After the 2024 Election

As Ordained Clergy with the Sacred Well Congregation, I offer this perspective on the times we find ourselves in at this moment. In my interfaith group, we learned that Pueblo is a test case for the far right in the guise of Forging Pueblo. What has happened nationally is here in Pueblo, even though our state supported Harris.

First, grief is an appropriate response. Let yourself feel the waves of grief as they gently or strongly wash over you. As we witness events after the transfer of power, grief may surface again and again. Find what soothes your grief and let yourself embrace it when it comes.

Second, if we look to the virtues in the Charge of the Goddess, we find wisdom for ourselves at this moment in time.

Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you.

We may find ourselves called upon to use our personal power in ways we never imagined. For this we can look to Brigid, whose Sabbat is coming up soon, to see how we can use our words powerfully (poetry), shape our environment in new ways (smithcraft) and send healing energy where it may be needed or provide healing to the community (healing).

Our strength of character will be tested now. The strength to hold on to our values and our virtues is imperative.

Beauty is the antitheses of the ugliness we see in the far-right ideologies. We can be powerful and beautiful. We can be beautiful and strong. We can have beautiful personalities. Being beautiful in ugly times is resistance.

Compassion for ourselves and for others will be a much-needed spiritual practice as we move along the Wheel this year.

We must let ourselves find mirth when we can to lighten up the work we will need to do and in our own lives. Laughing has many health benefits.

We can be humble and successful. What small things or big things we might do in the coming times, can be done without thought of reward or even acknowledgement. We must do those things because they are the right thing to do.

We can honor our Goddesses and Gods, our practices, ourselves, our families and our community. We can call on our honored ancestors for wisdom and support. We can show ourselves how to live an honorable life amidst other less honorable people.

Reverence for this magnificent Earth, must continue. Protecting and honoring our planet is needed more than ever. As Pagans, we are in a unique position to strengthen reverence for the planet.

I hope this look at the virtues in the Charge of the Goddess is helpful to you. May the Goddesses and Gods, the Ancestors, the Fae, the Earth, the Stars and the Moon hold us and guide us as the Wheel turns in 2025.