Ukraine needs our support. I didn’t plan on this post. Not specifically anyway.
At the end of December, I mapped out my year and wrote a rough outline of blog posts I’d write about. I did want to start working with Goddess again. For the last few years I’ve been working solely with Hekate and while she’s absolutely amazing and powerful, I have a really hard time writing about her except for a little blurb here and there.
My original plan was to re connect with Goddesses I’ve worked with in the past and work with them in tandem with Seasonal posts. So Basically I was going to write about 4 Goddesses this year. I started with Brigid.
Then War began in the Ukraine
I woke up Thursday morning to news that Russia invaded Ukraine and I was swept over with a sense of doom and defeat and a whole lot of other depressing emotions. I suspect this is just me absorbing the collective emotions of the world in general. Doesn’t really matter where the emotions came from, they’re here and it’s my responsibility to process them.
I stepped outside to gray skies and a balmy 28 degrees. Crows were circling above cawing. I’ve come to understand that this is Hekate’s way of getting my attention.
“War is stupid.” I said.
“Yes, it is.” She replied.
“What am I supposed to do?” I asked, not really expecting a reply.
“What are your options?” She asked.
I have options
I can be sad and despondent. That was my first choice because that’s what I was feeling. Not my best option. It was Thursday. Thursday is laundry day. I can’t not do laundry. It’s winter. We have to wear clothes.
My second choice was to be angry. Anger is a secondary emotion used to cover our hurt and fear. Anger has energy. Our job is to channel that energy into something productive rather than destructive. I could totally rage clean my house today. That would at least, be productive. However, it didn’t really feel like the right thing.
I could ignore it. Ignore the whole world. Turn off the news, silence my apps, stay off the internet. I could throw myself into my art, my garden projects, my imagination.
“That won’t fix anything.” She pointed out.
“I can’t fix anything anyway.” I replied.
“You can help.” She said in a tone that implied she expected it of me.
She’s not wrong
I can. I’m a witch. I’m a child of Hekate. I kind of have a obligation to help. This is what we do, what we’ve always done. We lend our energy, our knowledge and our support to those who are experience injustice.
But as always, it’s up to me to decide if, when, and how to help.
Protection spells were my first choice. It would help if I knew a Slavic deity that would support my intentions. I have a relationship with Baba Yaga, She would help.
(Did you see the video of the lady and the sunflower seed curse? That’s Baba Yaga energy!)
Hekate suggested “You need to find more. Ones who are inclined to protect and also strike back if necessary. Ones who will work with you.”
Hekate gave me one more piece of advice before I headed in to find a Goddess.
“We get our power from your attention. Share what you learn. The more attention She gets, the more She can intervene.”
I perused through a few article on Slavic Deities and settles on Mokosh. She’s similar to Brigid but with a warrior Mama Bear streak. She also has ties to the Black Madonna.
For the next few day, I will be building a relationship with her. I will create art and spend some time spinning wool. I’ll ask her to support my intentions to protect the people of Ukraine.
Light a sacred flame, lend your energy and join me in calling on Mokosh, Baba Yaga and other Slavic Deities to end this war quickly.
Aho and Amen.
Supporting Ukraine Monetarily
If you are inclined and able to donate financially, Save the Children is collecting to support families with children. 85% of your donation goes directly to families. The organization has a high rating and 100% transparency.
Another option is to support Ukrainian Artists on Etsy by buying digital downloads. The product is emailed to you immediately and they get paid with out having to ship anything. Go to Etsy. Search digital downloads. Click on filters and scroll down to Country of origing. Type in Ukraine and click apply.
