Supporting and Protecting Our Community

Samhain, a Celtic Cross Quarter day between the fall equinox and winter solstice, holds the promise of transformation. It was once a Celtic pagan festival when burial mounds were opened and guidance was sought from the Otherworld. As I approach this evening, I seek guidance from the tarot to understand how to rekindle my sense of purpose and contribute to my community's well-being.

For the past year, my focus has been on studying sorcery and successfully eliminating negativity from my life. However, recent events have left me feeling confused and overwhelmed. In the last days, I've resorted to excessive eating and extended periods of sleep to cope with these emotions. Despite my involvement in volunteer work, I find myself mourning the suffering and loss within my community, confused about what actions we should take as a community to save those in peril and to protect ourselves. My energy is depleted, leaving me questioning how I can effectively serve my community and discover activities that will help us all and keep me grounded.

In this reading, I address these five questions:

1. What ideas or energies from the past year should I release or let go of during Samhain so I can figure out what I need to do now?
2. How can I harness the energies of Samhain to renew my energy find a more active role in my community?
3. What role can I play in supporting my community during the coming year?
4. What strengths or resources do I possess that I can channel for the greater good?
5. What message or guidance does Samhain have for me regarding my community's future and my own?

1. Releasing the past: The Star
The Star card, a symbol of justified hope, depicts a naked woman, one foot in water and the other knee on land, ritually pouring two bowls of water—one onto the earth and one into a body of water. She's looking into the water instead of walking the earth. This image resonates with the magic I've been studying through much of the past year. Rather than focusing just on my situation, I must look around me take practical action to support my community.

2. Renewing energy: the Knight of Pentacles
This is the good guy card, the salt of the earth, who considers consequences and who is dependable and hardworking, not lazy as I have been the last few days. The card shows a elaborately armored knight astride a work horse. Before him is plowed but unplanted soil. He treats each ordinary task as a holy quest. A symbol of hard work and honor, this card suggests focusing on important issues and approaching related tasks as sacred.

3. Supporting the community: Seven of Cups
This card warns against getting lost in daydreams without taking concrete actions. The card shows a young woman day dreaming, her curly hair floating above her head like clouds of ideas where seven cups overflow with fantasy images. One of the cups is decorated with phases of the moon and a snake is periscoping out of it-- this represents the magic I've been learning during the past year. While I may have immersed myself in magical studies and have changed my life, I must bridge the gap between between self and community. This card encourages me to use creative visualization to identify and seize opportunities to support my community.

4. Channeling strength: King of Wands
This card shows a fiery man in a desert, dressed in orange and yellow, lifting his staff with one hand and beckoning with his other hand. He is standing and ready to take action, encouraging people to join him. A reptile is alert near his right foot, but the king's staff is above it and he could kill it in one blow if he chose to. A lion decorates the king's armor, suggesting he can fight and win. This card represents a powerful leader ready for action. Just as he stands prepared to motivate and empower others, this card prompts me to direct my energy and take tangible steps to help and empower my community.

5. Samhain guidance: Ace of Cups
All you need is love and then your cup will overflow with blessings. The card shows the sun rising behind a chalice overflowing with clear water. Purple mountains rise beyond a lake in which water lilies, symbols of enlightenment, grow. Water pours from the cup into the lake, reminiscent of the water flowing from one of the bowls in The Star card. Mermaids decorate the cup, suggesting a connection to the primal waters of creation. This card reminds me that love and compassion are the keys to abundant blessings. The Ace of Cups encourages me to open my heart and nurture relationships within my community.

In summary, this tarot reading offers a positive outlook for my community and tells me what I can do as our leaders make the significant decisions. It tells me to recognize my emotions, kindle my energy, and take practical actions to support those I can. The presence of mountains in the top three cards signifies attainable goals, while the absence of swords suggests a focus on caring for the emotional well-being of my friends and helping all of us take concrete steps forward. Samhain serves as an opportunity for growth even as we heal our wounds.

My Personal Shrine

At the heart of my personal shrine, Hestia, goddess of the hearth, holds everything together. I acquired this image from the back cover of my copy of a 1980s SageWoman Magazine. It represents my long and deep connection with her. When I stand before this image, I feel the comforting embrace of home.

To Hestia’s left, a small statue of Ganesha sits on a platform as a reminder of a significant moment on my spiritual journey and the hope for a second chance. Though I turned away from his call in devotion to my Jewish path, Ganesha, now silent, emanates a gentle benevolence. On Hestia’s right, a janut I call Lara (a nod to Sofia Samatar’s fantasy tale) embodies the protective power that has shielded my soul through life’s battering waves.

Holy Mother Leah, a figure deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, shares qualities with Esau, my favorite biblical figure. Her portrait reminds me of the importance of forging a meaningful life without relying on the love or approval of others.

