{"id":1523,"date":"2018-05-18T12:14:06","date_gmt":"2018-05-18T20:14:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/tempest\/?p=1523"},"modified":"2018-05-18T13:25:30","modified_gmt":"2018-05-18T21:25:30","slug":"every-witch-is-an-activist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/tempest\/2018\/05\/every-witch-is-an-activist.html","title":{"rendered":"Every Witch Is An Activist."},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

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Photo by Rux Centea on Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

I was reading the comments (yes, I know that\u2019s a horrible idea but a little masochism never hurt anyone\u2026oh wait\u2026)<\/em> on a fellow blogger\u2019s post.\u00a0 It was a relatively short and polite post about re-examining language in our community and practices \u2013 nothing harsh or condemning but it did deal with some uncomfortable topics.\u00a0 Yet the article generated a litany of cringe-worthy comments including:\u00a0\u00a0\u201cOh no, not another activist post.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

When I see those kind of comments, I feel like what they\u2019re actually saying is, \u201cDon\u2019t you dare make me examine myself or my practices. Don\u2019t make me think, compare, or change. I don\u2019t want to deal with challenges.\u201d\u00a0 Which to me is the antithesis of Witchcraft.<\/strong> At the heart of Witchcraft is change, activated by clarified thought, followed through with multiple levels of deep-effecting* action. Change itself is the nexus of destruction and creation, to pull forth new form from existing materials.<\/p>\n

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Photo by Simon Greenwood on Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Even if you don\u2019t consider yourself a Witch, looking at the whole picture is integral to what we can loosely call the pachydermian parasol of Paganism. Earth-based, nature-centered religion\/beliefs\/spirituality? Then that requires honor and recognizing the planet we live on, plus everyone and everything we exist on it with.\u00a0 Nothing about the current state of our planet, the environment, or so-called society makes it OK to be inactive.\u00a0 To think otherwise to assume of the form of an ostrich with its head in the sand. (Which isn\u2019t even a thing ostriches actually do<\/a>, but folks sure like to try it themselves anyway.)<\/p>\n

No one person can tackle all of the problems. There\u2019s just no way.\u00a0 But we can focus on causing change in our personal microcosms and taking personal responsibility for our thoughts and actions. (Yes thoughts too people!) Picking up trash, reducing the amount of waste we create, fighting for legislation to protect the environment from ourselves \u2013 these things all have impact and involve action.\u00a0 So does taking care of the elderly, rallying against the issues that cause homelessness while supporting those experiencing it, supporting education for all, and practicing understanding and compassion with those who may seem to be different from us. These things may not seem all deep and witchy, but they\u2019re all part of the Witch\u2019s agenda.\u00a0 We must take care of ourselves, and in taking care of those around us, we do exactly that as well.\u00a0 Because we can see the bigger picture and how we\u2019re all connected.<\/p>\n

But to be able to see more clearly, we must be willing to think, examine, consider, and change.\u00a0 There is no way to be a Witch and not<\/em> be invested in change. No one wants to be uncomfortable, but if you sit too long, you will become stagnant. Nobody wants to be wrong about an idea they\u2019ve held on to for a long time \u2013 be it a belief about a certain group of people, words in your vocabulary, or technology.\u00a0 But why would you want to hold on to something that\u2019s purposefully harmful or hurtful to other people\/the planet, just because it takes a little work on your part?\u00a0 Being resistant to that self-examination is harm itself \u2013 to you and your world. If we don\u2019t occasionally shine light on ourselves, the ideas we hold, and the things we do \u2013 we become more foul than standing water infested with larvae (a kind of emotional hookworm \u2026 ew)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Really,what does it really mean to you if you stop using a word or phrase that is a slur, has racist or misogynist roots<\/a>? Or pay attention to someone\u2019s request for their correct name or pronouns? We make new words up every day and we\u2019re capable of learning new ones or using other ones that aren\u2019t harmful. Isn\u2019t it better to have a better understanding of the origin and effects, to look more closely at something you never really even thought about it, than to refuse to change because it takes a little bit of effort?\u00a0 Is it really more than a minor inconvenience to stop using a product that is harmful to the environment?\u00a0 Especially if that product didn\u2019t exist a century ago and has better, more sustainable, affordable options that don\u2019t pollute the earth that take the smallest of efforts to use? These things come down to respect and personal responsibility.\u00a0 Both are vital traits in practicing Witchcraft effectively. Small actions that have impact that lead to bigger things.<\/p>\n

The very nature of this existence is change, and one of the most amazing things about being human is our capacity to grow with change.\u00a0 We do that through thought and action.\u00a0 Magick is also part of that thought and action process \u2013 it\u2019s one of our greatest tools for change. We don\u2019t do magick because it\u2019s convenient or cool or fun.\u00a0 We use it because we have work to do and it\u2019s one of our most powerful tools.\u00a0 We ignite spirit and activate the world around us.<\/p>\n

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Photo by Jessica Podraza on Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s funny, some of the folks I see whining about \u201cactivism\u201d are the same ones who are quick to trot out \u201charm none\u201d<\/a> like parrots. Which is not very different at all from Christians who pick and choose parts of the bible they want to yell at people.\u00a0 \u201cAn it harm none, do what ye will\u201d is just one small part of a very large set of guidelines for purposeful, thoughtful living.\u00a0 Living requires action, so be mindful of one of the most under-recognized words in that phrase.\u00a0 That word is DO.<\/strong>\u00a0 Do requires action of some sort to occur.\u00a0 Some things require big effort, but most start small, like tiny seeds \u2013 and remember that mighty oak trees come little acorns.<\/p>\n

Activism is defined as using or supporting strong actions in support of or opposition to one side of a controversial issue. We may stereotype \u201cstrong action\u201d as being loud, aggressive, annoying or harsh \u2013 but everyone has something they are an activist about. (Even those who are resolute against thinking or change \u2013 they\u2019re anti-activist activists\u2026).\u00a0 It\u2019s time to stop throwing \u201cactivist\u201d around like an insult because someone or something is presenting you with an opportunity to change. There\u2019s too much work to be done, too much at stake to not think or act. Hold up that mirror and look closely. Be the Witch.<\/p>\n

(And I can\u2019t wait to read the comments on this one\u2026or can I?)<\/em><\/p>\n

*So I\u2019m sure someone is going to comment on effect\/affect, and I\u2019ll be honest that I\u2019ve sat here and debated what\u2019s more correct here.\u00a0 The intent is pulling from qualities of deep effects, yet affecting is also involved naturally in the process of change. Since \u201caction\u201d is the word \u201cdeep-effecting\u201d is describing \u2013 meaning to have deep effects (the noun),\u00a0 I \u2018m leaning toward deep-effecting as being more correct than deep-affecting.\u00a0 Maybe this is a great time to whip out the \u04d5.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At the heart of Witchcraft is change, activated by clarified thought, followed through with multiple levels of deep-effecting action. Change itself is the nexus of destruction and creation, to pull forth new form from existing materials.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2676,"featured_media":1532,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[452,12],"tags":[542,539,545,548,159,257,7,4],"class_list":["post-1523","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-modernpractice","tag-activist","tag-bethewitch","tag-harm","tag-harm-none","tag-activism","tag-rede","tag-witch","tag-witchcraft"],"yoast_head":"\nEvery Witch Is An Activist.<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"At the heart of Witchcraft is change, activated by clarified thought, followed through with multiple levels of deep-effecting action. 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