Do The Work That’s In Front Of You Now

I’m back from vacation.

I needed to get away from work, from writing, and from the non-stop barrage of bad news. I wanted to visit some “bucket list” places. I wanted to see some things we don’t have on this side of the Atlantic: things like castles, cathedrals, and ancient Pagan temples.

And I did.

This was a vacation, not a pilgrimage. As good as this trip was, it can’t compare to experiencing the Temple of Artemis in 2012, my first trip to Ireland and Wales in 2014, or visiting Rathcroghan (the cave of the Morrigan) in 2018.

That doesn’t mean there wasn’t a spiritual component to it.

For one thing, I maintained my daily, weekly, and monthly spiritual practices. There were some accommodations – as is appropriate for vacations and other travels – but I’ve been doing daily prayers for so long I can’t not do them. I introduced myself to the spirits of the places I visited. And there was a strong spiritual element to my visit to Olympia, the site of the ancient Olympic games.

Mainly, though, this was a chance to take a break and get some mental and spiritual rest. I had hoped the break would also provide some inspiration, or at least some clarification about my direction for days ahead. And perhaps, some guidance as to how to deal with “all this” that’s going on.

Under the full moon in a faraway land

Instead, as I stood outside under the full moon on one of the last nights of the trip, I heard loudly and clearly:

“It’s time to get back to work.”

I’ll admit that was a little disappointing to hear. Not surprising, but disappointing. Things are hard right now. They’re hard for me and they’re harder for many others. I was hoping – though to be honest, not really expecting – to hear some new strategy, some new direction, some new project that would make things better for me and for the world at large.

No.

I listened further, meditated, contemplated. The message was clear (interpreting these things gets easier with regular practice over time). It wasn’t talking about my paying job, or blogging, or even my local Pagan work.

This was about building the kind of life I want. It’s about living the way I want to live and the way I’m called to live and not letting anyone keep me from doing it, and in the process showing other people they can do the same thing, even if what they want isn’t the same thing as what I want.

The environment in which we work

Because the core problem in this country is a spiritual and cultural problem, especially the problem of certain people assuming their way is the One True Way. I can’t force them to vote the way I want them to vote. All I can do is show them that not everybody agrees with them, and show those who want something different that another way is possible.

To be clear: none of us are absolved from being engaged citizens. We still have to vote in every election, express our opinions to our elected representatives, and contribute to both political and relief causes as we’re able. Democracy only works when good people participate, and we’re here because too many people haven’t bothered to participate, or mistakenly believe that not participating will somehow make things better.

At the same time, we help no one and we harm ourselves when we obsess over things we cannot control. Do your civic duty as best you can, and then live your life your way.

The work in front of me now

So, what is the work in front of me?

I have a UU Sunday Service to lead in June and I need to start working on it. I’m in awe of ministers who start writing their sermons on Thursdays or Fridays or even Saturdays, but I’m not capable of doing that.

I have a presentation and a ritual to prepare for Mystic South. I have help with the ritual and I need to get together with the other leaders to make sure we’re all on the same page (it’s going to be awesome – you should be there if you can).

I have another new presentation to get ready for the Harvest Gathering in Connecticut in August.

I need to work on the next UTAO online class, coming in the Fall. This one is going to be deep, and I need to get most of it prepared well ahead of time.

I know what the class after that is going to be, and I need to start turning my concept into an outline. Look for it early next year.

I didn’t just claim the title of witch last November. I put myself on a path to embrace the mythology of the witch and to do the work of a witch. As I write this I’m 30 weeks into a long-term magical working to accomplish that. It’s going very well, and I need to continue it until it’s complete, whenever that is.

I have some tangible work to get ready to move when I’m finally able to move. That date isn’t set and it isn’t close, but it’s a lot closer than it was when decided I have to get out of Texas.

And even though I’m not on vacation anymore, I need to remember to enjoy life whenever and however I can. Watching old horror movies is better than doomscrolling, and reading good books is better than watching old movies (not that there’s anything wrong with watching old movies). I’m a natural introvert – I need to make sure I connect with the people I can actually see and hear and touch.

A short term plan toward a long term direction

This is the plan for the next nine months or so – till the end of the calendar year, more or less. None of this will radically change my life right away. None of it will change the direction I’m headed.

What it will do is to move me further down my chosen path.

And perhaps more importantly, doing the work that’s in front of me will keep me from constantly reacting to all the bad stuff that’s going on in the wider world. One of the things I learned while traveling that it’s possible to keep up with what’s going on with a few minutes of online time in the morning and a few minutes in the evening.

Stay informed. Be an engaged citizen. Don’t obsess.

Live my life my way.

What work is in front of you now?

This is one of those posts that could have been in my private journal. Parts of it are. Other thoughts along these lines remain private. I’m sharing this because I believe the message I heard is relevant for many of you:

Do the work that’s in front of you now.

I can’t see a way out of “all this.” But I’m firmly convinced there is a way out – a way through.

It won’t come from one of the Gods dropping something big and dramatic on you.

It won’t come from some metaphorical lottery spell, much less from a literal lottery spell.

It won’t come from a political savior in 2028… and in any case, 2028 is a long ways away.

It will come from doing the work in front of you now. The daily spiritual practice. The monthly magical workings. The seasonal celebrations. The mundane work to improve your life and your living conditions.

It will come from keeping your eyes on what you want – what you really want, not what you’ve been told you’re supposed to want, what you’ve been told you deserve, or what you’ve been told you’re capable of achieving.

That’s for you to decide, not anyone else.

Choose your path. If you’ve done that, recommit yourself to the path you’ve already chosen.

And then do the work that’s in front of you now.