Witches and Magickally-minded people are not immune to it.
Last week, I heard two disturbing things.
One came from a woman who wondered if a jealous man had “set The Morrigan against her.”
The other came from a social media comment, where someone person claimed Hekate “approved” of the murder Renee Nicole Good because “Hekate prefers law and order.” *The person has since deleted this comment.
What. In. The World.
My disturbance over the second comment is surely obvious, but in case it isn’t, I break it down below. With regarding the first comment, I wasn’t disturbed by the woman’s fear…but that there might be a man out there who thinks he could “use” the Morrigan against a woman for any reason, but especially because of jealousy.
Both of these point to a real, but neglected, problem among Magickally-minded people.
Many of us left the religions of our youth because we don’t want a God who is telling us what to do, who we’re allowed to love, and who we’re supposed to hate. For centuries, the idea of a God being on “our side” was at the root of incredible violence. It is what launched the Crusades, the Inquisitions, and various other Holy wars. It certainly was at the root of the Transatlantic slave trade and continued enslavement in the United States. Throughout history and now, this thinking fosters genocide, homophobia, racism, abuse of women and children and on and on and on.
We Magickally-minded people are not exempt from participating in this violence through this thought process, simply because we’ve chosen different Gods. If we assume to know the Will of the Gods, we open the door to abuse. It allows us to think we are “above” respecting the boundaries and will of others.
Here is what I do believe:
The Gods have a genuine interest in people taking care of each other. If we thrive, so do they.
The Gods do not solve our issues for us, but they may give us tools which gives us the opportunities to work through things, together. Sometimes, they may separate us for a while, much in the way a parent or caregiver might separated quarreling children: let them cool off, then let them work it out. It is likely not in their interest, or ours, in solving our problems for us.
Ultimately, the Will of the Gods is unknowable. I’ve written six books; three of them on Goddesses. I may know some things about their mythology, but I know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about what these Goddesses want. I certainly do not believe that any God or Goddess picks a “side.”
Magickal note: There are traditions and practices where certain spirits can be employed to do work (curse, bless etc.,) on behalf of the practitioner. But in general, it’s understood that the spirit is working for the desires of the practitioner, and is not acting on behalf of an objective moral code. Different topic for a different time. 🙂
Clues Of The Gods:
While knowing a Deity’s position may be ultimately unknowable, there are clues. Look to a the myths of the specific Deities: What, in their myths, angers them? Where did they put her energy and actions?
In Hekate’s myths, she consistently cares for the vulnerable, whether with Persephone in Hades or protecting her infant nephew Zeus (and ultimately help overthrow) his violent father. To me, Hekate’s role in these myths are highly inconsistent with the idea that she would side with a “law enforcement official” who shot an unarmed mother while driving.
In the Morrigan’s myths, she consistently calls out men who are abusing their power and warning them of their downfall, most specifically in Táin Bó Regamna. To me, it would be inconsistent to think that a man would be successful in getting The Morrigan to smite a woman simply because he doesn’t like or felt jealous of her.
And you know what? I could be wrong. In fact, I’m willing to bet that I’m at least a little wrong. But it’s the belief in possibly being wrong that leaves me room for compassion and learning.
A suggested ritual: Straight from my altar to yours.
Here is rite I use that you are welcome to adopt or adapt for your own purposes.
I begin by lighting my altar candles. And then I offer this prayer:
May the path to justice be illuminated.
May harm be ended. May violence cease.
May the vulnerable be protected.
May the blocks to peace be cleared.
And may I be shown the tools in my hands to help make it so.
I’m curious: What do YOU believe?
If you love what you’re learning here, you’ve got to check out The Cauldron Calling: A Virtual Platform for the Magickally-Minded. Virtual gatherings, exclusive exercises that will blow your mind, and regular, personal Tarot guidance. It’s the place to deepen, reconnect with, or build a practice for living a Magickally-led life. Would love to see you there!