Relating in new ways
on the energetics of mid-February.
First, a song to set the vibe:
Dear relatives,
This letter comes to you on a Wednesday, Mercury’s day, just off the New Moon in Aquarius and the Lunar New Year. If you celebrate Valentine’s Day, or if you believe that love is as much a feeling as it is a medicine, I send wishes for tender moments with those in your life who help you to feel seen. I’m also curious how the first New Moon in Aquarius—the sign that will house Pluto for the next 20 years—landed with you over the weekend. Did you experience any lightning-rod revelations, releases, or realness?
An update on the newsletter: The world, as we know it, is coming undone. I don’t see this as fatalistic, but it is a reality that thickens each day. I hope that this letter, from me to you, can be a space/catalyst/prayer/invocation/witness for the inevitable unfolding before us.
As we make our way from Midwinter to Spring, a new cycle unfolds. Under the energetic influence of transformation, I’ve gradually shifted to a different writing flow over the last few weeks. Last year, I was able to send out weekly missives, and as a result, a collection of work on nature writing emerged from it. I hope to get back to that level of frequency, and the key to getting there is honoring where I am right now. This will look like two letters every month, instead of four. Some months might yield the capacity (or necessity) for more. For the time being, you can expect a fresh note of care from me around every New Moon and Full Moon.
From the soil to the stars: Aquarius is often referred to as the Water Bearer, the Reformer, and the Prophet. Aquarius is well versed in the essential role of air in maintaining harmony in water cycles. Their maverick style can teach us about how to align the power of the mind with benevolent action; to stay alert to the use and abuse of our waterways; and to remain solid in creating new, more protective solutions. As our planet continues to heat up, and warm air gulps moisture from water sources, we are tasked with an opportunity to embody the essence of the one who bears water and collect ourselves amid a turning tide.
Yesterday, as Mars merged with Pluto in Aquarius, I had the opportunity to listen to a live conversation between Cyrée Jarelle Johnson and Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha. Their chat, “My Practice Will Be Political or It Will Be Bullshit: Roots of Tarot for Liberation,” centered on the embodied reality of sustaining a healing practice in the midst of searing pain and attempts at erasure. Listening to them talk about their lifelong, ancestral healing justice practices, and the history that has shaped their work as healing artisans, felt like an elixir. It is medicine that was right in time.
Their discussion felt apropos on a personal level, and also collectively. On Saturday, February 17, Venus will join Mars and Pluto and the trio will open up a chance to consider our most intimate and complicated bonds. Perspective can be gained the more we are willing to hold solid ground and not look away from what is hard to see and sit with. While these stars sit closely together in Aquarius, we can ideate new ways of relating to ourselves and each other. We can also nurture the connections and communities that hold us through struggle and choose to honor our rage, our grief, and our love as sacred.
Transitions and Collaborations: This year, I am dedicating more time to one-to-one sessions. For most of my working life, I’ve always offered group workshops and facilitation in some form. When I first started my healing arts practice in 2011, I continued to do so alongside individual sessions. Last year, I moved into the role of Board president with an organization I’ve worked with for three years. We provide ongoing support for survivors, violence prevention, and restorative justice. I am thankful that I get to do this important work with amazing people.
In light of this, I’m recalibrating other aspects of my work, which, for now, will be offering more individual sessions. If you’ve come to a gathering, either group Breathwork or an Inner Ecology workshop, I thank you for the opportunity to offer support. I will continue to offer these gatherings in some capacity, including through my current commitments, collaborations, and engagements. I have some additional ideas in mind and will share more as I land on the best route.
In the meantime, if you’d like to work with me, I invite you to learn more about my offerings here. You can also reach out if you’d like to collaborate here.
A question that I am sitting with this week: What are the bonds, ideas, or emotions that I desire to care for in a racially different way?
I look forward to reading your thoughts in the comments.
With gratitude,
C