This is a more of a follow up from my last article Pagan Unity in the Face of Christian Nationalism because of a reoccurring question “How do we do this?” In the end it will depend on each of us to decide that, from individuals – to small groups – to organizations – to regional areas – to countries. I do have some suggestions and ideas though, as this is a topic I have given a lot of thought to over the years due to seeing the Inter-Faith coalition’s power in local and federal politics to shape laws for all people, not just one faith.
One Focus
The first thing is having one focus. Pagans and Witches are a diverse group in itself. There are many traditions, beliefs, pantheons, rule sets, and so forth. We don’t want to change that diversity, we need that diversity to enrich and innovate ideas around one focus – one area we want to all rally behind.
Currently I would say that focus is on keeping our freedom of religion. No matter what side of the aisle you are on, no matter where your politics lay, as a Pagan/ Witch (or any other non-abrahamic belief) the freedom to hold our own beliefs and practices is the one thing that binds us together. So keep the discussion and focus on that one task.
Real Threats
I am seeing a lot of the money aspects being talked about when it comes to the current executive orders, such as: Funding freezes, dismantling certain programs, and so forth – Yet, I am not seeing or hearing a lot about the 3 orders I posted in the last article, the ones dealing with “anti-christian bias” and task force. The threat is real if people really start to understand what that language means to the ones who wrote it. At the end of this article I am going to share several different articles that may help give a clearer picture. I highly suggest reading them.
This is a real threat to any non-chiristan-nationalist. I do add the “nationalist” on there because christians on the whole are not some united front as they are made out to be. They hate on each and discriminate against their different sects too and it is the nationalist side that is pushing these agendas. Yes, at the moment all christians have more of a cloak of safety, but that can easily change as we have seen in history (protestant vs catholic). Also not all christians believe in the christian nationalist movement or ideals.
These people think we need to be a christian nation, and that goal would be to covert us or eliminate us. Everything in project 2025 is rooted in this idea. All these policies have a root in this ideal. All the things they are currently pushing are the groundwork for the next steps – all based in their values and ideals. The threat is real.
Plan of Action
Everything takes time to grow, but I honestly don’t think we have the time. Luckily we are not starting from scratch. We have many covens, groups, and organizations already in play. Start there. Start talking to your people about this one focus. What can you start doing today in your group to organize against this? What can you do today to start protecting and insulating your people? What can you do today to focus on this one goal in your community?
If you have a group or organization already, How can you reach out to the solitary practitioners in your area? Not to have them join your ways, but to join in this one focus that affects all of us. How can you help include them and protect them in this one focus?
If you have a physical based location, what can you do to start reaching out to the larger community around you? This includes other faiths, religions, and atheists – the community at large. Again, not everyone is going to be happy about the idea of our freedom of religion being gutted. We need allies in all places and they need them too. Again, put our differences aside for this and just focus on the one goal together.
Coven, groups, organizations, and so forth need to be reaching out and talking to each other on the one focus. How can you collaborate together for this one focus? How can you build a network between you to share what everyone is seeing, experiencing, ideas around actions, and so forth? We have to communicate and network together – there is strength in numbers. The advantage to our diversity is also found here. Different perspectives, approaches, talents, and skills can be identified and brought together cohesively together around this one focus.
The more we do this, the bigger the network grows.
Mundane and Magical
We are not the same, we do not work the same, and our particular country’s challenges in this area may be a little different. Keep the actions focused on the one focus.
For example: If we want to empower our political leaders to stand up and fight for our right to religious freedom: Each of us is going to look at that one goal, but may have a different perspective of how to work that spell or ritual that aligns with our own paths. The unified Intention though is where the power goes. Do not force people to work “your way” – let them work the magic the way they need to. Let one one focused Intention be the center for all the work and energy to be directed at.
The more we network beyond just our groups, collaborating and focusing all our intentions and efforts onto one goal, the more powerful all the work becomes. It doesn’t have to be the same, just directed at the same, focused intention.
