At the Equinox, we were reminded of the balance of all things, of the careful and holy interplay of Order and Chaos, and of how both are necessary to sustain life. The last few months have been terrifying, with floods in Australia, earthquakes in New Zealand, and both earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan.

We Pagans know that we do not hold dominion over the Earth, and that we are but a part of the great dance of existence. We know that the Kindreds are not all-powerful, and since they, too, are a part of the Cosmos, sometimes even They cannot change events.

When disaster strikes, it means that the Earth is finding Her own balance, and it is our job to feel compassion, lend aid, and support our fellow creatures that they may survive this terrible time and regain wholeness. And it is also our job to prepare ourselves to survive should disaster strike us in turn.

But most of all, we must strive to live our lives to the fullest, to remember that this life is the one that matters, and let any afterlife take care of itself. We live as though each day is our last, and let every day be a blessing.

And now as we head into a new season, may the seeds of our compassion, planted in our response to the world’s recent traumas, grow into wondrous fruit, replacing destruction with new growth. And may the Kindreds bless us in all that we do.