This is, unfortunately, a personal post based on a real world scenario. A child, not even out of Elementary School. Cancer. SO unfair.
Candle, plugged full of energy, blooded, petitions to the Universe.
Failure. What would you do?
Failure hurts. Failure sucks. But the Infantry (and my Family namesake) doesn’t allow me to sit and wallow in shame. I emailed the parent and asked to continue.
If I can’t heal that poor child outright, I will continue to use and push massive amounts of energy to do what good I can to improve their quality of life until there isn’t one.
And if the end changes, so be it.
Post note – There are things we can’t seem to change, even if we can make some small changes to the situation. Whether this is acceptable to you or not, whether the emotional toll and feeling of responsibility is too much, is going to depend on you and you ability to deal with it.
Most magicians are casting for things that may go their way anyhow. They largely shy away from the harder problems because that brings up the specter of Failure and what it means for our craft. It also brings up what it means for us as individuals and potentially being called such in the past in traumatic ways. We assume that as we gain ability and increased success in our version of the craft that we will then be able to change anything we choose. Sometimes, this just isn’t the case.
But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. Sometimes, this is to help a friend in need or to help change the outcome more favorably for things and people we don’t even know. Sometimes it’s solely for ego (and this can still be enough). I argue that trying, even if just supporting or comforting, is worth the effort both for the self and for those involved – known and unknown.
There’s an entire world full of people that ARE powerless. Some are powerless because they are genuinely oppressed. Some are powerless because they haven’t woken up to magic and begun their journey with it. Some are powerless because of ignorance.
I’m largely speaking to those that are powerless because they choose to do nothing for fear of Failure. Or that don’t tackle hard problems because they have failed in the past. We don’t have to use emotion as fuel and this lowers the bar for the immediate “price” we pay for being passionate about a topic, but not wanting to risk residual or reoccurring trauma. Or risk failing and then questioning the very magic we bring to the table to begin with.
If we don’t do it, then who will? Is it too hard to brew a cup of tea and ask Epione to bring comfort to the war torn and their families? Can we not ask Hecate or Santa Muerte to lend her aid to turn back oppressors with a candle and a cup of clean water? Can we not then also ask them to guide our ritual to do the most good for this situation?
We are also powerless if we choose to not act.
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