I began writing this article a few weeks back and put it down repeatedly.
What to say amidst the harmful US policy changes from oligarchs and fascists?
My self-care protocols usually serve me well. They still serve me well: grounding, filling with vital life force, expanding, buffering … plus, various spiritual practices.
And yet, the jittery energy that abounds (not just in me) is … A LOT.
Plus, people like Starhawk and Rebecca Solnit offer so much for navigating these times. What can I add?
Inspiration!
Ecologist and eco-fiction writer Nina Munteanu posted “When A Beech Tree Lights the World—A Tree Study: What the Beech Tree Can Teach Us.” I learned a new word:
Marcescence
Beech hold onto their copper leaves through the winter while most deciduous trees drop theirs.
Perhaps you saw our exchange in Bluesky. I asked How might we all be marcescent among the social/political forest?
If you’ve read my novel, The Working, or taken classes with me, you know I work a lot with brightness. This is not the same as practices that look only to the light or are wishful and focus all on “positive” energy. Brightness is about shaping our energy for greatest effect in the world. It’s about interconnection.
One of the Old Ones (Elders) in my story ask the coven to picture the sun drawn as a circle lined with rays.
“If your drawing has but four rays, your sun would appear dim alongside one with fifty rays. You brighten as you extend more threads from your core, which happens as you relate with other beings. [In a time when] all living beings, including humans, relate with one another, the Web [of Life] is dense with connections and sparkles with bright energy.”
She goes on to say that people who hold tightly to their energy grow dim and affect the health of the Web of Life.
We can’t all be bright constantly
But since we are an interconnected Web, we don’t all need to be at once. Interconnections among all Earth kin (not just humans) helps us be resilient. The brightness moves through the Web as a wave. Sometimes we catch it and brighten. Sometimes we find inspiration and begin a wave.
Consider: how can you light the winter landscape like the Beech?
Notice what helps you catch the wave and grow brighter. Notice how you feel and move when you are bright. Do you have more energy for action? For growing community? For creating?
In my recent workshops, we worked with the notion of pausing and observing before acting. Witnessing and noticing context. Perhaps you are more in this phase at the moment.
Be ready. That may change at any time. Be open to inspiration. Notice the wave of brightness draw near.
Take a deep breath and catch the wave!
Other stuff
I hope my post offers you some brightness. Sure helps me to read and write solarpunk, and to connect with others!
Two recent interviews and a podcast with me posted in the past few weeks–these lifted me, especially hearing from so many that the conversations inspired you.
My daily practice:
If you are in the Delaware or Lehigh Valley area, join me on Saturday at Doylestown Bookshop where I’ll be connecting and signing books.
See my Schedule for other upcoming wonderfulness. I’m especially looking forward to offering a Solarpunk workshop at Sacred Space Conference in late March.
For bright futures!