Happiest Martin Luther King Day-- Come Walk with Me....

Hello Beautifuls, today Lake Tahoe Mindfulness Community met for an evening sunset walk and practiced walking with our spiritual ancestor, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I hope your day was as insightful as ours. Here's a tribute poem that was read before we practiced, enjoy:

Martin Luther King Mindfulness Walk
January 19, 2015 at Paradise Park, Meyers, CA
©Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

“Even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow,
I still have a dream.

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up
and live out the true meaning of its creed,
‘We hold these truths to be self-evident
that all men and women are created equal….’” *

I have a dream today,
come walk with me and embody:
persistence, bravery, equality, leadership,
tender justice, forgiveness and mercy.

Let us walk as a free people
and allow our freedom to ring--
“….When we let it ring from every village and every hamlet,
from every state and every city,
we will be able to speed up the day when all God’s children--
black, white, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics—
will be able to join hands and sing…
‘Free at last!
Free at last!
Thank God Almighty,
we are free at last!’” *

*Adapted from Martin Luther King, Jr’s, “I Have a Dream” speech, delivered August 28, 1963 in Washington, D.C.

Freedom Singers, Sing!

I've had the great fortune to listen to an inspiring On Being interview with late, great Civil Rights elder, Vincent Harding, in the aftermath of the presidential election last week. He spoke of his experiences as part of the Freedom Movement during 1960's and the role of spiritual communities in making last change (Yay, LTMC!). He offers wisdom and encouragement for America in this time of division and upheaval. He poses the question,

What would America's "best self" be like? *

In LTMC this week, we spoke of volition--one's deepest aspiration--and how wholesome desires can serve as a source of nourishment and happiness in our lives. Might the answers to the above question serve to clarify one's volition? Throughout Vincent Harding's interview, Freedom Songs were interwoven, anthems that focused and united the beloved community in Martin Luther King's era. I've been singing them nonstop this week, and they've been the best practice companions! Here's my favorite one:

Woke Up This Morning

Mr. Harding reminds us that spiritual vision is a vital ingredient for positive social change. He defined spiritual vision as the innate truth that every life is sacred and this value becomes the guiding light for peaceful non-violent action. Spiritual vision was the Freedom Movement's volition under the guidance of Martin Luther King. Mr. Harding posits that spiritual vision is often lacking in present day movements, as is a community that practices and lives compassion, peace and non-violence.

Where there is no vision the people perish." **

Community and spiritual vision were the foundation of the Freedom Singers, their voices called all those embroiled in conflict, including those acting in violent opposition, to recognize the sacredness of life. They sang mindfully--

"I'm walking and talking with my mind stayed on freedom...."

Martin Luther King's freedom movement is a modern day inspiration for our modern age. Alongside my personal North Star of compassion, is compassion's companion--Freedom. Can we practice our volition to live a free and wholesome life, responding to any resistance in ourselves or in others with loving care? Can we sing ourselves and our community back home when they've gone astray? Yes, most certainly, yes.

Inner Constellation Truth #2 speaks to how we are to do this--Energy never dies, it just changes form. A compassionate America is alive today because of the sacrifices and wisdom of visionary elders who walked their talk, sang their songs of commitment and used their imagination and voice to guide themselves and others in the direction of freedom. These Veterans of Hope can serve as role models in embodying peace, happiness and freedom for ourselves, our loved ones and our communities.


*Is America Possible? A Letter to My Young Companions on the Journey of Hope, Vincent Harding
** Proverbs 29:18

Martin Luther King, Jr. STILL gives me goosebumps...

Happy MLK day IC peeps! As is my MLK holiday tradition, I just finished listening to MLK's "I have a dream..." speech. It's by far one of the top 10 speeches in American history in my humble opinion, a close first to Abraham Lincoln's, Gettysburg Address, "Four score and seven years ago...." which in fact highly influenced MLK's dream speech written one hundred years later as he built upon Lincoln's 1863 unheard of proposition that "all men are created equal." MLK is a prime example of a man who pursued his North Star with great devotion and diligence. I highlighted him last year in a MLK Freedom Series blog article.

Even though MLK's physical form is gone, his merits, words and ideals are far from dead (IC Truth #2 Energy never dies it just changes form)--I still get goosebumps listening to him, especially these lines:

• "In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force."

• "There are those who are asking...'When will you be satisfied!'....No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream."

The first quote is a beautiful reminder to conduct oneself by LIVING his or her highest ideals (North Stars), which for MLK and the civil rights devotees were justice and freedom for all. The second quote is a beautiful visual using the metaphor of nature, which is 100% equanimous, always, no exception. 

May you remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. today and be inspired and filled with his goodness, his mercy and his belief in things yet unseen. In thanksgiving, how might you--"...allow freedom to ring--when we let it ring from every city and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last, Free at last, Great God a-mighty, We are free at last."

