“Anger that sinks into despair is powerless to make a change. Anger that evolves into conviction is unstoppable" - Christiana Figueres

Samhain is the new year in the Druid and Pagan calendars. And I've chosen today as the day to share the outrage in the two part "Outrage! + Optimism" blog post. Why? Read on....

Acknowledge Earth Is Our Home

Samhain is known as a time when the veil is thin between our 3D world of matter and the world of the ancestors.

It's the time when Celts of the northern islands returned with the herds from the high lands to the pastures of the lowlands.

A time at the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter.

A shift from breathing out to letting go.

Hibernation and rest.

When despair can mean death.

And conviction to continue towards the rebirth is important.

What conviction will you nurture during this upcoming season?

What candles will you burn to help you find your way through the darkness?

Discover Your Earth Archetype

Exactly a year ago, I had just finished editing a work sample of my docuseries Climate of AWE.

It was filled with many lessons about turning live experiences into filmed reality.

And my sites were set on October 2024.

My goal to film the full 30 day experience.

The new moon rising on October 2nd would start the cycle.

And the return of the new moon on the evening between today and tomorrow would be the final showcase.

Yes, the evening when the veil is thinnest.

It felt like a sign.

An empowered way to magnetize all that I needed for the project.

Today I both grieve what didn't happen...

And hold a candle for what may be as I finish a grant that will kick start my ability to refocus on the series.

As I work on other projects that currently have more traction and momentum, I will let go of AWE until I learn about the grant in April.

The time of resurrection and spring buds.

Work Together in Community

Two friends have told me a similar story that perhaps you can relate with...

First up -- Tressa who I interviewed as a Weaver Earth Archetype on the Earthmates Podcast.

She talked about an experiment she did with her kids to not use plastic for a month.

Then at the end of it, they drove past a building under construction covered in plastic and wondered what was the point.

Then the Ops Manager of a premiere farmers market says that she does what she can (which is quite a lot considering her role supports HUNDREDS of small farmers and food producers connect with customers eager for their products).

Yet when she volunteered at a veterinary clinic and saw all the plastic she threw away every day, she felt helpless too.

The despair they both expressed is what got to me.

Yes.

We need change at a systemic level.

Everyday. All day.

Yet the power (the outrage) of the individual is what drives cultural power.

When you do the thing (make the call, reuse the container, plant a garden, chose sustainable clothes, etc)...

You create a community around it.

And a demand on the system to support your choices.

We are seeing that in real time with the electrification of vehicles and so much more.

Your outrage must be there to make the demand.

Over and over.

And where does the energy come to keep doing it?

Your relationship to nature.

Even during times of darkness, rest, and letting go.