Election Rituals

I guess the polls have already opened in New Hampshire by now. Before I wake up in the morning the networks will have made their first prediction of a winner and along about 10:30 I'll drag myself to the local polling place and convince myself that casting a vote makes a difference. At least by Wednesday we can start taking down the political litter that spoils our boulevards and medians for three months a year.

So how are we going to get through it? How are we going to make this election count in the face of an expected record turn-out and incredible uncertainty. Well, here is my suggestion:

The first thing is to realize that ritual affects you as an individual. It does not necessarily affect the world around you (although if enough people are affected in the same way, the world has to change). So, I've got to lay all that I feel about this election on the line and have faith that regardless of the result tomorrow the world will survive because we are bigger than this election. So I will go to the polls with the belief that by casting my vote I will make my world a better place, not because I will decide who will be president (or governor or senator or councilperson) but because I have stepped up to civic responsibility and have taken action to make the world a better place.

As I enter the polling booth I will make a simple pentagram in the air invoking the powers of the air, fire, water, earth, and æther to surround me and protect me from negative influences as I cast my ballot.

Then I will read the ballot. I'm not pulling a party lever in this election. I'm going to read the names of each of the candidates and mark the ballot for the person that I truly believe will make the best president, senator, governor, etc. But marking the ballot will not be the only thing in this ritual. For each candidate for whom I vote I will repeat the ritual phrase: "I will do my part to make this world a better place." You might find another phrase. Certainly several have occurred to me, like, "I am responsible for my choices and accept their consequences," "I will dedicate myself to healing the rifts that this election causes," or "I have the right and the means to be heard, but this election will not control my life." Maybe we should use all of them.

I think that even more important than the candidates running for office, are the issues on the ballot that require a yes or no vote. I will read these very carefully because many are phrased in such a way that a no vote is really a yes or vice versa. Again I'll make a phrase to promote my responsibility in promoting a better world through my voice and my vote.

Finally, I'll reverse the pentagram sign and dismiss the powers from around me and walk out of the polling place to face the world. I intend to go and celebrate my freedom after voting. Something simple like getting a cup of coffee and just sitting while I drink the whole thing rather than sipping it while I drive or grabbing it to go and sitting in front of the computer while I absent-mindedly gulp it down. I am going to consciously enjoy every sip of that cup of coffee and not move from the spot until it is gone. Then I'll move back into the mainstream of life and get to work.

However you vote, make sure that it changes something inside you. Take time to let it sink in. Most of all, leave the polling place ready to change the world. If your candidate loses, you have your work cut out for you. If your candidate wins, you have your work cut out for you. They won't be able to do it alone.