Martin Luther King ~ North Star of Equality Shines Bright

It's been a long time since writing in the "Freedom Series" category of this blog, and I know--I've highlighted MLK before but by far he's one of my favorites, so I'm extolling his praises again! I'm presently reading his book: Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community and this story struck me as clearly defining a major driving force in MLK's life, his aspiration or in Inner Constellation language~his North Star:

...a group of us packed into four automobiles and made our way to that desolate spot on Hwy 51 where James Meredith had been shot the day before. So began the second stage of the Meredith Mississippi Freedom March. As we walked down the meandering highway in the sweltering heat, there was much talk and many questions were raised. 

"I'm not for that  nonviolence stuff any more," shouted one of the younger activists.

"If one of these damn white Mississippi crackers touches me, I'm gonna knock the hell out of him," shouted another.

Later on a discussion of the composition of the march came up.

"This should be an all-black march," said one marcher. "We don't need any more white phonies and liberals invading our movement. This is our march."

Once during the afternoon we stopped to sing, "We Shall Overcome." The voices rang out with all the traditional fervor, the glad thunder and gentle strength that had always characterized the singing of this noble song. But when we came to the stanza which speaks of "black and white together," the voices of a few of the marchers were muted. I asked them later why they refused to sing that verse. The retort was:

"This is a new day, we don't sing those words any more. In fact, the whole song should be discarded. Not 'We Shall Overcome,' but 'We Shall Overrun.'"

As I listened to all these comments, the words fell on my ears like strange music from a foreign land. My hearing was not attuned to the sound of such bitterness. I guess I should not have been surprised....I should have been reminded that disappointment produces despair and despair produces bitterness, and that the one thing certain about bitterness is its blindness. Bitterness has not the capacity to make the distinction between some and all." *

Equality shines bright in our hero Martin Luther King, Jr. May we, as his continuation, strive toward a freedom that sees not gender, race, sexual preference, financial status, class, political party or any other contrived divisions but rather practices this sole desire ~ for all beings everywhere to live unmolested and in peace.

Happy MLK day everyone. 


   * Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? on sale for $7.68 (Amazon) consider adding this classic to your North Star library

Fruit of Independence Day!

Happy July 4th everyone! As I type, I'm kicking it in the backyard sanctuary with Martin Luther King Jr's book, "Stride Toward Freedom," on my left and my journal on my right, and bloggin' it up in the middle! It's a good 4th so far. July's theme was the suggestion--fruit. This theme came up after we went on a wildflower walking meditation as a community. The flower fruit was popping and we were fortunate enough to soak it up in that moment in time. Brainstorming this theme of fruit, I'm pondering two aspects:

1) Fruit happens when natural order guides it into being. Natural law is always in the director's seat--for instance, take our lovely wildflower friends, no one plants them, waters them, or cares for them in any way, shape or form except creation/natural order (wind, rain, soil, sunshine, insects, etc). There is a natural cycle to the bearing of fruit.

2) Fruit happens when conscious effort has been applied. Wait, didn't I just say creation rules? Yes, indeed, and we are agents that either help it along or hinder it. No rain? Go get the watering can! If within us, with diligence and effort, we move towards goals, be them material, personal, or spiritual, our thoughts, actions and words will precipitate the development of fruit. Take one of my favorite Freedom Series peeps, Martin Luther King, Jr., by his non-violent ethics and sheer determination to uphold these principles, a nation and its people were transformed. He had conviction the fruit would ripen, even though with his efforts it had only begun to take seed.

This is a deep theme, ya'll! Be heartened, for it's summer and we're going to pop whether we like it or not and yet...I'll be getting up and finding a watering can if someone is in need. It's my day of independence as I commit to look closely at what I'm allowing to ripen without interference and what I'm consciously helping along or arresting based on my thoughts, actions and words. I feel a blessing coming on...

~By Their Fruits
Plant the seed, watch it grow--
Poison Oak or
Sunflowers?

“Love Your Enemies,” MLK Jr Speech For Our Time

As I watched the events at the Capitol breech unfold, I honestly was not surprised. The division in our country is completely out of control and the events reflected these conditions. Perhaps it was the timing of Martin Luther King Jr’s remembrance in the weeks that followed, but a sermon came strongly to mind entitled, “Love Your Enemies.” As I listened to the speech, I felt MLK was speaking directly to our nation, directly to our government and to each citizen’s good heart. A few quotes stood out:  

Now first let us deal with this question, which is the practical question: How do you go about loving your enemies? I think the first thing is this: In order to love your enemies, you must begin by analyzing self. 

When there is hate within us that has not cared for, it will spill out onto everyone in its path, same goes for fear, and any other strong, unchecked emotion. MLK goes on to offer two more how-to’s and the next is perhaps my favorite:

A second thing that an individual must do in seeking to love his enemy is to discover the element of good in his enemy, and every time you begin to hate that person and think of hating that person, realize that there is some good there and look at those good points which will over-balance the bad points. 

I have been saddened by the criticizing, sneering and dehumanizing of the hurt people pouring their pain out onto the streets, into businesses and now into our nation’s capitol. Are we listening? Are we trying to understand their concerns? Or shutting them down due to intolerance? 

Another way that you love your enemy is this: When the opportunity presents itself for you to defeat your enemy, that is the time which you must not do it. 

