You don't have to get ready if you stay ready.

yr Auntie here is unsurprisingly on the "alternative spirituality" side of YouTube, with the tarot readings and the current astrological happenings tracking and the daily Schumann Resonance reports. And yr Auntie is all over the comments, and can see the fear, we might as well name it, even in the spiritual community right now.

I'm likening this energy to wave riding in Lake Michigan. Something I first did at six years old, and it's been one of my most favorite activities on earth ever since. The water feels like chaos and danger until you realize that the waves and the riptide all have a rhythm. They act in very dangerous, yes, but very predictable ways that you just have to know how to answer correctly, and not only will you be fine, you'll have the best fun. I'm personally utilizing this energy to the fullest, and I'm having a great time.

Now, how do we answer chaotic but rhythmic earth energy? We stay ready to jump at the exact moment. How do we do that, in this metaphor? We prepare to be self-sustainable for a period of time. aka, prepping for a time with no electricity or internet. That means a time without commerce, likely only the smallest mom & pop grocery stores would be able to transition to cash only, and how many of them still exist?

That means stocking your pantry with shelf-stable foods, and making sure you have a way to cook them without any electricity. This means keeping potable water in reserve (using the correct blue canisters, please!) That means keeping your car's gas tank full, and keeping a tank or two in reserve (using the correct red canisters, please!). That means stocking and charging batteries. That means figuring out how you're going to see when the sun goes down, and making sure you have everything you need for that to happen (lamp oil, matches, batteries, etc). That means figuring out how you're going to stay safely warm if it's dangerously cold during the outage. That means keeping working fire alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, and fire extinguishers on hand, as well as a stocked first aid kit. And we're refilling our prescriptions as soon as we're able, as a general rule, so we always have plenty in stock.

I wrote out a guide to prepping for a snowstorm on my recipe blog as Winter Storm Fern was poised to freeze out 2/3 of the US a few weeks back, that has some more detailed advice for prepping, particularly for a cold weather event.

Also, now is the time to make plans with your community. Who's going to pick up your elderly aunt and bring her back to weather the event with your family? Will your church or American Legion offer a "stone soup" community pot each night, or offer an emergency shelter?

Knowing that you're prepared to take care of yourself and your family no matter what happens does a lot to help calm the fear of the unknown, and makes it easier to tackle the waves when they come, no matter how big they are. Remember, if they're too big to jump, you dive under the turmoil until the wave goes past. aka, hunker down and get to your tbr pile for a few days while the world sorts itself out. If the power's out, there's not much else you can do.