i do not suffer… on standing up and speaking out

photo credit: Al-Jazeera

it is now officially winter according to the Celtic calendar. Samhain (“SAHwen”), the holy day marking the first day of winter in the northern hemisphere and halfway point between Fall Equinox (the zenith of autumn) and Winter Solstice (the height of winter), fell on November first. in what is often a time of quieting and inwardness, i am heartbroken (but not at all surprised) at the growing number of disturbing events occurring in our world.

it’s been over 40 days since the latest horrors have rocked Palestine and Israel. to be honest, it didn’t really register deeply for me until i read this post by one of my favorite musicians, Nessi Gomes, about the death of her husband’s brother. it shook loose any protective ignorance i’d built around my heart and mind. then i saw a post by my friend Daniel who i’ve relied heavily on these last few weeks as a thoughtful and caring resource for good information. here are some of his recent words: Another day of active US backed genocide today. The same ratio of killing (mostly civilians and kids) in the U.S. would equate to 1.6 millions Americans (one in 200). But these are Arabs, these are browner people, they are Muslims (even though not all are, if anyone's counting). Even our "far left" politicians like Sanders (Jewish fwiw) can't call for a ceasefire (not that Israel is exactly responsive). Praise to Rashida Tlaib. So...another day of US bombs you and I (Americans) purchased carrying out a genocide. It's on us. As Americans, it's very especially on us.

since then i’ve been reading as much news as my nervous system can metabolize about this utterly heartbreaking situation. (at the very bottom of this blog, you can find links to some articles and other online resources which have kept me updated on what’s happening and also allowed me take heartfelt action.) i also re-read a very important little book On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder. i cannot recommend it enough. here’s the introduction to chapter 8, ”Stand Out”:  Someone has to. It is easy to follow along. It can feel strange to do or say something different. But without that unease, there is no freedom. Remember Rosa Parks. The moment you set an example, the spell of the status quo is broken, and others will follow.

in my humble opinion, this moment is not about taking sides. we have enough of that already. it’s about standing out. it’s about speaking up. for peace, kindness and love. that said, just because i am wholeheartedly in favor of a cease fire by Israel, it does not mean i support Hamas or anti-semitic violence. it does not mean i am in favor of terrorism. what i am in favor of is a third way, a way of both parties stopping and saying, “i will do no more harm, regardless of what’s been done to me.”

as someone who cares deeply about humanity and our world, i cannot remain silent. too much is at stake. i must urge myself and others to “stand out” in ways which feel authentic and supportive to each of us.

with the flood of news and opinions, i struggled with what to do in the face of yet again more war, death and misery. should i stand on the street with a sign? should i attend a march in a nearby city? would that be helpful? what can i offer? how can i speak a truth which is non-polarizing but honors the incredible pain of this moment? how can i use my gifts to bring more peace to the world? as i was praying for right action in response to the unfolding tragedy (a mild word for it), some poems came through. one is below these words; another is here. i hope they offer you some solace or stir you to consider what you, too, can offer.

to be completely transparent, i am keenly aware (and even concerned) that what i share here may cause some of you to unsubscribe to my email list and/or to lose “friends” or followers on social media. it may even affect me in terms of losing possible sales from my new book or potential clients. i can’t “afford” those losses. but i have a duty to say something. i must use my voice. on an ongoing basis…. what other choice can i make?

may we all know we are loved, no matter what. may we all be free from suffering, whether we are receiving harm or causing it. may we all know great joy and deep peace. and may this coming holiday season bring miracles beyond our wildest dreams for our human family to truly awaken. may we be grateful for all we have, for those of us who are able to live without war and oppression have so very much. happy Thanksgiving (or Takes-giving, more aptly). happy holy-days.

with love and blessings always, ayreÁnna

i do not suffer

i do not suffer

over this. at least, not in

the ways most would think.

oh yes, i am sad.

sadder than i already

was. but this numbing

grief, this dull ache in

my belly as the horror,

the predictable

outrageous horror,

of yet more atrocities

unfolding before

my eyes is not my

suffering. it would be rude,

to say the least, when

those who are left to

pick up the pieces of the

lives they once knew and

those whose souls may be

adrift in some strange limbo place

unsure of what just

happened, are shattered

more than i can possibly

imagine. they are

the ones who suffer.

i can only lay claim to

a kind of distant

empathy, a soft,

muted embrace which will not

likely ever be

felt by those who are

truly suffering. i can

only offer my

tears and my silent

prayers, hopeful and jaded

all in the same breath,

that someday (sooner

would be nice) we will finish

these nightmare cycles

of retribution,

hatred and war. i suffer

only because we

continue not to

learn that we are more alike

than we believe, that

we could walk way

from all of this if we were

willing to listen

to each other, to

be curious about one

another, to put

aside our perceived

differences and reclaim

our humanity.

RE:sources to learn more & support peace in Israel & Palestine:

other RE:sources…

RE:pairing, poetryayreÁnna Rosssuffering, stand up, speaking up, speak out, ceasefireComment