the national shutdown.

Today is the National Shutdown.

My heart is heavy at the many layers of injustice we have all had to witness and experience *to get to this point*.

As usual, I 100% empathize and agree with the feelings of powerlessness, frustration, and anger that we are experiencing as a collective.

I also deeply connect with the readiness to transmute those feelings into real ACTION.

However, also as usual, I don’t think the actions proposed will yield desired results.

Resistance IS necessary.

And still, much of what we call resistance is born inside the Story of Separation (term coined by Charles Eisenstein).

It sounds like us versus them.

It searches for a villain.

It hungers for punishment.

Of course, it’s important to restrain people from causing harm to themselves or others. YES, this is important.

However, in what spirit are we doing this?

Are we doing this as a loving mother, father, sibling, friend lovingly restraining them with tears in our own eyes, as we fervently try to remind them of who they really are?

This is the spirit of Ubuntu, an outgrowth of the Story of Interbeing (SOI - also coined by Charles Eisenstein).

Or are we doing this as hateful avenger, seeing them as the Devil himself, worthy only of dehumanizing punishment and death?

This is the spirit of the Story of Separation.

I remember what it felt like to need to enforce boundaries with someone I was close to.

I remember how much it hurt.

I also remember that every time I interfaced with police, lawyers, judges and even victim advocates, I knew that THIS was not the “justice” I was seeking.

I wanted healing, not dehumanizing punishment.

I wanted restoration, not separation.

Hmmmm. While I’m at it, I dedicate this piece to everyone who’s ever in their lives been ravaged by domestic violence.

Whether witnessing it, being the victim of it, or being the perpetrator of it.

You are seen. You are held. You are love. (no, that’s not a typo)

Both then and now, my choice is to live as “kin” to all life that makes up Earth. Human and non-human.

This is the way of the global villager, and to me, it feels affirming.

I couldn’t lean into the SOS again now if I tried.

I’m biased; I see this path as requiring far more humility, courage, strength, integrity and wisdom than the path of the dying SOS.

And you? What do you see? What were the responses in your body as you read this? I’d love to read below.

In gratitude,

Deborah.