I heard the Morrigan speak on Friday, in a way I haven’t heard her speak in several years.
I was walking through my neighborhood, as I often do on mornings when I’m working from home. A million thoughts were running through my mind – something else that happens often. What do I need to do next to support my long-term plans? What are my obligations as a Druid, a priest, and a witch, and how can I fulfill them? How can I best deal with the current state of affairs in this country and around the world?
All of a sudden one voice drowned out all those thoughts:
“Lugh isn’t coming to slay Balor, and without him the best the Tuatha De Danann could do was a stalemate. If you had reclaimed your sovereignty when I first told you, you’d be prepared for this. But better now than never – get busy.”
The Morrigan and the other deities I worship, work for, and work with have been quiet over the past few years. Not silent – they’ve had the occasional message, even if most times it was “just keep moving.” There have been notable exceptions, but the kind of oracular messages I and many others received in the early to mid 2010s have been rare.
And I understand her order to incorporate these words into my life, and to share them with those who will hear.
This is not the Battle of Magh Tuireadh
When the Tuatha De Danann first came to Ireland, they lived in peace with the Fomorians, who were already there. But then the Fomorians began to oppress them with high taxes and rent, and with demands for obeisance. Eventually, the Tuatha De Danann decided to “undertake a battle of overthrowing.”
At first, the Tuatha De Danann kept Lugh out of the battle for fear of losing him, for without their greatest warrior they would have no hope. Some days the battle went better than others, but neither side could achieve victory. Then Lugh broke away from his keepers, turned the tide of the battle, and cast his spear into the eye of Balor, who was King of the Fomorians and the chief architect of their oppression. With Balor’s death, the battle became a rout and was quickly finished. The Tuatha De Danann were able to live in peace, and they made Lugh their king.
It’s a great story, and one I’ve found inspiring at various times in my life. But the Morrigan is telling us that it’s not the story we need right now.
“Balor” is not just one person
Yes, things would be better – much better – if the U.S. elections had gone differently. They didn’t, because a majority of Americans voted for the people and party that won.
Some of them are regretting their votes now that the price of eggs keeps going up, but many more are cheering deportations, unilateral destruction of programs and agencies, inflation-fueling tariffs, fantasies of “anti-Christian bias,” and executive orders attacking trans people. Still more are emboldened to try to impose white Christian nationalism on a multi-ethnic secular nation.
In 2016 we could blame it on bad campaigns, Russian interference, the Electoral College, and those who couldn’t be bothered to vote. In 2025 we have to accept that this is who and what the United States of America is. And other countries too – the far right is winning (or at least, becoming dangerously relevant) in much of the rest of the world.
Yes, the focal point of all these actions is a person who is as bad as Balor of the Evil Eye. But even if he was removed (by legal means – we don’t need a martyr) the ideas and the culture that put him in power would still be there.
FOTUS is the symptom, not the cause.
“Lugh” is not coming
In 2020 we knew Joe Biden wasn’t a savior, but we voted for him anyway because the alternative was so much worse. We forgot that in 2024. Even if we hadn’t, though, Kamala Harris isn’t Lugh. Neither is Bernie Sanders or AOC or any other politician.
Too many of us have the idea that if we just elect the right President every four years, everything will be fine and we won’t have to worry about anything else. We forget that Congress matters, governors matter, state legislatures matter (the worst of the political evil is coming from red state legislatures), and local school boards matter.
The conservative adage that “politics is downstream from culture” is only partially true. Right now we’re seeing politics used to constrain, muzzle, and coerce culture. Ultimately, though, politics reflects the values of the majority culture.
If we want to change politics permanently, we have to change the culture. And the only way to change the culture is to show people a better way, by living it.
Reclaim your sovereignty
Legend says that when the true King of Ireland places his hand on the Lia Fáil, the stone cries out. The land – represented by the Goddess of Sovereignty – chooses the king. And if the king rules poorly, the Goddess of Sovereignty can and will withdraw her blessings and the land and the people will suffer.
You may have heard politicians talking about sovereignty lately. Every time I’ve heard it, it was used in the sense of “we can do whatever we want with no concern for other countries and other people.” That’s the politics of a four-year-old: “it’s mine and I can do whatever I want with it.”
