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The Many Paths of Pagan Activism
By Irish Flambeau
 You
hear about the protests and you'd like to help but you wonder: does the Goddess
really need me to face down the cops? Good News: there's more than one way to
become involved.
Change Your Mind, Change
the World The first place to start is with Dion Fortune's
concept of magic. Magic is "the art of changing consciousness at will."
Make the intention to be aware that the world is much more than what we have been
taught. It's a well-known phenomenon that when a long-standing sports record is
broken (such as the pole vault), it doesn't take long for athletes all over the
world to meet or closely approach the new, formerly "impossible" record.
Cultural standards and expectations exist because a large enough group of people
agree on expectations of what is "normal" and "acceptable."
But one person with an idea that is good enough to spread to enough people can
change the culture. We can do this too. The Earth
needs our wisdom and ability to see divinity in all things: trees, computers,
rivers and subways. And we can make a difference. I have seen how a simple act
can blossom: all it took was one friend talking with me about Paganism, planting
the seed in my heart and eventually that seed grew. Call
in the Circle
Your connection to the Elements
is an excellent starting place for activism. You can consider each of the four
elements in turn, and decide on one or more actions you can take to honor each
in real life. In this way, you bring your spirituality into everyday life, and
activism to your spirituality. The decisions you make on how to honor the Elements
should have meaning and depth for you. It is important to find something that
you feel joyful doing; this shouldn't be just another chore. Here are a few suggestions
to get you started. North: Save the
Earth
When you go for a walk, bring one of
those plastic grocery bags that always seem to be multiplying in your kitchen,
and pick up trash. Reduce the waste you put into landfills by recycling, buying
products with the least amount of packaging, and composting. Even apartment dwellers
can compost. Try "vermiculture," an odorless means of composting using
earthworms in a bin. To find out more, read Worms Eat My Garbage! by Mary Appelhof.
East: Clean the Air
Make
the air cleaner in your home by declaring it a "no smoking" zone. If
you smoke, consider honoring Air by quitting. Look for ways that your lifestyle
is contributing to air pollution and create solutions. If you live in a city,
carpool, use public transportation, bicycle, walk or ride-share as much as you
can. You can also make yourself more conscious of Air by bringing your attention
to it; burn incense or smudge with sage or sweetgrass to honor Air. Open your
windows and let Air revive and refresh your living space assuming a non-smog-alert
day! When the wind touches your skin, feel the kiss of God/dess. Find out more
about the air quality in your area at www.scorecard.org.
South: Use Fire Well
Honor Fire by respecting it; conserve power by turning off lights, buying energy-efficient
appliances, installing ceiling fans (you can lower your air conditioning bill
by 20%!). Get a fire extinguisher and smoke detector for your home; never leave
candles unattended, and volunteer at your next Gathering to stay with the bonfire
until it is safely out. West: Conserve
Water
Fresh, clean water is one of the most
valuable gifts of God/dess. By conserving water, you honor that Gift. There are
many ways to conserve: showers take less water than baths (unless you are able
to use the greywater in your garden!) and the new pressurized air toilets flush
just as well as the old huge tanks! Drink more water; it is good for you and helps
flush toxins from your body. Find out who in your area is targeting water pollution
and conservation issues, and join in. Center
Your Practice
What does being a Witch/Pagan
mean to you?
Why have your chosen this path?
For
me, at the core of my path is the bone-deep feeling of being connected to, and
a part of, all creation. I share this feeling with others by leading Dances of
Universal Peace (a form of moving meditation), and I recommend this experience.
(You can find dance meetings near you at www.dancesofuniversalpeace.org.)
An activist embraces the world and their place in
it. On a daily basis, how do you live your values? How does being a Witch/Pagan
affect your state of mind and your participation as a citizen? Have fun discovering
the answers to these questions - and in finding even more interesting questions
to ask yourself along the way. 
Irish
Flambeau is a Peace Witch inspired by the Reclaiming Tradition. See more of her
work at www.feyfolk.homestead.com. | 
