I zen abbess said to me after the election, "we must be the guardians of the field". I am all the more committed to bringing what goodness I can where and when I can. The 'negative merge', while confirming alignment, leaves us depleted.
The disaster future narrative in our mind is the real enemy to our inner peace. The unknown is just that. To face the next 4 years we need to hold our center and work together. There will be challenges bd we are strong enough together to meet them.
Sarah, this is so valuable for all of us right now. I keep reading articles that say "take time to rest and recharge now, to gear up for the fight." But simply trying to rest in the current situation is not easy to do. So what I needed was what you gave us here -- a way to think about, and practice, controlling our own sovereignty and imaginations.
I just did the exercise you suggested. It is lovely. I will do it over and over.
I can only remember the starting point - Channeling Grief After Henry, the power of pets by @ElizabethKopple… it snowballed by following comments. I didn’t keep track, more than delighted the path my curiosity took me.
I was in graphic design before computers. Really enjoyed seeing your process!!!
Finally found the last person that lead me to you - @Janine De Tillio Cammarata I love how these connections are made. She posted your z fold hand made mini book video
hi Sarah, :)...so glad to find your teacup... those were good words of meaning that sat well on me....I am a 75 yr old Canadian, which is to say, as an immigrants' child, born in Canada...growing up here in BC, :) I watched all the American shows on tv with the rest of Americans, although I do wonder if it was not the a northernish US version, much more than the south?...I do know and remember all the traumatic and happy events via the TV, they are part of my history too,...I look at Canada as the country mouse and the states as the city mouse, we are both a conglomeration of new dna and surviving original dna trying to get along in a world that seems to have such a strong dark undertow...I also see our 'countries' like/as teenagers struggling 'to find ourselves' amidst the close quarters of a dysfunctional family...the ultimate 'finding' being, what parts of 'our beings assembly' are we willing to shed for the good of ourselves and our new 'tribe'...for a tribe are what we formed into in 'each' country of the world, and in each we have to figure out the new 'way'... I think, by looking around fearlessly, and listening, with the peacefulness that fearlessness brings...and yes, most importantly by owning our very powerful imaginations...the evolution of Pinocchio is what we are living?
Thank you for your centering words. You echo my sentiment and stance perfectly. I say onward bound we are still here with choice and awareness. The same opportunities still live in our world. It may look different, but yes our imaginations are flexible and ever willing to be courious.
I am catching up on my Teacup reading now that I have managed to cram most of my belongings into one or two rooms while the carpet installers begin their 3-day process. Lucky me, Dwayne, the installer, and his sidekick John (lackey) are personable, joyful, and outgoing, whistling and singing Christmas carols. This was such a helpful blog, Sarah, on so many levels. I will be following your prescription for keeping the demon fear at bay, so I can be a Light for others when the buyer's remorse sets in. As well, I thoroughly enjoyed reading everyone else's comments.
I love the inner land you stand upon. Every time you share it gives me a glimpse of the world from your eyes and it’s beautiful.
I cannot move past this post without commenting on the atrocity of seeing the World Trade tower fall. It must’ve felt like… well, a bit like being in a movie. Such unfathomable horror should not exist, nor should people who elected the orange baboon not know what an authoritarian is…. But there is it.
Fear is such a monster, dissolved only by love.
I will cheer your imagination samauri and revel in your refusal to be squashed.
As always, the right words at the right time. I am forwarding this to my youngest daughter, who was and still is physically and mentally crushed by the outcome of this election. I found peace in your words and a new direction in which to head and I know she will too. Thank you!
YES! to all of this. My emotions, thinking patterns, and responses have been similar. I'm now focusing on grounding into 'sacred rage' to channel of of it into beauty and community and showing up for the world I love.
I love it Wendy. This kind of sacred rage feels important--especially since "The day after Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election, Afghanistan’s Taliban offered its congratulations to the American people for “not handing leadership of their great country to a woman.” (from HRC's newsletter this morning.)
