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Author:
Posted: Sep. 8, 2002
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Times Viewed: 32,767

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Question of the Week: 59 - 9/11/2001

911 America: Talking Through The Terror...

Talking Through The Terror... And helping each other cope with the tragedies that struck at the very heart of the United States. The Witches Voice has opened up this forum in order that Pagans may express their thoughts on the terrorist attacks that took place in NYC and DC on September 11th. As the full realization of what happened and the toll numbers begin to come in, Americans have many challenges ahead.
What are your thoughts on these incidents? How are you feeling? Feel free to post any magickal workings or other support gatherings planned in your area.
WebNote 9/16/2001: Since we launched this on 911 this forum as become laced with powerful inspiration and critical information, feel free to use the search functions on your left to better define the info you are looking for. Search for your area, famous Pagans, key words etc. Also check Wren's Nest News for the latest news related to our community.
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| Reponses: There are 969 responses posted to this question. |
Reverse Sort |
| I Wrote This Last Night And Posted It Today Because I Wasn't... | Sep 12th. at 10:33:00 am EDT |

| Duvessa (Alexandria, Virginia US) | Age: 25 - Email |

I wrote this last night and posted it today because I wasn't able to yesterday, so please excuse the confusion of the "yesterday" and "today" being thrown in together...Blessings....
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| I Spent Yesterday In A State Of Shock.helpless And Horrified I Watched... | Sep 12th. at 10:35:45 am EDT |

| cynthia (Toronto, Ontario CA) | Age: 30 |

I spent yesterday in a state of shock.Helpless and horrified I watched as the unthinkable unfolded in front of my eyes.All my thoughts and prayers go to everyone involved.The evil behind these actions is unimagineable to all sane people, and any punishment meted out should be resevered for only the maniac(s) who hide their insanity behind their religion, ideaology or whatever excuse they use to commit these acts. Already this morning I have heard the start of mistrust of Arab immigrants in my community and I am also sending my thoughts to my neighbours, We cannot hold an entire people responsible for this event. We need to do what we can for the victims, donate, volunteer send our thoughts and prayers. Then with rational measured actions the terrorists must be dealt with.
peace and blessings to all Cynthia
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| This Is The Work Of Some Sick Individuals.being In The Uk... | Sep 12th. at 10:38:10 am EDT |

| willow (Manchester uk, England UK) | Age: 18 |

This is the work of some sick individuals. being in the uk, it took me until today to realise how big this catasrophe is. death may be as sacred as life, but, in these corcumstances, being 10000 innocent people killed I cant find words to descride how I feel for the people involved, wether its anger, sadness, pity, i dont know. All I can tell is that Im crying for them. Dolphinmoon and me (willow) send love to the bereaved, peace to the deceased healing to the injured, along, Im sure with many others here in the uk, and eurpoe, and america
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| When I First Heard News Of The Attacks, I Was So Shocked... | Sep 12th. at 10:39:22 am EDT |

| Tannin Schwartzstein (Worcester, Massachusetts US) | Age: 28 - Email |

When I first heard news of the attacks, I was so shocked I began to weep. As soon as I could I got in touch with a friend in NYC (Brooklyn) to get news. He wrote:
Its insane, the whole place is a disaster. its worse than they are showing on tv.
I am ok, and as far as I know, all my family is ok.
Please, you and as many people as you can, give blood. thats whats needed. there just isnt enough. Even I am donating, and you know how afraid of needles I am.
If any folks here in the Greater Worcester area want to join me on a trip to a Red Cross blood drive, Please get in touch with me at my shop (Bones and Flowers). (508) 798-3330. I have a working vehicle and am willing to do pickups within the Greater Worcester area. If any other business owners want to contact me in the effort to get out the word, they can reach me here as well.
Thanks, and may the Gods lend us and our government wisdom and strength
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| My Only Though Has Been Why?i Could Barely Stand To Listen... | Sep 12th. at 10:41:02 am EDT |

| Airsucker (Walled Lake, Michigan US) | Age: 28 - Email |

My only though has been Why?
I could barely stand to listen to the more outspoken men in my cafe yesterday.
Now the news media is releasing the news that those involved were Arab. Is this responsible journalism? Until we can specifically say the government has identified and will go after those responsible, this will only incite anger and hatred towards the Arab community. I live and work in the suburbia of Metro Detroit. There are a lot of Arabs in the area, especially in Hantramck. I do not have a good feeling about this.
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| Yesterday, I Just Felt Sorrow, But Today I Am Angry. Not Angry... | Sep 12th. at 10:46:58 am EDT |

| Gwen (-, Florida US) | Age: 18 |

Yesterday, I just felt sorrow, but today I am angry. Not angry as many are because this happened, but angry that those innocent people died and someone as horrible as me is still living.
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| First, Excuse My Poor Words In English Language.i Just Want To... | Sep 12th. at 10:49:07 am EDT |

| Amorgen (Paris, France) | Age: 36 |

First, excuse my poor words in english language. I just want to give all my compassion for american people. It was the afternoon in France when we recieve this horrible news, I have just burn a candle on my altar and pray for those who left us in such a terrible way, words are so poors...I just don't know what I can really do...I'm so sad.
Puisse la DŽesse accueillir ceux qui la cherchent, Blessed be, Amorgen
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| I Can Scarcely Begin To Post My Thoughts On What Happened. My... | Sep 12th. at 11:10:10 am EDT |

