Melissa Cynova I would be willing to bet that most Republicans are as appalled by their presidential candidate as I am. I grew up with Republicans, and most of them are honest, hard-working, kind people. My parents are Republicans, and as far as I know, they’ve never grabbed a woman without her permission. They aren’t racist, xenophobic shitbags. They aren’t as vulgar as their daughter, and they are kind, good people.
I would be willing to bet that most of the people voting for the Democratic candidate disagree with her on some level, or have a problem with her past to some degree. I’m still waiting for Bernie Sanders to rise up and make everything better, personally. I would bet that most Democrats are as tired of this election cycle as the Republicans.
It’s divisive. It’s hurtful. It pits Americans against each other and it is damaging to our collective mental health. It does something that Orson Scott Card (flawed in his own ways) called “Unmaking” in the Tales of Alvin Maker series. To Make something is to be part of the greater good. To Unmake tears apart the fabric of Us-ness. To Make is to create, build up, empower. To Unmake is to dissolve, destroy, pull apart.
Why am I writing about politics and my parents on this blog? Because everything that I create is part of the larger world. We don’t operate in a vacuum. I understand that some folks want to create without pulling politics into their work, but I find it difficult to stomach the fact that some purport to do healing, supportive, community work without mentioning what’s going on in their communities. I live in St. Louis (Represent!) and I believe that Black Lives Matter. I am married to a Mexican American man, and I know that immigration makes our country stronger. My children are half-Jewish, and I know that religious diversity is a gift, and that we can all learn from each other. I’m part Native American, and I know that putting oil pipelines under our water sources is fucking stupid. I am bisexual, and I believe that LGBTQI rights are human rights. I am a Unitarian Universalist and I believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every human being. I am a Pagan, and I believe that we are all connected.
The thing is, though, I don’t have to identify as anything to know that treating people like people instead of like things is the right thing to do. You just know. Every piece of divisiveness and hate and fear of Other was taught to you. You know how to be a good person. You know instinctively how to Make instead of Un-Make. You just know. Terry Pratchett said that Sin begins when you treat people like things. That’s it. That’s as complicated as it gets.
With every tarot reading that I do, I try to help my clients find their inclinations to Make. I am vocal on my website, twitter and instagram about my dedication to social justice. I am loud about everyone’s Rights, and I will continue to be an advocate and an ally as often as I’m able. I think that as a member of the tarot community, it’s my obligation to make sure that as I know better, I do better, and that I encourage others to do the same. None of this is to say that I’m perfect, because I’m not. The reason I am writing tonight is because I wanted you to know that whatever you do – you are either Making or Un-Making. That you are choosing what your life looks like. I encourage you to treat each decision as a test of character, and every action as a test of integrity. I encourage you to pull your character into your business – even if you want to leave politics out of it. Walk the walk. Talk the talk. Make me proud. Be a Maker.
xo Lis
