Hello, friend -
I was listening, yesterday, to a talk by the ever-lovely Tara Brach. In it, she spoke of the necessity of joy - not as some frivolous thing, but as a practice that allows us to center, to live well, to give back, even in storms.
I have been thinking of this a lot, lately. I have been thinking of these large questions: how do we show up in the face of crisis? Who do I want to be, in the reality of the world as it is? How can I, from my own true being, give?
The questions we may all ask, eventually. The questions many of us ask - now.
Years ago, my therapist at the time told me of a group who would attend the protests against the Iraq war - and just grieve. You others, they said, are holding the energy of anger and resistance; we are here to grieve.
I have let this wind its way through me with such power, over time.
If you have seen Inside Out (spoiler ahead - sorry!), then you know the crux message of that (darling, adorable, so sweet) movie is such: we cannot have joy without grief. And I believe we all know that, somehow, somewhere, to be true.
Of a conflict ages away, I heard a wise one say: there will never be peace until we can grieve together. I told a friend this statement. His eyes filled with tears.
My love, we must do them both.
When I think of how to stay rooted now, in the face of it all, in the face of a world twirling through crises, in the face of pain, harm, hurt, suffering, in the face of unknowing, in the face of whatever it is -
I think of this: turn towards the feelings. Feel them entirely. And I mean entirely: weep, sob, feel, cry, hurt, rage, yell. Punch pillows. Tears pouring down your face. Rock, holding your own arms. Whatever it is. Do not run. Feel.
And then?
And then find joy. And then find the others. And then celebrate life. Let yourself smile at the lift of the sunshine across your neighborhood in the dawn. Let yourself wrap your arms around a loved one, sing with them.
And then find spirit - we need it. Find your place of divinity and transcendence, and go to it, often. Pray.
And then, the basics: move your body, beloved. Go outside. Sleep. Turn off your phone. No seriously - turn off your phone. You do not need to know every single thing that happens. Your brain was not built for it.
Remember: our brains are wired for negativity, for survival. This is not bad; this is just so. So when we purposely cultivate pathways of joy - it goes far.
And then: give. What is your honest mode of giving? Do so. Do so again. Fill up so you can generate for others, too. This, this. This does wonders for soul.
Another teacher I love, Joanna Macy, has this portion of a talk wherein she speaks of our presence here, purposely. Do you think you just arrived here like a pea out of a pea pod, on accident? No! You are here right now!
In all the vast cosmos, the seas of consciousness, all the time that occurred, and will occur, all the lives, the ancestors before and those yet to come: you are here now.
If absolutely nothing else, zoom out and in to that. Give it purpose. Give it lightness and weight.
And then, once more, and again, and over and over -
Laugh a little, beloved.
Find light. Find joy.
Offerings:
I am offering a course, beginning in June, about just this: how to stay rooted in turbulent times. It will be 6 weeks, a small cohort, with live sessions online. If you would like to be the first to know, respond to this email or comment below, and I will add you to the list.
There are less than 10 tickets left for our upcoming Inner Child Playdate! You can grab yours here.
And if you’re in New York, our next Inner Child Art Dayte is scheduled for 5.18. Do join us!
And then, if you want more support, I am accepting clients for 1:1 coaching. Want to learn more?
Prayers:
Giving: A fundraiser for
It’s spring!
See you next week, angels.