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Samhain…already?

November 1, 2024

It’s Samhaintide in the Northern Hemisphere and the veil is thin. Time to activate my Ancestor altar, set a lovely table and share food and conversation with my Beloved Dead.

But it doesn’t yet feel like this time of year to me.

I’ve already asked my Ancestors to forgive my delay. I began my deeper connection during the Reclaiming Spiral Dance that I took part in by livestream a few days back (thank you dear Bay Area Witches for streaming our annual event).

It is climate-changed hot and dry in Northeast Turtle Island. Eighty-degree weather doesn’t help my internal clock turn on the Wheel of the Year to Samhain!

Despite the bright sun and warmth, the wind is up and most leaves are on the ground. Outside, I crunch through piles of brown leaves that cover everything. I can see through the woods to the distant cliffs and hills—this helps turn my Wheel and is a visual treat during the coming season.

Just like the climate and ecosystem, I feel off-balance. The political climate in the U.S. (and many other places) doesn’t help. I want to be on the other side of the upcoming election that’s in half a week. But also—huge unknown!

And so—this Working:

As a Solarpunk Witch, I picture and act for bright futures. I jump off The Tower, carrying the elixir of Hope, and pour it out with The Star.

The Tower card on left shows 2 figures falling from a tower that's been hit by lightning. The word Hope points to the Star card on the right that shows a person kneeling and pouring liquid from 2 pitchers onto land and into water. A giant star blazes yellow above.

Will you join me and carry the elixir of hope? Pour it out for the world!

Here, a nod to T. Thorn Coyle and Laura Tempest Zakroff for the yearlong Working they’ve offered to Invoke the Star. I find such synchronicity with my novel, The Working! Plus, it’s potent to be doing this work with a gaggle of Witches and pagans. (I highly recommend Thorn and Tempest’s books and art.)


Meanwhile, I’m excited for upcoming book events. My colleagues at the Center for Sustainable Futures are hosting an event where we’ll talk about The Working, solarpunk, and how I embedded climate and environmental activism within urban fantasy. It’s a hybrid event so you can join online if you’re not in NYC. See my Schedule tab for this and other upcoming events, including upcoming Witch conferences.

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