BuddhistCatholicContemplativeEvangelicalGeneral ChristianHinduJewishLatter-day SaintMuslimNew VisionsProgressive Christian
Beliefs
- Buddhist
- Catholic
- Contemplative
- Evangelical
- General Christian
- Hindu
- Jewish
- Latter-day Saint
- More Voices
- Muslim
- New Visions
- Pagan
- Progressive Christian
Topics
- Religion News
- Food and Religion
- Sports and Religion
- Religious Art
- Religious Music and Entertainment
- Religious Events
- History and Religion
- Style and Religion
- Politics and Religion
- Women in Religion
- Recreation Outdoors and Religion
- Business Finance and Religion
- Careers Workplace and Religion
- Education and Religion
- Family Parenting and Religion
- Health Fitness and Religion
- Home and Religion
- Relationships and Religion
- Technology and Religion
- Travel and Religion
Columnists
- Buddhist Columnists
- Business Finance and Religion Columnists
- Careers Workplace and Religion Columnists
- Catholic Columnists
- Contemplative Columnists
- Education and Religion Columnists
- Evangelists Columnists
- Family Parenting and Religion Columnists
- General Christian Columnists
- Health Fitness and Religion Columnists
- Hindu Columnists
- History and Religion Columnists
- Home and Religion Columnists
- Jewish Columnists
- More Voices Columnists
- Latter Day Columnists
- Muslim Columnists
- New Visions Columnists
- Nonreligious Columnists
- Pagan Columnists
- Politics and Religion Columnists
- Progressive Columnists
- Recreation Outdoors and Religion Columnists
- Relationships and Religion Columnists
- Religion News Columnists
- Religious Art Columnists
- Religious Events Columnists
- Religious Music and Entertainment Columnists
- Sports and Religion Columnists
- Style and Religion Columnists
- Technology and Religion Columnists
- Travel and Religion Columnists
- Women in Religion Columnists
Resource Library
- 2026 Calendar
- Library of World Religions
- The 100 Most Holy Places on Earth
- Patheos Answers
- Podcasts
- Videos
- Faith Leaders Database
- Anglican Episcopalian
- Bahai
- Baptist
- Buddhism
- Christianity
- Confucianism
- Eastern Orthodoxy
- Hinduism
- Holiness and Pentecostal
- ISKCON
- Islam
- Judaism
- Lutheran
- Methodist
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- New Age
- Paganism
- Presbytarian and Reformed
- Protestantism
- Religion Behind the Scenes
- Roman Catholic
- Scientology
- Shia Islam
- Sikhism
- Sufism
- Sunni Islam
- Taoism
- Zen
- See all religions
Research Tools
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support
- Trending:
- Forgiveness
- |
- Marriage
- |
- Consciousness
- |
- Death Penalty
- |
- Election
- |
- Halloween
- Home
- Pagan
- History and Religion
- Facing Fear and Finding Resiliency: Wisdom of Ancestors
Facing Fear and Finding Resiliency: Wisdom of Ancestors
Last updated on: November 7, 2024 at 11:52 am by Esa
Facing Fear and Finding Resiliency: Wisdom of Ancestors 2024-11-07T11:52:58-06:00 Esa
Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.
From around September through December, Ancestors and spirits are always more heavily present. This year though, has been a whole other experience for many Death workers I know, myself included. They have been present in mass and in a much heavier physical context. Many of us have been chatting and speculating on the change but I think the answer is much more clear now, at least for me – “We have been here before.”
This week has rocked a lot of people because of our elections. For many people I know, we looked at the issues and choice from a humanistic/ people perspective – others looked at it from a money perspective – and some from a religious one. There are all kinds of different reasons why people voted the way they did, and I think John already did a good job talking about that.
In the end though, what I saw yesterday across social media was a lot of fear. People talking about deleting everything and going into hiding. Talking about just giving up and checking-out of society. Turning their backs on their beliefs and practices so they can blend into the “new norm” they see with the rise of the christian nationalist movement.

