in these times of fear and uncertainty.

• What is the story behind your drag name?

Athena was the name I chose for my Feminine self. I decided on this name because the Goddess Athena has all the qualities I desire in my Feminine self: knowledge, power, and intellect. This representation of the Divine Feminine seemed most fitting to me.

Sylvers came from the name Silver which I use when I sing at karaoke bars out of drag. I chose that name because I love the color silver and I’ve been told my singing voice has silvery tones. Fusing together these two identities, I made my drag name Athena Sylvers.

• What is your zodiac sign? Do you think it fits you and why?

I am a Taurus and it is very fitting. I am a very stubborn and steadfast person with strong values and a desire for stability and indulgence. I serve as a grounding energy to those I encounter and I do my best to make the most of all the physical pleasures in life. I am also a hopeless romantic and indulge deeply in my love life. I have two partners whom I love very much and spend all the time I can with them.

• When was the first time that you felt a connection with the Divine Feminine?

When I was 18, right after I moved to Boulder for college, I dressed in Fem for the first time. I found it truly empowering to embody the Divine Feminine in myself. It was scary at first, wondering what people would think of me and my presentation, but I received a lot of love and support and was able to share much in return. Through my Feminine self I am able to embrace loving and nurturing qualities that are often suppressed by today’s masculine culture. I was also exposed to the struggles that women face every day living their lives as Feminine beings. The realization of women’s everyday struggles made me realize what a privilege it is to be able to take off my Femininity. It’s unfortunate that for all their power, women are still suppressed in society.

• What is your song favorite to perform and why?

I love performing songs from obscure and unique artists. Novelty is a big reason for existing and I want to create novel experiences for everyone I encounter. Artists like Poppy, Au- Ra, Wardruna, Shireen, and Trobar de Morte are some of my favorites. I love any song with a strong message or unique composition. My favorite performance I’ve done was a mix of two metal songs, “The Poet and the Pauper” by Nightwish and “You Will Know My Name” by Arch Enemy. The number involved four costume changes. I started in a white ballroom dress and finished in a black corset.

• How do you honor the Sacred Feminine Divine through the art of drag?

Some of my performances are rituals. I use that magic amongst other things to express the powers of transformation and intention. I seek to prove to observers that when we embody the power of the divine Feminine, anything is possible. There should be no shame in expressing our Feminine selves and Divine Femininity comes in many forms. The power of Female magic, sexuality, love, and creation are all topics I’ve explored through various forms of performance.

• How do embrace your own Divine Feminine when you perform drag?

When I become Athena, I embrace the Feminine part of myself. She is the gentle, loving, and nurturing energy that resides within. By fully expressing this side of myself, I help others become more comfortable expressing their Feminine sides as well. I feel the love and light I share as Athena is an infectious form of divinity that comforts and empowers each person it impacts.

• How did you first discover witchcraft?

My friend Morrigan introduced me to witchcraft. I began by doing a few small rituals with her and after a while we decided to start our own coven. We practiced magic together with friends for several years. It was a beautiful experience that brought meaningful connection and growth to my life. This was also the first time I ever felt truly spiritual. It was liberating finding a way to comfortably express my spirituality. Magic has changed my life in so many ways. I think it’s  amazing what a bit of intention setting and ceremony can do.

• Tell us what you think the dawning of the Goddess Era can teach humanity?

It can teach us how to embrace a more loving, conscious, and nurturing way of living. For far too long we have been focused on growth, power, and control. Now more than ever, we need to stop fighting everything. We need to stop trying to force things to happen. And we need to find in ourselves the trust to connect with others and embrace universal love. Love will empowers us far more than any technological advancement.

• What does the word “sacred” mean to you?

The word sacred describes anything that is deeply meaningful to us in the spiritual or physical world. I believe anything and everything can be sacred, and that the level of sacredness something holds is determined by the observer. If each of us tries a little harder every day to embrace sacredness in both the Divine and the mundane, we will start to see more beauty, positivity, and opportunity in life.

• What is your favorite Tarot Card?

The two of fire (the two of wands) is my favorite Tarot card. This card represents partnership both in love and in business. It can define the choice between two paths and it can also represent love between two men. Whenever I draw this card, I know that there are great opportunities in store in love, collaboration, and so much more!

• Who is your favorite goddess and why?

Athena obviously! She is one of the most powerful of the goddesses and is the female counterpart to Aries, the male God of War. The difference between the two is Aries fights wars with brute force and Athena fights her battles with intellect, seeking to ensure peace without great conflict.  Athena is not to be meddled with. She is a force to be reckoned with in so many ways. She is also one of the most compassionate goddesses and is well known for offering gifts and help to those in need. All of these qualities are most favorable in my eyes, hence the fact I want to embody them myself.

• Anything you’d like to share with our readers?

There are so many ways to embrace the divine Feminine within ourselves and it doesn’t require dressing up in Feminine ways or acting overtly Feminine. There are plentiful opportunities to embrace the Divine Feminine by being more loving, more empathetic, using our power to help others, becoming involved with and creating community, and embracing our emotions and intention. These are only a few of the ways we can connect with the Divine Feminine in ourselves. Through these and other practices we can displace the dominate masculine culture that pervades modern society.