“Are we attuned to the millions of saplings pushing through the earth while we bemoan political disappointments, or do we assume that the human world is somehow more significant?”
Beautifully said, Swarnali. May we be attuned to the saplings.
My sentiments exactly! Similar thoughts on my end noted this week but a little different presentation. I love the overall feel of this newsletter. Subscribed!
Every night this week, before and after the election, when I go for my late night walk, I extend it just a little longer than planned, even though, every night, I am very tired. I extend it because I need a little more time under the moon and stars—because I need a little more time under the care of the moon and stars. I just need to receive their care, nightly, with intention, especially this week.
And I keep wondering, how is the Earth still so generous, still so lavish with her gifts? That how is what I need to learn, deep in my bones. Thank you for putting into words the listening my body is calling me to. What a beautiful, timely meditation.
I love how you say “under the care of the moon and stars” like they are our guardians. Your intuition and intelligence baffles me my friend. Thank you for listening to the whispers of our beautiful Mother Earth. 💜
It is awe-inspiring, and I think it’s instructive as well. We have to keep giving just as generously in the coming years if we hope to have a future that is possible.
And yes, we’ve only had the moon in the early evening this week haven’t we? But that slender crescent just about broke me Wednesday evening, running errands with my daughter. Even my 5-year-old started narrating her presence. “You like half moons, but I like whole moons. Their just so…so…” and trailed off.
Wheeeewwww ... the 5-year-olds get it. As with bald eagles, the soul bows, doesn't it?
Humanity wouldn't be here if people hadn't kept tending and caring throughout the worst our histories have thrown at us, would we? I take heart remembering that.
dearest this is exactly what I needed to hear, and what I too have been looking towards. places of deeper wisdom and calm are so necessary and show us how much bigger our world of rancor is and can be. thank you—and that tree is magnificent. 🌳 💜
My sister, I learned so much of it from you and your beautiful northern land. And in so many of my storms have I found a respite in your words and the way you are present in the world. Possibilities reside in the serene. 💜🤗
Beautiful and true Swarnali. My heart is not filled with hate, barring the odd exception (because I’m human). I strive not to hate.
And also it feels like a lot of indifference amounting to a kind of hate comes to people like me, with chronic illness, or people who don’t fit within binary gender and sexual norms, or those who are the indigenous people of the land my pale British ancestors colonised (willing or in penal servitude), or people fleeing conflict and needing safety to begin again from scratch. It feels like the marginalised are always the ones whose compassion and understanding is exhorted in the face of its absence.
This is so touching and true Michelle and I completely empathise. I have a deep conviction that if we and rely on the natural world it will teach us how universe thought that we all are a necessary idea. I don’t know how politicians can’t see that everyone loses when one group of people are ostracised and discriminated against.
My heart goes out to you in moments of solitude my friend. I hope you know you are loved and needed. 💜
So true. Although, as a privileged white male in America at this moment, one who personally is devastated by the outcome of the election, it is not lost on me that I stand a better chance of “being okay” through this simply because of the random forces of the universe that conspired to make my skin white, my cis gender male, and my status in life middle class. So this is my mission now—to be the best servant and ally to those who do not enjoy the implicit and explicit privileges that I never asked for but that I stumbled into by pure chance. Kindness towards others. With compassionate action. Time to really listen closely now—to not only my fellow humans, but the entirety of the natural world.
This is the wisest thing to say at this moment Kert. People often ignore their own conditioning and circumstances before stepping into making their opinions on others known. It takes real courage to own your roots and rally for allies from marginalised community. Thank you for holding the torch of compassion for others.
A perfect meditation for today Swarnali. Thank you!
I too will allow my tree friends, my bird friends, my squirrel friends, my stone friends, and my insect friends to teach me the sacredness of being in this moment. With kindness! Yes, always with Kindness.
Will write more later, but I am so, so, so grateful for you. It feels like there is shouting and blaming in many directions, while where I live I am surrounded by people I knew would vote this way and are now very happy about the results. Their lives will not improve but when consequences come, they will find a scapegoat.
The powerful sit unmoved and unharmed, while many of those they feed from tear one another to shreds and it is *exhausting.*
Nia I have seen it all. People tend to blame their lack of understanding on their reason of suffering. The thing is we are all very self-centred in our view of the world and how it functions. If we could practice to depersonalise our perspectives, we will be able to expand our understanding beyond the traditional methods of political criticism.
It indeed is exhausting Nia and the same rhetoric is being used by and large to toss democracy like a torn rag. I wish citizens could just stop and breathe for a while and then lean within to reflect on their choices to know their actions and understand others too.
