Crow Moon: Witches, Fascism and the Wisdom of Crows
A Crow Moon reflection on witch hunts, rising authoritarianism, and why we must gather as crows sensing danger
At the time of writing the news from the USA is making me weep. I see militia on the street and a malignant narcissist installed in the white house. A man who is a convicted felon, a rapist and likely a child abuser, a man who seeks power for power’s sake and takes delight in the suffering of others. As the rule of law is undermined and democracy begins to collapse in the arguably the most powerful country in the world, the ripples are beginning to wash across the world, in the Middle East, Venezuela and onto our own shores in the UK.
The far right christian nationalist regime that has overtaken the white house, is beginning to divert funding to promote its ideology of hate across Europe, deliberately acting to undermine democracy and human rights. I am right to weep. A loose thread in the fabric of our modern life has been pulled and is unravelling at an alarming rate. The chill winter wind is getting in.
It is important to remember the lessons of history at times like these. The Witch Hunts were profoundly religious in origin, they weaponised faith and destroyed the fabric of society. They further established the Western capitalist model which continues to dominate women, the earth and the peoples of the global majority, something I’ll be discussing in a series of three talks that I’m giving in March and April.
It is important to acknowledge what is happening now: this domestic political crisis in the US is destabilizing the old world order, creating a global political crisis. It is important to take time to grieve. The world as we know it is falling apart and as this drama unfolds and new wars begin we need to let go of the old and honour our grief.
The Cailleach’s Birds Know How To Live Through Winter
I turn to my yoga practice when my stress levels are high and I can’t think. Moving my body gently allows the tears to fall. Currently, I practice alone in my sitting room, with a single candle lit in the darkness. As my body relaxes, and my grief flows, my mind stills and new thoughts and images arise. As the threads of the old world order unravel, it’s important to remember that we can weave something new – a new pattern, a new design. We can reject the politics of destruction and the ideologies of hate and create something wonderful, rooted in kindness and respect.
The first and second world wars swept away the old world order, rooted in class and European colonialism. In the UK what followed was a socialist mission bringing free health care, housing and workers rights. We found a social stability rooted in respect and care. The founding of the European Union was a deliberate act to prevent further wars in Europe and to prevent fascism rising again. Human Rights – our rights – were enshrined in law for the first time with the introduction of the European Convention on Human Rights.
It’s important to support each other in challenging times. To remember ourselves by seeing our values and ideals reflected in the faces of our friends. I’ve been working with the Goddess Beira, the Cailleach, for the duration of the Pockets of Love project. I have dedicated the project to her and her daughters, sons and children who were accused, tortured and killed during the Scottish Witch Hunts.
The Calleach is a Goddess of Corvids, and I’m blessed to have jackdaws, magpies, crows, rooks and ravens all visiting my garden. I love corvids, they’re intelligent, funny and a little bit dangerous. They thrive at the edge of things, between field and forest, between our urban world and the wild. The Cailleach’s birds know how to live through winter.
As we face the rising tide of fascism, it is important to remember that we cannot hold back the tide individually. Authoritarian movements thrive on isolating us, convincing us that we are powerless and alone in our grief. Instead we must gather like crows under threat, coming together and sharing our stories, our knowledge and our wisdom. We must begin to weave new communities to support each other.
We Can Weather This Chill Wind Together
If we are to live through the rising tide of authoritarianism and create something kinder than what has gone before, then this work must be sustained, not squeezed into stolen hours or carried alone. The Cailleach calls us to gather together in conscious resistance.
The First Gathering
Our first act of gathering will be a series of three talks in March and April. These are spaces to think together, to understand the historical roots of the Witch Hunts, to examine why patriarchal systems still rely on fear and scapegoating, and to remember those who were lost.
Thursday 19th March: Scotland & It’s Witch Hunts – an ecofeminist perspective
Thursday 2nd April: Why The Patriarchy Needs Witch Hunts
Thursday 16th April: Remembering Scotland’s Witches – The Pockets of Love Project
These talks form part of a fundraiser to support and sustain the Pockets of Love project — work dedicated to remembrance, repair and community weaving.
If you feel the winter wind beginning to bite… come and gather with us. We can ride out the storm together.
You can buy tickets on Eventbrite HERE
Pockets of Love is a slow, careful act of making — both memorial and community. If you feel called to join us, there are many ways to stand within the circle: by witnessing and sharing these words; by becoming a Pocket Maker; or by offering material support that allows the work to continue and flourish. All paths are welcome.
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