I hope you are all safe and well.
Somehow, we are almost in October – 2020 has both dragged and flown past. Just as we thought we were over the worst of it, a second lockdown is looming here in the UK, and everything remains as uncertain as before.
Navigating all of this uncertainty is draining; mental health issues are becoming more prevalent as the pandemic rolls on, and at times it seems as if there is no end in sight.
Today, on the autumn equinox, day and night are of equal lengths; I figured that this was a golden opportunity to relax, reflect, connect with my witchcraft and try to manifest some balance to get me through the rest of this cursed year.
So, I lit some candles, put some nice music on, grabbed some mead and got down to it!
In addition to my usual black and white candles (representing darkness and light, and balance in all things), I lit mini pink and yellow candles – for self-love and joy. I also used some of my 'Witches At Black Sabbaths' wax melt from The First Edition Candle Company – it smells divine and really puts me in a witchy mood.
I dedicated one glass of mead to my spirits (ancestors, deities, genius loci, guides), and slowly sipped the other while basking in the warm glow of the candlelight, the scent of jasmine, cannabis flower and rose, and the soft music. It was incredibly soothing to take some quiet time to reconnect with spirit and allow myself to feel the presence of my ancestors – something I haven't done much due to being so low on energy of late. And I felt so invigorated afterwards – enough to write this blog post!
Towards the end, I reached out to Odin for specific guidance, and Freya stepped in too – I'd like to keep the conversation private, but in brief, I received a lot of reassurance (and a gentle kick up the bum).
One thing Odin did talk about was cycles; how times like this have happened before, and will happen again, just as Ragnarök is happening, will happen, and has happened. We will get through it, and will face more challenges in future – but that's just the way the world is.
Applying the myth of Ragnarök to current events is oddly comforting. Even if you do hold the belief that Ragnarök is a linear event, it's important to note that it's not the end of all things – while many gods die, new gods rise, and the world is repopulated by the human survivors Líf and Lífþrasir. Of course, I do hope more than two people survive COVID-19!
Ragnarök may have been a way for the Vikings to reconcile the eventual disappearance of their culture over aeons – inviting us to consider how our culture will change after the major events of 2020. The myth shows that life continues after cataclysmic events, even in a new form – just as humanity will face a 'new normal' following the pandemic. Indeed it's no surprise that many people have questioned their personal relationships and goals as their lives were turned upside down.
We have no idea what the 'new normal' will look like, and for now, all we can do is keep going; be kind to ourselves and to others, hold our loved ones close (social distancing allowing) and to maintain our connections with the world around us. Take time to stop and rest when it all gets too much. Look to the light of Yule – even if we do have to have a roast dinner over Zoom.
(Personally, I'm excited as ever for Samhain – it'll take more than a pandemic to stop that!)
That's all for now, folks; I hope you all find some balance and stability in the months ahead.
Stay safe, wear a mask, and be kind.