Sovereignty is the right to rule and it is also the responsibility to rule rightly.
When the Morrigan was telling us to reclaim our sovereignty a dozen or so years ago, she was saying “live your life according to your values and don’t be controlled by advertisers, politicians, and preachers who want to co-opt your life for money and votes.” I think many of us in the Pagan community understood the spiritual aspects of this, particularly those of us who made a conscious decision to leave a previous religion that was harmful to us.
I’m not sure any of us understood that there would be physical, financial, and social aspects to reclaiming our sovereignty. Or at least, I didn’t.
Having the right to do something is one thing. Having the ability to do it is something different. So is having the will to do it even when it isn’t easy.
Reclaim your sovereignty.
Make friends and allies
Belgium and Luxembourg are sovereign nations. That didn’t stop Germany from overrunning them in World War I and again in World War II. Today Belgium and Luxembourg are members of NATO, with 30 other nations pledges to defend them if they’re attacked. And also, Belgium and Luxembourg have pledged to help defend any of the others.
When we ask “who will defend you if you’re attacked?” we must simultaneously ask “who will you defend if they’re attacked?” If you can’t name names, and if they aren’t mostly the same names for both questions, you don’t have allies. You have political affiliations. Now, your political affiliates may very well come your defense. But can you count on them? Recent history says that’s problematic.
I keep saying this and people keep dismissing it: you aren’t going to get through this alone. Or if you do, it will be much harder and more risky that it would be with even a small handful of people who will support you, and who you support in return.
We need family and friends, people we can share our lives with.
We need covens and coven-sized groups, handfuls of people we can practice with.
We need orders and traditions, people who share our beliefs and practices even though they’re not close enough to see on a regular basis.
We need interfaith allies, people who do not share our beliefs and practices but who do share our values and who we can work with toward our common goals.
We need strategic allies, people with whom we share little and who we may someday have to oppose, but who will fight alongside us against an common enemy who presents an imminent threat.
Finding happiness in an era of decline
There’s a meme I’ve seen a couple times recently that starts out:
“Yet another evening I close my eyes, pinch the bridge of my nose, take two short sharp breaths and remind myself that millions of people led satisfying, meaningful lives during the fall of the Roman Empire.”
When I started talking about Tower Time, a few people criticized me for telling them that things were going to get worse for the rest of their lives. Nobody likes to hear bad news. Nobody like to be the bearer of bad news, either. But when we look at what happened from 2017-2021, what happened in the aftermath, how 2021-2025 was more of an intermission than a reversal, and how things are starting off now, does anybody really think that the arc of the moral universe is still bending toward justice? Does anyone still believe that progress is inevitable and eternal and can never be reversed?
And still, millions of people led satisfying, meaningful lives during the fall of the Roman Empire.
Millions more will lead satisfying, meaningful lives during whatever comes over the next four, eight, twenty years.
The next line of this meme says:
Occasionally I imagine I’m my ancestor, running the 1 AD [probably more like 401 AD, but the point is still valid] version of a pub somewhere in Brittania. It’s a pity the running water’s stopped, and we miss the wine that came in the skinny necked jugs, but there’s no point whinging about it. Take care of who you can, be kind.
I thought the culture wars were all but over. I thought nationalism was dying out. I was wrong. So we fight on, we keep living and promoting our values, and we look after each other.
Take care of who you can. Be kind.
The Morrigan in this time
I love the statue of the Morrigan made by Joe Laudati. But for this time and in regards to this situation, I prefer this statue by Dryad Design.
It’s older, simpler, sturdier. The shield has been chipped on several occasions. When I expressed regret over the damage, a friend who’s an SCA fighter said “never trust a warrior with a perfect shield.”
The look on her face is one of defiance and determination. Which is the exact frame of mind we need now.
Lugh isn’t coming to slay Balor. No one is coming to save us. The 2026 midterms and the 2028 Presidential election may make things better. Or they could make things worse. And a lot can happen between now and then. In any case, the cultural rot that got us to this point isn’t going away any time soon.
Live your life your way. Build alliances, especially close local relationships.
Take care of who you can. Be kind.
And when the Morrigan speaks, listen.
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