In The Face of Weltschmerz
Constance Marie Charpentier, Melancholy, 1801, Musée de Picardie, Amiens, France. Note she’s sitting next to/under a willow tree. 😔)Things have been very heavy here On The Covenstead. I have too many kindred who are acutely ill with disease and chronic conditions. My greater community is flooded with instances of COVID, flu, and RSV. Work responsibilities are made more difficult due to federal policies, the rise in rudeness within our nation, and the overall economic downturn the United States is seeing – even though official channels do not reflect the lived experience at large.
The Weltschmertz is intense.
Weltschmerz is a German word meaning world grief and/or pain caused by the world. It was coined by the German author, Jean Paul, in his 1827 novel Selina. He described it as the refusal or incapacity to accept the world as it is, creating a deep sadness. Centuries later, Weltschmerz is a mood of weariness or sadness about life arising from the acute awareness of evil and suffering. It’s an ancestral word for me and one I’ve rarely had to use for how I’ve been feeling. Until now.
Clearly I’m not alone in feel this weariness and sadness that the cruelty of the world unfortunately generates. It may very well also be why Netflix’s redo of East of Eden is hitting hard with audiences. John Steinbeck’s novel of the same name featured a colloquial “Welshrats” when Samuel Hamilton visits the Trask ranch. The pessimism is everywhere.
Weltschmerz in the face of everything means you are empathic, Witch. Feeling that weariness over the pain of the world shows you care. To care is to know sorrow. It’s one of the teachings in the xtian bible that I agree with:
“The one who gains more wisdom also gains more sorrow,” wrote King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 1:18 (ERV) . The more you care, the more wisdom you gain, in other words.
This type of wisdom is that which Kurt Vonnegut wrote about in Cat’s Cradle using themes like science, technology, war, and religion. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
But staying the same is not what happens in the life of a Witch. When that overwhelm of the responsibility we feel to our kin, community, and yes, the planet at large, can produce some hopelessness. Yet, we know: This too shall pass. Where our attention goes, so our energy flows. As above, so below; as within, so without. We say these things, and employ their wisdom in our lives, our Craft. And then we move forward.
So if like me, and you’ve been feeling Weltschmerz, lean on your magic, friends. Here’s a few tips if you’re feeling Weltschmerz:
1. Info-Break. Make a ritual of doing a news detox – an entire day, at least weekly. I have talked often here about how I was inspired to do these “Black Out Sabbath” by Theresa Reed (The Tarot Lady). I wrote a few months back about taking an entire week to fast from media. No news, no social media, hide the damn phone. It works. Try it. While you’re taking that break, do the spell, practice, divination, etc. the rest of life keeps you from.
2. Focus closer. Shift that empathy from the entire world to making an immediate difference in your direct communities. Volunteer, donate, and please VOTE. If you can do these things within the circles of other esoteric communities, even better. Remember, being a part of this Covenstead helps fund fresh produce straight from our farm to local food banks.
3. Daily Joy. Two things can be true at once. You can feel the heaviness of the world; but you can also let joy coexist there. Take the small pleasures in life – making tea, driving with the stereo loud, losing yourself in a book – and do so without feeling guilty that sorrow still exists out there. This includes your spiritual practices. Love to use your tarot cards, carve your own Runes, conduct a seance with your crew? If it brings joy, do it.
4. Talk it Out. Grab coffee with a friend or your partner – somewhere that isn’t at home. The change of view and conversation is great to break you out of the zombified nature that Weltschmerz can leave you with. Chatting in the group chat is great, but you need face-to-face connection here. This is why I love happy hours. Good company, conversation around food and drink. What’s not to like here? Maybe work together with your kin to do a warding or protection spell?
5. Go Outside. Spending time in nature, especially if you can get a bit of a walk in, helps you ground and clear your mind. Remember the meme: Walking for my mental health. It helps regulate your nervous system, which is where this ‘wisdom sorrow’ first gets processed. Give it a break, too. It’s amazing how the Land can heal almost instantly. You’re having a shitting morning? And BAM! The sunrise just decides to remind you that we’re all just stardust flying in the universe on a tiny rock and the rest of everything seems to fall into perspective.
6. Radical Acceptance. Acknowledge that life and the world have never been fair or ideal. Accepting reality and employing other tactics from our destress tolerance tool box keeps us from completely being crushed by Weltschmerz. Then we can use that energy that was vampired up by Weltschmerz to make things better – for ourselves, our loves, and the whole damn planet.
Go Outside. Breathe fresh air. Clear the funk. Things are a lot right now; but you have the tools and skills to move beyond, better. When you do that, your energy radiates out and lets others perhaps do the same. Keep up the magic, Witches.
In the meantime, here’s what I’m cooking up to help you live a more magical life:
At The Garden Gate: Thresholds and Liminal Spaces; Behind The Mask
Front-Porch Sitting: The Rebirth of the Witch Activist; Being The Spooky Kid at Halloween: A Half Century Later
Under The Willow: Autumn Divination (10/22); Rune Class #2 (~Halloween)
In The Witch’s Garden: Diversity in Practice, Wild Covenant Lesson 2
At The Witch’s Table: Belly Magic, Lesson 1 (Oct. 23) An Autumn Table of Magic; The Mysticism of the Hearth
Dream Circle: Dream Interpretation – Why You May Need Outside Help
Studio Squad: Witches of Letters Workshop (Oct. 21, On Discord)
Like what you’re seeing? Just $50 a month gets you ALL this Witchcraft Learning. Yet even for just $5/mo you get Rune readings, divination tips, plus all the Front-Porch Sitting, and Garden Gate musings and scuttlebutt. As always, I appreciate your support and heartily invite you to bring some friends.
Thank you again for being a part of this Covenstead. Together we’re beating back the Weltschmerz.
Do Good; Be Magic,
~R