Self-Care in a Post-Election World (Especially for my
Pagan Family)
Dear
Ones,
We
are hurting. We are grieving. And grieving looks and feels different for
each of us. It may manifest as crying,
raging, numbness; detachment, depression, insomnia; stress, physical pain,
anxiety—and it changes over time as the energies run through and out of our
bodies. Let us be gentle with ourselves
and one another, knowing that our expressions of grief may not match. Some people are crying; some people are shouting;
other people are marching in the streets.
Some of us are ready to take action; some of us need more time. Assigning
blame does not help our process; all expressions of grief are equally genuine
and legitimate. We Are All One; we are
each a sliver of divinity; we are each Divine.
Let us not turn on one another in this time of anguish, Beloveds.
For
those of us encountering our own deep sadness, rage, panic, confusion, and
paralysis, please keep feeling what is true for you in this moment. You are so very brave and all of your emotions
are “right” and valid. Keep feeling and releasing, feeling and releasing,
feeling and releasing. We Are All One.
Some of us are feeling and releasing for those who cannot; spiritual
warriors who have taken on an enormous task. Take solace that in feeling
and processing this heaviness, your contribution to our collective healing is
immeasurable. Not everyone is meant to stand
on the front lines.
I
am currently experiencing intense sorrow and shock. Sorrow and shock that so many of our “fellow
citizens” chose hatred, bigotry, racism, ableism, and misogyny, chose to use
their vote against the sovereignty and well-being of women, people of color,
LGBQT+-folk, non-Christians, disabled people, etc.—to send the message that we,
and the quality of our lives, do not matter. I am quite aware that we live in a patriarchy/kyriarchy—my
entire life is dedicated to ending this structure—and yet I had not accurately grasped
just how deeply it is rooted, into those sneaky, tricky, crooked, deep fear
places that people keep stealthily hidden away—perhaps even from themselves—buried
and secret. I am in “emergency
mode,” which only comes to me in times of urgent necessity, when my mind
becomes fiercely clear and quiet so that I can make the best choices to protect
myself and others.
Our
community, Sisterhood of the Moon, is a matriarchal* community and although our
primary service is to women, we lovingly open our space to all people who wish to
gather together in peace, to experience what we mean by “matriarchy”—how it
looks, feels, and lands in the body.
(These circles, Solar Tribe for all, and our children’s circle, Honey
Hive, are founded and guided by High Priestess Sabrina Moon. Please join us with your Loved Ones.) One of
the cornerstones of the foundation of our community is that of empowered
Sovereignty for all beings. We’ve found that one of the keys to living a
sovereign, authentic life of integrity is Self-Care. Without caring for ourselves
first, we cannot truly care for others.
Please,
Dear Ones, take care of *you* and do it every day, today, right now if
possible. You are needed; you are loved. Here are some ideas for self-care to
use during times of trouble, and every day:
Daily Spiritual Practice: Many of us already have a rich daily
practice. Even though it may be
tempting, do not drop this in times of difficulty! Adapt and shift it, shorten it if necessary,
but continue connecting with the Divine daily in whatever way is right for you.
If
you do not yet have a daily practice, now is a good time to begin; if you only
have one minute in the shower every morning, make that minute count. A daily practice can be as short and simple
as pulling a Tarot card, Oracle card, or Rune for the day; lighting a candle or
some incense on your altar and saying a brief prayer; speaking from your heart
to the Divine within or without, or engaging in five minutes of
meditation.
Movement: The body is
our physical Temple of Divinity; we are Divine and our bodies are the Temples
we reside in.
Engaging in daily physical movement assists us in running energy
through and out of our bodies, draining out and releasing experiences and
energies that we don’t want or need to hold within it. It’s
imperative to let these energies go and release them to keep our bodies healthy. Energy is cyclical and we should always
strive to be in the flow of giving and receiving.
