The Gods Stand With You, Even in Defeat: Fascism, Crises of Faith, and Spiritual Allies

2700 words | 14 minute read

I am writing this essay on Thursday 7th November, 2024 (although proofreading on Friday 8th). I was originally going to finish up another essay, which was also based on UPG grounded in mythology and cultus. But today, I feel that there are more important things to talk about.

A fascist has been elected to the White House once again. Just over 50% of the population voted for him, with a turn out of over 144.6 million voters. We could talk for hours about the reasons for that—that white women have voted in line with their racial privilege, as Latino men have with their gender; that there is still a horrific level of misogynoir that permeates America (and the West)—but what is more important to focus on is the effects that this election will have on the peoples of America and around the globe.

What a Trump Victory Means

Donald Trump’s policies are typically fascist, when we look at what fascism really is. Here, I’ll use some of the common policies and traits of fascism that are listed on Britannica, to analyse further the policies and speech patterns of the demagogue (and his cronies) in question. This will highlight the ways in which they are thoroughly consistent as a continuation from the fascism we saw in the 1930s and 1940s (and, indeed, during other times, such as 1970s England).

Some of the key components of fascism and how Trump is in-keeping with this are:

Opposition to Marxism, communism, and other left-wing movements: Trump has jumped on the often virulent anti-communism of the United States (just look at McCarthyism if you need a history lesson), dubbing Kamala Harris—a centrist—a Marxist to perjure her name.
Opposition to democracy: If I mention the 6th of January, need I say any more?
Opposition to political and cultural liberalism: Trump and his Vice-President incumbent, JD Vance, have a history of hating LGBTQ+ people, for example. Trump reinforced the liberty of religious peoples to discriminate in speech (and then, as an after effect, action) against LGBTQ+ people. Vance has tried to pass laws to limit gender-affirming care for trans minors. Add to that attacks on multiculturalism through the determination to deport migrants, and you have a thoroughly conservative social movement.
Totalitarian ambitions: The linked article from Britannica explains how Hitler had such grand ambitions as the Führer, the ‘leader’, of Germany, wanting total power over every social institution. It was, essentially, cult-like behaviour; behaviour we have seen from Trump supporters, to the point of them getting his face tattooed on their bodies as a marker of their political allegiances. This also ties into mass mobilisation, another trait and aim of fascism. If the voting for him as President isn’t enough proof of this, then consider the fact that his rallies attract thousands more people than those of the Democrats—and, again, we can’t forget January 6th nor the fascist protests of the Proud Boys and other so-called ‘alt-right’ [1] individuals.
Conservative economic policies and corporatism: Fascism is often called “capitalism in decay”, or is seen as an extreme form of this, in Marxist literature. While there are admittedly forms of fascism that have more socialist policies (for example, Strasserites and Third Positionists), they are in the minority. Indeed, these tendencies were excised by the Nazis during the Night of the Long Knives (so any of those false claims that socialism is inherently fascist is, frankly, bollocks). Instead, we can see that the fascism that has captured populations is thoroughly capitalist. We can observe this in Trump’s economic policies, which are both nationalistic and capitalistic. They include imposing tariffs on foreign goods, tax cuts for corporations and businesses, and deporting many migrants to free up housing stock (rather than, you know, tackling the real issue of housing being too expensive).
Imperialism: The US still has colonies. Puerto Rico was abandoned by the first Trump administration. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister who is currently overseeing an imperialist genocide, is delighted that Trump has been elected. No one really knows what Trump’s ties are to Putin, but the latter is certainly a colonialist dictator and Trump has previously expressed his admiration of him. There is also, in line with this, militarism, seen through Trump’s determination to further militarise the police. Indeed, the militarisation of police comes from how colonies are policed to prevent uprisings: what is tested in the peripheries becomes policy in the imperial core [2].

I think you get the drift.

Crises of Faith: A Natural Consequence of Grief

It’s hard to find pagan resources about grief and faith. I don’t want to link to other sites, however, that center a Christian approach, for the very valid reason that these sites may trigger religious trauma at a time where we’re already so fragile. However, when I searched “crises of faith grief”, over 107 million results were returned. I think this shows just what an issue this is for people of all religions and/or spiritualities.

