Well, shit. Also: from me to you, random solidarity from a stranger. Stuff/thoughts that help me right now: 1) one day at a time. 2) what’s in front of me right now? 3) action > ruminating 4) movement > lethargy 5) im not letting these fuckers steal my joy unless/until I have no choice. 6) I’m also not letting them turn me into a hardened hater. I refuse to play into their us versus them bullshit. 7) maximize time offline and in the world. Even something as simple as going to the grocery store more often but buying fewer things each time. Just getting out there among real humans. It’s helping me.
Yes, Asha! This is exactly what I have been preaching to myself lately, and . What the hell good will I do anyone is I am shivering in a corner? I don't want to shut out all the news, but perhaps take it in smaller doses. Doing good for others, whoever they are, helps. Humor is key!
FYI, Rick Steves Europe and Fascism is on PBS playing on a loop lately...watch it while PBS lasts!
As one who dabbles in the metaphysical, a woods/swamp witch who loves the esoteric- diviners, fortune tellers, etc are tricky. Why? Because divining the future is tricky. If Baba Vanga got a lot of stuff right-she probably got some things wrong. Why?
Because one reading of the future is a POSSIBLE future. It’s like being a prophet. Some of those prophecies land, some not at all. I’ve always taken it as a warning on how to act in the future, not a guaranteed future.
One person can change the course of history- even in small ways. We all feel like we are yelling into the void right now. But sometimes your voice hits the right ear or ears. Even if it leads to a slower change than we’d like, it is still change, versus apathy, cowardice or worse.
Oh- and some prophecies, as terrifying as they are to come true, do not flesh out completely. It’s a vision, but it’s one version of it. For example, someone can come into power and suddenly pass away, or be challenged within for that power. If we wait upon a “Chosen One” to rescue us- we will be doomed. If we collectively fight in our own ways, sound the alarms, protest, vote while we can, etc- we are CHOOSING to frame our future, not just accept the first vision of it thrust upon us.
Thanks for this, Jen, it helps to hear from cooler heads. I know, intellectually, that there's so much possibility before us. It's the emotion that gets in the way, and that's just what they want! To knock us sideways and keep us despairing. I keep coming back to the idea of joy, which several commenters here have mentioned. No matter how small, let's keep to our joy. 💚
Really very disturbing stuff!! (And I do take an interest in the mystic types). But many of these end-of-worlders have been off the mark though, (wasn't it the Aztec calendar most recently?) plus the never-ending doom lead-up to Y2K, remember THAT, etc. But I agree, the fires, the plague, the non-stop environmental events are definitely not feeling random. It's the Book of Revelations on steroids. But truly, we cannot let our everyday lives be hijacked. We can't control any of this madness and I've definitely lost much sleep over it but once we've done what we can (and good for you for protesting!) we just have to keep on keeping on. It's not being passive or naive to do this. I'm in Canada and (about every three days) we alternate between frantic anxiety, despair and rage. It's all so unnecessary too. I wanted to make you feel a little better but now I think I feel worse, lol ... xo
Thanks for reading and commenting, Sue! It's true, the end-times prophecies have been wrong, it's somewhat of a comfort. I'm not actually worried about end-of-days - more so about widespread misery. I, and many others, have written about how we can't let them take our joy and - yes! Resist, but don't stop living. I'm sorry what we've done to you all in Canada. Most of us emphatically do not support this madness. I still don't understand how it's happened.
Yes thanks so much for this and rest assured that I understand - and resent - this entirely unnecessary misery only too well. I happened upon these words from RuPaul: "We can look at the darkness but we CANNOT stare at it."
(It's a longer quote that also suggests the importance of creating our own bits of joy but you get the idea).
Very simple but profound.
So next week, I will be trying my best not to stare.
We need to preserve Joy right now. Find joy in your everyday so we all have it to come back to when these dark times are over. Keep protesting, it's important for younger people to know they can disagree and standup for what they believe.
OMG yes, joy joy joy. I need to keep reminding myself. I even wrote about it a few years ago, in the midst of personal crisis, but I forget! I have a penpal in Germany and we've been exchanging lists of tiny bits of joy, just to remind us to notice. The world is a trial, but this is the one little life we get, so we may as well find the joy and beauty in it. Thanks for the reminder!
I would love that! Sometimes it would just be a pencil or a candy or a moment of sunshine, but joy is joy. Maybe I'll think on how to make it a thing, because this community has brought me so much joy!
Baba Vanga certainly seems to have nailed it. The mystics always seem to know.
I’m with you in the fear, and now that the shock and awe is wearing off - I’m getting the strong sense that no one is coming to save us, our micro activism matters and now more than ever we must rely on each other to get through. I’d love to believe that there is a purpose for everything - even though it doesn’t make an ounce of sense. One day it will, I suppose?
Perhaps the Universe is making it all so painful and bringing the worst of humanity in plain view so that we take
Thanks for reading and commenting, Colleen! I love the perspective in your piece about navigating the chaos before the dawn - it gave me a little hope. This great upheaval could be a prelude to better things. My husband thinks it's good that the worst is up and out, the easier to clear it away. I just hope we can do it.
Ghaaagh, the emergency broadcast test system is channeling Baba Vanga!!! I don't think I believe in mystics or prophets, but I do believe in you and your reflections :)
Well, shit. Also: from me to you, random solidarity from a stranger. Stuff/thoughts that help me right now: 1) one day at a time. 2) what’s in front of me right now? 3) action > ruminating 4) movement > lethargy 5) im not letting these fuckers steal my joy unless/until I have no choice. 6) I’m also not letting them turn me into a hardened hater. I refuse to play into their us versus them bullshit. 7) maximize time offline and in the world. Even something as simple as going to the grocery store more often but buying fewer things each time. Just getting out there among real humans. It’s helping me.