The image of Hekate on the right side of my shrine changes often, as I have many images of her. The left side of my shrine contains a pillar-like statue of Artemis, reminiscent of Asherah, and a delicate glass vase, like the one Hekate sometimes holds in one hand. The Artemis statue as well as a large, red-eyed serpent brooch, representing Nehustan, were gifts from my friend, Kesam. Ceramic cats, symbols of grace and independence, playfully explore the space, adding a touch of whimsy to the shrine’s solemnity.

Before the first candle flame flickers before Hestia, I invoke her in modern Greek: Estía, i próti kai i televtaía, theá tis estías. Estía, yemáti evloyíes, theá pou me akoúei. “Hestia the first and last, goddess of the hearth. Hestia full of blessings, goddess who hears me.” 

Next, I light the candles before Ganesha and Lara, reciting words of recognition and gratitude: “Ganesha of the benevolent gaze” and “Lara, protector of my spirit.” Then I light two more candles for “Hekate, teacher of sorcery” and “Artemis-Asherah.”

Next to my shrine, the glossy black stove top is where I kindle Shabbos, yahrzeit, and Hanukkah lights. My kiddush cup stands there during Shabbat and incense burns there during the week. A magnificent hanukkiah, also a gift from Kesam, towers at the back of the stove; it is a reminder of tradition, and its enormous size means it dominates my whole studio apartment.

A smaller shrine rests on my desk, featuring the same image of Hestia. A carved wooden Tree of Life, with subdued colors, shows the traditional attribution of Hebrew letters. A photograph of a reddish-orange ceramic image of Hekate with two torches to guide Persephone from the underworld reminds me of Hekate’s long history. A necklace bearing Thor’s Hammer serves as a testament to the thunderstorms that have brought me messages of significance. The wall is covered with photographs of joyous moments with friends and nature, as well as a replica of an antique Shiviti.

I perform rituals before various trays set against the northern wall of my home. The tray becomes an altar, holding the tools and symbols necessary for ritual and spell-craft. Seated in front of this altar, I transport myself to Hekate’s astral temple where I can take purposeful action to shape my life.

Gorgon Spell in Time of War

Evry-áli, Sthenó, and Méðusa,
Daughters of Dread and Terror–
Flash your eyes to reveal hidden dangers.
Bare your boar's fangs to ward off harm.
Let your steely scales shield us from fear.
Io Heka Gorgo Apotrópai!

Evry-áli, Sthenó, and Méðusa,
Daughters of Dread and Terror–
Turn our fear to stone, guide our sight.
By Hekate's word, our enemies are yours.
Empower us to fight the battles we must.
Io Heka Gorgo Apotrópai!

Evry-áli, Sthenó, and Méðusa,
Daughters of Dread and Terror–
Protect our people, our children.
Strengthen our soldiers, return our families.
Help us defeat those who came to kill us.
Io Heka Gorgo Apotrópai!

"Don't Tread On Me"

Who was asleep at the switch?

The news is becoming increasingly distressing. It all began yesterday morning, during Shabbat and Simchat Torah.

According to an expert interviewed on i24, Hamas had a four-stage plan. First, the terrorist organization initiated rocket attacks to divert attention from their initial border incursion. Following this, a wave of terrorists kidnapped people, hijacked cars, and transported them to Gaza in order to motivate other groups. A second wave included two distinct groups: one tasked with killing or capturing Israeli civilians, and the other lying in wait until people believed it was safe again.

An attempted sea assault failed.

This surprise attack should not have been a surprise-- or even possible. Even more shocking was that the army didn't arrive for almost nine hours! People found themselves defenseless without guns, relying solely on bomb shelters. And while every home and building has a bomb shelter, not every bomb shelter can be securely locked.

In seven cities, fighting continues, 36 hours after the initial attack, with people still hiding in their bomb shelters. In other cities, tragic scenes are unfolding as the bodies of those slaughtered in their homes are found. Sometimes, even after soldiers believe an area is clear, sleeper groups emerge and start firing.

So far, 600 bodies have been discovered. On Shabbat, an outdoor festival turned into a nightmare, with many people shot and others kidnapped and taken to Gaza.

I haven't watched Hamas's videos, but reports suggest they are so horrifying that Arabs in other countries are condemning Hammas and uncharacteristically expressing support for Israel.

Israelis living near Gaza are being evacuated. In response to two rockets from Lebanon this morning, one citizens group is advising and organizing a preemptive evacuation of people living near the border with Lebanon. Israeli Arabs are not heeding Hamas's calls to join in the violence. Syria remains uninvolved. Eilat, although wedged between Egypt and Jordan is expected to remain peaceful (knock on wood).

Various Israeli spokespeople appear to believe that global support will continue. I predict it will not.

EDIT: Times of Israel article from 9 October, Hamas carried out years-long campaign to fool Israel before attack, source says

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