Healing from September 11

On Saturday, September 20, 2011 at 3 pm CDT, Selena Fox, assisted by others, will be facilitating a Circle of Healing and Remembering 9/11 at Circle Cemetery at Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve near Barneveld, Wisconsin. This ritual is free and open to the public.

The ritual will include an honoring of Pagans who were killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks and recovery efforts, and in the wars on terrorism that followed. The ritual will include the placing of flowers at the grave of Sgt. Patrick Stewart, a Desert Storm veteran, who re-enlisted the month after the attacks and was killed in action on September 25, 2005 in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

The ritual also will include readings of excerpts of accounts of some of the Pagan survivors of the September 11 attacks.

The ritual will conclude with a spiritual working for healing and renewal for the USA and for world peace.

Pagan Stories of 9/11:

Email us: healing9-11@circlesanctuary.org

Remembering the Pagan Dead:

Send us names & stories of Pagans who died in or as a result of the 9/11 attacks & if possible photos

Stories of Pagan Survivors & Helpers:

Share your accounts of one or more of the following:

• surviving the 9/11 attacks
• helping with rescue & recovery
• helping with clean-up
• helping with healing, networking support, related endeavors

Pagans Healing Remembering 9/11

Community sharing of experiences, memories, photos, healing & memorial rites, reflections, plus visions of hope, strength, renewal, peace.

Pagan Voices of 9/11 Survivors

As a survivor of the horrendous events that took place on United States soil September 11, 2001, I am writing to share my story as well as a poem written shortly after. I wish I could be there at the Sanctuary to join in the day of Remembrance, but unfortunately am geographically challenged however shall be there in spirit.

Let me take you back to that unforgettable day that changed the lives of so many too numerous to mention here. In the new dawn of a sunlit morn, it was the first day of school for many children in New York City. Parents, teachers and students were already anxious as to what this day was to unfold. Traffic was snarled as the hustle and bustle of the city swarmed with heightened activity. The business as usual attitude of corporations and employees running off to meetings and clocking in to start a brand new work week was abuzz with apprehension, trepidation, cockiness as well as confidence.

Arriving early for a breakfast meeting with clients on the 74th floor of WTC 2, I perused the daily financials and tickers from the monitors as I gazed out the windows overlooking the George Washington Bridge smiling as to the day's prospects. Glancing down watching the commuter ferries dot the Hudson and drones of people looking like ants scurrying here and there, I scanned the horizon again and took notice of a dot on the horizon that seems out of place. The moments ticked by and others on the trading floor noticed that it was a plane coming in low. Concern arose as they stood for a better view, unknowingly watching history unfold. In a Sam Peckinpah cinematic chain of events, frame by shocking frame, we realized that this was an object hurling from the skies towards our beloved city and gasps arose as we helplessly watched it barrel into the tower right next to us. The blast and impact rocked the building as terror incited adrenaline rushes and sheer panic overcame me. "I have family that works there!" screamed in my brain. I knew too many friends and associates whom I prayed were delayed in getting to work and were not present that very moment.

Gathering some semblance of reasoning, and recalling the bombing of '93, I instinctively called off the meeting and told those present that "I'm out of here, I advise everyone else to do the same." We gathered our belongings and headed to the elevator banks, minds racing and uncertainty clouding judgment in a temporary moment of shock. No words can truly describe and justify what had just been witnessed. Time stood still yet, fear was imperative to a speedy exit. Arriving in the concourse listening to the PA system attempting to calm and coerce the inhabitants that this was an isolated incident, to return to your places of business, I recoiled in denial and continued to rush towards the street. That is when the second plane hit and rocked the world as I knew it around me.

"RUN!!!" and screams rose in the cacophony of chaos as the throngs of blurred faces poured out in panic, papers and ashes rained down; the acrid smell of fumes and heat engulfing and assaulting the senses. What was once observed as differences among humanity with regards to color, race, creed and economic divisions were erased as zombie-like creatures covered in gray dust and debris. The only vivid colour being the bright red of blood that runs through every human being as people paused to help one another flee the proximity to a safer zone - wherever that might be. I ran towards the water and onto a ferry that was crowded yet somber... shock waves evident, hitting all with wave after wave like those we drifted across to another shore, not even fully comprehending or sure of where we were going.

Communication broke down with the exception of the strangers around us and a limited number of "walkie-talkie" phones capable of getting a lifeline to others were all we had to cling to. There were Christians, Jews, Taoists and Buddhists, Pagans, Agnostics, Atheists and yes, even Muslims united together in a fight and a flight for our lives, fleeing towards our Freedom from the tyrannical events still unfolding, unbeknownst to us in our isolation. We were wounded, some physically, all scarred emotionally from the impact, yet we were alive; something that cannot be said for those that did not share our luck.

The rest of the day revealed two more unwarranted attacks on innocent American citizens, targets of individuals on a mission that did not discern who or what they were attacking. Visitors from foreign nations, travelers from abroad, fellow brethren, sons and daughters, sisters and brothers, fathers and mothers - all human beings just living life to all of a sudden have it snuffed like a candle in the wind.

What did these people do to warrant such demise? Did anyone consider their remains? What of those who ran into the danger zone only to be buried among rubble or vaporized in explosions? Did a Muslim nation give uproar as to their brother's funerary rights? Did not every mother weep at the loss of a child? Did these radical extremists consort with the American government as to their presence into U.S. territory? Explain to me as to why these are such important issues now and not then. Crimes against humanity have no justification, rhyme nor reason in either situation... they just are and we need to turn the page and move on in the book of life to a new chapter.

To those who cry foul as to the measures and tactics that brought down a global terrorist, a radical extremist that did not discern one target from another, that violated and vilified the lives of those he terrorized, I say ENOUGH ALREADY! We did not start this reign of bloodshed; we only asked and received an iota of justice in comparison to all those lost to one power hungry individual. Thousands of innocent civilians worldwide have been annihilated and way too many "soldiers" of many nations have been killed or wounded, and lives changed as a result of the plans, ideas and ideals of a select few that would try to continue this reign of terror.

"Survivors Guilt" as I am told, has its consequences. I just pray to the powers that be, that politics and lines drawn separating humanity are erased and we as human beings, become secure in our own humanity, start becoming humans doing. What has been done cannot be undone. What today holds for the future is a change in the way we view life and the world as people, no matter our differences. We are born, breathe the same air, have the same needs of water, nutrition, shelter and love. We all bleed red and shall all one day die. It's living and how that matters as to future generations of hope, peace and love. As Gandhi once stated, "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." All I ask is no more... please!

"One"

As the soot and dirt and ash rained down,
We became one color.
As we carried each other down the stairs of the
burning building,
We became one class.
As we lit candles of waiting and hope,
We became one generation.
As the firefighters and police officers fought their
way into the inferno,
We became one gender.
As we fell to our knees in prayer for strength,
We became one faith.
As we whispered or shouted words of encouragement,
We spoke one language.
As we gave our blood in lines a mile long,
We became one body.
As we mourned together the great loss,
We became one family.
As we cried tears of grief and loss,
We became one soul.
As we retell with pride of the sacrifice of heroes,
We become one people.
We are
One color
One class
One generation
One gender
One faith
One language
One body
One family
One soul
One people
We are The Power of One.
We are United.
We are America.

Poem Background: Victoria, now of Florida, was working in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, and was among those who escaped. She sent this 9/11 poem to us and Selena Fox will be reading it at the memorial rite she is conducting at Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve on September 10, 2011 as well as sharing it at other memorial events. Victoria writes: "Much love & light to you and all who are participating near and far, today and every day. Brightest Blessings!"