Washington Coast, Pacific Ocean| © Nicole Bratt 2020
Dear friends,
Hello from a tiny town next to a big ocean. I am here for on annual self-guided solitude retreat, where I spend delicious amounts of time in silence (save the soundtrack of ocean waves & rain), soul tending, and dreaming up the coming year of offerings for you.
A new year has arrived with reminders – both inspiring (Wow, Georgia!) and horrible (the attempted coup) – that we remain on the ragged, living edge of (r)evolution, and there is much work to do.
I, myself, have been recently reflecting (again) on why we rest. Why do I so passionately advocate and hold space multiple times a week, week after week, for our community to rest? Why rest when it is clear that there continues to be so much need for action?!
The answer is in the question(s).
Because rest is necessary to sustain action.
Because rest is necessary to ensure that action is effective and relevant.
Because if we are to be change agents, it is imperative that we know our why before we can discern the what!
Because without rest, we cannot expect to heal, thrive, and live into this better world towards which we are working.
Action takes energy. Effective action also takes focus, groundedness, and integrity. How can we be in alignment with our actions, if we have not taken the time to center ourselves, discern what it is we deeply desire (or about which we are deeply upset), and reflect upon the ways in which we might be most empowered at this moment in time? How can we renew and recharge our energy if we do not rest well and often?
Sure, we can all flail around in upset, doom scroll, obsess over the endless news cycle, and rant to whomever will listen. However, when I catch myself engaged in this behavior, I ask: "Of what benefit is this reaction? What change am I making here and now, embroiled in my upset?" The answer is none, save adding to the cacophony.
Becoming quiet and embodied, allows us to listen to our inner wisdom before returning to the external world where our action is needed. It allows us to witness where our own blind spots are and inner healing is needed. It allows us to find our personal why, and then choose wise, purposeful action.
If we truly are to be positive change agents, advocates for a just, healed, compassionate world for ourselves, our families, communities, descendants (related or not!), and all living beings – which I think is at the crux of why we humans exist – then we must consistently practice finding our own source, our own inner voice of wisdom, our own discernment. We must become skilled at listening, at compassion, at prioritizing healing. To do this, we must start from within.
When well rested, we have the ability to create a sustainable cycle of transformation in ourselves and for the prosperity of all living beings – it is imperative, on-going work.
It is the ultimate in collective community care when we ourselves take time to rest AND advocate and support others in their rest and healing practices. How can we create more consistent opportunities for rest in our own lives? How might we support others in finding their spaces, times, and resources for rest?
I'm glad you are here.
Rest well,
Nicole