Together in this Re-Making, Reconstructing Time
THE SIMPLICITY OF REBELLION
It’s unity like we are seeing on the west coast - Portland, Seattle, the Bay area and LA to NYC, Montreal, Berlin, Rio de Janeiro and beyond that ignites change. It’s the time to have the courage to listen, to notice, to learn and do our inner work as we carry forward. I’ve been holding a space that shimmers with all of the fire of each individual, in each of our meetings.
It’s a changed world. It’s Realness. Breaking down those barriers. We are changing definitions and re-entering a new landscape of understanding racism.
when life gives you lemons.
do SOMETHING. confront racism.
Sometimes the simplest of ingredients, lemons and water, can have important positive effects on your health and well-being. During the many weeks of quarantine (and even preceding), I followed a regimen: Upon waking, one warm glass of water with half of a pressed lemon. It gives a boost of vitamin c, helps in detoxifying of the liver. A wonderful Ayurverdic technique! Flows so well with meditation. Then came some enamel drama and I took a detour, remembering there IS such a thing as excess of a good thing bringing unpleasant side effects.
The world is taking a turn. Collectively, so many of us are working to generate positive change for people and the planet. People are becoming less and less reluctant to talk about racism and white supremacy. A change from the 80s of my youth. In rural America, we know of the growing number of small neo-fascist groups. In the rural Oregon town where our land and meditation studio is located, I recently put in a request to a private land owner to raise more awareness with a sign exposed at their very visible and central property. It was received with kindness, gratitude and enthusaism. Every action we take can make a difference. There is a lot of work to be done around inequality. Let us build a more compassionate world!
So, I’ve been in hyper-reflection. Continued openness. Watching culture - the clarifying, translating, the awareness, the criticizing and condemning. Blackness. Whiteness. Otherness. Questioning assumptions. I have Ruth King’s “Mindful of Race” book on special order (can’t seem to find a copy!). I recommend Larry Yang’s “Awakening Together.”
This is an incredible and potent time to explore our fears of powerlessness, of boundarylessness. To explore Belonging.
Thank you to those raising their voices SO HIGH. To those working to dismantle racism, oppression and white supremacy. The many who are protesting, posting photography, marching, sharing stories, revealing history, planning, manifesting.
For me, listening and meditating is so central right now. This is a time of highly charged emotions. How are you releasing into another way of being in the world?
DO THE WORK. Practice Radical Responsibility.
Generosity. Solidarity. Support Black organizations. Support Black teachers. Support those that march.
Morality. Consider how your thoughts, speech and actions intersect. Learn about how racism and implicit bias exists.
Patience. Recognize you must plant the seeds for the change you want to see. Give them water, sunshine and time to grow.
Joyful Effort. Make room for happiness and love to emerge as you dismantle oppressive systems.
Concentration. Use inner awareness to analyze what anti-racism really means to you.
Wisdom. Take care of your mind and remember you create your experience of the world.
(re-share from 3jewels)
JOIN ME! HALF-DAY MINDFULNESS MEDITATION RETREAT. A Breath, Focus and Mood Journey. Find inspiration to face the future with clarity. For those of you in Southern Oregon, please consider joining this introductory and intimate outdoor retreat in a covered shaded area on June 28th. It will be limited to six of us and with social distancing. *Please reach out to me for details, questions and to rsvp.
I wish you much peace and support in your life, your endeavors and in this more compassionate world we are creating - together.
With warmth,
Sascha