Soul on deck shines like gold in dark times.
February 23, 2020 2:34 PM Subscribe
Signal Fires and Dark Times "Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach. Any small, calm thing that one soul can do to help another soul, to assist some portion of this poor suffering world, will help immensely. It is not given to us to know which acts or by whom, will cause the critical mass to tip toward an enduring good. Struggling souls catch light from other souls who are fully lit and willing to show it."
This post was deleted for the following reason: Poster's Request -- frimble
Beautiful. The image will stick with me.
posted by sallybrown at 4:30 PM on February 23, 2020
posted by sallybrown at 4:30 PM on February 23, 2020
Wow, stoneweaver - this is WONDERFUL, and I'm so glad you posted it.
I apologize for repeating myself - although repetition is a powerful tool, and maybe some MeFites haven't seen my previous comments, and maybe I just need to repeat some things, for myself - but:
These days I focus myself on the question, "What kind of world would you like to live in?" I need that question, these days, to turn my eyes away from only seeing the violence and to seeing, instead, some visions of what could be - and even what was once, and could be again. And I think it could be a useful question to share with people who seem to be opponents, although I haven't had enough opportunities to try it out.
And also, I find so much inspiration in activism by Native and First Nations leaders and groups, and Black civil rights leaders and groups - these are groups acting on a hope they have no logical reason to embrace, but choose to embody anyway, and individuals talking about love for everyone, even the people who are trying to hurt them, finding a way to stand for love for themselves, their families, their people, while also insisting on love for every human who shares this world with us.
The kind of world I want to live in is a world where love for every human is fundamental, and where that love also insists on justice and protection for the oppressed, and an end to oppression. The kind of world I want to live in is a world where Heidi Barr and Clarissa Pinkola Estes speak their hearts, speak their truths of making space for the one good act you can manage today,
where they are a chorus of thousands of voices showing their souls, and standing for love.
Thank you so much for this, stoneweaver.
posted by kristi at 4:49 PM on February 23, 2020 [2 favorites]
I apologize for repeating myself - although repetition is a powerful tool, and maybe some MeFites haven't seen my previous comments, and maybe I just need to repeat some things, for myself - but:
These days I focus myself on the question, "What kind of world would you like to live in?" I need that question, these days, to turn my eyes away from only seeing the violence and to seeing, instead, some visions of what could be - and even what was once, and could be again. And I think it could be a useful question to share with people who seem to be opponents, although I haven't had enough opportunities to try it out.
And also, I find so much inspiration in activism by Native and First Nations leaders and groups, and Black civil rights leaders and groups - these are groups acting on a hope they have no logical reason to embrace, but choose to embody anyway, and individuals talking about love for everyone, even the people who are trying to hurt them, finding a way to stand for love for themselves, their families, their people, while also insisting on love for every human who shares this world with us.
The kind of world I want to live in is a world where love for every human is fundamental, and where that love also insists on justice and protection for the oppressed, and an end to oppression. The kind of world I want to live in is a world where Heidi Barr and Clarissa Pinkola Estes speak their hearts, speak their truths of making space for the one good act you can manage today,
where they are a chorus of thousands of voices showing their souls, and standing for love.
Thank you so much for this, stoneweaver.
posted by kristi at 4:49 PM on February 23, 2020 [2 favorites]
Here's the essay from which the inline quotes were taken: Letter to a Young Activist During Troubled Times by Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Ph.D.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 4:59 PM on February 23, 2020 [6 favorites]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 4:59 PM on February 23, 2020 [6 favorites]
Thank you so much, stoneweaver. I was especially moved by this:
As Joanna Macy writes, Active hope doesn’t require our optimism, and we can apply it even in areas where we feel hopeless. The guiding impetus is intention; we choose what we aim to bring about, act for, or express. Rather than weighing our chances and proceeding only when we feel hopeful, we focus on our intention and let it be our guide.
posted by Bella Donna at 6:47 PM on February 23, 2020 [2 favorites]
As Joanna Macy writes, Active hope doesn’t require our optimism, and we can apply it even in areas where we feel hopeless. The guiding impetus is intention; we choose what we aim to bring about, act for, or express. Rather than weighing our chances and proceeding only when we feel hopeful, we focus on our intention and let it be our guide.
posted by Bella Donna at 6:47 PM on February 23, 2020 [2 favorites]
This is beautiful - great ideas for many of us to start the week! Thanks for posting this.
posted by cybrcamper at 7:17 AM on February 24, 2020
posted by cybrcamper at 7:17 AM on February 24, 2020
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posted by blue shadows at 4:15 PM on February 23, 2020 [2 favorites]