The networks should set specific intentions, like the one listed in the example, so everyone is on the same focus when you do this. There will be many different intentions and workings needed because this is going to be a long fight – a war, not just one battle. Everything though should be aligned behind the One Focus though – the right of religious freedom.
On the Mundane side, the approach is a combination of the blueprint above and one cohesive voice together. There are a lot of mundane actions we can take besides just protesting. We can be speaking out publicly about this. We can be speaking out publicly about our own beliefs, practices, traditions, and religions. Most of what christians and lay people know come from the church, Hollywood, or distortions in social media. Most of us I would say have a deep connection to nature/ earth – after all it is from these places we get power. Start there – from a nature based approach – dispelling all these myths and distortions of us. Help others to see we are not so different and not the evil we are painted to be.
The One Voice
This one is harder and what we have not achieved yet. My hope is that it will emerge as we network and come together. I think it should be some type of council structure made up of different representatives from different regions/ countries. They would connect to all the various groups and people in their region, and be part of the local inter-faith councils. Within this larger council, select a smaller group 4-6 people who can engage with and be part of the global inter-faith councils.
Here we are moving to having a “seat at the table” in the larger and more complex issues of humanity and nature.
I think this has to grow organically though and it should not be the immediate focus. First we need to focus on the real threat sitting on our doorstep. We need to learn how to start communicating and networking between all our various diverse groups and solitaries. We need to start local (those you are already connected to) and work outward. If we can not cohesively and respectfully do that between ourselves, we will never be able to do that with others who are really the opposite of us.
Just Start
We have One Focus here – the right to religious freedom. To believe, practice, and live in that the way we choose. Until this is secured, nothing else matters. I say this gingerly but I hope you understand. For our purposes it has to be the one focus. Many LGBTQ+ people are really scared right now and with good reason. The root cause though is this christian nationalist mindset. Many women are scared right now and with good reason, but again, the policies that are dragging us backwards comes from this christian nationalist mindset. Immigration, minority rights, we can go on and on – but if you listen, if you look, it is rooted in that ideology. It’s time to cut out the root.
Start by talking to and collaborating with the people you are already connected to. Leaders need to start reaching out to other leaders in our community. Those who have platforms need to use them. Start local and work your way outward. If you are a large organization/ group, you already have some connections and a platform to reach out and start collaborating.
For the solitary people out there, who value their personal ways – this isn’t about changing you, converting you, or sticking you in a tradition. It is about all of us working together, collaborating together, for one focus, one goal, that affects you too. You don’t have to give up your personal freedom of practice to collaborate together.
Your leaders and voices will emerge through the process. Do not get bogged down into structures, hierarchies, and things of that nature. We are not even close to being there yet. First we have to be able to just connect, communicate, collaborate, and work together. We can all do this if we just keep our focus on this one thing. Once this is done, then we can start looking at what should be the next “one focus” that we can all get behind. Do not get ahead of yourself – stay focused.
In The End
As always, these are my thoughts, my ideas, and what I see as possible. Others will have different ones, maybe better ones. At the end of the day I don’t really care how we get there, whose idea it is, who leads, or anything else. What I care about is us, humanity, and this world. We have a real danger that affects all of us, touches all of us, and it is something we can all stand together against.
Again, the choice is up to each one of us. What will we, as one person do? What can we do today? What are we already connected to? How can I use my own platforms to engage others in this work or discussion? How can we reach out and build bridges between us for this kind of work? How can we better connect and educate people on how we see and move in Paganism and Witchcraft?
We either do something, or we will lose all the strides we have gained – and possibly more.
It is up to us, each of us, because the numbers count, our voices count, and the threat is real.
Here are a list of the articles I promised in the beginning of this. I highly encourage you to read them. I also encourage you to look at the history, statements, and actions of those Trump choose to run his faith office:
What is co-called “anit-christian bias”
Trump’s Task Force to “eradicate anti-christian bias”
Truth and Disinformation: Trump’s example of anti-christian bias
Does anti-christian bias favor one religion?
Trump sign executive order to establish a white house faith office
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