I have seen many people on Threads questioning their faith, their practice, and their gods because of the grief being felt over this election. This is a very real, very visceral, and very valid set of feelings, particularly if one has prayed and/or worked magic for a different election result.

It may feel that the gods have abandoned us. It may feel as though they can’t be real, or powerful, or benevolent if they have ‘allowed’ this to happen. It may feel that perhaps magic isn’t real, because we were not able to get the result we so desperately wanted.

It is perfectly understandable to have these fears and doubts. It is perfectly understandable to have questions; questions that may never be answered no matter how much we scream them into the void until our voices are hoarse. It is perfectly understandable to have a rage so hot it boils your blood, and to lash out at all around you, including the divine.

The Gods Are With You, Even in Defeat

I will not tell you how to grieve. But I wish to share some UPG (unverified personal gnosis) on why the gods may not have been able to give us the result we want, and why they still stand with us in our fight against tyranny and oppression. Perhaps this may offer at least one person comfort.

Firstly, we have free will. The gods may sometimes nudge our paths, but we still have the ability to steer in another direction. We can still fuck around and find out. My thoughts are that there are limits of what the gods can do with our free will, and particularly the free will of millions of people at once.

The gods are not all-powerful in the way the Christian God is portrayed to be. They all have their own domains they rule over, and they all have more power than we can possibly conceptualise—they are gods, after all. But the actions, prayers, intentions, and behaviours of millions of people would be hard to alter for any being.

It is my belief that the gods are good but not perfect. Perfection is a mirage: it is something we look for but never find, because it simply does not exist. Even the most valuable diamonds have flaws. The gods are not different to us in this respect: they too are governed by the laws of nature. Even if they can sometimes intercede in them in ways we cannot understand, and indeed sometimes embody them, there are always limits to power and influence.

Many of the gods do, however, have power in domains that could aid us in the fight that has just begun. Many of the gods aim for justice, equality, rebellion, and war—for this is what we are fighting, a war against fascism. Let’s look at some gods and their epithets to give a clearer idea of what I mean:

Zeus: The big daddy, as I often affectionately call him. Zeus rules over justice. He is Sôtêr, ‘the saviour’. He is Sthenios, ‘the strengthening’. He is Hetaireios, “the protector of companies or associations of friends”—think trade unions, nowadays. Yes, join your fucking union.
Ares: The god of war. Remember, war can be imperialist, or it can be righteous. Fascism demands it, but we can answer back. Ares is Thurus, ‘violent’ or ‘furioius’. He killed his daughter’s rapist. Do you really think he’d stand for a rapist in the White House?
Nemesis: “Nemesis was the goddess of indignation against, and retribution for, evil deeds and undeserved good fortune. She was a personification of the resentment aroused in men by those who commited crimes with apparent impunity, or who had inordinate good fortune”. She is Adrasteia, ‘inescapable’. Nemesis’ righteous fury will rain down upon those who do harm, especially if they’re allowed to get away with it by just over 50% of the US population.
The Erinyes: Also known as ‘the Furies’, these are “three goddesses of vengeance and retribution who punished men for crimes against the natural order”. They, too, can be called down to punish someone for crimes that they are getting away with. I also believe that human rights are inalienable, so to encroach upon these is a crime against the natural order.
Dikê: Daughter of Zeus and Themis, the goddess of divine law and order, Dikê is the embodiment of justice. She stands against lies and is known for being a counsellor for her father.
Hekate: Hekate, as goddess of witchcraft, can help empower your spells. Witchcraft itself has long been used by oppressed folk to fight back against the circumstances that tread on them. Hekate is also frequently identified as the goddess of marginalised people. Additionally, we can look at her many epithets, both the ‘nice’ ones and those that are more ‘scary’ (for she is both great and terrifying): Alexeatis, the ‘averter of evil’; Damnameneia, ‘she who subdues by force’; Epiteichea, ‘the stronghold’; and Pammetor, ‘mother of all’. Finally, she is the goddess who was bestowed by Zeus to have power and access over land, sea, and sky, as well as the carrying the keys to the Underworld—do you really think a goddess who traverses borders would support a regime that persecutes migrants?