I am in shock. Cannot believe what just happened last week. But I will not be in fear. It’s going to be interesting to say the least. I will be watching from my field as a guardian. Yes. Artist have always painted in turbulent times. Souvenirs and creativity.
I'm thinking a lot about what we artists can bring to these times...I feel like most of us access our imaginations perhaps more easily than folks in other professions and can model how to use this ability to envision better and more loving possibilities.
Well said, Sarah. The ignorance seems to have appeared so quickly. How and when can we reverse the momentum and bring our educational system and communications/"news" back to total truth?
It's shocking. But the right wing disinformation machine and ecosystem has been diligently at work for at least 25 years I'd say. I think they seriously contribute to people being misinformed and also to their having a vague, negative feeling about 'the way things are' that they can't quite pinpoint. And momentum, as you point out, is powerful. The truth definitely needs a boost of support from those of us who treasure it. Perhaps we start with imagining ourselves as greater truth-tellers? Imagining ourselves standing tall with the truth even when it makes for awkward social situations? Imagine ourselves being loving and truth-telling at the same time? I love thinking about this in this way--thank you for that question!
I know. In fact, when I was moving to New Mexico from the east coast, I had several conversations that made it clear to me that some people did not know that New Mexico was a state!
It's very common. Always has been. Grab any New Mexico magazine and read "One of Our 50 Is Missing" - an article at the end of every issue. I'm always surprised to see so many New Yorkers in Taos. I live in Denver, and even here people get New Mexico confused with Arizona.
I zen abbess said to me after the election, "we must be the guardians of the field". I am all the more committed to bringing what goodness I can where and when I can. The 'negative merge', while confirming alignment, leaves us depleted.
I like that: "We must be the guardians of the field." Yes.
The disaster future narrative in our mind is the real enemy to our inner peace. The unknown is just that. To face the next 4 years we need to hold our center and work together. There will be challenges bd we are strong enough together to meet them.
I so agree that the more we hold fast to "holding our center and working together," the better things will be. <3
Sarah, this is so valuable for all of us right now. I keep reading articles that say "take time to rest and recharge now, to gear up for the fight." But simply trying to rest in the current situation is not easy to do. So what I needed was what you gave us here -- a way to think about, and practice, controlling our own sovereignty and imaginations.
I just did the exercise you suggested. It is lovely. I will do it over and over.
Thank you.
Yay, I love reading that! xoxo
Really glad I found your page yesterday by investigating other’s pages. Very synchronistic to have discovered you for many reasons 🙏☺️🗡️🩷☕️
Yay! I'm curious--what other page or pages brought you here?
I can only remember the starting point - Channeling Grief After Henry, the power of pets by @ElizabethKopple… it snowballed by following comments. I didn’t keep track, more than delighted the path my curiosity took me.
I was in graphic design before computers. Really enjoyed seeing your process!!!
Love it--thanks for letting me know!
Finally found the last person that lead me to you - @Janine De Tillio Cammarata I love how these connections are made. She posted your z fold hand made mini book video
:-) m
Yay! I just mailed hers off!
hi Sarah, :)...so glad to find your teacup... those were good words of meaning that sat well on me....I am a 75 yr old Canadian, which is to say, as an immigrants' child, born in Canada...growing up here in BC, :) I watched all the American shows on tv with the rest of Americans, although I do wonder if it was not the a northernish US version, much more than the south?...I do know and remember all the traumatic and happy events via the TV, they are part of my history too,...I look at Canada as the country mouse and the states as the city mouse, we are both a conglomeration of new dna and surviving original dna trying to get along in a world that seems to have such a strong dark undertow...I also see our 'countries' like/as teenagers struggling 'to find ourselves' amidst the close quarters of a dysfunctional family...the ultimate 'finding' being, what parts of 'our beings assembly' are we willing to shed for the good of ourselves and our new 'tribe'...for a tribe are what we formed into in 'each' country of the world, and in each we have to figure out the new 'way'... I think, by looking around fearlessly, and listening, with the peacefulness that fearlessness brings...and yes, most importantly by owning our very powerful imaginations...the evolution of Pinocchio is what we are living?