Empathy. I wish for empathy for everyone, and from everyone. The dominant culture has spent centuries -- millennia, even -- trying to eradicate cultures structured around interconnection, care, and kinship. It's been everywhere, and they're still trying to stamp out the embers of the equally true human nature that refuses to die out, that says our best existence is in connection and care, in tending to life, in relationship and consultation with life. That is where we need to be and yet there is some force in the world, something within human nature, that hates it. Therein lies our battle.
So well said Nia. I agree the force that weaves empathy and connection in the fabric of life and the force that is insistent on tearing them apart are part of the same human story we have been trying to narrate and control since time immemorial. I believe our nature is of light and dark both, obviously with total presence we could use both natures in service to this world.
But really it’s this: “If you already think you know what that path is, the cause is lost.” This, this, this. If I could scribe this a million times on people’s minds, I would. Once again, you’ve put words to the shape of my murky thoughts.
I wish we all could once smile and say once in a while, ‘I don’t know what my reasons were of doing what I did, I just know if I don’t know best yet. If I know better, I will do better, and the process of my evolution is to know better’
Can't remember which sage it was who said, "I know not what I do not know; therefore, I know nothing." I used to have that pinned above my desk when working in an office for an arrogant, know-it-all boss I could not stand.
Isn’t she so magnificent! She is evergreen too with as many as at least 20 wood-apples at any given moment of time in the year. She asked me to send you a lot of love and warmth my friend. For the battle ahead of us is steep. 💜
Thank you for your words here. I think we need to continually "go down," into ourselves, nature, and do the work of noticing and being with - this post is such an encouragement.
Love the intersections of varieties of experience. I write about similar things. This world is filled with intersection of human non-human, duality and singularities. Listening and speaking.
“Are we attuned to the millions of saplings pushing through the earth while we bemoan political disappointments, or do we assume that the human world is somehow more significant?”
Beautifully said, Swarnali. May we be attuned to the saplings.
To the saplings and their endless wisdom 🌱💜
My sentiments exactly! Similar thoughts on my end noted this week but a little different presentation. I love the overall feel of this newsletter. Subscribed!
Thank you, welcome to Berkana. 💜
Every night this week, before and after the election, when I go for my late night walk, I extend it just a little longer than planned, even though, every night, I am very tired. I extend it because I need a little more time under the moon and stars—because I need a little more time under the care of the moon and stars. I just need to receive their care, nightly, with intention, especially this week.
And I keep wondering, how is the Earth still so generous, still so lavish with her gifts? That how is what I need to learn, deep in my bones. Thank you for putting into words the listening my body is calling me to. What a beautiful, timely meditation.
I love how you say “under the care of the moon and stars” like they are our guardians. Your intuition and intelligence baffles me my friend. Thank you for listening to the whispers of our beautiful Mother Earth. 💜
You are so generous. Thank you, my friend
💜🤗
I wonder this, too. It is awe-inspiring to notice what we’re given even when we show so little care.
I’ve been craving Moon’s light. She’s been hiding off and on, and when She’s visible, it’s like I can breathe again.
It is awe-inspiring, and I think it’s instructive as well. We have to keep giving just as generously in the coming years if we hope to have a future that is possible.
And yes, we’ve only had the moon in the early evening this week haven’t we? But that slender crescent just about broke me Wednesday evening, running errands with my daughter. Even my 5-year-old started narrating her presence. “You like half moons, but I like whole moons. Their just so…so…” and trailed off.
Wheeeewwww ... the 5-year-olds get it. As with bald eagles, the soul bows, doesn't it?
Humanity wouldn't be here if people hadn't kept tending and caring throughout the worst our histories have thrown at us, would we? I take heart remembering that.
dearest this is exactly what I needed to hear, and what I too have been looking towards. places of deeper wisdom and calm are so necessary and show us how much bigger our world of rancor is and can be. thank you—and that tree is magnificent. 🌳 💜
My sister, I learned so much of it from you and your beautiful northern land. And in so many of my storms have I found a respite in your words and the way you are present in the world. Possibilities reside in the serene. 💜🤗
Beautiful and true Swarnali. My heart is not filled with hate, barring the odd exception (because I’m human). I strive not to hate.
And also it feels like a lot of indifference amounting to a kind of hate comes to people like me, with chronic illness, or people who don’t fit within binary gender and sexual norms, or those who are the indigenous people of the land my pale British ancestors colonised (willing or in penal servitude), or people fleeing conflict and needing safety to begin again from scratch. It feels like the marginalised are always the ones whose compassion and understanding is exhorted in the face of its absence.
