In the Christian tradition, January 6th is known as the Feast of Epiphany, a celebration of the stargazers who offered their gifts to a child they believed would change the course of history.
It is a day of manifestation. Revelation.
During the 2021 Epiphany, a mob of angry Americans stormed the U.S. Capitol, egged on by the outgoing president to interrupt the peaceful transfer of power because he could not handle being a loser. They erected a gallows beside the reflecting pool, singing the “Star Spangled Banner” as they breached the building, roaming the halls of Congress armed with stun guns, baseball bats, and flagpoles. “Patriots.”
During the 2021 Epiphany, we stargazers were reminded once again – in the bright light of day – that voting has many forms of consequence.
A third of Americans now believe the lie that Trump was cheated out of a second term, and the Republican Party spent the last year installing loyal operatives as state and local election officials rather than facing the truth:
Politicians that advance the interests of rich white landowners lose elections because rich white landowners make up a dwindling slice of our multicultural democracy.
The Republican Party no longer does this work in the shadows because corruption has become normalized in America. And though we’ve been fighting – some of us for decades – against the darker impulses that brought us to this perilous moment, any collective slump towards disaffection, or tuning out the noise, or resigning ourselves in the face of a rigged, gerrymandered system is their victory.
During the 2022 Epiphany, we stargazers offer the gift below with the hopes that it helps your flame of self-government burn that much more brightly, renewing your clarity of vision, purpose.
For you, too, can change the course of history.
INGREDIENTS
This kindling spell is designed to help participants gently re-illuminate their spirits of democracy.
The experience takes under 10 minutes but involves revisiting memories of the attempted coup, so engage with caution and care.
For this spell, you will need…
A quiet place to reflect, preferably uninterrupted
A candle and means of lighting it
A small piece of paper and something to write with
A cell phone, turned face down and on airplane mode
THE SPELL
STEP 1: ESTABLISH JUSTICE
Take a moment to arrive. Here. Now.
Let your body settle wherever you are sitting, noticing what it feels like to be held.
Thank yourself for showing up today to do the difficult work of remembering.
Holding the unlit candle, take yourself back to the moment you heard that Biden had won the 2020 election.
What it felt like in your body to learn of his victory.
Think of what you did to make that particular outcome a reality.
With those memories at the surface, place the candle in front of you and light it.
STEP 2: INSURE DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY
Stare at the candle as it burns, noticing the flicker, the dance of wind and fire.
Now, let any memories of your experience from January 6, 2021 come to the surface.
Remember you are safe, held by the flame.
Be with yourself then, however you moved through that day, the feelings you felt, the images you witnessed.
The air moves even though we cannot see.
STEP 3: PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON DEFENSE
Cup your hands and place them on either side of the candle, about 6 inches away from the flame.
Slowly bring your hands toward each other until you can sense the heat on your palms.
Once you do, think about someone who made you feel warm during the dark of that day and the days after, when the outgoing president continued to deny his own defeat.
Who did you reach out to? A political ally, fellow activist, intimate friend?
Send some of that warmth you feel their way.
STEP 4: PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE
Place your hands face up in your lap.
Take a deep breath, in and out.
In and out.
In and out.
We have entered another election year, which gives us an opportunity to express ourselves as political beings.
Is there an issue close to your heart that you can give voice to with your words and actions?
A local, state, congressional or senate race that you want to lend some of your attention and focus toward?
Once you’ve settled on an area for your advocacy – even if it’s a prompt for further research – write it down on the paper.
STEP 5: SECURE THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY
Take your phone and compose a text message to the person you thought of in Step 3. A variation on:
“Reflecting on the insurrection and just wanted to say thank you for being there with me through all of the craziness these last few years. I’m thinking about getting involved with [INSERT WHAT YOU WROTE ON THE PAPER IN STEP 4] for the midterms, because I do not want to go back to what it was like before. Do you want to join me?”
Place your phone in front of the candle.
Look at the message, and then the flame.
Imagine what it will feel like to cast your vote, while we still can.
Pick up your phone and turn off Airplane Mode. Send the text.
Now stare into the flame, and repeat these words, three times:
“For ourselves and our posterity.”
“For ourselves and our posterity.”
“For ourselves and our posterity.”
Gently blow out or snuff the candle.
Take the piece of paper and place it somewhere where you’ll be reminded of your commitment.
Go back to Step 1 anytime you need your flame re-lit.
Spell by Mason Flink