First, I acknowledge the parts of me that need practice in acceptance. I don’t very easily accept things. I resist. I try to control. And sometimes I want to change things that really can’t be changed.
AND in some cases, I think these parts that resist can be a strength, because I am very open to finding the ways in which I do have agency in situations.
I look for the ways that I can personally shift or alter my life to lead me toward a vision or intention.
We have to walk the razors edge of acceptance vs complacency or powerlessness. This is the wisdom the serenity prayer speaks of.
How do we discern what we truly cannot change, and then accept it? And how do we also discern that which we DO have the power to influence?
Many people give up or acquiesce to circumstances that actually are within their control to change. And when they do so with “that’s just the way it is,” it really triggers a button inside of me.
Think about how the world would be different if people throughout history had said, “that’s just the way it is.”
Slavery? “That’s just the way it is.”
Segregation? “That’s just the way it is.”
Lack of suffrage for various groups? “That’s just the way it is.”
Oppression of people all over the world? “That’s just the way it is.”
To remove the emotion from it, what if no one had thought to invent electricity? Or steam powered boats? Or cars? Or airplanes? Or a toaster?
(We can debate whether we want to return to a time without some of these, but you get the idea.)
What if those inventors never invented because they thought, “That’s just the way it is?”
We’d be living in a drastically different world.
Part of being a magickal person — whether you identify with witch, magician, wizard, scientist, artist, warrior, healer, or any other word — is exploring where we do have the ability to impact our reality.
And having the courage to do so.
We often have more power than we think we do. All change starts within ourselves.
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I would love to know your thoughts in the comments.
Stay tuned for more on this change beginning within ourselves…