Fear
Fear is the control mechanism people have used to get others to bend and comply. It is used by the ruling class all the way down to the everyday person to manipulate and move people the way they want. Fear is how we give them control over us when we give in to it.
There is another side of fear though. We can use it to fuel the flame within ourselves and use it in defiance of those trying to instill it into us. Courage comes from fear – it is doing something, moving forward, in spite of the fear.
There is reason to fear. The words they actually spoke, the plan they actually wrote, and the followers who seem to truly believe these things in their heart and mind. The results have seemed to empower them, these views against people who are not like them, and the perceived right to “convert or get rid of them.”
Predator or Prey
The threat is real, and different groups of people feel it in different ways. I am not diminishing that at all, but we do have choices in how we face it and move through it.
If we allow Fear to dictate our actions then we are moving from a place of reaction. Fear clouds the mind. We can’t see everything clearly when we are in the mode of fear. We get fixated on one path forward and miss all the other options, many much better options that can produce more solid and safe results. It clouds our judgment of who is friend and foe, so we start looking at everyone and everything as a likely foe, further isolating ourselves and giving over more of our power. Fear is the mode of Prey, and why “rulers” use it as their primary weapon, to put your mind-set into one of Prey.
One of my Favorite Quotes on Fear

As I said before, there are many possibilities on the table but we do not know yet what they will actually do or how far they are willing to go. If we approach this from fear of all of it, putting our energy into trying to protect and fortify against all of it, you will spread yourself too thin and not be able to. We need to take the stance of Predator.
A Predator observes and watches first. It moves slowly, methodically, and with purpose. It knows all the possible paths forward but instead of acting on all of them, it waits to see the movement of of its prey. Right now it is time to watch closely, listen, and observe. As they show their hand, we plan and move to counter it.
This is a time to be observant, to watch, and to be prepared with different plans based upon the actions they decide to take, but not waste your energy until you know which way they are going to move.
In the Light, In the Shadows
There are going to be some who move in the spotlight and some who move in the shadows.
Depending on what our situation is, will determine how we choose to move. Some people only have to worry about their own safety and may choose outright public moving. Others may have small children or people they are responsible for and so will move in shadows. Some may be at slight risk, while others may have a greater risk. There is no right or wrong way here, because we each have our own situations.
It is not a time to judge one another, it is a time to support each other. Each of us will be moving in our own ways and with our own abilities.
We Have Been Here Before
I spoke about Ancestors being heavily present this year and I think it is because of where we are right now. As they have said to me “We have been here before.”
All these situations and possibilities going on right now have happened before. Our Ancestors have lived through this before in a variety of ways. I believe they are so very present right now because of this reason. To help support and guide us through this Storm.
Many people who we may feel are “against us” may not be. Let’s be honest, Fear has been a 24/7 tool for a long time on media and social media platforms. Most of what is driving people’s movements and choices is fear. Fear is channeled into hate, and then hate turns into divides. Then we end up where we are right now – divided. Which is exactly where a ruling class wants their subjects. Because if they are too busy fighting each other, they are not paying attention to the real threats and moves of that ruling class.
There are no easy answers here. Our divisions feel much deeper than before. Seeing a “common ground” can feel impossible.
At the end of the day we are all human. We all have the same basic needs and desires. We just differ on what we feel the problems are and what the solutions need to be. If the threat of violence, destruction, and placing others into servitude wasn’t on the table, it wouldn’t feel so desperate right now. They are though, and we as humans have been here before. A cycle we keep repeating.
Government
There are a lot of issues in the way our Democratic Republic is set up. It may have been needed back when it was created, times and technology have changed, yet not the out-dated systems. Unfortunately, those changes have to be made by the same people who benefit from them.
We do not need an electoral college – let every vote count, every state count, so the politicians have to look at all our issues, instead of just pandering to a few.
End lobbying – It is just a way for those with money to buy votes, instead of the politicians doing the job of representing their actual constituents.
Make the pay of every congress person the median income of their state, and make them live within that during their term – I bet they start raising the wage and lowering cost of living then.
Age limits and term limits for all of them. I’m sorry, but an 80 year old has no clue of the struggles that a 20 year old has today. Things change, society changes, culture changes, technology changes, and needs change.
One Issue Bills – One issue, one bill, then vote on the issue. To take it even further, release that bill to public, let the public tell their representative their opinion on it (or vote) and then have the representative actually represent that view.
There are many other changes that could be made/ implemented but these are just some starting points. If we, as a country, as a people and from both sides of this divide, actually start heavily pushing these kinds of changes together, not only can we find some common ground to start healing but also hope for a better country on the whole.
In the End
Community is complicated. Diversity and living with diverse cultures, ideas, and different opinions can be challenging. We can allow that to take us to a place of war and division, as it does again and again, or can try to shift and alter this repeating cycle in new ways.
I do not have the answers. I do know though what I am doing. I am taking the stance of the predator. I am going to observe, watch, and move depending how they move. I am going to ensure my communities and my family are prepared for the possibilities in different ways that they need for them. I will move in shadow and in light.
Most of all though, I am going to focus on the only things I can control – My voice, My actions, My choices, My emotions, and My thoughts. I am choosing how I move through this storm and what Towers I create within it.
My Ancestors are gathered in mass, because we have been here before. A cycle that we as humans keep repeating.
Your Existence is the Resistance

