It's been awhile since I sent a love letter to you. I've been busy attempting to write love letters to myself as waves of grief surface and move through. How many of us take the time we need to process grief that seems to come from all directions these days? How many of us can afford to stop and take that time?
One of the many reasons I chose to pursue craniosacral therapy as my main modality was that it allows us time to connect to our nervous systems, to take a "magical nap" as one colleague put it, and let a trusted professional tune in to our body and help support the inherent wisdom we each hold. As more of us have unexplainable auto-immune disorders, as more young people get cancer, as we withdraw into our solo bubbles to attempt to heal what I see are collective wounds, do we produce more of the same?
How can I, a person in grief, still connect to my friends, my family, and my neighbors to offer and receive support? How can we take tiny steps towards each other when we feel like shit, when we don't have the energy to feed ourselves, or make the house clean enough for "company," when childcare falls through, when we have chores to do but also need a hug, or someone to cry with, or want to hold a baby. Can we ask for help, change that stinky diaper, do a friend's load of dishes, or make their aging parents a pot of soup as well?
What I'm asking is, since our village structure is broken and we emerged from a pandemic into a recession during multiple genocides under an increasingly fascist government, what are we rebuilding and dreaming of?
I don't have answers today. I am very much in the dark tunnel that I hope is a birth canal. I'm simply recognizing a collective hunger for more of that connection and support, but many don't have the tools, energy or direction to create something long lasting.
I had the privilege to grow up in an intentional interracial housing cooperative in the lands of the Peoria, Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk, Kaskaski, Kickapoo, Myaamia, and Očhéthi Šakówin, built in part by my mother's parents. I lived in a village. Many people I encounter don't know what that feels like. Maybe they've gotten a taste of it at a festival, or encampment, or week long gathering or retreat. It's certainly still alive in many parts of the world, and small towns across Turtle Island. Some part of us knows it can be created or revived and we feel it's loss. So I'm meditating with that loss right now. No answers, just observing the grief.
One of my practices in hard times is to gently, reverently observe my blessings. This brings me to the joy right now. I was able to rent a space in the Common Ground Wellness Cooperative Saturday and Sunday mornings! It's a light comfortable room with good energy. Here's a link to book a session. For extra lush self-care why not do a bodywork sandwich and soak 30 min before and after... yum!
I still offer care Wednesdays at my beautiful NE Portland clinic space and am beginning to do group drop in 5NP auricular acupuncture treatments for PTSD, stress and addiction Wednesdays 12:30-1:30! So if you and your besties want to chill out for an hr during your work day you can book that here! These are super affordable sessions and I can accommodate 6-8 people in the hour. I recommend you book once a week for a month to witness the cumulative effects. Sliding scale $5-20/person This treatment has helped my life in so many ways and is in lineage with the inspiring revolutionary community health care seeded in the South Bronx by the Black Panthers and Puerto Rican Young Lords. I've been trained in the 5NP since 2009, and am happy to be able to finally give this out more freely to community after my recertification and legalization by the Oregon Medical Board this year! If you and your 6 buddies want a fully masked session feel free to DM and we can book something!
Air purifier is always on in my spaces. Feel free to wear a mask if you like.
Gratitude to those of you who have contributed to the BIMPoC and low income scholarship fund by paying at the top of the sliding scale, I was able to offer a few discounted sessions this year as well as my first house call to a disabled client! Thank you so much. Please pass the word along to folks who might want to donate or get on a waiting list for care.
Reminder that I am still offering 2 free practice sessions per person as I work on learning new skills of myofascial therapy.
Lastly, coming very soon to the store is my stone & elemental essence called "the joining." It's a great one for those of us that have a difficult time feeling a sense of belonging in this world. For those of us in diaspora, in mixed culture families, in longing for wholeness while feeling in-between, this essence helps to join the parts of our being that feel separate and allow us to see ourselves as whole beautiful beings intricately and intentionally linked to the earth and to each other. Keep an eye on my online shop for that one.
Please be gentle with yourself this week. Hope to see you soon. To sign up for these newsletters in your inbox click here!