With a narrative that spans centuries and cultures, The Scarlet Phoenix, by Angela Cruz , presents the journey of a woman who lived several lives as a writer and witch, in times and places such as ancient Sumeria and contemporary São Paulo. Combining fiction and reality, the work highlights universal themes such as prejudice, inequality and the fight for female autonomy, while deconstructing the image of witches and bringing them closer to everyday life.
The quest for female autonomy spans centuries in Blanca’s story. What was it like for you, when creating this character, to give a voice to so many women who faced prejudice and inequality in different eras?
I feel a huge responsibility in giving a voice to so many women who have faced and continue to face prejudice and inequality throughout history. In each era, one or another type of domination, subjugation, humiliation, silencing, violence, contempt, indifference, etc. against women seems to stand out. This has gained visibility in the present and is strong in women’s lives. The fight is just beginning, given that it was only in the last few decades that violence against women was criminalized and some rights were guaranteed. More voices need to be spoken out.
Scarlet Phoenix weaves together historical and contemporary moments, exploring themes such as violence and silencing. How do these reflections speak to the challenges faced by women today?
The intertwining of historical moments and contemporary times is intentional, as it aims to show that violence and the silencing of women have changed little since Antiquity. Thus, our main character will experience all kinds of rights violations, prejudice, violence, subjugation, etc. , enhanced by the fact that she is a practitioner of traditional medicine, blessings, prayers and other forms of spiritual and energetic manifestation considered as “evil things”.
Witchcraft, often misunderstood, is a central element in the work. What was the biggest personal learning for you in exploring witchcraft as a philosophy of life and a symbol of resistance?
I learned that witchcraft is more simple than complex. A simple thought focused on something is the power of a spell. Women considered witches are actually an expression of resistance, of preserving ancient times when they communicated more, had more sisterhood, exchanged knowledge about nature, and were the keepers of “secrets.”
Throughout the story, Blanca revisits her past lives and deals with traumas that resonate in the present. What does this narrative teach us about the importance of looking to the past to understand who we are today?
The origin of contexts, conflicts and current issues lies in the past. Nothing comes from nothing, from chance, from today. If we are the result of our past experiences, the product of a historical construction, then the past has fundamental importance in our lives.
As a retired lawyer and teacher, you were already dedicated to justice and education. How did these experiences influence the construction of the narrative arcs and themes of social transformation in the book?
Dealing with people of all types, social classes, origins and with such different stories for decades as I have, has given me a very rich breadth of knowledge about the human condition. This creates an infinite range of possibilities in the mind. In addition, I have dedicated myself greatly to studying the idea of Justice and its forms of realization, not the technical, Kelsenian Justice that is applied in most courts, but the kind that treats people according to their needs, realities and circumstances. And also about the forms of Education, particularly humanistic education, the kind that seeks to extract the best potential from human beings. This is very present in my work and has had a powerful influence.
The work also demystifies the image of witches and connects their practices to everyday life. How do you hope this approach will impact readers’ views on spirituality and female empowerment?
Honestly, I would like people to stop seeing witches and sorcerers as just evil beings. Although there are evil ones. And I would like them to understand that everyone has a witch or sorcerer inside them, because the simple fact of “wishing” something, whether good or bad, for oneself or for someone else, is already a process of witchcraft. The world needs to advance spiritually and witchcraft can contribute greatly to this. By demystifying this practice, by realizing that everyone has such power and can practice it, especially women, as has been done since time immemorial, everything can advance with great benefits for humanity.
Scarlet Phoenix is just the beginning of an epic saga. What can we expect in the next volumes, and how do you plan to expand this journey in the fight for equity and justice?
The title of the saga is The Scarlet Phoenix. It will always be written in two parts. The first will always be the continuation of Blanca’s last life, that of Blanca Brazil , told from the end to the beginning until her birth. It is in this part that Blanca will tell how she discovered her previous lives. In the second part, the main character, Blanca, will live somewhere in the world with her circumstances. In these historical moments and specific places, Blanca will face situations of violence, silencing, subjugation, injustice, etc. However, this context will always be related in some way to her last life, and she will demonstrate how she overcame these obstacles. My work has a new proposal, as there are several stories told in parallel, with the permanent story, which is related to all the others. In addition, the first part is told backwards, but it will be understood as it develops.
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