Worry

These are worrisome times. 

There are numerous worldwide issues causing anxiety. Wars in Europe and the Middle East. Concern about international conflicts spinning out of control. The effects of climate change. The renewed political power of bigotry and the threat of authoritarianism.

It’s not limited to just global concerns but also domestic. Low unemployment numbers mask the problem that many people need more than one job to make ends meet. The cost of rent is skyrocketing, while it’s more difficult to acquire a mortgage due to interest rates. Inflation has dropped, but the cost of key products, such as food, remains high. There’s a sense that crime has become dramatically worse. There’s also concern about the impact of advances in AI and robotics on jobs in the near term and existential dread in the future.

 

For some, anxiety rises to the point that it interferes with the quality of life. It may even lead to thoughts of self-harm or suicide. If this is true for you or someone you know, there is help. Consider talking with your primary physician. In the US, the National Suicide Hotline is 988. Also, some organizations may be able to help. I recommend the following source for hotlines.

However, for many, anxiety doesn’t rise to the point of the need for professional help. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t address it. There are a variety of steps one can take. Healthline.com has several recommendations: getting more physical activity, eating a balanced diet, minimizing phone use and screen time, and more. 

As a Dark Pagan, I recommend additional steps.

There are several schools of thought in Western philosophy that can help. Stoicism is a powerful tool for handling stress and anxiety. I highly recommend the book Stoicism For Inner Peace: Ancient Philosophy for Everyday Life by Einzelganger. I also find the school of Epicurus to be very helpful. Unfortunately, most of the stuff written about his views are rather academic. I recommend the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy website for a good summary. 

If Eastern philosophy is more your speed, I recommend Taoism. Taoism teaches us to live within the flow of life. It embodies its philosophy through practices such as Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and acupuncture. There are a lot of books and resources about Taoism. For the purpose of this topic, I recommend The Tao of Inner Peace by Diane Dreher.

Finally, there’s magick. This includes theurgy (or religious magic), such as prayers and offerings to gods, spirits, and ancestors. There’s also thaumaturgy, which includes spell casting, divination, and more.  

Self-love is one of the Nine Dark Pagan principles. Take care of yourself.

Hanging Together

I recently joined an organization that I’ve known of for a while. I’ve long been impressed by its charitable work and advocacy. In addition, I knew their fundamental tenets fit well with Dark Paganism:

I One should strive to act with compassion and empathy toward all creatures in accordance with reason. 

II The struggle for justice is an ongoing and necessary pursuit that should prevail over laws and institutions.

III One’s body is inviolable, subject to one’s own will alone.

IV The freedoms of others should be respected, including the freedom to offend. To willfully and unjustly encroach upon the freedoms of another is to forgo one’s own.

V Beliefs should conform to one’s best scientific understanding of the world. One should take care never to distort scientific facts to fit one’s beliefs.

VI People are fallible. If one makes a mistake, one should do one’s best to rectify it and resolve any harm that might have been caused.

VII Every tenet is a guiding principle designed to inspire nobility in action and thought. The spirit of compassion, wisdom, and justice should always prevail over the written or spoken word.

You might be surprised to learn that some hate this organization despite its fundamental tenets. Some have gone so far as to try to firebomb their headquarters. Maybe it’s something to do with their name:

The Satanic Temple. 

I’m sure their name doesn’t help with their lack of popularity. It’s not called The Virtue Temple, so their agenda isn’t readily apparent. Plus, the word “Satan” conjures up an image of evil in the minds of many people, especially Christian Fundamentalists.

 

However, I suspect that the hatred The Satanic Temple (TST) faces has less to do with their name and more with the fact that they walk the walk when it comes to their stated values. Along with collecting goods for those in need, they actively work on hot-button issues such as reproductive rights, separation of church and state, and religious liberty. Not only do they actively live their values, but they’re also very vocal and have successfully defended them in the courts. 

In these times when our civil liberties are at risk, I decided I needed to step up and join TST in solidarity. To quote Benjamin Franklin, “We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.”

Visit The Satanic Temple website for more information.