Finding Eros

in times of turmoil

Our existence is demanding an immense amount of us at this time; we are tasked with an immense amount of attention to be given in multiple places, the need for so much presence, for deep wells of resilience, and of course the toxic pull to productivity. There are so many demands on us as beings that we can forget to tend to our basic needs; hydration, nourishment, love and enchantment. When our systems are overtaxed by our environment and our culture, we tend to lose sight of what it means to be a human being. When totally overwhelmed, my sense of what I need most in the immediate moment seems to get hazy and elusive... During these moments of immense grief and overwhelm I find the need to ground back into the sensual world to get my bearings. 

What I’m sharing here is a way to reframe how we are showing up in this world-on-fire – not a way of escaping the trouble. I firmly believe that we must stick with the difficulty in order to understand the composition of the poison we have all been injusting, to discover the antidote and dose up. There is no right way to live through and witness multiple genocides unfolding. There is ample room to speak out against injustice and come together to cultivate healing, and dream up new worlds. We must be resourced to do this generative work. My overarching spell at this time is for a liberated Palestine and a peaceful co-existence of all people everywhere. We sip from Eros’ cup so that we are resourced enough for the fight, and so that we are rooted in what we are fighting for: life! 

Some hear the word Eros and think of a greek god, cupid-esque and wielding a quiver of arrows - which is part of its story. Eros is also a type of archetypal love coined by Plato, that refers to a fundamental creative impulse of a sensual nature. Eros is the spark of inspiration, the feeling of warm rain on Summer skin, the scent of jasmine, the taste of an orange, juice running down your chin. Eros is central to a life well lived, a life full of moments of creativity, sensual input and output, and enjoyment that feels unconditional. 

Beyond these basic sensual rites, Eros reminds us that the sensual nature of existence is what makes it worth living, that the sensuality of life itself is what makes it worth protecting. Eros inspires us to feel well, pleasured, and ecstatic, and it also emboldens us to ensure that all people have the fundamental right to feel simple, complex, and world-building pleasures. 

Magic and witchcraft is a spiritual practice that upholds the innate right of Eros for all. Our spells are laced with honey and sent through primal screams, portals of incense smoke, and the movement of our sacred bodies. Our invocations are intonated with vibration which shapeshifts material reality. Magic is a sensual practice, one that reminds us to be utterly present in the experience of existing, with all of its joy and all of its darkness. 

The sigil for Eros is included in the Wyrd Sisters oracle deck, for those times when we need reminding of our sensual natures. The sigil for Eros sits on my altar now, anchoring a spell jar I crafted at Beltane, coaxing sensual action in moments of heartbreak for the world. This Eros sigil is also a gentle reminder that our mundane acts are the building blocks of our daily lives, of our experience of reality. Might we make those mundane acts more pleasurable, more beautiful, more intentional? 

Sigil for Eros, from Wyrd Sisters oracle and grimoire.

From the Wyrd Sisters Grimoire: 

Use this sigil for infusing pleasure into your life. May all mundane acts become sensually pleasing. This sigil supports embodied sexuality and fully expressed desires. Tap into the channel of your true passion. 

Ruling planet: Venus

Leaning into Eros is not a substitution for caring deeply about the trauma of our current world. It is not an avenue for opting out of the struggle for justice and peace. Eros is medicine for us all at this time, as we struggle against our oppressors, and endure the work of dismantling white supremacy, the patriarchy, human supremacy, and gross inequity. We need to maintain a deep thriving understanding of what makes this world so precious, and what makes life worth living. Eros is our guide in this work. May Eros bless your activism, your work, your home, and your purpose with sensual richness.

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