A Charm for Finding Each Other in the Dark

to be spoken when despair is loud and hope answers softly

In these times,
times of violence,
times of oppression,
hate can feel like it runs like water
through every hall,
every street,
every alleyway.

Division is everywhere.
Between countries.
Between families.
Between neighborhoods.
Between religions.
Between politics.

And there are always those who benefit from it,
stoking the fires of division
in the name of greed,
in the name of getting more for themselves.

But what do they really win?

Because alongside all of this, something else is happening too.

People are coming together.
Saying no.
No more.
Stop the hate.
Stop the violence.
Stop the injustice.

And yet…
so much of it feels unseen.
Unnoticed.
Unheeded.

So how do we resist despair?

How do we keep from falling into that pit of hopelessness
when despair feels like it’s everywhere,
on our screens,
in our schools,
in our government,
in our communities?

Everyone feels it.
Women.
Children.

  Men.

So what do we do?
How do we keep going?
How do we stay strong-
strong against injustice,
against division,
against hate?

Some days are harder than others.
Some days the sky is so full of clouds
it’s hard to believe the light is still there
even when we know it is.

On those days, what helps?

Do you come back to your breath?
Hold onto something; or someone; you love?
Do you sing?
Dance in the kitchen?

I’m reminded of a story:

Two people are lost in a dark forest.
One says, “Let’s team up.”
The other asks, “Why should I?”

The first answers:
“Because you can show me all the ways that didn’t work for you,
and I’ll show you all the ways that didn’t work for me.
And maybe together, we can find a way through.”

That’s what this feels like to me.

The forest is dark today.
And this—
this is me reaching out.

Luna Ravenwing, April 2026