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Today while eating breakfast, I read the usual litany
of depressing headlines in the morning paper. The hurts of the world are so many
and so huge that the list of worthy causes seems infinite. What's a lone child
of Mama Gaia to do? No, sticking your head in the sand doesn't
count. Bad Pagan, no doughnut! (Errr… organic wheat muffin.) And yes, I'm
talking about more than lighting a candle and asking the Gods to bring balance
to the Earth. Ritual has its place, but "the Gods help them who help themselves."
So … how do you live your convictions without getting overwhelmed, discouraged
and burnt out? Here are some ideas: Prioritize
Everyone has their hot-button causes: think over what yours are. Identify
your passions and weed out the issues that you find only mildly concerning.
Find your allies
For example, for Pagan
rights and awareness issues, there are Witches Against Religious Discrimination,
Witches Anti-Discrimination League, and the Pagan Unity Campaign, just to name
a few. Many groups have information online: seek and you will find.
Set limits
Volunteer for a specific project, or earmark your donation.
Don't try to save the world: just the piece of it you love most.
Remember the everyday
Don't forget the impact of everyday activism
- things like using cloth bags instead of paper or plastic, using recycled paper
whenever possible, or visiting The Hunger Site online (www.thehungersite.com).
By deciding what your priorities are, and how you can best utilize your resources,
you can contribute, not just today, but for the long haul. One person can make
a difference - and that one person can be you.
Lauryl
Stone moderates an online forum for pagan female sexual abuse survivors, Daughters
of Demeter. She can be reached at laurylstone@yahoo.com.
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