“And thou shalt be the first of witches known; And thou shalt be the first of all I’ the world; And thou shalt teach the art of poisoning.”
—from Aradia, or The Gospel of the Witches, Charles Godfrey Leland (1899)
“Speak up, speak out, get in the way. Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.”
—Congressman John Lewis (1940-2020)
“The main difference between ICE and the Gestapo is that the Gestapo had better uniforms.”
—Storm Faerywolf, BlueSky post, June 8, 2025
We are living in perilous times. The ultranationalist policies of the current administration are being revealed more and more each day. As I write this, people are being rounded up in terrifying raids by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), under the guise of protecting our citizens from “violent criminals” and undocumented immigrants, often without due process or even evidence, in violation of the 5th and 14th amendments.
While certainly the US needs to address the issue of illegal immigration, the wholesale demonization of non-citizens is chilling, even if we weren’t to take into consideration how they are often eventually treated: deportation to countries and facilities with histories of human rights abuses in clear violation of both US and humanitarian law. And in some cases, even US citizens are not immune from this inhumane treatment.
Along with a profusion of spring azaleas, a sculpture of Diana, goddess of wild animals and the hunt, is the feature of the Diana Garden at the Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens in the River Oaks neighborhood of Houston, Texas [Carol M. Highsmith, public domain]
I’m not going to waste precious digital space trying to convince those who remain in denial of the verifiable fact that the USA is poised to become a fascist country. We might not be quite there as of yet, but with the current administration flouting the Constitution as well as legal rulings against him, we can now see a crystal-clear picture of how the mighty has fallen. Once a symbol for freedom and democracy (even if it never actually achieved that for everyone) now the truth is made plain: the United States is quickly eroding the guardrails of a liberal democracy and becoming an ultra-capitalist country. We are effectively ruled by the super-rich whose main goal is simply to get richer by exploiting and enslaving the poor.
It’s actually an old story. From time immemorial the rich and powerful have oppressed the poor and the defenseless, living fat off their exploits as the masses suffer. The founding principles of the United States were to be the remedy for such abuses. A government of the people, by the people, for the people; no kings to rule indiscriminately at the expense of the lower classes. So how did we get here?
It didn’t happen overnight. We have seen our rights slowly erode over time and like the proverbial frog in the ever-warming water, most of us haven’t realized anything was wrong, often until it’s too late.
The good news is it’s not too late. We still have the power to change things for the better. But we have to stand up and get loud. We have to say “no” to the powers that would threaten and divide us. We cannot accept the callous disregard for life and liberty and human dignity.
#wearearadia sigil [Image Courtesy Laura Tempest Zakroff]
I am calling on Witches and magical workers of all stripes to heed the call of an endangered democracy. It is part of the Witch’s heritage to side with the oppressed against the oppressors. We can look to folkloric figures like Aradia and draw inspiration from their stories to help embolden our actions and inform our activism. And our magic.
While there are many different areas that need attention, one that particularly troubles me is ICE. It has been made clear to me and many others (especially in recent days) that this organization is operating outside the bounds of humanity. They must be stopped. But maybe there is another problem area that calls to you. Addressing these many issues is no easy task and, like the circumstances that go us here, nothing will change overnight. We need to keep applying pressure. We need to be collectively relentless.
Perhaps you are not able to attend protests or engage in “good trouble.” Maybe you have kids or elderly family members who rely on you or perhaps your health prevents you from doing so. Whatever the reason, don’t despair. There are still things that we can do to help the cause. But we have to do something.
In fact, we have to do a lot of varied somethings. Some will need to march in the streets. Others will file lawsuits. Some may need to refuse to follow unlawful orders. Others will attend or speak at rallies, write letters to their representatives, to the editors of newspapers, or engage in civil disobedience. There is no one-right-path toward our goal of saving democracy. Many threads are needed to weave the tapestry. But all of them can be made better if they are empowered by the magic that we work to wield. Whatever it is that you choose to do, embolden it with the power of your Craft.
Remember Aradia who taught the poor and the oppressed how to strike back at their oppressors. You come from a long line of magical activists, and it is your birthright to do the same.
A Spell and Simple Prayer to Aradia to Empower Our Activism
Items needed:
A candle of any color
Some representation of your chosen activism, such as a letter you have written, or a protest sign, or a photo/drawing of a person or company logo that you wish to target.
Ground, center, and align using whatever methods you are comfortable with. (You can also check out my podcast Witch Power Daily for guided instructions on how to do this.)
Light the candle. Say:
Aradia! First witch and teacher!
You who came to earth to empower the powerless!
I am a witch, and I ask this of you:
Hear my prayer!
Let my actions be potent
Let them cause ripples that turn into waves
And let the waves wash over the land,
washing it clean.
In the name of freedom.
IO EVOHE!
Blessed be.
Snuff the candle and keep it ready for the next time you are engaging in activism. Then do the thing. Magic works best when it emboldens our real-world actions. Witchcraft (and political activism) are not spectator sports.
However you may decide to direct your actions, may they be effective, healthy, wise, and potent as hell. And remember, we are all in this together. We will get through this.
Blessed be.
Resources
Check out these books and other resources on the subject of using magic for political actions. Each has different perspectives and may help to inspire you in our own work. But, as always, use your own intuition and trust your judgment.
BOOKS:
- Witchcraft Activism: A Toolkit for Magical Resistance (Includes Spells for Social Justice, Civil Rights, the Environment, and More)
by David Salisbury
https://amzn.to/4dPZKhA - Magic for the Resistance: Rituals & Spells for Change (Revised and Expanded edition)
by Michael Hughes
https://amzn.to/3ZlC0Mr - Revolutionary Witchcraft: A Guide to Magical Activism
by Sarah Lyons
https://amzn.to/4jDc1Y9 - The New Aradia: A Witch’s Handbook to Magical Resistance
Edited by Laura Tempest Zakroff
https://amzn.to/45xS3uz
PODCASTS:
- Justice and the Craft: Subtle Activism and Magic
https://www.creationspaths.com/p/justice-and-the-craft-subtle-activism-1d6 - Embracing Action: Magic and Activism
https://www.embracingenchantment.com/magic-and-activistm/
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