Peacemaking

Pax Facienda

Peace comes from within. Do not rely upon others or outside influences for permission to be peaceful. Never make decisions when you are angry or experiencing any other intense emotion. Learn how to ground yourself. Forgiveness is something you do for yourself, not for the other person.

Some wish deeply for peace,

To find the middle way.

Some may seek reconciliation,

Just as night seeks day.

But others want peace

Only at their will to win.

Extremism binds them,

They see peace as a sin.

Peace truly comes from within us, and its waves ripple out from us. But all too often, we think we will achieve peace by conquering something external to us: Oh, if only I could get this done or that done, I would have peace, we tell ourselves. Or, if I could only convince this person or end that relationship, I would be at peace. I call this “doing the head miles,” fighting battles-with ourselves and with others-inside out own heads. It’s kind of like mental chewing gum! We chew and chew and chew things over, but get no nourishment for all that work!

Rather than doing those head miles, learn to ground and shield yourself. These are some of the most basic witchcraft skills, and together they give us a secure platform that helps keep us stable in difficult circumstances. From there, we can find peace-and it’s catching.

The Gospel of Aradia also takes us to nature to find peace. In fact, the night women were also referred to as “women of the outside” because they practiced in the open. Even science agrees that spending time in a natural setting promotes peace and wellbeing and yet, as modern people, we are rapidly losing our connection with the natural world. And we can find support for our personal peace by weaving the energies of the elements of earth, air, fire, and water into our magic.