LOST MOJO - Reward If Found

At the same time that I've been sensing a growing interest in all things climate change and zero carbon, I'm also starting to hear from fellow activists that this is a particularly difficult time for them.

One friend wrote to say, "Most everyone I know that is working in the light is having challenges these days. Lots of changes spiritually. We just need to hold on. And fill ourselves with loads of sunshine!"

Another pointed to the challenges of working so hard and staying so focused on helping people see and understand the truth about the climate change crisis that personal relationships suffer.

The expression "I've lost my mojo" started floating through my head the other day — so I finally looked up the word "mojo." The Urban Dictionary says the word originally meant a charm or a spell, but now it's more commonly used to mean sex appeal or talent. Now I'm not talkin' about sex appeal here (although wouldn't it be nice if the whole climate change fight were sexier?), but when you're up against all the millionaires / billionaires / gazillionaires (and a handful of thousandaires, as Jon Stewart recently called climate scientists on The Daily Show) who see their money tied to the fossil fuel economy, one can start to question one's talent for effecting change.

According to Wikipedia (and who knows better than old Wik?), a mojo "in the African-American folk belief called hoodoo, is an amulet consisting of a flannel bag containing one or more magical items. It is a 'prayer in a bag,' or a spell that can be carried with or on the host's body."

Ah, so it's like a medicine bundle in the First Nations/Native American tradition. 

So if I want my mojo back, perhaps I can make it for myself! Let's see ... what would I include in mine?

• A bit of lavender to help calm me, and a sprig of rosemary to remind me of the abundance of food in my life (and the whole plant world).
• A small photograph of my niece, and perhaps of my class of kids at school, to help me remember for whom I'm doing this work.
• A little animal charm, perhaps an orca whale, to remind me that I'm doing this work for the children of all species.
• Another little symbol of an otter or an elephant, my two animal totems (guardian animals) who bring to mind for me my greatest strengths and gifts (playfulness, compassion). 
• A mini Earth, because this planet is my true mother and my true home.

Then I'll wrap all those in a tiny bit of rainbow fabric as a reminder of all the different peoples on this planet who can work in unity (and, I hope, in harmony) to create and transition to a safe, clean, healthy, peaceful and equitable zero-carbon economy before it's too late.

If/when I get my mojo back, I'll let you know! Until then, here's a lovely (and increasingly famous) quote to help us realize that our true mojo is inside of us.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. 

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. 

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. 

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. 

— Marianne Williamson