Grounding For Social Action

This brief practice is intended to prepare you for social action. Whether you are heading to the school board meeting, writing an op-ed, participating in a rally, serving as a peace keeper, calling or visiting your representatives, all methods of standing up for what you believe in and being willing to confront the systems that jeopardize our individual and collective health, safety, and autonomy are imperative.

This practice will imbue you with the strength and ground you for action.

Transcript

I'd like to start this practice by sharing my deep gratitude for the action that you are preparing to take.

Whether you are headed to the school board meeting,

Writing an op-ed,

Participating in a rally,

Serving as a peacekeeper,

Calling or visiting your representatives,

All methods of standing up for what you believe in and being willing to confront the systems that jeopardize our individual and collective health,

Safety,

And autonomy are imperative,

And you have stepped up for yourself,

For your community,

And ultimately for humanity.

From the bottom of my heart,

I thank you.

Please take a moment to find a posture that makes you feel powerful,

A stance that imbues your being with strength,

With confidence,

With hope.

As you find this position,

Start to notice your breath.

Inhaling deeply,

You bring in the energy of resistance.

As you breathe out,

Exhale stagnation,

Fear,

Defeat.

Again,

Breathe in hope,

Courage,

Defiance.

Exhale anxiety and trepidation.

One more time,

Deeply inhale that which you need.

Exhale that which you wish to be rid of.

I invite you now to bring your awareness to the ground below you.

Upon this ground walked all the ancestors who have fought before you,

The indigenous peoples,

The enslaved peoples,

The immigrants,

The great lineage of social justice warriors.

You are not alone.

Allow the energy of those who came before us to fortify you.

Whether your personal family has been in this fight for generations,

Or you were the first in your family to confront the injustice you see in the world,

You are not alone.

Carry with you the strength of conviction and the love of those who came before you.

As Angela Davis said,

I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change.

I am changing the things I cannot accept.

Bearing the armor of our ancestors,

Allow your heart to open to the action you are to take.

Think of those whom you intend to stand with in solidarity.

Hold in your heart their courage,

Their wisdom,

The undeniable beauty of their souls.

Allow the love you feel for these humans to be your compass.

No matter what opposition you may face,

Allow this love to shine through you.

As we bring this practice to a close,

I again wish to thank you from the bottom of my heart.

May you be heard.

May you be influential.

May you be safe.

All of my love to you.