| Drake BlackRaven (Queen's University Kingston, Ontario CA) | Age: 19 - Email |

I can scarcely begin to post my thoughts on what happened. My jaw hung limply, and broken on the floor yesterday, as radio and television tolled out grim news. As I sit between classes, the university campus sits in a state of virtual surealism. The devestation that most of us witnessed yesterday is unfathomable. I can barely believe what has happened. My eyes become very grim, and I blink back tears when I hear those who scream for vengangce. I stood stunned, watching helplessly the repetition of the towers being consumed in a grey veil of dust and debris. Shocked helpless silence. I offer my most sincere heartfelt sympathy, for whatever good it will do. Gods help us all. I must trust that Mother Earth will care for the dead, for they are beyond our reach now... We can only hope to help the survivors. I urge anyone who reads this to not allow vengance to make you blind. It is human to desire revenge, and a most human need for punishment surely pervails. But I must endeavor to rise above my baser nature. In pursuit of these people I beg of everyone that we do not allow ourselves to fall to their level. We will find them. But do not allow even a tragedy such as this to strip away who you are.
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| Dear Friends,about Two Weeks Ago, When I Was In Asheville, I... | Sep 12th. at 11:11:50 am EDT |

| Starhawk (San Francisco, California US) | Age: 0 |

Dear friends,
About two weeks ago, when I was in Asheville, I woke up from a nap with a sense that something truly unexpected and unforseeable might occur. I was thinking of it in terms of the action in Washington, and had a strong sense of whatever it was being positive in ways we couldn't imagine. I brought that vision into our ritual, and we had an amazing cone of power.
I now believe that today's attack was the unexpected event, but there is no way that I can call it positive. It has been a day of horror that can have no political or moral justification. I grieve with the friends and families of those who have lost their lives.
And I fear for the direction our country will take. Voices are already calling for war and vengeance. We're at a crossroads, and many of us who have been working hard for peace and justice could now face a whole new level of repression if this becomes an excuse to stifle legitimate dissent.
But I also believe that glimpse of possibility, and the strength of the energy we raised, and the cumulative energy we've been working around support for activism, are all with us. We can draw on those energies, and on the deep intelligence of the earth herself, on unexpected allies.
A number of people have called for magic tonight. I want to add my voice to that call, joining some suggestions made by Pamela, Culebra and Toni. We all have our own traditions and ways of working, but this is the visualization I intend to use:
Hecate sits on her tripod at the crossroads in the underworld. She holds aloft her torch to light the way for those souls who have died. We send our love and compassion to them, their friends, and family. Her light also illumines this situation, enables us to see it clearly, and reveals the truth. We look deeply at the crossroads, and feel the tide pushing us toward a road of more war, militarization, and repression. We hold open the possibility that there is another way. We pour out every drop of love, compassion and hope we can and stir it into her cauldron clockwise, stirring counterclockwise to release negative forces. We let the waters of her cauldron rise and create a great, flood current that can carry us down the road of hope.
Different suggestions as to timing have been made, but I'd like to consider the entire evening and next few days as a window.
Whatever our differences, this is a moment to unite.
Love, blessings and solidarity,
Starhawk http://www.starhawk.org
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| I Want To Send My Deepest Sympathy To All That Have Lost... | Sep 12th. at 11:13:26 am EDT |

| Cathy Webb (Allyn, Washington US) | Age: 26 |

I want to send my deepest sympathy to all that have lost someone due to this tragedy. I light a candle hoping to guide the souls past to find their way to the SummerLand and also hope that the light of the candle guides the ones that are still alive out from all the rubble.
Blessed Be and may the Goddess and God hold you and care for you in your time of need
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| Tonight (wednesday, September 12th) At 7pm, Pagans And Friends From Ourarea... | Sep 12th. at 11:16:58 am EDT |

| Tempest (Providence, Rhode Island US) | Age: 23 - Email |

Tonight (Wednesday, September 12th) at 7pm, Pagans and friends from our area are welcome to gather along the Providence canal waterfront at the Roger Williams Statue (South Main Street and College Street, next to the Providence-Washington building/Hemingways) for a Strength, Healing, and Remembering service in honor of those who lost their lives yesterday, as well as their family and loved ones.
Please bring a votive candle in a proper holder to carry with you, and anything else you would like to place down at a temporary altar of rememberance. If you would like to play some music or drum to help raise healing energy, please feel free to do so.
Directions: >From I-195 West, take exit 2. The gathering place will be on your left, just before the light. >From all other directions: take I-195 exit 1, Downtown. If you make a right at the first light, you can take any of the streets on your left, and make a left onto South Main, and the gathering place is on your left.
blessings, Tempest
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| I'm Still Struggling To Deal With My Concerns About What Happens Now... | Sep 12th. at 11:24:19 am EDT |

| Jenett (St. Paul, Minnesota US) | Age: 25 - Email |

I'm still struggling to deal with my concerns about what happens now. I've seen so many anguished cries for retaliation, and of anger. And while I can understand where that comes from, they honestly terrify me far more than the original terrorist act.
I am all for punishing those directly involved in this, whether those responsible, those who provided funding, or those who sheltered them. (If, as the news is currently saying, may well be the case). But I don't want to see this taken as an excuse to harm *more* innocent civilians, or taken out on those who happen to be of the same ethnic background as those who may or may not be responsible. We don't know enough yet to be able to make those judgements. What price retaliation, if we lose ourselves and our compassion in the doing?
I hope that everyone who can does something practical - donate blood or money to the Red Cross or through other organizations working to help the victims. I hope that clear heads prevail, and that action is taken only against those responsible, not innocent civilians who were unfortunate to be born in the wrong place at the wrong time, and unable to leave. And most of all, I hope that those who were injured heal, and that those who have lost loved ones receive the love and support of those who care for them, and that we as a country and as a Pagan community (such as it is) can work towards continued compassion and care and mature and considered response, not act out of animal instinct and fear. It is religion that helps to bring us above those baser instincts. I hope that the *helpful* practice of religion - whatever religion - does so now.
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