Thank you for your centering words. You echo my sentiment and stance perfectly. I say onward bound we are still here with choice and awareness. The same opportunities still live in our world. It may look different, but yes our imaginations are flexible and ever willing to be courious.
Choice and awareness--yes! Thank you Stacey! <3
I am catching up on my Teacup reading now that I have managed to cram most of my belongings into one or two rooms while the carpet installers begin their 3-day process. Lucky me, Dwayne, the installer, and his sidekick John (lackey) are personable, joyful, and outgoing, whistling and singing Christmas carols. This was such a helpful blog, Sarah, on so many levels. I will be following your prescription for keeping the demon fear at bay, so I can be a Light for others when the buyer's remorse sets in. As well, I thoroughly enjoyed reading everyone else's comments.
Oh thank you Lissa--and good luck with your carpet installation. Carol singing installers sounds refreshing! <3
I love the inner land you stand upon. Every time you share it gives me a glimpse of the world from your eyes and it’s beautiful.
I cannot move past this post without commenting on the atrocity of seeing the World Trade tower fall. It must’ve felt like… well, a bit like being in a movie. Such unfathomable horror should not exist, nor should people who elected the orange baboon not know what an authoritarian is…. But there is it.
Fear is such a monster, dissolved only by love.
I will cheer your imagination samauri and revel in your refusal to be squashed.
Thank you for the loving words Teyani!
As always, the right words at the right time. I am forwarding this to my youngest daughter, who was and still is physically and mentally crushed by the outcome of this election. I found peace in your words and a new direction in which to head and I know she will too. Thank you!
I'm so glad that it resonated and that you feel it might help your daughter. I respect her anguish.
YES! to all of this. My emotions, thinking patterns, and responses have been similar. I'm now focusing on grounding into 'sacred rage' to channel of of it into beauty and community and showing up for the world I love.
I love it Wendy. This kind of sacred rage feels important--especially since "The day after Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election, Afghanistan’s Taliban offered its congratulations to the American people for “not handing leadership of their great country to a woman.” (from HRC's newsletter this morning.)
Wow—that seems to be a strengthening narrative, even in the US. I’ll definitely read her piece. To art as resistance. 💙
I am in shock. Cannot believe what just happened last week. But I will not be in fear. It’s going to be interesting to say the least. I will be watching from my field as a guardian. Yes. Artist have always painted in turbulent times. Souvenirs and creativity.
I'm thinking a lot about what we artists can bring to these times...I feel like most of us access our imaginations perhaps more easily than folks in other professions and can model how to use this ability to envision better and more loving possibilities.
Yes. I think we are fueled more intuitively. What will show up?
Well said, Sarah. The ignorance seems to have appeared so quickly. How and when can we reverse the momentum and bring our educational system and communications/"news" back to total truth?
It's shocking. But the right wing disinformation machine and ecosystem has been diligently at work for at least 25 years I'd say. I think they seriously contribute to people being misinformed and also to their having a vague, negative feeling about 'the way things are' that they can't quite pinpoint. And momentum, as you point out, is powerful. The truth definitely needs a boost of support from those of us who treasure it. Perhaps we start with imagining ourselves as greater truth-tellers? Imagining ourselves standing tall with the truth even when it makes for awkward social situations? Imagine ourselves being loving and truth-telling at the same time? I love thinking about this in this way--thank you for that question!
And Civics isn't taught in schools!?!?!
I know. In fact, when I was moving to New Mexico from the east coast, I had several conversations that made it clear to me that some people did not know that New Mexico was a state!
It's very common. Always has been. Grab any New Mexico magazine and read "One of Our 50 Is Missing" - an article at the end of every issue. I'm always surprised to see so many New Yorkers in Taos. I live in Denver, and even here people get New Mexico confused with Arizona.
More of the same from me - I love you!
And I love you right back! <3