Take A Deep Breath and Drink Water
(Image above: Fear Monster from my journal)
originally published Jan 22, 2025
2025 is not playing. New fires continue to erupt in California and there is so much fear and vitriol swirling on social media. And beauty too. It has always been this way. As Jon Batiste says, “Take a deep breath and drink water…”.
One elder had this to say this week and it resonated:
Now the curtain rises, on this historical play, where we all must take our part, and see the show through to the end. What will happen, we do not know, but whatever happens, we do know: Spirit will be with us. So lower the lights, bring the overture to a close, and let us walk out before the audience, our ancestors, who watch from the great theater of time.
–Steven Charleston, Native American elder and former Episcopal Bishop of Alaska
Here are a few things that may be useful for you!
1. Our Grief Is As Unique As We Are. Losing a parent is a initiatory experience. David and Amy Sedaris (brother/sister and hilarious creators!) were interviewed by the LOVELY Anderson Cooper about what it was like to lose their parents- and it’s a heartwarming and funny conversation. Even when your are losing the same exact person– you may experience things differently. Never compare your grief to another’s.
2. In Times of Extremes, I listen to To Thicht Naht Hahn. And other wisdom keepers. And the living teachers that I have sat with. This challenging week was no different. As my heart flailed about, listening to Thicht Naht Hahn’s “The Art of Living” (it’s free on Spotify premium) book soothed me. And helped me remember that THANK GOD we have impermanence. Without it, we could not grow…or evolve or create anything new! I remembered Rainer Schurenbrand telling me a story for warriors of the light.
This week, I also watched the academy award winning Disney film Kundun (free at youtube)…the story of the life of the14th Dalai Lama…it was gorgeous and so moving. You probably didn’t hear much about it–It was buried by Disney and never promoted– to appease the Chinese government.
3. FEAR Never Goes Away But Naming It Helps. This week I have continued to work in my art journal, guided by prompts from @marenthe in her 21 day class. I was reminded how powerful it is to really feel into our FEARS. A few of mine are below- Fear of being unskillful, fear of avoiding stillness (and what that might mean about me!), Fear that my dreams are misdirected (an oldie but goodie!)…an one and on.
Somehow, I feel less fearful when I look directly at the MONSTERS:). Does it have the same effect on you? If it feels good, draw your FEAR monster and and a few of the fears that have been dogging you lately onto the image. This could be fun with kids or grankids! Here’s an article I wrote for Elephant Journal about my ceremonial teaching on FEAR.
4. Community + Creativity + Helping = A Recipe for SOUL Satisfaction. I invited a few friends over on Saturday AM to create some little love notes for Californians who have been impacted in the fires. We drank coffee, glued, wrote and told stories as we thought about the times we have all been lifted by the words of other people in hard times. Years ago, my kids and I would go to the fabric store and buy fun fleece yardage and spend hours tying blankets to give away. What would feel fun and effortless to create with a few pals- or your kids? Watch A REEL I created from our morning for insp!.
5. Quote That Made Me Go WHOA this week”
“I was always ashamed to take. So I gave.
It was not a virtue. It was a disguise.”
— Anaïs Nin
One of the hardest things for many of us to do is to receive all the goodness that is on offer. After challenging plant medicine ceremonies one of the most common insights from participants is,
“I had no idea how hard it is for me to ask for help!”
In our culture, we are supposed to pull ourselves by our own bootstraps. To need NOTHING. To hide our neediness–our vulnerability.
What offers of help have you turned down lately? Or, what do you desperately need help on that you have been refusing to ask for? Or is there something that you took (an award, a compliment, a pile of money, a service, a gift….) that you didn’t feel you deserved or you shamed yourself for?
What if you were worthy…period?
I am wishing you a peace filled day.
with love,
Sarah
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