We’ve had an emotional couple of weeks in the American pagan community (and our country). Many are horrified, others despondent, and most of us are looking for ways to protect ourselves and those we love in the next few years. Can love and compassion offer us some of that protection?
One option is to turn to our spirituality, including our spiritual music.
A while back, I offered a post on social justice and protest music. The Red Album project for reproductive rights and its predecessor, the Green Album for environmental protection, are perfect examples of leveraging pagan music for the benefit of societal change. Protest music is also an excellent way to channel our rage at injustice.
These days, I’m reflecting on how I want to show up as an ally for people who are vulnerable to today’s acts of injustice. The rage of previous years is still there, but rage and public angst haven’t gotten us much of anywhere. In a world of increasing hate, I’m drawn to bringing more love and compassion to the conversation.
“When we talk about the meaning of allyship…, we’re referring to the actions, behaviors, and practices that [people] take to support, amplify, and advocate with others, most especially with individuals who don’t belong to the same social identities as themselves.” The Center for Creative Leadership
Tips for Allyship
Many wiser folks than I have addressed the subject of allyship. I really appreciate this article on allyship from Harvard Business Review and the book Better Allies by Karen Catlin. But let me boil it down to a few simple tips to get you started.
1. Self-assessment
In most workshops and essays on allyship, we start with taking a good, long look at our own power and privilege. We need to understand our own identities and what privileges they may afford us. Then we can humbly acknowledge those privileges and leverage them on behalf of others.
But another important assessment is taking stock of our internal reserves. Taking care of ourselves is of paramount importance. It can be nearly impossible to fight for the rights of others (or ourselves!) if we are exhausted or unwell. What is needed in this moment to have the strength to be there for others?
Remember to practice love and compassion for yourself!
2. Education
This is one of the first steps in Dr. Martin Luther King’s six steps to nonviolent social change and one that can be easy to skip. It involves learning all we can about the social issue/culture/action we care about so that we can act from a place of deep understanding. We can gain general knowledge by reading and taking classes. But individual interactions are just as important. Honest and authentic conversations with a wide variety of humans can help us understand how other people experience the world and how that might be the same or different from our own experience.
Those critical conversations should also happen with people who disagree with us or seem to be using their power in ways we find problematic. We are existing in a society more polarized, more ready to jump straight to an attack than we have seen in generations. Slowing down to truly listen to others is in itself an act of resistance.
3. Magick
We’re pagans! How could we forget the magick? There are so many ways to use our magick and ritual in social justice; it could be its own blog topic. [Leave a note in the comments if that’s something you’d be interested in seeing for a future post!]
There are many deities who can assist us in allyship: Hekate, the Morrigan, Inanna, Kali, Kuan Yin, Sedna. Create or participate in rituals for social justice. Access the magick that supports your personal power—be in through nature, spells, meditation/reflection, or song and chant (more on that below!)
4. Act in accord
And of course, we have to act. There are so many ways to act in integrity when we are faced with injustice. Others have addressed this in much better ways than I can. The important thing is to act. Do something to make the magick real.
Effective allyship takes many forms, including the role of the confidant. When someone is under attack—whether from microaggressions, political machinations, or just the grind of daily life—we need a safe place to go. We may need to be comforted. We may need to just feel seen.
Which brings me back to songs of love and compassion.
Music is magick: Songs of Love and Compassion
Music can support our walk of justice. Just the act of creating and performing music brings people together. Some songs and chants are particularly suited for expressing our love and compassion for our fellow humans.
Songs can affirm us: Song for Jude
I am who I am
And you never can change me
You can force me to hide
Make me swallow my pride
But I will always be who I am
“Song for Jude” written and performed by Tara Kiene
I wrote “Song for Jude” in 2017 to reclaim self-love for all people who don’t fit neatly into the roles society defines as “acceptable.” The song was inspired by my friend Jude, but it reflects an experience almost all of us have at one time or another. It claims our personhood and divinity and denies any attempts to take that away. That is the essence of what draws me to social justice–dismantling the individual, interpersonal, institutional and societal barriers that prevent people from living fully in their power.
Songs can comfort us: Hold Me, Hold Me
Hold me, hold me, never let me go
Hold me like the leaves at the ends of the branches
And when I die, let me fly, let me fly
Through the air like the leaves when they’re falling
Hold me, hold me, never let me go
Hold me like stars in the sky high above me
And when I die, let me fly, let me fly
Through the air like the stars when they’re falling
“Hold Me” by Izetta Smith recorded by Diana Earthmission on “Songs of Spirit”
Deb introduced this song in her post “Those Who Came Before.” The Crow Women love to sing this one, often as a memorial. It can also serve as a song of comfort, whether beseeching a deity or mortal support systems. It speaks to me of an enduring love, keeping us close in life and giving us peaceful transition beyond.
I come from the generation of mixed tapes (half the songs I had growing up were missing the first few seconds because they’d been taped off the radio). But streaming services like Spotify have made it even easier to create mixes (aka playlists) of music for all sorts of themes. Consider a playlist of the music that brings you comfort–pagan, popular, or otherwise. Then play it and sing along the next time the world is feeling too oppressive to face. Extra points if you share that playlist with us!
Here’s an “Inner Beauty Affirmation” playlist I created for myself when I need a little boost to feel better about myself. !!Note: Remember that musicians receive VERY little money when you play their songs on Spotify. Please support our pagan artists. I tend to purchase the CD or digital download of an album/track and use Spotify as an easy way to listen or organize.
Songs can connect us: The Roots of My Heart
The roots of my heart go deep underground
and entwine with the roots of your heart.
I will find you deep in my heart.
“The Roots of My Heart” written by Cynthia Crossen
Crow Women love this song so much! It reflects the closeness we feel as a sisterhood, connected and entwined at the very core of our being. The song and its intersecting melodies perfectly captures a sense of close connection and love for one another. Read more about this beautiful song in Marilyn’s post from an interview with Cynthia Crossen.
Circles of connection are critical in times of crisis and unrest. They may be Circles of Healing, circles of support, circles of accountability, book circles, knitting circles…etc. Finding connection is a powerful tool, and within a place of connection we can have those challenging, fierce conversations that promote learning and understanding.
Songs can promote belonging: You Have a Place Here
You have a place here in our heart
It will change and grow
You have a place here in our heart
You will change and grow
Yes, you have a place here, deep in our heart
You will depart someday, someway
And still you will have a place in our heart
“You Have a Place Here” music and lyrics by Alane Susan Brown
Alane wrote “You Have a Place Here” for the initiation of one of our Croeahe sisters. Humans are social beings; we long for belonging! An initiation is one way of demarcating belonging, but there are many less formal ways and less formal groups to which we belong. Belonging is the foundation of most DEI efforts (despite what some politicians and “anti-wokers” would have you believe.)
Belonging helps us to be fully human. It gives us permission to share our talents and express our life force. It enables cooperation, collaboration and the ability to work across difference. It emboldens our creativity and our problem-solving abilities. When people feel like they belong, they are able to be their best and do their best. -Susie Wise in Design for Belonging
And I feel incredibly fortunate to have this pagan musical space where I can truly belong. So, welcome; you have a place in our hearts, too!
What songs (pagan or otherwise) are you turning to in these trying times? What songs bring you comfort? I’d love to hear your picks in the comments.
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Thanks for covering this topic in such depth!