Card from the Seasons of the Witch Imbolc Oracle deck
History and Religion
ancestors in time of political discord
ancestral wisdom in time of difficulty
About Esa
Esa is a Crane Practitioner, High Priestess in the Temple of the Crane, Mother of White in the Sisters of the Well, as well as a CCRN specializing in neurology, cardiology, and Death Doula work. Through her writing, published works, courses, and community connections she sets the stage for personal transformation and personal path development through effective frameworks, skills, and being a Guide for others. Her personal work and tradition is rooted in the pattern of Death and Rebirth, personal transformation, soul healing, and Death Emissary work. If you want to learn more, check out her website and work! You can read more about the author here.
Previous Post

October 23, 2024
Sorcerer or Witch? Exploring the Differences
Next Post

November 14, 2024 Walking With The Morrigan: Unlock Your Power Through Shadow
Recent Comments
"THOU SHALL have no other gods before me, is the short answer to why Jezebel ..."
"It's an enigma why everyone insists on the worship of a vengeful Canaanite storm deity ..."
"I've tended to refer to my "Spirit Household", but "Soul Coven" works also!"
Soul Coven? New Perspectives in Magical ..."
"it's an enigma why anyone would worship the gift but ignore the Gift Giver, worship ..."
Browse Our Archives
Select a Category about me Ancestors Astrology community Courses Crane Tradition Deity Divination holidays magical practice Reviews Spirit Walking - Seidr Spirituality Uncategorized
Select a Month July 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 October 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023
Follow Us!
TAKE THE
Religious Wisdom Quiz
Which book is known as the "Weeping Prophet's" book?
Select your answer to see how you score.
Lamentations Isaiah Ezekiel Jeremiah
Books by This Author Books by Esa's Valley
Related posts from Esa's Valley
Moving in a World Transformation Without Losing Ourselves
American Witch: How Diversity Shapes Modern Witchcraft
Pagan Unity In Action: What To Do
Your Existence is the Resistance - Reclaiming Power
TRENDING AT PATHEOS Pagan
A new article, written by Jeff Lindsay and Gale L. Pooley,...
Swimfan: Forgotten Aughts Pleasures
This is a recovery effort. In 2002, My Big Fat Greek Wedding...
Top Three Anti-Catholic Lies About Catholicism
This is my initial transcript for the video, "THE 3 WORST...
Pope Leo Celebrates Mass for Nurses & Docs...
I don't have any idea how he did it, but Pope Leo...
The Sermon on the Mount, Part I: Matthew...
The Sermon on the Mount, Part I (Matthew 4:12-5:12) St. Matthew moves...
What's up from Crossway: Reviewing some of their latest A few weeks...
view all Pagan blogs
What Are Your Thoughts?leave a comment
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support
- About Us
- 2026 Calendar
- Videos
- Podcasts
- Library of World Religions
- Faith In Media Tracker
- Advertise With Us
- Write for Us
- Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Do Not Sell My Data
- Contact Us
- Radiant Digital
- Manage Newsletter Subscriptions
- Unsubscribe From Notifications
- Sitemap
Copyright 2008-2026, Patheos. All rights reserved.
Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In












