New Moon Ritual: October 2024
My default response when I feel overwhelmed, scared, or panicked is to withdraw. To hide myself away from whatever is going on and wait for it to pass. Often times, this comes into conflict with my drive to do social justice advocacy work in ways that cause a lot of stress and exhaustion. But still, at the root of it, when I’m afraid I operate from a place of solitude and hyper-independence.
We’re a month out from the 2024 US general election right now and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t afraid. I know I’m doing all I can to ensure the MAGA movement is kept out of power - writing letters, donating to Democratic candidates in swing states, engaging in Get Out The Vote work in digital spaces - but this election still feels like it can go either way. The fact it’s still this close given everything we know about Trump, Project 2025, and MAGA is another source of frustration, disbelief, and fear.
Irene Glasse, a friend and local pagan leader, speaks a lot about how spirit communicates to us using images and metaphors that will make sense to us. The more we read, take in art, or engage with other forms of media, the larger the “vocabulary” spirit has to work with as they shape messages out of sensory memory. All to say, props to whatever spirit was rooting around in there and decided to dig out a scene from the 2004 Spider-Man 2 movie with Tobey Maguire. Specifically, the scene where he stops the runaway train and after collapsing is caught by those on the train car where they collectively lift him up and pass him back to safety.
This visual memory was accompanied by the physical sensation of multiple hands helping to lift me up, helping me stand, and keeping me stable. There was also the mental and emotional comfort that comes with touch and companionship, not in a sexual or sensual way, but in a “not being alone” way.
All to say, the resounding message this month is about community. About knowing that you are not alone. About trusting that, when you’ve given everything you have, there are folks there to catch you, to keep you safe, and to help you heal. About knowing that, when you feel like you can’t do it on your own, there are those willing to help you stand and regain your balance if you’ll let them.
We’re going to need to remember this over the next month. And, regardless of what happens in November, whatever we build for the future will need to be rooted in community.
