This is the fourteenth issue of my free newsletter. Your feedback is most welcome!
Like hundreds of thousands of others, I traveled to Washington, D.C. to protest the war on Iraq. Let’s face it, we are already at war: 500,000 Iraqi children have died, due to 12 years of bombing and “sanctions.” In this newsletter, I’d like to share with you a few impressions.
Our little carload arrived a day early, so some of us took part in the “Pagan Cluster” activities organized by Starhawk and others. Starhawk is the author of The Spiral Dance, Truth or Dare, The Fifth Sacred Thing, and several other books, and is undoubtedly the most politically active witch in America. She has been on the front lines in Seattle, Quebec and Genoa to protest against economic globalization by the World Trade Organization, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund. These organizations have been systematically taking over the resources of less powerful nations, massively violating human rights, and eliminating environmental regulations in the name of “free trade.” I overheard Starhawk being interviewed by a reporter on Friday, and she drew a clear connection between the war on Iraq and the corporate drive for global dominance. The drive for acquisition of oil is the key, she said, despite all the talk of terrorism and “weapons of mass destruction.” Iraq has an estimated 112 billion barrels of crude oil, second only to Saudi Arabia. In these times we live in, world domination can only be achieved by control of the oil supply.
Led by Starhawk, a group of women took yarn and bright strips of fabric and wove “webs of peace” between and through the trees in the park just across the street from the White House, chanting, “Breath by breath, thread by thread, conjure justice, weave our web.” We were joined by some of the “Women in Pink” who have been holding a vigil in front of the White House since November, and a large group of high school kids who happened to be coming by on a tour. Someone had scuffed the snow aside to create a green labyrinth nearby, for meditative walking. Spirits were high despite the 20-degree cold. As we wound the multicolored yarn among the trees, Starhawk said, “Remember, you are infusing these webs with the power of your intentions for peace; but the full power of those intentions will not be released into the world until the webs are cut.” Of course, it was not long before the police came, snipped the yarn with scissors and removed it, but we smiled to know that the full power of the magic was being unleashed!
Later, a large group stood holding signs in silent vigil at a busy intersection; then as dusk fell, an energetic spiral dance lifted everyone’s spirits and got our blood moving again.
On Saturday morning, as a friend and I were waiting for the bus to go downtown, a young Nigerian man noticed our signs and buttons and said, “Oh, is the rally today? Let’s go!” and offered us a ride. He was from Nigeria and very excited to be part of the protest.
The last time I had been to Washington for a protest march was during the war in Vietnam. As always in large rallies and marches, it is impossible to estimate the size from within it. One is part of a huge sea of humanity. The creativity of the banners and posters was a delight. One of my favorites: “When did our oil get under their sand?” Another poster: “Iraqi blood: Regular, $1.79/gallon, High-Test $1.99/gallon.” An Uncle Sam-costumed figure strode along on stilts. Four rabbis marched together in their traditional garb. The Unitarian-Universalists and many other church groups were in evidence. A group of sassy young women had belted on large paper-mache “missiles” to their crotches, and danced and sang about how “ours are bigger than theirs.” The “Raging Grannies” were out in full force, wearing their old-lady outfits and singing their cleverly written satirical lyrics. A banner identified one group as “Veterans against the war in Iraq.” Indeed, it was heartening to see everyone from high-school kids to young mothers pushing strollers to gray-haired elders braving the cold to express their desires for peace. Marchers had traveled from as far away as Maine and Texas. The spontaneous camaraderie among the marchers was as warm as the day was cold.
According to the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), who organized the march, “The Bush administration has never intended the ‘inspections’ process to serve as anything but a trigger for war. That is why the Iraqi cooperation with the inspection process and disclosure has failed to produce even the slightest slowing in the preparations for war…Bush plans first use of nuclear weapons.”
Among the speakers, former Attorney General Ramsay Clark stood out with his call for impeachment of the President, citing all the ways Bush had violated the Constitution. I was sorry (though not surprised) that the newspapers made no mention of this highly convincing speech. Jessica Lange spoke out against war not just as an actress, but as a mother. Many speakers honored Martin Luther King, Jr., and his vision of justice and peace.
Coming back on one of six buses to Asheville, NC, each person had a chance to say who he or she was and why we had come. It was especially heartening to hear from the high school kids among us, for whom it was their first march on Washington. Afterwards, we watched videos. One was called “The Good War and Those Who Refused to Fight It,” a documentary of conscientious objectors who did heroic service during World War II, despite the scorn and contempt shown them by many of their countrymen. These young men proved they were no cowards: some of them volunteered for dangerous medical experiments, such as being given hepatitis, or voluntarily starving themselves for research; others went into the back wards of mental hospitals and began the mental health reform movement. Another video depicted the plight of Iraqi children today, many dying of entirely preventable and treatable diseases, due to lack of clean drinking water or even the most basic medical supplies.
Does it really make a difference to march, chant, or weave webs for peace? I don’t know for sure, but it certainly boosted my spirits to be in solidarity with close to half a million people expressing their desire for an end to war. The Bush administration looks a lot like Hitler’s Third Reich in its ruthless genocide and military push for world domination. But, it’s heartening to know that the resistance movement is growing on campuses and in trade unions throughout the country; indeed, a L.A. Times poll in mid-December found that 72% of Americans, including 60% of Republicans surveyed, believe that Bush has not provided enough justification for a war against Iraq.
Now, it’s back to the harder work of living peace, being peace in my daily life, with my partner and my community. “Becoming the change I wish to see in the world.” It’s facing the difficulty of day-to-day struggle with the deep issues that aren’t easily agreed upon: “How are we to sustain ourselves?” “How can we live lightly?” “How can we create a life that doesn’t rely on oil?”
IMBOLC
The great Wheel of the seasons is turning again. This Sunday, February 2, is the cross-quarter holiday known as “Imbolc,” which means “in the belly.” It refers to the pregnant Mother Earth, quietly gestating the seeds which are invisibly and mysteriously carrying on the life force. Thus it is known as “the stirring of the seeds,” as life begins to quicken once again, even though the earth may be covered with a mantle of winter snow. This is also the day when the ancient Celtic goddess Brigid is honored. She is the goddess of poetry, healing, and smithcraft; she is thought to assist as well at weddings and births. (The word “bride” comes from Brigid.) She is a triple fire goddess: the creative fire of the poet, the healing and nurturing hearth fire, and the blacksmith’s transformative fire. Another way in which she is triple is as maiden, matron and crone, three aspects of womanhood; however, on her holy day she is the radiant young maiden of early spring, clad in brilliant white like the snow, with a wreath of candles adorning her head. She is the embodiment of the return of the light, the lengthening daylight which brings forth green sprouts from the seeds. Traditionally, Brigid was honored with sacred bonfires that purify and cleanse; the faded greenery of the Yule season was ceremonially burned in those bonfires, and houses were swept and given a thorough spring cleaning.
Legend has it that she was the midwife of Christ. The Catholic church converted Imbolc to “Candlemas,” a day when candles were lit in homes and churches to honor Mary.
Take a few moments on Sunday to mark this day. Purify and cleanse your home, light a bonfire and burn up what you would release. Light a white or yellow beeswax candle in honor of the fire goddess, and plant the seeds of your powerful intentions for creativity and healing. Remember that even a small spark can rekindle your oldest and most neglected dreams.
And from Carlos Barrios, a Mayan shaman: “Light a white candle. Think a moment in peace. Then speak your intention to its flame, and send the light of it on to the leaders with power to make war or peace.”