The solidarity helps! And the joy - we need to keep our perspective and remember all the little joys in the world. Thanks for reading and commenting!
Yes, Asha! This is exactly what I have been preaching to myself lately, and . What the hell good will I do anyone is I am shivering in a corner? I don't want to shut out all the news, but perhaps take it in smaller doses. Doing good for others, whoever they are, helps. Humor is key!
FYI, Rick Steves Europe and Fascism is on PBS playing on a loop lately...watch it while PBS lasts!
I like what you say here and totally relate!
As one who dabbles in the metaphysical, a woods/swamp witch who loves the esoteric- diviners, fortune tellers, etc are tricky. Why? Because divining the future is tricky. If Baba Vanga got a lot of stuff right-she probably got some things wrong. Why?
Because one reading of the future is a POSSIBLE future. It’s like being a prophet. Some of those prophecies land, some not at all. I’ve always taken it as a warning on how to act in the future, not a guaranteed future.
One person can change the course of history- even in small ways. We all feel like we are yelling into the void right now. But sometimes your voice hits the right ear or ears. Even if it leads to a slower change than we’d like, it is still change, versus apathy, cowardice or worse.
Oh- and some prophecies, as terrifying as they are to come true, do not flesh out completely. It’s a vision, but it’s one version of it. For example, someone can come into power and suddenly pass away, or be challenged within for that power. If we wait upon a “Chosen One” to rescue us- we will be doomed. If we collectively fight in our own ways, sound the alarms, protest, vote while we can, etc- we are CHOOSING to frame our future, not just accept the first vision of it thrust upon us.
Thanks for this, Jen, it helps to hear from cooler heads. I know, intellectually, that there's so much possibility before us. It's the emotion that gets in the way, and that's just what they want! To knock us sideways and keep us despairing. I keep coming back to the idea of joy, which several commenters here have mentioned. No matter how small, let's keep to our joy. 💚
Really very disturbing stuff!! (And I do take an interest in the mystic types). But many of these end-of-worlders have been off the mark though, (wasn't it the Aztec calendar most recently?) plus the never-ending doom lead-up to Y2K, remember THAT, etc. But I agree, the fires, the plague, the non-stop environmental events are definitely not feeling random. It's the Book of Revelations on steroids. But truly, we cannot let our everyday lives be hijacked. We can't control any of this madness and I've definitely lost much sleep over it but once we've done what we can (and good for you for protesting!) we just have to keep on keeping on. It's not being passive or naive to do this. I'm in Canada and (about every three days) we alternate between frantic anxiety, despair and rage. It's all so unnecessary too. I wanted to make you feel a little better but now I think I feel worse, lol ... xo
Thanks for reading and commenting, Sue! It's true, the end-times prophecies have been wrong, it's somewhat of a comfort. I'm not actually worried about end-of-days - more so about widespread misery. I, and many others, have written about how we can't let them take our joy and - yes! Resist, but don't stop living. I'm sorry what we've done to you all in Canada. Most of us emphatically do not support this madness. I still don't understand how it's happened.
Yes thanks so much for this and rest assured that I understand - and resent - this entirely unnecessary misery only too well. I happened upon these words from RuPaul: "We can look at the darkness but we CANNOT stare at it."
(It's a longer quote that also suggests the importance of creating our own bits of joy but you get the idea).
Very simple but profound.
So next week, I will be trying my best not to stare.
We need to preserve Joy right now. Find joy in your everyday so we all have it to come back to when these dark times are over. Keep protesting, it's important for younger people to know they can disagree and standup for what they believe.
OMG yes, joy joy joy. I need to keep reminding myself. I even wrote about it a few years ago, in the midst of personal crisis, but I forget! I have a penpal in Germany and we've been exchanging lists of tiny bits of joy, just to remind us to notice. The world is a trial, but this is the one little life we get, so we may as well find the joy and beauty in it. Thanks for the reminder!
that’s such a lovely idea with your Penpal! Maybe we should have a page every Sunday where we share snippets of joy from our previous week!
I would love that! Sometimes it would just be a pencil or a candy or a moment of sunshine, but joy is joy. Maybe I'll think on how to make it a thing, because this community has brought me so much joy!
Baba Vanga certainly seems to have nailed it. The mystics always seem to know.
I’m with you in the fear, and now that the shock and awe is wearing off - I’m getting the strong sense that no one is coming to save us, our micro activism matters and now more than ever we must rely on each other to get through. I’d love to believe that there is a purpose for everything - even though it doesn’t make an ounce of sense. One day it will, I suppose?
Perhaps the Universe is making it all so painful and bringing the worst of humanity in plain view so that we take
action and change at all levels.
Love your zero f’s given writing. 🫶
Thanks for reading and commenting, Colleen! I love the perspective in your piece about navigating the chaos before the dawn - it gave me a little hope. This great upheaval could be a prelude to better things. My husband thinks it's good that the worst is up and out, the easier to clear it away. I just hope we can do it.
Absolutely agree with your Husband! I’m with you in holding onto hope! 💫
Ghaaagh, the emergency broadcast test system is channeling Baba Vanga!!! I don't think I believe in mystics or prophets, but I do believe in you and your reflections :)
I hope my panic is misplaced, but there are signs! 😬 Thanks for reading and commenting.
Walk, weed, wine, repeat. Cheers🍷
I can't, unfortunately, with the weed. (I wrote about it somewhere, maybe I'll add it to my SS.) The wine and the walk, though - good ideas. 🥂
I recall reading it on Medium!