On Dreaming Many years ago I had a dream/vision of a time when the United States had broken into bioregions such as the western Sierra watershed, or the Great Plains, etc. Each region had its own tenor and value system, and while they were interconnected, there were distinct differences amongst and between them. They differed in terms of culture, approaches, and demographics, and while some were open and welcoming, others were closed and solitary. This vision has come back to me lately, and I can imagine it becoming true in the years ahead. I’m finding myself becoming less attached to the idea of the United States, and more interested in what might be possible beyond that. (A huge shift for someone who stood and Pledged Allegiance every morning as a child.) As a result, I find myself turning more to my neighbors even as I keep my eyes and heart on the world. I’m tending to my East Bay region in ways I haven’t in the past. I love the “mix” here of folks from all over the world, the freedom to walk through the streets filled with humans who look like me as well as those who differ from me in sometimes uncomfortable ways. My discomfort allows me to change my mind and grow – truly a gift. What if there comes a time where we stop trying to coerce and control each other? A time wherein ideologies based on hierarchy don’t define how we live and who we might call neighbor? I have a feeling that we have a number of rough years ahead, and then we will be in a position to make new choices as to what the lands currently called the United States will become. I invite us to start imagining now what the possibilities for that might be. My heart to yours.

On Trust Some of us are hospice workers and will help the dying systems go. Some of us are here to tend to those who are grieving or afraid. Some of us are here to assist in our current situations and help them move along. Some of us are the architects who will dream what’s coming next. Some of us are the builders of what is on the horizon.  Trust this. The only way through these coming times is together. No one of us can or will do it alone. Find your folks, love deeply, and laugh and play when you can. Never forget that our ancestors survived so that we could meet this moment, and those who will come after us are depending on us.  Trust. Each of us has an essential part to play in the coming years, and it’s crucial that we discern what that is and commit to it. The hardest part may very well be to have faith that others are doing what they are here to do, and not try and micromanage or supervise them. Let’s trust ourselves. Let’s trust each other. Let us simply trust. We will get there, I know we will. My heart to yours.

On Caring for Ourselves Beloveds please take care of yourselves. Now is not the time to suffer in silence. Please have a cup of tea and a snack with a pal, sing in the shower, watch a lighthearted movie. Go for a walk in your favorite spot and say hello to Nature, find a small trinket that speaks to your heart. Dance, read a silly book, bake some cookies, cuddle up with a dog or your neighbor 😉 make some art. Breathe. Remember that you are an essential part of the Whole, and thus deserve moments of deliciousness and connection even in the most challenging of times. Remember that our ancestors are cheering us on, and the ones coming after us want us to be well. We are in a marathon, not a sprint, so take a moment to slow down, drink in some pleasure, and reach for a bit of joy. We will get through this together. I know we will. My heart to yours.