Author Archives: Heather Murray

Heather Murray was handed her first Harry Potter book in middle school and has been a wizard ever since. She joined HPA staff in February 2010 when she found out Accio Books! was targeting Mississippi communities in which she grew up. Her job at the HPA is to bake cakes made out of rainbows for all HPA staffers and generally make sure everyone is having a good time. She and her dog Neville are full of Gryffindor pride!

FINAL WEEK of Accio Books! – Livestream 2 p.m. EST this Saturday

Hello wizard activists! The final week of Accio Books is quickly approaching, and we intend to finish strong! We’re having a livestream on Saturday, April 23, at 2 p.m. EST to discuss strategies and plans as we prepare to wrap up this campaign. The show will be led by Andrew Slack and feature special guests [...]

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Posted in Accio Books, HPA Announcements |

Different, like Harry – My Experience Raising a Transgendered Daughter

Acceptance. A simple word . A sacred word. I choose that day to open my heart and my mind to another human being that defied science. I was asked if I could handle it. My response was, and always is, “Can she handle it?” and “How do I teach her to?”

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Posted in LGBTQ | Tagged , ,

As January ends, I just want to say thank you.

After all the things we’ve talked about, the most important words I have to say are simply, “Thank you.” Thank you for your courage to share your stories. I have been so inspired by the blogs and videos I’ve seen where all of you have been talking about your struggles–they have reminded me that even in these intensely personal struggles, we are not alone. Thank you for your willingness to engage with the ideas presented in this campaign, and to participate in activities that may be new to you. Thank you for your positive spirits that motivated me to jump over some of my own personal hurdles. Thank you for being a part of this incredible community–you guys and girls are the greatest, and I wouldn’t have wanted to tackle the Body Bind with anyone else!

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Posted in Body Bind | Tagged , , ,

Inequality Horcrux Kick-Off

On Wednesday, February 2, we begin our next fight in the Deathly Hallows Campaign. Join us at our livestream channel at 8:30 PM EST for the official launch of the Inequality Horcrux! The Inequality Horcrux will be our battle for LGBTQ equality. We have some great projects lined up, so stop by to learn more.

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Posted in HPA Announcements, LGBTQ |

It Takes a Second Person to Lift the Curse

If you have a problem with your body, please, don’t be too embarrassed to address it. The fact that you are struggling does not mean that you are weak – it means that you are human. After all, we cannot wave our wands to free ourselves when the Body Bind curse is cast upon us. It takes a second person to lift the curse, and if we are too ashamed to admit that we are frozen, then we can never be freed.

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Posted in Action, Body Bind | Tagged , , , ,

Service–Keeping Your Spirit Active

When we think about ways to make our souls grow, there is no better method than by doing good deeds. By doing acts of service, we activate our innate compassion, empathy, and kindness. It’s a way to “work out” these qualities, the core elements which make us human.

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Posted in Action, Body Bind | Tagged , , , ,

Food from the Heart

My favorite thing about food is the way it connects us to people. Giving someone a meal you take time on is a way to give a little piece of yourself. My challenge to you today is to take time in the next week or so and cook something for someone. Maybe you invite friends over for a healthy meal, or maybe you bake a cake for your mom; regardless of who or what it is, sharing a meal with someone you love will nourish you both body and soul. How’s that for a mind-body connection?

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Posted in Action, Body Bind | Tagged , , , , , , ,

Body Bind Horcrux Week 2 – Nourishing the Body

Hello HPA! It’s the beginning of week 2, which means we’re shifting our focus to talk about ways to nourish the body. This week we’ll be discussing food, the benefits of organic and locally sourced products, how to cook healthy meals for yourself, and how to appreciate what we eat. We’ll also be talking about [...]

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Posted in Action, Body Bind, Harry Potter Alliance News | Tagged , , , , , , ,

Full January Challenge List is Now Available!

The ultimate goal this month is for all of us to make changes that lead to us living healthier lifestyles. Figuring out what to do is difficult, so we’ve compiled a challenge list! These challenges are guidelines for things you can try out this month and see how they work for you. You could just [...]

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Posted in Action, Body Bind | Tagged , , , , ,

A Few Week One Challenges

We’ve talked a lot about understanding beauty and trying to recognize the idea that it is in all of us. Spread those ideas out in the world by trying some of these challenges this weekend!

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Posted in Action, Body Bind | Tagged , , , , ,