Comandante Ramona — Queen of Swords by Michelle Embree 8/22/22

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Queen of Swords
The Queen of Swords is the perfected balance of compassion, justice, and leadership. It is easy for her to ascertain what is right though the task of acting on that knowledge might be difficult. Fortunately, she is a formidable Queen who knows where to draw the line and how to maintain it. The Queen of Swords is likely to find her role in legal and political structures where she will not only decide and enact strategies but is also likely to write bylaws, contracts, or revolutionary demands. We find all of this in Comandante Ramona.  The following is excerpted from Bitchmedia: Comandante Ramona led the Zapatistas’ initial uprising against the Mexican government, leading to the Zapatista rebellion and the revolution of indigenous women’s rights throughout Mexico. Comandante Ramona influenced the early decisions and actions of the Zapatista Army for National Liberation (EZLN), a group of indigenous peoples in the southern state of Chiapas, Mexico who continue to struggle against government exploitation and marginalization.
Comandante Ramona organized the seizure led by Major Ana Maria, a woman combatant.
The Zapatistas began their revolutionary struggle against the government in the 1980s. But, it wasn’t until the Zapatistas rebelled and took over the town of San Cristóbal de las Casas on January 1, 1994—the same day NAFTA took effect—that the Mexican government heeded them any attention. Comandante Ramona organized the seizure led by Major Ana Maria, a woman combatant. As a Zapatista, her role was political. She traveled from community to  community, teaching women about the Zapatista struggle. For Comandante Ramona, activism was a two-part struggle. The first was within the Chiapas communities, where women’s roles were tied to tradition. The second was the indigenous people’s struggle against exclusion, suppression, and domination by the Mexican government.
10 demands specific to the welfare of women.
In 1993, Comandante Ramona drew up the “Revolutionary Law on Women.” In it, the law declared women equal to men. It was presented and voted on by women and men at an assembly and it passed.  The “Revolutionary Law on Women” was made public during the Zapatista uprising in San Cristóbal de las Casas in ‘94. It included 10 demands specific to the welfare of women. Comandante Ramona couldn’t have been any more clear: First: Women, regardless of their race, creed, color or political affiliation, have the right to participate in the revolutionary struggle in a way determined by their desire and capacity. Second: Women have the right to work and receive a just salary. Third: Women have the right to decide the number of children they will have and care for. Fourth: Women have the right to participate in the affairs of the community and hold positions of authority if they are freely and democratically elected. Fifth: Women and their children have the right to primary attention in matters of health and nutrition. Sixth: Women have the right to an education.
Ninth: Women will be able to occupy positions of leadership in the organization and hold military ranks in the revolutionary armed forces.
Seventh: Women have the right to choose their partner, and are not to be forced into marriage. Eighth: Women shall not be beaten or physically mistreated by their family members or by strangers. Rape and attempted rape will be severely punished. Ninth: Women will be able to occupy positions of leadership in the organization and hold military ranks in the revolutionary armed forces. Tenth: Women will have all the rights and obligations elaborated in the Revolutionary Laws and regulations. “Our hope is that one day our situation will change, that we women will be treated with respect, justice, and democracy.”  — Comandante Ramona By Michelle Embree Author of Daydream Tarot: A Basic Guide for Visionaries Read Michelle’s monthly Tarot column in ANTIGRAVITY Listen to Michelle’s podcast SECRET ANTENNA

About Author

Michelle Embree

Michelle Embree is an author, a Tarotist, performer, and podcaster. She has toured her work throughout the US over the span of two decades. Enjoy her podcast Secret Antenna on Spotify or her latest book: Daydream Tarot: A Basic Guide For Visionaries. You can purchase this book, schedule a Tarot reading, and find out more here: www.michelleembree.com

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