Self-Care Tips for The Voting Witch
We’re all going through it, right? Anticipatory grief (sorrow around perceived future losses) and fear is heavy right now, and rightfully so as Christian nationalists threaten the very foundations of our democracy. I put together some self-care tips for this week to keep you grounded in your power. Stay safe, take care of yourselves, and believe in your power to shape your world.
Develop A Self-Care Plan
Identify comforts you can provide yourself this week.
Consider what would make you feel grounded, safe, and healthy.
Think of small actions that could bring you peace and pleasure.
Even simple activities like deep breathing, stretching, taking a walk, or a bath can help calm the mind and soothe anxieties.
Commune With Your Coven
Spend time with like-minded friends and find comfort in shared experience.
Surround yourself with those who share your values to reinforce that you're not alone and that there is power in community.
Sharing anxieties or hopes with trusted friends can alleviate isolation and create mutual support.
Tune In And Tune Out
Set aside dedicated time to check in with the news and current events.
Consider setting a timer or limiting your news-checking to twice a day so that you’re not endlessly doom scrolling.
In a fear-driven 24-hour news cycle, it’s OK to disconnect and find distractions.
Practice Ritual
Consider creating a grounding ritual for election day, even something small, to remind yourself of your inner strength and the support around you.
This can help you find peace and motivation regardless of external circumstances.
You can find a number of rituals + inspiration to create your own here
Take Action
Vote!
Set a personal intention for the change you want to see.
If you’re feeling called to do more, find like-minded communities, organizations, or causes you can work with to make a difference.
Voting is essential to democracy, but everyday organizing brings lasting, real-world change.
My latest work focuses on how to transform fear, grief, and loss into fuel for empowerment. My latest project, Anguish As Alchemy, dives even further into this idea, offering tools to shift despair into personal power and resilience. If this resonates with you, I’d love for you to check out the campaign, support if you feel called, and help bring this vision to life.
Sending you love and strength, and wishing you a week filled with safety, grounding, and empowerment. Together, let’s turn these challenging times into opportunities to deepen our power and create positive change.
Shiva
Satanic Self-Care: Coronavirus Edition
Coronavirus (SARS-COV-2, COVID-19) is spreading quickly across the globe and impacting our daily lives. How do we manage this ever-changing environment? How do our Satanic values emerge under these conditions? How can we take care of ourselves and community? Before I became a full-time artist, I worked in public health and epidemiology. I’ve been listening to the experts and put together some initial thoughts on how we confront this phenomenon and ways to put our Satanic values in action.
Trust the science
For Satanists, science is the final word. It holds our greatest understanding of what’s happening around us and teaches us how to best navigate this pandemic and care for ourselves. It can also help us manage anxiety and avoid unnecessary panic and help us prepare appropriately. With that in mind, don’t copy and re-post unreferenced coronavirus tips from social media. There is a ton of potentially dangerous misinformation about the coronavirus spreading across social media, so make sure you verify your sources of information before you absorb or repost. Here are some tips from Harvard on how to spot fake news.
It’s important to remember that the science behind understanding the virus is very new and there is a tremendous amount we don’t understand. Many of the studies emerging are promising but haven’t had time to undergo the usual validation process, so take everything with a grain of salt. Here are some tried and true resources recommended by trusted epidemiologists:
For those who want to go straight to the source and be up to date on the latest research, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has a Coronavirus dashboard for updates and direct links to new papers on SARS-COV-2.
The World Health Organization and Center for Disease Control provide up to date, easily digestible info on the virus
Johns Hopkins created a resource site for COVID-19. It includes a dashboard from Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science that examines the global spread of the disease, tips on prevention, as well as insight from global health experts on the virus
Have some extra time and brain space to deepen your learning on epidemiology? Coursera is offering a free massive online open course named 'Epidemics' was developed at Penn State Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics. It‘s an excellent resource for learning about a range of topics in epidemiology, public health, disease ecology and dynamics. Check it out: https://www.coursera.org/learn/epidemics
Minimize risk to yourself and community
It’s time to bring your compassion to the forefront! First of all, if you think you’re sick and your symptoms match those of the virus, get tested and seek care. Many health systems are offering phone lines and tele-visits to advise patients on their risk and avoid overloading the system, so utilize those resources if you can.
Everything we know about this virus suggests that infection spreads exponentially until we are able to contain it. This virus has a higher mortality rate than the average flu and is extremely communicable. How do we contain the virus? Through social distancing - meaning we need to try to keep people (even those who aren’t sick or are asymptomatic) home as much as possible, for as long as possible until this recedes. How can you put this into practice? Check out this article for an overview. In brief - obey regional directives to quarantine if you have them. If you don’t yet have them, stay at home as much as possible anyway. If you’re a business owner, entertainer, or community leader, move work and meetings online. Cancel or postpone shows and other gatherings until the virus is under control. It appears that many carriers are asymptomatic and some of the hardest hit are the elderly and those with preexisting health conditions - meaning someone with little or no symptoms could carry the virus to people who are high risk. These modifications can be difficult and inconveniencing, but think of them as religious sacrifices - ones that help to protect your community and yourself.
Help those in need
Now is the time to take care of ourselves and our community. Reach out to your community if you have the resources and spoons to help those that need it. That could mean going on food runs for elderly neighbors, providing guidance and encouragement to a sick or worried friend, giving money to someone who lost work, or watching your neighbor’s kids when their schools are closed. If you have a local chapter, consider creating a mechanism for members to help each other. If you need help, ask! Know your needs and don’t be afraid to ask for assistance. Check out local and regional resources for assistance as well. As Trent Reznor famously crooned, ‘We’re in this together now!’ There are a myriad of ways to help locally and provide support to each other in our Satanic community. Keep your eyes and heart open and stay safe.
How are you putting your Satanic values in action during the pandemic?
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