I am sure there are plenty of other deities who could be listed from both the Ancient Greek pantheon and others (Freyja, goddess of love and war, anyone?), but these are just a few whose talents, skills, and power revolve around the type of fight we find ourselves in. They can be petitioned as you usually would with offerings; prayed to; and worked with in magic. They will help to guide you through divination if necessary. They are there.

What to Do Next?

The fight is alive and with us, my friends. Even if you only survive it as a marginalised person, you have done something extraordinary. However, if you find yourself flailing around, looking for something more pro-active, here are some things you can do:

Educate yourself: Read about fascism, white supremacy, cisheteronormativity, the patriarchy… everything that is to be intensified, basically. Read feminists, anti-racists, postcolonialists, and queer theorists. Fuck, if you’re so inclined, research anti-capitalist movements—I promise you anarchism and communism, or even socialism, aren’t quite as scary as people make out.
Creating archives of knowledge and joy: Make sure to also archive books and things you find online, because there is a legitimate risk of literature being banned—indeed, it’s already been happening. This is the case with fiction as well as non-fiction, as both are crucial. Life should not just be about education to survive but also things that inspire our hearts and fill them with joy.
Do mutual aid: You may be able to find mutual aid groups where you live, such as food banks and soup kitchens. If you can’t find anything, try to build a community around yourself. Help your neighbours.
Advocacy: Stand up for people. If you have a platform, use it. As with mutual aid, you will likely have advocacy groups around you that you can help with, in areas such as securing safe and stable housing or dealing with healthcare.
Counter-protest: This is not for everyone. If you do decide to counter-protest fascist rallies, make sure you know how to stay safe at protests. This includes masking up, not just to prevent covid, but to protect yourself from being identified by fascists online. Be prepared for violence, because these people do not hold back—and neither do the police. Learn how to deal with tear gas, and perhaps even take a training course into protest first aid or being a legal observer. Write the number of a defence lawyer specialising in protests on your arm in permanent marker, just in case you get arrested.
Arrestee support: People will be charged and put into temporary jail cells for their actions. Arrestee support means being there when they are released. Be a friendly face and help them to decompress. You don’t need to offer them legal advice but, if they don’t have it, you can provide them with information about legal aid.
De-platforming fascism: Yes, you should use your platform to raise awareness, but not to inadvertently share fascist views that are either monetised or aimed at recruiting people. No platforming includes not quoting or screenshotting to dunk on them. Make a post without linking their ideas, deconstructing what has been said without explicitly showcasing it to people who may be impressionable.
Refrain from spiritual bypassing: The gods are there for you, sure, but they were not responsible for this result—the populist appeal of fascism to white people primarily is at fault. Additionally, you still need to do the work. If you make magic, you still need to proactively do things in your community to help actualise your spell. Remember, magic tends to follow the route of least resistance, so get working on ways to remove obstacles rather than relying on the spiritual alone.

I hope this essay has helped in some small way, both to understand fascism more as well as to see that you can still have faith while grieving this defeat. It is important to remember that this defeat is temporary. We can and will rise to the challenge of supporting others and fighting for collective liberation. That is why I ended on things you can do: concrete, material things. Even in the UK, it is incumbant on me to do the work too, because this election will have ramifications across the globe.

I encourage you to save this article to refer to if you need reminders that our faith can exist while we do the work of educating, advocating, and organising. It is my hope that having this faith will help to guide you and provide a bolster against despair.

“Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.”

— Maya Angelou

Footnotes

I say “so-called” and put ‘alt-right’ in quotation marks to show how these terms are disputed. While there are certainly some modernisations inherent within the alt-right viewpoint (such as the use of social media), much of it is just textbook fascism with a faux-irony layered on top. It can be argued, then, that using this term frequently in earnest helps to obfuscate what is lying ideologically underneath it.
The ‘peripheries’ referred to here means those within the Global South. Terming them the imperial peripheries shows how, even in states that have been granted independence after long lasting struggles, imperialism/colonialism still has a grasp on them. The ‘imperial core’ refers to the most ‘developed’ countries within the West/Global North, and this terminology shows how and where colonial policies eminate from.

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