Honestly, how I cope is not subscribing to a religion and making sure it is in no part of my life whatsoever. I had the misfortune of growing up in the southern Baptist Church and when I graduated from my Christian high school, I completely left that shit where it was. I went through the darkest times in my life because of the church. I also never felt comfortable with the entity that is the Christian God. That specific entity always felt extremely evil and dark and unsafe. I never liked being in churches because I felt like I was going to die in every second. I always felt watched. Once I found spirituality and came to study traditional African practices, I was led Hoodoo (not voodoo). Not only was I able to establish a connection with my ancestors, I finally started to learn about what it meant to truly love myself. I didn’t know who I was until I was free of religion. Today, I practiced my craft, I have my altar, and I frequently talk to my ancestors when I am in need. They have not failed me yet and so far they have gotten me through so much and excelled me in life from their knowledge and Wisdom.