Repairing the World

Hi beautiful souls,

What a week, what a time, in this world of ours. I shared some of my very raw thoughts and hopes in light of the anti-Semitic shooting in Pittsburgh here. Admittedly, as a Jewish woman, this shook me hard. This is my story, but this is not new. Every single day people are taunted, harmed and killed for what they were born into. Lives are on the line. Black lives. Brown lives. Indigenous lives. Muslim lives. Jewish lives. LGBTQIA+ lives. Disabled lives. Refugee and migrant lives. The list goes on. These are not statistics and stories. There are real people. Like me. Like you.

I don’t believe turning away from it or simply "love + light"-ing over it is the answer. I am deeply spiritual and believe strongly in the power of prayer and meditation, but it needs to be backed up with tangible words and action. Grace responds to effort. 

Alive deeply in me now is one of the guiding lights of my own culture, the notion of Tikkun Olam. Tikkun Olam means repairing the world, actively working to bring it to a state of harmony which is it’s inherent nature. This includes action and justice, particularly for those who are marginalized. Tikkun Olam places the responsibility for repairing what is broken on us. We're here to bring back the harmony that is the true nature of creation. What an opportunity!
 

How do we bring in the harmony?

It is so easy to look away. To forget. To prioritize your comfort over other’s pain. And that is what hurts my heart the most. When you are, please grieve. When you are hurting, please take care of you first and foremost.

But if you have been looking away, from the depths of my heart, please see.Open your eyes. Open your hearts. Do not turn away. Hold your loved ones close. Reach out to your friends when hate crimes occur. Do your work to unpack the biases held within you. Speak up when you hear jokes or taunts about others. Spend your privilege. Use your voice. Use your vote. Pray. March. Cry. Love. Pay attention to what is happening in the world. Pay attention to what is happening within you. Take care of yourself. Take care of others. Take care of the earth.
 
Know that there is no darkness too big for our light. There is no hate too big for our love. But we need to actively bring this light into the world. We need to tangibly demonstrate this love.

Show up for your healing so you can show up for the world’s healing. See your shadow so you can see the world’s shadow. Show up with love and care for yourself so you can show up with love and care for all who walk this earth. Show up for the suffering in the ways your soul guides you. Rest when and how you need, but please do not sleep on us. Please do not turn your back.

In the words of Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.”

Past the heaviness, there is hope

Yes, things are heavy in our world. But past the heaviness, there is hope. The shadows may be strong, but I also see so much light flooding in. I believe it is a gift to be born in this time, for ourselves and the history that is being written. Here we have the greatest opportunity to heal our wounds. Here we have the greatest opportunity to expand to our highest potential.
 
Many opportunities to come together for healing this month. If you're seeking community support and ideas for action, join for a free community healing circletonight. If you're seeking your own deep healing, join for the New Moon Circle(in Scorpio - the energies are potent for healing!) this Tuesday or a private healing session (you can book here). If you're feeling extra-sensitive, join for the Art of Energy on November 19 to learn how to stay grounded, protected and keep your light shining bright in these trying times. And of course, regular yoga + meditation classes are still on!

What is your soul seeking? The world is seeking that too. What needs healing in you? The world needs that too. What did you come here to do? The world is waiting for you. Your work, your voice, and your presence are integral to all our evolution. If you turn away from yourself and humanity, we all lose. If you show up for yourself and humanity, we all win.
 
Which side of history - yours and the world’s - will you be on?
 
With love,
ayah