Dear Rhuddlwm:

I had originally planned to write a more humorous e-mail to you for Mabon.  In light of what has happened, I have set that aside.  I've had many e-mails in the past few days.  Some have brought me joy, as I have learned that many Wiccan friends or ours in New York and
Washington, DC, like Phyllis Curott, Air Force Major Tony Gatlin, Tuan, Nymue, Patrick, David, Ron and Sucubus415 have survived.

Some have brought great sadness as Wiccans tell us of friends and family members that have been lost.  We've yet to hear from some.   Moriath, a Wiccan who was recently sworn in to the NYPD, has not been communicating with us Wiccan cops elsewhere in North America since the tragedy in New York, and we fear the worst.  Our hearts go out to all of the victims in this time of need.

Some members of our community are very angry right now.  This is natural and this is good: It hardens our resolve.  Let our anger motivate us, not blind us.  Let us get it right and hold the real perpetrators to account, rather than striking out blindly at convenient scapegoats.  Let's take great care and be sure we know who our real adversaries are.  I keep thinking of the Oklahoma City bombing when many originally thought that the Arabs were behind it.  Yes, there are people in some countries dancing in celebration in the streets right now.  Yet I must tell you that some of my fellow police officers are Arabs and they are weeping.  Let us not judge everyone by the thoughtless actions of a few.  The Wiccan police officers among us know that the criminal element is small part of our world, but one that has profound effects on
the majority.

Some members of our community are sending out healing energy.  This is good too, for many out there need it.  Yet soon the warriors among us will be called upon to send out destructive energy for the greater good.  We must be responsible warriors and strive for the balance between the two.  We Pagans, of all people, should be trying to fix the world, not trash it.  This is a great opportunity for the Wiccan community to demonstrate to the world by our actions that we are compassionate, supportive people and not the ogres that some zealots on the right make us out to be.  I'm encouraging Wiccans not to simply light candles and send out healing energy: Mundane acts like donating blood, volunteer work or organizing fund drives to support the survivors speak louder than words.  These are not insignificant acts: They add up to a greater good.   They are not less heroic for being small acts: The greatest heroism is that which is done when no
one is looking.

Peace must be our ultimate objective.  Yet we won't achieve it with a single air strike or the killing of a single person, even if he is a leader.  It is going to take a sustained effort to turn the mess in the world out there around.  We must all pull together.  We must change ways of thinking.  We must win hearts and minds.   The US leaders are right.  This is a war.  It's going to be painful.   It's going to take years.  We must be strong and set the example.

Phoenix McFarland and I will be attending a charity ball in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on 28 October: The Festival of the Huntress Moon. This will raise funds and collect food for survivors of the tragedies in New York as well as for Toys for Tots and the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.  For details please visit their web site at <http://www.huntressmoon.20m.com/> Llewellyn author Kristin Madden will also be there.  Phoenix and I will be at Esoterica in the French Quarter of New Orleans between 4 and 5:30 PM on 26 October.   We are encouraging people who can't make the event in Baton Rouge to drop donations off to us so that we can forward them two days later.

Llewellyn has just sent me the contracts for Full Contact Magick, which will be out next spring.

Bright Blessings

 
Kerr Cuhulain