What’s the intersection between TTRPGs, empowerment, and the divine feminine? In this episode of Bow Down! Reese and Dennis unpack how Dungeons & Dragons has evolved from a male-centric, exclusionary game to one of today’s most inclusive storytelling spaces for women, femmes, queer folks, and exvangelicals navigating life through creative story telling and meaningful community.

In this episode, we dive into:

• The healing potential of TTRPGs through storytelling and role-play
• The sexist and racist history of D&D (including some jaw-dropping examples) and how the TTRPG space has transformed into a beautiful, inclusive, and expansive community
• The Satanic Panic and finding empowerment in D&D despite growing up in evangelical families/communities
• The connection between the sacred feminine and spiritual practice and the history of D&D and how storytelling can be a mystical, spiritually connective experience
• How TTRPGs allow us to learn about and practice consent, boundaries, and safety tools that transform gaming tables into spaces of growth and self-discovery

Through our personal stories with TTRPGs and storytelling as well as honest conversation about systemic racism and sexism, we explore how storytelling is a microcosm of our broader zeitgeist, and how TTRPGs can become an expansive and inclusive playground for practicing pro-social behavior, exploring personal identity, and building radical, progressive spirituality all while telling epic stories with your besties!

Welcome to Bow Down! a podcast by The Cohere Collective that discusses esoteric and empowered feminism every week.

Be a part of the Collective and tune in to Bow Down! every week.

To work with Reese: https://www.thecoherecollective.com/coherent-design

To work with Dennis: http://heartstoybox.com

Follow The Cohere Collective: https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective

For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com

To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support

References and Resources:

• Dimension 20 (Dropout TV): https://www.dropout.tv/dimension-20
• Critical Role: https://critrole.com/
• The 20 Sided Tavern: https://thetwentysidedtavern.com/
• Original Quiz on Sexism in Early D&D from @DnD Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSvCP401kK0

With empowered Coherence,

Dennis and Reese