THINGS ARE NOT NORMAL
Normally, I share some brief ideas to help you show up and grow. But things are not normal.
WARNING: This is long-ish and feel free to take a nap instead of reading it.
(here’s how I started out writing the newsletter)
1. The Revolution Must Be JOYFUL. I am not sure what is happening to me but I am, happily, WOKE (as in Jane Fonda’s Definition: I give a damn about other people) and possess a small variety of LARGE cardboard signs that I have handpainted in the back of my car. I will come to your protest of this COUP if you invite me. Please do invite me.
(me + Kathleen at a rally)
(back to my newsletter writing process…)
Then, as I was looking online for this joyful/wonderful footage I’d seen earlier in the week of a playful marching band in Germany protesting the (cough, Nazi) AFD party (who would like us all to forget that the Holocaust happened and move on…WTF??).
I could not find the joyful video to save my life, but what happened, instead, was that I found many other things.
-I listened instead to the voice of brave elected officials trying to argue for the protection of childrens health insurance instead of billionaire tax cuts.
-I witnessed a father standing up at a PTA meeting to share how his child was having trouble sleeping because of bullying when another parent stood up and said “Why don’t you go back to Mexico?”.
-I witnessed a woman physician get hogtied and hauled out of a town hall meeting for legally expressing herself with a spirited question. Nobody tried to preotect her. As they dragged her out, the white male leading the town hall joked, “the little girl doesn’t want to leave I guess”.
-I watched a courageous black community gather to stand in solidarity after a group of machine gun toting Nazi’s attempted to raise their hateful flags and intimidate them in their own neighborhood.
-I watched people grieving the fact that they were fired by Elon Musk for “poor job performance” even though they had never had anything but high praise from their bosses.
It feels like there is so much devision, hatred and anger that it’s hard to imagine how we will make the changes needed. The repairs.
Much less be focused enough to, low key (is that a thing?), save the country from Nazis…
Literally.
How will we find joy? How are we?
And as I was typing this, I flashed back to 48 hours ago, to something I hadn’t even processed. Yet.
As I stood with about 6 other people on a major street corner, in the dark, holding candles at a vigil to honor the life of kind, sweet, Sam Nordquist, the TRANS Minnesota man who was murdered in “the worst case of torture and abuse” ever seen in upstate New York. A large pick up truck paused across the road from us and the driver rolled down his window and yelled “TRANS people have mental illness!” at us as we stood, clutching our burning candles in the dark and blinking.
In that moment, I felt afraid. I felt afraid for us and for all the TRANS men and women (and kids!) who have to confront hate like this on the daily. I was sad. I was outraged.
I felt powerless.
Someone said online yesterday- this is all of our fault...referring to the mess we are in. That resonated. I suppose we are. We all need to reflect on the condition of our own hearts in this significant moment. We have to do the work of talking with each other- no matter how uncomfortable it is. To be curious.
(Spirit Francis and Oliver James position during this Coup giving only a damn about daily walks and 2 square meals.)
So, today I wept. My heart is broken. And I still would like to bring JOY to the revolution. And Corgis and pugs.
Later on, a friend wanted to talk about how I was dealing with all the daily calls to representatives and senators. Was I really reading the telephone scripts (from 5callls.org) that say, ” I demand that you _____blah blah blah. She couldn’t imagine that. I shared that I mostly read the scripts without much emotion in my voice. I just want my voice to be counted…to know that I did everything in my power to stop the harm of innocent people.
My friend said she wondered what it would be like to be the staffers who listen to angry (or sad?) callers all day long. I wonder too. Then I had an idea. I would SING the rest of my daily calls to my rep and senator.
So, there is joy. And I walked with a good friend who has different views on things and we had uncomfortable and kind/civil discussions. And I felt better. And it is hard.
There Is Something SIMPLE We Can Do. Personally, we have decided to buy absolutely nothing that’s not necessary unless it’s from a local shop/bar or restaurant until further notice. Some how it feels correct? I hear that a lot of younger people and people of color are doing the same. There was the first organized BOYCOTT Feb 28 and now we will need to go “without” if we hope to have an effect on the current POTUS + his supporters.
I am here to support you! You can learn how to work with me and book here.
I have now opened up some more Tuesdays! .
with much love,
Sarah
P.S. This newsletter is reader supported! I typed this while sitting in sunroom with diet coke and Paul Newman’s chocolate chip cookies.
P.S.S. Minnesota FRIENDS!
The Ely Film Festival is coming up in March and I will be teaching a free class!
If you’ll be in or near Ely, Minnesota please come or share with a friend in or near Ely:). It’s free!
If you’ll be in or near Ely, Minnesota please come!!
March 15th 11:45 @ely folk school!
I will be teaching (as part of the @elyfilmfest)
A Creative Soul Retrieval
Self-expression is an important component to our vitality. Creative practice restores our well being. Together we will endeavor to connect with our own souls to retrieve something important and bring it to life.
“In many shamanic societies, if you came to a medicine person complaining of being disheartened, dispirited, or depressed, they would ask one of four questions: “When did you stop dancing? When did you stop singing? When did you stop being enchanted by stories? When did you stop being comforted by the sweet territory of silence?”
-Gabrielle Roth
You will learn a simple technique for soul-retrieving self expression that is restorative and healing.
You will spend time in creative community weaving your connection to the whole.
Its FREE
RSVP HERE at their facebook event and please share!
P.S. our documentary directed by @duluthcreative.co and @asherjames.co will be shown on same day in Ely in late afternoon!
The best ways to support me are to:
1. Order your own copy of my NEW BOUNDARIES WORKBOOK! (or GIFT ONE!)
2.Order my “How Good Are You Willing to Let it Get?” CARD DECK today.
3. Invest in yourself with a 1:1 session of coaching or shamanic healing.
4. DOWNLOAD my APP for IOS for Divine Wild BEASTIE Support!
5. BUY ONE OF MY (SOON TO BE) 7 BOOKS OR Listen to them at Audible
6. Leave a brief review for any of my books at Amazon or Goodreads.
7. Purchase a print, mug, t-shirt, framed print, tote bag, shower curtain or other magical thing that I’ve created at MY ART SHOP.
8.Purchase an original painting from me that will support you in your home.
9. FORWARD this newsletter to somebody who you know would enjoy it!