Effective movement can be anything from intense running to
loving, gentle stretching, to anything in between:
a quiet twenty-minute walk every morning and/or evening, yoga during the lunch
hour, an aerobics class in the early morning, etc. Often, the hardest part of engaging in
physical exercise is starting or just getting out the door. Once we’re moving, the benefits are usually
felt almost immediately.
Physical Body: Our goal is to feel 100% optimal at all
times. When we don’t feel well, we don’t
feel powerful. Think of how you feel
when you are down with a cold or flu.
Now think of how you feel when you have eaten too much, eaten food of
poor quality, ingested chemicals, etc. Let’s
take the best care of our bodies as possible.
Water: Water is the Element of Sovereignty. Staying hydrated helps us to stay empowered
and to make better choices. When we’re
hungry and it’s not time to eat, let’s pause and drink a glass of water
instead. Many people are chronically
dehydrated and don’t realize it.
Emotional Body: It is necessary that we clean up our
emotional messes, get in touch with our emotions, and learn how to effectively manage
our feelings. We all have different
experiences, therefore different needs and coping mechanisms.
Etheric Body: Tending to our etheric body is
paramount. We can check our auras, our
chakras, and look for energetic cords to others and situations that no longer
serve us and should be cut, dissolved, or released, and then do so or ask for
help in doing so.
Clearing and
Cleansing:
Releasing things from ourselves and our homes, both physically and
energetically, keeps things as clean and clear as possible. Clean out the clutter; smudge, asperge,
spritz—whatever feels right to clear our spaces.
Pleasure: “All Acts of Love
and Pleasure are My Rituals.” Pleasure
is mandatory! Make space for enjoyment,
fun, and play.
Sleep: We all have different sleep requirements. We must each discover our own and be mindful
about resting our Sacred Temples. Turn
off electronic devices before sleeping hours.
Do not engage on social media right before bed.
Other
ways of caring for ourselves during troubled times include social media
fasting, connecting with nature, meditation, dancing, singing, chanting, making
music, creating art, and reading something just for the fun of it. Laugh! Try affirmations, movement, the
healing arts (massage, acupuncture/acupressure, tapping, counselling/therapy/coaching,
etc.), visualization, vision boards, holding boundaries, travel, mirror work,
water immersion, herbs and essential oils, astral travel, and energy work.
Remember
your magickal practices. Engage in
ritual and spellwork, if that is part of your Path. Gather with your covenmates, Circle Family,
and others of like-mind. Spend time face-to-face-breathing-the-same-air
with Loved Ones. Ask for support and if you can, give support to others. Be a compassionate, listening ear.
If you find yourself in fear and panic, stop—take a breath, become present in your body and present in this moment. If you are having trouble doing this, reach out for help—don’t wait.
Be
willing to sit in the uncomfortable longer.
Bless yourself and your body daily.
Let
us truly *feel* our pain, feel it so that we can release it, and when it is
truly felt, to pick ourselves up and move forward, together and with love and compassion
in our hearts. Let us come together. Let’s share resources, actions, magick. Let’s
check in on one other and give help and support where and when it’s needed. Let’s
remind one another to breathe, to ground, to center. Let’s remind one another
of our innate divinity.
My
election magick was cast for "the highest good of all involved." I
hold fast to the knowledge that the results will be such, although not in the
way this human woman had hoped.
Each
breath we take is a choice and can be a vote for change. When we start with ourselves, our homes, our families,
our friends, our micro-magick builds.
Many pebbles in the pond make a great tidal wave of change, change that
is lasting and built upon a strong and sturdy foundation.
There
is now, and has always been, lots of work to be done. Let's hold one another and love fiercely. Let’s
each do our part. We can do this.
You
are needed. You are loved.
With
Love and Gratitude,
Lady
Jesamyn Angelica
High
Priestess, Sisterhood of the Moon
Resources:
For those
of us feeling powerless and are ready and longing to take action, this article
lists organizations that can use our support, time, and money:
*Please note that matriarchy is not the “opposite
of patriarchy.” Matriarchy is based upon
egalitarian ideals, where are all have equal value.
Art: Stormy Sea at Night by Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky
