Welcome my magickal friend! I want to talk to you today about justice, particularly racial justice, and how to fight prejudices with integrity and honor. 

Racial justice is at the forefront of many people’s minds and awareness today. It is something that this country and the world have needed to be more cognizant of for a long time now. We need to address the inequity people of color have faced. 

What is racial justice and antiracism?

Race should not determine how someone is treated or what opportunities they are given. Racial justice means fairness for people of all races, now especially for people of color. Justice is supposed to be for all people, but people of color have been treated unjustly for a very long time down to the very core of our society. The systems that are in place are designed to be unfair to people of color. 

Systemic racism is unfortunately one of the hardest to fight because of how ingrained it is into our society. From racial profiling to stop and frisk to housing and job inequities, there are systems in place to keep people of color from having the same rights as white people. The system has to be broken down to be built up again in a fair and just way for all people. 

Racism has run rampant throughout this country for a long time. It is sometimes very overt, but also can be very subtle. It isn’t just in one place, in one kind of people. And for some people, it is not even a conscious thing. But it’s there. I think most people don’t want to be racist and will say that they are not racist. I’m also sure that most people really believe that, too. 

It’s not enough to say you’re not racist anymore. We need to be anti-racist. It’s about actively fighting the racist attitudes and acts perpetrated by yourself and others. We need to call out racism when we see or hear it in the moment. 

How is racism different from prejudices?

I find that prejudices are less overt than outright racism. Prejudices are underlying attitudes towards a certain demographic. This could be race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or a combination of any of these. However, people often don’t even realize they have prejudices. 

This could look like someone stereotyping someone into a specific job because of their gender, or making assumptions about someone’s food preference based on their race. Prejudices like these can be subtle to some people, but they can cause just as much harm as outright racism because they also create inequities. 

For example, if you are an employer and your prejudice has you believing that someone’s gender determines what jobs they “belong” in, you’d be denying that person opportunities to further their career. 

People often justify these types of prejudices as “how things have always been” or “stereotypes come from things that are true”. Sometimes it doesn’t even register as prejudice to the person having the thoughts. Regardless, this does not make it okay. 

Remembering the lives lost

The recent tragedies that have occurred in the US have brought a lot of the systematic racism and inequities to the public eye. The deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others have weighed heavy on our hearts. The call for change is ringing loud and clear. Change must happen. 

Black Lives Matter. Period. We must move forward with this movement. It’s not enough to just speak the words. Action must follow. 

Having integrity in the face of injustice

We must fight this fight for equity and justice with integrity and honor. This fight is too important to stand on the sidelines. Lives are being lost and this is unacceptable. We need to stand together to show that we will not accept this way of life anymore. 

Those of us that have privilege need to speak up for those that are not being heard. We also need to realize that people of color have their own voices and we should do what we can to make sure they are being heard. People of color need to be supported in the efforts to end this injustice. 

What does privilege look like

I am very aware of my privilege. I am a white, cis-gender woman and I am blessed to have a wonderful support system in my life. But having privilege doesn’t mean you are better or worse than anyone else, it just means that you have not faced certain inequities because of your particular privileges. 

For the most part, we all have privilege in some way. But we also have disadvantages based on our demographics, too. You can acknowledge where your privilege lies and use it for good, instead of dwelling on where you are at a disadvantage. 

What does it mean to be a good ally?

For those of us who have privilege, it is our right and duty to be good allies. What does this look like? Calling out racism and prejudice when you are confronted with it. Participating in peaceful protests. Using your privilege to push for change. Being a voice when others without privilege go unheard without talking over them. 

Being a good ally doesn’t always mean big things, either. It could be sharing an informative post on racial justice on your social media pages. Or maybe it might be making a donation to the Black Lives Matter movement. Being a good ally means supporting those who are less fortunate than you, in whatever way you can. 

Standing together to fight for justice

To my magickal friends of color, I see you and I hear you. I will stand with you to end this injustice. I pledge to call out and bring to light anytime I am presented with racism. You are not alone. 

I promise to celebrate our differences and our similarities. We are all human and justice and equality are the rights of every person on this planet. You are worthy and have the right to be treated as such. 

I will always do my best to support you and to learn from my mistakes. I am far from perfect and I know I will always have lessons to learn, but I am determined to grow. Thank you for being willing to teach me and show me where I can learn and be a better ally for you. 

Spell to Promote Justice

Materials needed:

• Blue candle
• Piece of red jasper 
• Piece of green agate
• Lighter or matches

Sit in a comfortable position. Hold in one hand the red jasper and in the other the green agate. Imagine yourself as Lady Justice’s scale. Focus on the issue or inequity you would like to see be made fair. Hold your hands up uneven, like an unbalanced scale. As you concentrate on the issue you wish to be set right, move your hands until they are equal with each other. Once your hands have become equal, see before you the Egyptian Goddess Maat, who stands for truth, honor, and justice. Light the blue candle and say to Maat:

Goddess of truth and equity

Please make this issue just

I ask you now to always be

A pillar of honor and trust

When a cause for fairness shows

And needs an equitable end

I pray to you, who always knows

The right and fair energy to send

With your guidance, the truth I’ll see

And as I will it, so mote it be

Sit for a moment as Maat fills you with her righteous and just energy. Channel that energy into the stones. Picture, in the candle flame, you see a fair and equitable end coming to whatever issue you wish to resolve. Once  the stones feel full of your energy, thank Maat for her guidance and energy. Snuff out the candle and carry the stones with you until your issue has been resolved. 

Until next time my friend, blessed be!