I took two weeks off from the newsletter because I found it hard to write about anything. I’m glad to be back, feeling tender as ever, but knowing that this place and this growing community is so worth nurturing.
We’ll have our Friday Five in order this week, but today, I’m sharing a poem I’ve been returning to lately, Cameron Awkward-Rich’s Meditations in an Emergency. The first and last lines are the ones I repeat to myself over and over again.
I read this immediately after I learned about Camp Mystic, the young girls’ summer camp hit by flooding in Texas and the quiet beauty of these words hit me harder than they ever have. Mentally, my hand is on my stupid heart as I move through the world with a mixture of grief and awe consuming me these days.
And here’s another meditation I turn to — not as often as I would like, but just knowing it’s there helps too. There’s a form of meditation called mettā or maitrī, which best translates in English as loving-kindness. You first practice it towards yourself, and then turn it towards others around you, as it’s much easier to extend love and compassion to others once we’ve done so ourselves.
You can start with a few breaths in and out, or just ruminate on these phrases — either in your head or aloud. Focus on yourself first:
May I be happy. May I be well. May I be safe. May I be peaceful and at ease.
With someone close to you in mind:
May you be happy. May you be well. May you be safe. May you be peaceful and at ease.
With anyone in mind, whether that’s someone who has wronged you or someone you don’t know but are thinking of, or a group of people who might need some love right now:
May you be happy. May you be well. May you be safe. May you be peaceful and at ease.
Repeat as many times as needed or whenever it feels right to you.
See you on Friday,
Roya
❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for all of this <3