by Liz Watkins with contributions from The Wild Hunt Team
Editorial Note: To avoid any unintentional trauma, we are declining to post images of the impact of Hurricane Helene.
ASHEVILLE, North Carolina – Few can now escape the profound awareness of Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact on Florida, Georgia, and Western North Carolina. The storm tore through these regions with unrelenting winds, toppling ancient trees, and driving surging waters that swallowed entire neighborhoods. After the immediate trauma of the hurricane, communities now face the daunting reality of cleanup and recovery.
Asheville and its surrounding areas are no exception. Beloved by locals and tourists alike, parts of the town have been transformed beyond recognition, with everyday life becoming a struggle. Power is scarce, and running water even scarcer, leaving residents dependent on emergency relief agencies and each other to meet basic needs most of us take for granted. Homes and businesses, struck by fallen trees or inundated with floodwaters, now hold dangerous, toxic sludge that owners must navigate as they search for anything salvageable. FEMA teams have been scouring the city with cadaver dogs, hoping to locate missing individuals amid the wreckage.
Yet, alongside the storm’s destruction, a powerful sense of resilience has emerged. Communities have rallied, driven by a profound commitment to supporting one another through this crisis.
In these trying times, the spirit of Asheville and its surrounding areas shines through in the countless acts of kindness and community support. The road to recovery may be long, but it is paved with compassion, solidarity, and a shared determination to rebuild together.
By September 25th, the Blue Ridge Pagan Fest Council message group, initially created to plan festival events, had transformed into a hub for relief coordination. Individuals who lost homes and businesses turned to this group for help, finding willing volunteers ready to wade into the mud to salvage cherished possessions. The group has also mobilized to distribute water, food, and other essentials to those in desperate need. Since the disaster, their message board has been filled with discussions about logistics and heartfelt expressions of sympathy, grief, and gratitude.
The Mother Grove Goddess Temple, a longstanding pillar of support for the vulnerable, has expanded its outreach in response to the crisis. Known for its work with local shelters, the Temple has become “resource central,” as Senior Priestess Byron Ballard describes it, serving as a drop-off point for donations arriving from Pagan communities far and wide. Recognizing the importance of spiritual solace, the small chapel now includes a quiet altar space, offering chairs where people can sit to grieve or give thanks. This sacred space has become a beacon of comfort amid the chaos, and the Temple welcomes ongoing support through their website.
Calamus and Honey, a new store in West Asheville, had just opened its doors a few weeks before the hurricane hit. Fortunately, the shop was spared, and its owners have turned the space into a haven where locals can charge their phones, enjoy a warm cup of tea, and take a moment to rest. They’ve also been baking bread and distributing other much-needed supplies to their neighbors.
Asheville, North Carolina is home to a diverse Pagan and Pagan-adjacent community, supported by a variety of local businesses. Among those affected by the flooding are two shops in Marshall, NC—a charming town just north of Asheville. Much of Marshall was nearly washed away in the floods.
Mortellus, a high priestex of the Coven of Leaves in Rutherford County, has been sharing regular updates on Facebook about the challenges faced by the community and the work their coven has been doing to help. From unloading supplies and working in soup kitchens to offering hospice support and distributing essential items, Mortellus and the Coven of Leaves have been a lifeline for those in need. Despite all the hardship, they’ve also been baking bread to share. Donations to support their efforts can be sent via PayPal to acrowandthedead@gmail.com.
Pars Fortuna, a tattoo studio where folk Witch author Rebecca Beyer practices, was also heavily damaged. Beyer, who has written Wild Witchcraft and Mountain Magic, shared on social media that her entire library of research books was lost. Nearby, Of Wand and Earth, an esoteric shop on Marshall’s main strip was hit hard when the French Broad River overflowed.
Both businesses have started GoFundMe campaigns Pars Fortuna and Wand & Earth.
Reverend Byron Ballard of the Mother Grove Goddess Temple has observed the widespread support from the Pagan community, though she expressed disappointment that more prominent figures in the Pagan world—aside from Christopher Penczak—have not publicly acknowledged the disaster. Ballard also emphasized the importance of transitioning to long-term restoration, especially as news coverage wanes.
Many community members have expressed how emotionally difficult the FEMA assessments have been, as going through the checklist forces them to relive the disaster. Mortellus shared on Facebook, “My children lost everything—their bedroom, the family also lost tools, construction supplies, and many precious heirlooms. The water damage is… stunning. FEMA clocked the water level at 10 inches.”
Star Bustamante, a writer for The Wild Hunt, posted that in her neighborhood there is still no power or water, and cell service is still unreliable. So, life is exhausting with chargers, batteries, and portable lighting. Everything takes longer from laundry to taking out the trash.
The community is grappling with shock and grief, but even in these dark times, many Pagans are still reaching out with compassion and adding their funds, strength, prayers, and magick to support the community’s resilience.
As Rev. Ballard poignantly remarked, “It’s the making of us. These are the times we were made for.” Through their acts of support and kindness, the Pagan community is showing that it will emerge stronger than ever.
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