Brigid’s Ritual, Part 15

Like many Americans, we faced the holidays with dread. A cad, a villain –a con artist –won enough votes to get sworn in as president of the US on January 20th. Mid-winter celebration would, I hoped, grant a respite from the constant headache since the election. The fact that a little less than half of the American electorate proved themselves shortsighted, misinformed –and maybe just flat stupid –gripped my head like a vice. What a tragedy. On good advice, we consciously decided to enjoy gifts and lights, to put up our ornament tree –to spend mental health time. It helped. I thought of Winter Solstice 2024 as the first act of opposition: I refused to let authoritarian blow hards suck up all the love and joy in my heart. My headache went away. Taking action, no matter how small, heals despair and alarm.

The longest night, therefore, began with the lighting of the Solstice candle just before sunset. I walked from room to room, imagining the small light sustaining us until dawn –the birth of the sun. From the house my partner and I proceeded, candle in hand, along path through the woods to our circle, blessing the space for ritual ahead.

At dusk, among the giant Pines and Oaks, we affirmed our love and trust at the entrance near the north altar. Then we walked into a bright center surrounded by soft candle lights in all four quarters –all lit by the original Solstice candle. After inviting the powers of east, south, west, and north, I asked Brigid, my oldest friend and patron Goddess, to join us. Her wisdom and sense of humor has kept me on a sensible path for decades. The Oak King, presiding over the longer days ahead, arrived by request, as did Odin and Balder.

Oaths taken on the Winter Solstice set intention for the near future. My oath had three tiers, and I spoke them out loud. First, I committed to mental and emotional health. It does nobody any good to prematurely bequeath space in the mind to worst case scenarios. As cruel people abuse power and inflict damage, I will deal with it. I won’t, however, hang onto every opinion and prophecy on social media ahead of time. Capitulation takes many forms, and doom forecasting is one way to obey in advance. it will take your breath away. Second, I stated my aspiration to seek community and support. For instance, a young man here in town manages a martial arts studio. He told me he’s interested in Druidry, and that he wants the studio to be a hub for communication and fresh ideas –a beacon for a better world. Local friendships will be important. Finally, I vowed to eventually contribute to the opposition in a broader sense. Options could include marches, voting drives, collecting signatures for ballot measures, and helping vulnerable people. Recently a woman I know expressed fear she might be deported. She is a US citizen, a retired officer in the military with a Spanish last name –her parents were Puerto Rican. I already told her we have a guest room.

My partner made a similar oath, with emphasis on maintaining our home, Rosemund Haven –with her pathways in the woods, circles with limestone markers in the quarters, the charming old house, and our yard full of bird feeders and uncommon trees.

After releasing the guardians of west, south, east, and north, we bid farewell to the gods and goddesses present. Then we wandered up to our fire pit beside the house and built a fire. The ritual, our oaths, the soothing crackling flames –all this gave us a blessed night free of heavy hearts and nausea. We have to believe the country can withstand the next four years. Journalists willing to state facts, politicians brave enough to stand up to threats –and people like you and me –it’s up to us. We are still endowed with rights of free speech and freedom of religion. Minority rule only works if we belly up, lie for the dictator, and give away our power. We lose if we allow corrupt billionaires, criminal charlatans, and Christian nationalists to define normal, rewrite history, and impose fear-based self censorship.

It may feel like the Day of the Orc has arrived. But I choose to embrace Samwise Gamgee’s wisdom instead: “…There’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for.” indeed. Let’s gather our better natures, our love of freedom, our diverse spiritual paths, and our shared belief in democracy and the rule of law and fight –preferably without violence –for our world.

Happy Solstice and New Year!

Laurel Owen, January 2025