This is so touching and true Michelle and I completely empathise. I have a deep conviction that if we and rely on the natural world it will teach us how universe thought that we all are a necessary idea. I don’t know how politicians can’t see that everyone loses when one group of people are ostracised and discriminated against.
My heart goes out to you in moments of solitude my friend. I hope you know you are loved and needed. 💜
So true. Although, as a privileged white male in America at this moment, one who personally is devastated by the outcome of the election, it is not lost on me that I stand a better chance of “being okay” through this simply because of the random forces of the universe that conspired to make my skin white, my cis gender male, and my status in life middle class. So this is my mission now—to be the best servant and ally to those who do not enjoy the implicit and explicit privileges that I never asked for but that I stumbled into by pure chance. Kindness towards others. With compassionate action. Time to really listen closely now—to not only my fellow humans, but the entirety of the natural world.
This is the wisest thing to say at this moment Kert. People often ignore their own conditioning and circumstances before stepping into making their opinions on others known. It takes real courage to own your roots and rally for allies from marginalised community. Thank you for holding the torch of compassion for others.
A perfect meditation for today Swarnali. Thank you!
I too will allow my tree friends, my bird friends, my squirrel friends, my stone friends, and my insect friends to teach me the sacredness of being in this moment. With kindness! Yes, always with Kindness.
Always with kindness. So beautiful. Thank you friend. 💜
Will write more later, but I am so, so, so grateful for you. It feels like there is shouting and blaming in many directions, while where I live I am surrounded by people I knew would vote this way and are now very happy about the results. Their lives will not improve but when consequences come, they will find a scapegoat.
The powerful sit unmoved and unharmed, while many of those they feed from tear one another to shreds and it is *exhausting.*
Nia I have seen it all. People tend to blame their lack of understanding on their reason of suffering. The thing is we are all very self-centred in our view of the world and how it functions. If we could practice to depersonalise our perspectives, we will be able to expand our understanding beyond the traditional methods of political criticism.
It indeed is exhausting Nia and the same rhetoric is being used by and large to toss democracy like a torn rag. I wish citizens could just stop and breathe for a while and then lean within to reflect on their choices to know their actions and understand others too.
Empathy. I wish for empathy for everyone, and from everyone. The dominant culture has spent centuries -- millennia, even -- trying to eradicate cultures structured around interconnection, care, and kinship. It's been everywhere, and they're still trying to stamp out the embers of the equally true human nature that refuses to die out, that says our best existence is in connection and care, in tending to life, in relationship and consultation with life. That is where we need to be and yet there is some force in the world, something within human nature, that hates it. Therein lies our battle.
So well said Nia. I agree the force that weaves empathy and connection in the fabric of life and the force that is insistent on tearing them apart are part of the same human story we have been trying to narrate and control since time immemorial. I believe our nature is of light and dark both, obviously with total presence we could use both natures in service to this world.
Maybe part of the question is how we find peace within living that cyclical story, or do we find peace by wending a way out of it ...
Yes the question is how we keep living ❤️🩹
“One step at a time” feels like an inadequate answer much of the time. But it’s what we’ve got.
But really it’s this: “If you already think you know what that path is, the cause is lost.” This, this, this. If I could scribe this a million times on people’s minds, I would. Once again, you’ve put words to the shape of my murky thoughts.
I wish we all could once smile and say once in a while, ‘I don’t know what my reasons were of doing what I did, I just know if I don’t know best yet. If I know better, I will do better, and the process of my evolution is to know better’
Can't remember which sage it was who said, "I know not what I do not know; therefore, I know nothing." I used to have that pinned above my desk when working in an office for an arrogant, know-it-all boss I could not stand.
So beautiful, yes I totally agree
Yes, that line. I really felt that line.
Swarna, thank you for the timely reminder of our place in the universe.
Much love John. Hope we can rely deeply on our inner wisdom and the compassion of our community, now more than ever. 💜
Your words are the warmth I needed today. Thank you my friend. My what that tree has seen!!!
Isn’t she so magnificent! She is evergreen too with as many as at least 20 wood-apples at any given moment of time in the year. She asked me to send you a lot of love and warmth my friend. For the battle ahead of us is steep. 💜
Thank you for your words here. I think we need to continually "go down," into ourselves, nature, and do the work of noticing and being with - this post is such an encouragement.
Indeed! Go down into ourselves and nature is exactly the immense call of the hour. Thank you friend for reciprocating with empathy and understanding 💜
Thank you for being there:)
💜🤗
Love the intersections of varieties of experience. I write about similar things. This world is filled with intersection of human non-human, duality and singularities. Listening and speaking.
Thank you Chitra for your presence here and attention to my work 💜