We are the Land and we are the Storm

We are the Land and we are the Storm. We are the waters of life. We are only here because of what has died to feed us, to love us. We belong to each other.

I want to say thank you for your kind wishes on my birthday June 13th. I am humbly awed by the quiet, soft potency of a birthday that always seems to present itself with unplanned healing rituals in nature with kindred family that shows up. Last year I spent my birthday with one of my dearest friends, Maharlika, who came from afar to visit me, celebrate me, dream and scheme about many creative projects with me. This year on my birthday, in union with her worldwide community I sang to her in honor of her sudden crossing of the threshold, her reunion with the Beloved. I had yet to experience a best friend pass, and so suddenly, so fast. As my tears flowed that morning, the morning of my birth / the mourning of her death, I was able to submerge myself in sacred hot spring waters - merge with all of life. Later, friends hosted a picnic for me at the river, where prayers were made and these dear ones fed me and held me as more tears flowed into the river. Shortly after, thunderous rains appeared: a cherished blessing seen by all desert dwelling creatures. We held our picnic blankets over our heads and read poetry to each other under our fort in the summer downpour.

We are the land and we are the Storm. We are the waters of life. We are only here because of what has died to feed us, to love us. We belong to each other. I will keep living with even greater creativity and joy for Maharlika Sage and all she gave me in her short time.

It’s been a year of the greatest trials, deepest losses, hardest lessons yet. As I’m taught how to build my capacity to hold the polarities of this life : birth-death, sorrow-joy, darkness-light, fear-love, grief-praise : to hold and feel both extremes and to also hold and be held by the neutral, the abiding, the field... within this process I ask for your patience. I ask for your forgiveness for any way I may have hurt you or lost touch with you, and your process. As I recalibrate, reorient, rebuild, return home to myself, once again, I thank you for your love, and your life