Living Magically: The Life of a Witch in the 21st Century

For three days before the Sept. 11th attacks, I had a debilitating headache.

It was so bad my usual magic remedies were not working.

The evening before, I felt extreme unexplainable terror.

I locked my doors and my windows. I bought my dog into the house to assist me in feeling safe. It didn't work. I got into the tub to perform a love spell but I was so afraid, I couldn't focus on my candle's flame. I didn't understand why I was so terrified.

The next morning, I awoke to my husband's voice telling me "America is under attack."

So how does a witch deal with this level of tragedy? We gather our loved ones around us, light candles and ask the Goddess to assist us in sending healing energy to all in need. We perform serenity spells in an attempt to keep us centered and grounded. We perform love spells to shine light on the darkness of spirit that it takes to kill so many innocent unsuspecting souls.

During the tragedy of Sept. 11th, many of us saw complete strangers extending their hands in friendship and support to one other. We saw the beauty, the compassion, the unselfish parts. It was one of the most moving moments of my life. In this time of complete disaster the best qualities of everyone emerged.

People were calling on their neighbours to see if they were okay. People even set up a support system for pets who were left alone because their owners were believed missing or dead. People left their towns and drove for hours to New York to assist in anyway that they could. Plumbers, electricians, doctors.....all moved into action to help strangers.

Religious boundaries vanished as we all became one.

As time goes on, I see people resuming their day-to-day activities. There is less talk of the devastation as we all try to reassemble our lives. There is one thing though, that I have noticed in all the people around me. I am truly amazed and warmed by this and I wanted to take this opportunity to share it with you.

I have noticed a change in people. There don't seem to be as many strangers around us. I notice we are considering other people's feelings and Iove also seen many of us prioritizing differently.

I want to say to all of you that I am very proud of everyone. I truly thought that people would just go back to the same old ways and that's not what I'm witnessing. Let's all take a moment to pat ourselves on the back for creating gifts for ourselves out of this tragedy.

There truly is a silver lining in all of this and I just hope it is a nice thick, soft, warm, cushy silver lining that lasts our lifetimes, and into the next.

Oh and by the way, if you haven't met your neighbours, now is as good a time as any to reach out and make first contact!

By Aleesha Stephenson