by Deirdre Pulgram-Arthen

This moment in US history is extremely hard for me to fathom. As the child of a Holocaust survivor, I have been feeling triggered over and over, especially, most recently, by the abductions and disappearances. I consider “Christian Nationalism” and I feel the terror personally, while at the same time I feel angry and resent this administration using “smokescreen antisemitism” as a justification for some of these actions, as a cover for their own racism, Islamophobia and actual antisemitism. 

Over the past six weeks I have also been meeting with a group of committed pagans from across the US most of whom have once, or currently lead groups, many of them older teachers and organizers, like me, with some younger people as well who are in leadership roles in their own communities. We are trying to find ways to build a network that can help hold all kinds of pagans in this time of crisis. Even as we struggle with the shape of what we hope to create, it is good to see these friends in the Zoom windows and know that we are struggling together.

At a time like this it is important not to be alone. When I find myself sliding and wanting to retreat into isolation and fear, I know that it is time to reach out. It is time to get together with a friend for lunch or for a walk, time to gather and sing with my spiritual community, even time to try to wade through social media to see who is there that I can wave to. Rites of Spring planning sessions enliven me. Working together with others and with a shared purpose in service of community is fuel for my heart.

Community matters at a time like this. We are stronger when we are together, when we can hold each other up and keep each other from breaking. Community can energize us to keep standing and moving forward, to not give up.  A spiritual community, like EarthSpirit, can help us find strength in our practices, our shared beliefs and experiences, our shared rituals and our songs. When we come together anytime to sing of what is sacred, or celebrate the return of spring, we can open our hearts and let some light in, let some joy in, let some love in!  And now, at this dangerous time, finding ways to be together, especially in person, can be healing. Holding hands, joining voices, marching in resistance, being together in the name of what is life-affirming and good and sacred, knowing there are others next to you who feel as you do, who care for you and care about your well-being, these can lift some of the load that we each carry. 

Try it — find your people and gather. I think you will be glad that you did.