Self-care...
...is a form of resistance!
What a week, huh? Who am I kidding. What a friggin month, year, decade and more to come. I attempted a draft of this a few days ago and then again yesterday. While I am detoxing from the doom-scrolling, and intentionally screening out the constant clickbait of DJT, ICE, JE emails, and all the other disreputable initials we have learned, I am refocused on what matters in my immediate life and vicinity. No, I’m not unaware of the mess this world is in, I have just purposefully chosen to refocus my attention. The great spiritual teachers remind us that wherever we put our attention in life is what grows. We have all been contributing to ‘growing’ DJT and his band of ruthless pirates and evil doers for far too many years by our constant attention to their actions. Let’s turn off that spotlight for awhile, shall we?
As I’ve written about before, I believe in the path of Non-violence to see us through and into a better world. This administration and these thugs want nothing more than to incite us to react with deadly force. So far—by the grace of the Goddess and the strength of our compatriots—levelheadedness has prevailed.
About 20 years ago, I came across a set of books by Rivera Sun, that educated and inspired me to adapt non-violence as the best path through adversity. Rivera is an acclaimed author, actress, activist, media director for Pace e Bene/Campaign Nonviolence and publisher for the award winning Nonviolence News. If you are not acquainted with her, there is no better time to read her trilogy ‘The Dandelion Insurrection’ — fictional templates for regaining our power when the odds seem stacked against us. The novels are eerily similar to what we are going through now. I highly encourage you to buy them, share them as well as use the study guide based on ‘The Dandelion Insurrection,’ as a manual for understanding and practicing the basics of non-violent struggle.
After reading the trilogy, I emailed her and asked if we could meet and she graciously agreed. I had the privilege to share a couple of hours with Rivera for an amazing conversation at a small café in northern New Mexico back in 2006 or 2007. That conversation cemented my belief that this soft spoken woman contained a profound wisdom from her years as a trainer and facilitator in non-violence as our greatest tool to make sustainable long-lasting changes in a society.
While I floundered a bit to come up with exactly what I wanted and needed to say, her newsletter dropped into my Inbox. She said it all and more with her usual grace and eloquence. Enjoy her words and please subscribe to her newsletter, purchase her books, start a discussion group, support our neighbors and friends most especially now in Minnesota, in Palestine, or anywhere freedom and justice have been stolen. And pray for peace.
Be tender with yourself
By Rivera Sun
Self care is resistance, too.
Remember to rest when you can.
It’s Sunday. The laundry’s spinning in the wash. I’m watering plants. And yes, the world’s on fire. This authoritarian nightmare continues to occupy Minneapolis with 2,700 ICE agents. Trump is dismantling the EPA, something that makes the skin crawl–I’ve already survived cancer once. In the midst of the whirlwind, we have to take whatever moments of rest we can carve out ... or our beautiful, tender bodies will give us a time out.
This week, a stomach bug knocked me out and slowed me down for several days. I had to cancel things. Say no to some commitments. Tune out from the headlines a little. (Though I still managed to get an edition of Nonviolence News out somehow.) I’m not fully back on my feet yet, which is humbling.
At the same time, the metaphorical phones are ringing off the hook. (Not the literal one, thank goodness). My inbox is exploding. Classes that usually have 15 registrants now have 50 or 500. A youth grant program that received 60 submissions last year has 318 applications from around the world. I’m not alone in this huge influx of participation. Many of my colleagues don’t have time to catch their breaths in the intensity. In Minneapolis, they’ve trained 2,000 constitutional observers each week in January. Many cities and faith groups are holding mass trainings of 400-1200 people. Online trainings are seeing 5,000 to tens of thousands of people registering at a time.
This is what it means to live in a time of great change, to be part of the largest social movement this country has ever seen. It’s also going to get more intense. We need to be in this for the long haul–which requires us to practice self care as part of our resistance.
On Thursday, I’m giving a talk on how we sustain ourselves as activists. It’s for a wonderful organization holding their staff retreat. Like me, they’ve felt the intensity of the times. Preparing for this talk made me reflect deeply on how hard it is to honor your need for rest ... and how vitally important it is to replenish your reserves of energy when you have a chance. Amidst all that’s going on–the good, the bad, and the ugly–we’re all just human beings trying to do our best. Our families, communities, nation, world, and Earth need our support right now ... and to offer that, we also have to do our best to tend to our bodies, hearts, minds, and souls.
I hope you all have a chance to take a breath soon.
Maybe take a breath right now.
And another one.
One more.
Breathing with you, Rivera Sun
The Walk for Peace arrived in Washington, DC, yesterday, February 10th, welcomed by thousands who also attended their talks at the National Cathedral. Please join these humble Buddhist monks on Wednesday evening, February 11th, for a world-wide meditation for peace. Let’s consider this our golden opportunity to unify our hearts and minds in pursuit of peace. Or, in the words of Princess Leia: “This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re my only hope.” The monks have gotten us this far, the rest of the walk for peace is up to us.
Once again, Yvonne, thank you for this. Rebecca