The past few days have been dark and intense. Even before, the stress of the election was so unsettling my hair started falling out. Being in Colorado, I was able to vote weeks ahead of election day and although I knew the media was calling for a close election, I managed to hold onto faith (I’m a Jupiter ruled sign, that’s what we do). Tuesday, I managed to stay busy and didn’t park myself in front of the TV until about 8PM locally (10PM east coast). Even by then things looked bad. By 9, I couldn’t watch anymore. Well, you all know how it went.
Wednesday was devastating and that’s truly an understatement. The full ramifications of the victory were hollowing. Now my stomach was fully involved. Burn, baby burn! No amount of ginger tea can touch the soul trauma my “fellow” Americans had wrought. Some people want logical answers about how this happened, why this happened. They will emerge in time. But at this point, it’s irrelevant. To the winner go the spoils. And spoils it shall be.
2024 was a year of choice. A year to get it right. The easy way was to make the moral choice. It was actually easy. History will bear this out.
However, the “people” did not make the easy, moral choice. Instead, they sacrificed the future for what they hope will be immediate personal gain. And now these people are on the march (I do mean, literally). I’ve seen the gleeful, verbal punching on social media from the previously timid so you can imagine what the prideful, emboldened will now do. It starts with words that go unchecked. It will manifest into action (and yes, violence against parts of society). Because the dark has been given full, legal reign now. (Oh, they’ll cry. We didn’t want that! Yes, you did. That’s what you voted for.)
2025 (I believe) will be even more challenging and consequential than Covid. The dark has risen. Don’t tell me you can negotiate with the darkness. Remember when Chamberlain tried? Many of us will be tested in ways we never thought imaginable. Many of us will be forced to draw lines and make choices that are irrevocable. We are now forced to inherit the wind of this election.
I don’t resonate with this new American poised on retribution, violence, and white power. Now is the time to make some assessments on your own safety. Colorado is supposedly a blue state but that’s highly deceptive. I live in a red county, and I don’t feel welcome or safe. For 2025, I will be living in exile and assessing options. (Never did I think I’d ever write a line like that.)
To all of us who fought this fight and lost this week, remember self-care. Do what is required to make it through the day, week, and month. Don’t push yourself too hard. Take time to grieve. High quality nutritious food, rest, meditation, get out and take a walk. Seek out conversations with safe people. All this can help.
ellisnelson 
It’s very sad, what’s happening in America and all over the world, including my India. My 95 year old mother keeps saying, I may not live to see it but the pendulum will surely swing back. We can only hope so!
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Yes, I think it will take some time. We, humans, seem to learn our lessons so slowly.
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I moved from Colorado, to retire in Italy in 2020, because of Trump. I know exactly how you feel. Be strong and take care of yourself. I’m extremely disappointed with the American people. How could this be allowed to happen?
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I think many of us of feel betrayed by our fellow Americans. What does it mean to be an American now? Our whole value system was flushed away last Tues.
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So sad!
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I hear you. It is a grieving experience. I had no idea I would feel this level of grief. I’m taking it one day at a time. It’s devastating. Thank you for posting.
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Yes, I’ve been comparing it to Covid but it’s nothing like it. There were tons of things you could do during Covid to protect yourself. This has an overwhelming dread connected to it, waiting for the shoe to drop. And of course, the nation failed the Covid test so maybe in hindsight I suppose I was …overly optimistic.
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I agree with you wholeheartedly. Thank you for this post. Hearing from people like you at a time like this helps tremendously. You always restore my faith in humanity.
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Thank you!
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Oh, Ellis, I hear you loud and clear. Me and my family and friends are devastated by this outcome here in Canada. Will anyone rise up to protect those who will be injured and killed because of policies that will be brought forth? How many are going to be beaten, scarred and killed because hate has been given free reign? What about Earth herself? Now gas and oil will be on the uprise again and the hurricanes and climate change will only get worse. I can’t bear to think of all of the people that will be hurt because of this. I had so hoped that when the pollsters kept saying it was close, it would inspire the blues to vote in droves, but I guess that didn’t happen. Where were all the young voters who surely didn’t believe in a senile old convicted felon? Will there now be another civil war or will history show this was the beginning of the downfall of the US just as the Roman Empire fell? At the time everyone thought the Roman Empire was too big to fail, but just as it wasn’t, so too, the USA is not too big to fall. And both China and Russia are just waiting to get their hands on her. I just don’t know where we go from here. I just have this horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach that the next few years are not going to be pretty and something what we would consider terrible is going to happen.
Hugs
Margaret
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Think Germany in the 30s and you’d be on the right track. With the polarization, my only thought lately has been partition. 2025 is a year that will have incredibly fast change, even faster than the Covid years because the energies of fire and air are lightning quick. Humans have not evolved and there was an easier way, but we are going down a dark (and familiar path).
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Yes, I remember my parents talking about the 20’s and 30’s. I lost an uncle in the first world war and a lot of my uncles were in both world wars and it really didn’t solve much as we are back on the brink again. Only this time we are capable of nuclear war and destroying the whole planet or at least parts of it. Many evangelicals want this war as they think it will bring about Armageddon and that Jesus will come back and save them all. I absolutely can’t get my head around that way of thinking. How do they think they will be “saved” when they hate immigrants, the poor, blacks and other colours, and so many other beings and things that are dear to God’s heart? It’s beyond me. Sigh.
Hugs
Margaret
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We are living in tumultuous, karmic times. We (I) can feel very small amid the enormity of it.
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We feel the same way. Our kids and even grandkids, except for the youngest (too little). I always thought Harris would win. I’m still hoping for the US House.
We will be walking away for a couple of weeks out of the country.
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It will be good to get out and take a break. Just for sanity’s sake. These are tough times and just getting started.
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We have chosen a dark path indeed, but somehow we must find a way to persevere 💙💔💙
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Agree!
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Well said. You captured the agony of the times. I like a new word I’ve learned: apocaloptimist–we know the world has gone to shit but we think we’ll turn out okay!
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We do what we can where we are. Lean into our talents & abilities.
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Thank you for this perfectly stated piece! As we all try to figure out how to…go on.
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That’s about the size of it.
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It has been a real shock. Wishing you all the best from NY.
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Thanks. Hoping you’re in a blue part of the state. Being from Upstate, I know the rural areas are red.
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Thank you. I’m in the same situation. Plus, I have family who can’t survive having him mess with our insurance.
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So much change coming. The oligarchs will be fine. The rest of us? Big question.
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I considered exile, but I love New Mexico and feel safe here. People are leaving unsafe-feeling states and moving here, making a blue state bluer and leaving red states redder. I appreciate your honest assessment of the situation. It’s dark. I knew it would be, an intuitive sense that struck me Tuesday evening as I locked up the art gallery where I teach yoga and my eyes rested on the poster of Kamala as Rosie the Riveter in the window. A sense of tragedy coming. I hope to be part of the light on the other side.
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Maybe in 6-7 years? Maybe around 2032/2033.
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