Don't let anybody cut your hair, ever. Except someone you trust. Cut it as often as necessary to keep it healthy or if you feel like changing styles, of course.
Hair is sacred.
Hair is powerful.
My great grandfather was taken to a residential school where the christian priests beat him and cut hit hair. They forbid him from speaking nēhiyawēwin.
For many decades men with long hair have been looked down upon in western european / neo american society. It is considered dirty. Lazy. Only degenerates let their hair grow long, they say. Look at all the successful artists, musicians, and metalheads. Look at all the Indigenous men who have done well by their people. Yet, people are denied jobs. If not denied at the beginning of an interview then when one opposes having one's hair cut for a drug screening. People are denied all sorts of opportunities based upon looks and ill preconceived notions. They are targeted and treated worse because they dare to look different; to be different.
It's conformity. It's erasure of identity; of culture.
It's one thing to choose to cut one's own hair or have another do it. It's something else when an authority demands it for any reason. Stand up for yourself and others. Tell them it is against your religion, race, and culture to cut your hair. Tell them that's discrimination and you have the right not to have it cut but, you're willing to put it up, wear a hair net, or submit other drug tests. So, you are not "refusing" to do anything. You are willing to do other drug tests, just not one that involves losing your hair.
On that last note. It's especially unfair because some people will shave their entire bodies a week before or even a day of. That way, any drugs they may have done will not show in new growth. Meanwhile, a person with long hair might have a decade or more of history.
Throughout all those years, there may have been times before a person was restricted from smoking weed. Let's be real here, that's all they're really testing for. Other stuff might show up but, most of it tends to leave the system quickly and most people don't do too many actual drugs. Most US states and Canada have legalized weed. Many doctors prescribe it. CBD and THC products of all sorts are available on just about every corner in many cities and towns.
It's not going to matter to an employer when, how much, or why somebody used cannabis. That's something that'll be held against the person. So, even if a person had a medical reason to start using at any point in the past, and that person has long hair, it'll show up. Even if it's prescribed, legal, and only used for a short period of time years ago. There is too much competition and not enough real jobs that are actually available. Employers look for any reason to skip or fire people. It doesn't have to be logical. They live in their own twisted reality and there aren't enough lawyers to stand up to them.
It's not just Native Americans that consider our hair to be sacred. Most Indigenous cultures throughout the world do. Many
Pagans and sorcerers place value on hair. Hair can be used to cast spells upon a person. Surely dangerous to let it go astray!
Imagine if Muslim folks started such refusals! 4.4mil across the continent.
https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/muslim-population-by-stateThis article is a little repetitive but goes into why hair is a part of their religion.
https://shunsalon.com/article/why-do-muslims-grow-beards-and-long-hair61 page paper. I only read a portion of it so far. Recommended as it is quite comprehensive and covers history and numerous cultures and religions.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09503110.2018.1435390Here's a good article on First Nations and our hair.
https://www.indianreservation.info/native-american-tribal-hair-traditions-cultural-significance-and-sacred-practices/Across pagan traditions the beard has been viewed as a natural manifestation of spiritual power. The idea stems from the belief that hair whether on the head or face acts as a physical representation of energy and vitality. Ancient pagans particularly in Norse and Celtic traditions saw beards as a sign of wisdom maturity and divine favor.
https://heathentemple.com/blogs/culture-and-traditions/the-beard-and-paganismhttps://witchymagicks.com/using-hair-in-witchcraft/https://witchsymbols.com/hair-witchcraft-and-spells-with-hair/Do you have long hair?
Have you ever been discriminated against, made fun of, or given a hard time because of it?
Do you ever cut it symbolically, for use in ritual, or ceremony?
Have you ever used your hair or someone else's for use with magick?
note: I may edit this later for better flow. This is a first draft and I need a break from the PC.![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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first_nations_freaks. What powwows or other events have you attended? Which traditional crafts or recipes have you practiced? What tribal news have you heard? What were your other cultural activities during April? What plans do you have for May? 
