Hi Reader,

This month's insights did not come easily. I closed this screen as many times as I opened it, hoping something would relevant would emerge. All that came was grief.

I've said it before: this is a moment of collective grief.

How do we stay present to the moment when it's painful? I have no easy answers and can only assure you that I am wondering alongside you.

I just finished watching Fall of the House of Usher on Netflix and came out of it feeling distrubed. Mike Flanagan's take on some of Edgar Allen Poe's most popular works using Big Pharma and the opioid epidemic as a backdrop was more bleak than the original gothic horror could have ever achieved. The cast of characters left me worried about capitalism and what a world without pain means under our current system.

**Spoilers ahead**

In one particularly poignant scene, Madeline Usher (Mary McDonnell) monologues her nihilistic view of the the world. Throughout the scene, I couldn't help but wonder how many conversations like that happen over dinner tables and in conference rooms across the world. Her lack of empathy/sympathy is the true horror. If given the chance, she and her brother Roderick (Bruce Greenwood) would have made the same choice: to become billionaires on top of "a pyramid of corpses."​

This is the goal of capitalism laid bare.

I don't think a world without pain is possible. As long as humans have bodies and hearts, they will be breakable. I do believe that pain, when shared in loving community, can be soothed so that it is bearable. Pain doesn't have to end us.

When healing and justice are centered in our work, we can focus on repairing the harm caused by an injury instead of pressing the wound, opening it repeatedly to find answer. Instead of asking how we can punish people for inflicting harm, we can ask how our community can facilitate healing.

I hope the month ahead brings you moments of rest, healing, and joy.

Taj

Currently Reading:

*This section may contain affiliate links through bookshop.org. I only recommend media that I think is worth your time and energy.*

The Best of All Possible Worlds by Karen Lord Our take: Like easy-listening jazz for readers, this book is understated in its complexity while still being a fun sci-fi adventure. At times, the writing feels lackluster but the story doesn't disappoint. The main characters clash in the most delightful ways and the world Lord illustrates feels alien yet familiar. If you don't mind occasional anachronisms in your sci-fi and are looking for something easily digestable to take your mind off the world we live in, this is a good choice. ​ Rating: Worth checking out ​ Check It Out!

Rating Scale: Don't bother, Meh, Pretty OK, Worth checking out, Definitely worth it!

Events, News, & Updates

Rooted. Rested. Resilient Workshop Monday, Dec 4 | 12-1 pm EST Social change can’t happen without people, and people must be well enough to act. Rooted, Rested, Resilient presents a 3-pronged approach to reimagining movement cultures to align more with activists’ physical, spiritual, and emotional needs. In our hour together, participants will gain a framework to help them make change in a rooted, rested, and resilient way. Join the movement for rooted, rested, and resilient movements! Join Us!

Monthly Community Support Calls The last Friday of each month* 3-4 pm EST | 12-1 pm PST Join us on the last Friday of each month for honest conversations about burnout and community-building. These monthly calls are free and open to everyone in the Rooted Respite community. Upcoming Call: December 22 RSVP Now *Unless otherwise listed

​

​

68 Harrison Ave Ste 605 PMB 55739, Boston, MA 02111-1929
​Unsubscribe · Preferences​