In Between + Meditation Recording N.16
a list of ones
Hi there,
Here we are, in suspension once again. I’ll be honest: it’s not easy being a woman, an immigrant, and Latina—especially these past weeks. I have many words but also none; in between the difficult elections, ongoing genocides, a planet in flames, and everything else. Collectively, we continue to fall apart, yet we still have to make dinners, buy groceries, pay bills, and show up. I hope you’re finding ways to stay safe and to fall apart—to let your heart break, and to remain in this suspension for as long as it takes.
Here’s one more list of things to hopefully warm your heart. At the bottom, you’ll find a meditation recording on the topic of “liking ourselves.”
Thank you for being here and for all your financial contributions and other forms of support!
With Love,
Mariana
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I’ll be hosting our monthly free gathering next Friday, November 22 at 9am/pst, on Zoom, we’ll explore and practice Groundlessness. If you’d like to join, here’s the link.
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One Song
One Conversation
I found myself coming back to the conversation between poet Ada Limón and Erza Klein.
“I'm afraid that I won't do the right thing
in the face of disaster.
Or, I'm afraid I will be stupidly brave.”
― Ada Limón
One Magic
Polyvagal theory, which helps us better understand the nervous system, emphasizes the importance of using our vocal cords. One of the most incredible ways to support our bodies is through singing. This gave me chills!
One Recipe
I’ve made this recipe 3 times the past weeks: Miso mushroom pasta. It’s so delicious!
One Fix
One Breathing Practice
Not so much a practice this month, but a simple reminder: notice if you can access your breathing right now. If this is the first time you’ve felt it today, take a moment to check in with your belly and jaw. These areas are often tight or tense—see what happens when you simply turn your attention there and soften them both.
One Post-Election Reading List
One Story
“A farmer and his son had a beloved horse who helped the family earn a living. One day, the horse ran away and their neighbours exclaimed, “Your horse ran away, what terrible luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.”
A few days later, the horse returned home, leading a few wild horses back to the farm as well. The neighbours shouted out, “Your horse has returned, and brought several horses home with him. What great luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.”
Later that week, the farmer’s son was trying to break one of the horses and she threw him to the ground, breaking his leg. The neighbours cried, “Your son broke his leg, what terrible luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.”
A few weeks later, soldiers from the national army marched through town, recruiting all boys for the army. They did not take the farmer’s son, because he had a broken leg. The neighbours shouted, “Your boy is spared, what tremendous luck!” To which the farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.”
One Wisdom
Holding the anger like a mother holds a baby
One Poem
Ada Limón, again.
One last word
“Things falling apart is a kind of testing and also a kind of healing. We think that the point is to pass the test or to overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don’t really get solved. They come together and they fall apart. Then they come together again and fall apart again. It’s just like that. The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy.” - Pema Chodron
One Question
What are you allowing to fall apart right now? Are you allowing yourself to fall apart?
MEDITATION RECORDING
This practice is exploring our relationship with liking ourselves. I wrote more about it a few issues ago.
Find yourself in a quiet place.
Sit in a position that feels most comfortable. You can use a couch, bed, chair, or sit on the ground. Find a posture that helps you stay awake yet relaxed.
You can either close your eyes fully or keep your gaze softly focused on a spot near you on the ground.
Take your time transitioning back to your tasks.
This recording is from the free monthly gathering so there may be occasional glitches.