Real Love is Soulful, cyclical, non-linear, and often messy. Real Love is spacious and inclusive and it will reveal us to ourselves, if we allow it to. Real Love gives rise more of the same, for to Love deeply in one direction, is to strengthen the presence of this holy force in all other areas of life as well. I am learning this. I am remembering this. I am willing this to be so — personally, politically, and in ways that are deeply private as well.
Love and Compassion are but two faces belonging to the same ancient Muse. True Compassion is boundless, and all-encompassing and it is fiercest of all when extended unconditionally to those who’ve hurt us most.
I believe in action and I believe in resistance, and I also believe that holding a space of sincere prayer and of unconditional loving kindness for all beings–most especially those who harm us–is, perhaps, the most foundational practice for true resistance. This does not mean that we accept or even tolerate the abuse, or the atrocities, but simply that we understand and remember that Love feeds Love, and that violence, whether overt or subtle, feeds violence. And I am working this out within myself still, for this belief presents a great many murky waters to navigate, especially as someone who holds a significant degree privilege in this culture. I am an able-bodied, middle class, femme-presenting, white woman. And I see it as my role, ultimately, to listen right now, and to stay curious about how I can stand in solidarity with others who hold less privilege than I do. But I do believe, that no matter how I, or anyone chooses to resist, that if we allow that resistance to come from a place of care and empathy, not only for ourselves, but for those who cause us harm as well, that we will be more effective by far than if we allow that same resistance to be born of a place of fear and hatred for that which we deem, other.