Love does not mudd-sling, love does not kick when a person is down. MLK orates to perfection, building and infusing his words with moral integrity. In closing, he implores:

Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a descending spiral, ultimately ending in destruction for all and everybody. Somebody must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate and the chain of evil in the universe. And you do that by love.

On this day, dedicated to a heroic and beautiful man, please enjoy Martin Luther King, Jr.’s words and allow them to penetrate into your being, into your response and fortitude. His is the greatest call ~ to love one’s enemy in this time of division as we prepare for inauguration and changing of the guard.    

 

International Day of Peace, this Saturday, September 21

Join me in intending Inner Constellation peace as well as peace for your local and global community. The following is taken from a newsletter written by an amazing woman, Sheva Carr, who has spear-headed a major event culminating this coming Saturday:

Saturday, September 21st is the 31st International Day of Peace. This year's theme is peace education. We invite all hearts who celebrate and choose to co-create a world at peace to join us in a global peace celebration, creation and education conference call at 9:00am PT, noon ET, alongside special guests who have given their lives to a world at peace and the 215 peace team players who have attended the 8 week Peace Team Training Camp. 

 

Educate yourself and engage in a world of peace as a peace team player!

 

JOIN THE FACEBOOK GROUP HERE (all previous calls culminating up to this point can be accessed)

 

 

CALL DATE AND TIMES:

 

Saturday, September 21st

 

9:00am-10:30am PT

 

DIAL IN:

 

(559) 726-1300

 

Participant Access Code: 574998

 

On Saturday's call you will learn:

• The eight pathways of a world of peace
• Some history of each domain, where we stand now, and future trends contributing to a peaceful world
• Who’s doing what in each domain to create a culture of peace
• What you can do as a peace team player in each domain and on your unique pathway to peace
• How to connect the dots of personal, local and global peace initiatives as important playgrounds for your pathway to peace
• How to create a morning practice that builds a culture of peace in you and around you
• How you can be a part of the International Day of Peace
• How you are already a pathway to peace
• How you are a part of a global family of peace team players just waiting for someone like you to play with!

 

You will hear from:

• The Co-Founder of Pathways To Peace, and the International Day of Peace, Avon Mattison
• Peace Team Training Camp leaders Olympic athlete Marilyn King, and Heart Ambassadors Director Sheva Carr
• Key players at the international level who have given their lives to the practical path of peace building who will move, touch, inspire and ignite a flame of peace in your own heart.
• Teen girls from Israel/Palestine who live by the motto "An enemy is a friend who's story you have yet to hear" and work with an organization called Creativity for Peace.
• Representatives from the United Nations.

 

Peace Team Training is designed to help you start your day the Olympian Way as a peace team player engaged in creating a world where a culture of peace thrives! Looking forward to "seeing" you there and winning the gold of peace- TOGETHER!

 

YOUR HOSTS:

Marilyn King, Founder of Peace is the Only Gold and Representing Pathways To Peace as the Co-Chair of the UN NGO International Day of Peace Sports Sub-Committee

Sheva Carr, Director of Heart Ambassadors and HeartMath’s HeartMastery Program and Pathways To Peace Delegate to the UN

 A SPECIAL PROGRAM OF: THE CULTURE OF PEACE INITIATIVE and PATHWAYS TO PEACE

 

"Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at the goal." 

Martin Luther King, Jr

Exercising Freedom by Following One's Inner Compass

AAAARRRRGGGG! It's been almost two weeks since writing a blog article! I apologize, never has it been so long. A loved one had fairly extensive surgery, and I was focused on his comfort. Good news is--tapping came to the rescue once again. My charge is doing fantastic and he attributes his quick recovery to the meridian tapping :) OK, so I bit off a huge bite in my last article, saying the month of January would address "freedom" as a North Star. We discussed my favorite seeker of freedom, Joan of Arc, last article, and this week we celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. So, I was thinking, why not highlight these two stellar examples of freedom exercised at its finest.

To me, one definition of living free means to follow one's inner voice. Joan did this par excellent, even when her internal compass went against the authority of her age--the Church. MLK is another such person recently honored for his persistent voice of freedom in the face of social injustice. His internal compass of equal rights for all was perhaps best expressed in his "I have a Dream," speech. Both Joan and MLK maintained their personal visions even when they were not yet reality. For MLK equal rights would be another twenty years in coming after his death, and interestingly, for Joan, the same span of years would pass after her burning before her people were free from English occupation.

For both MLK and Joan, living free was first perfected on the inside. If you were to live free and follow your inner compass what would life look like? My wish for myself and others is inner freedom regardless of circumstances and the exercising of our dreams until they become reality. In the closing words of MLK, "Free at last, free at last, thank God, Almighty, we are free at last!"

Forces that Shape

Hello, darling dears. I had the most wonderful experience a few weeks ago of falling in love, yet again. I was talking to my husband (who is my greatest love:) about people (and critters) you just happen to meet and immediately feel some kind of connection—strong and unexplainable. We’ve all experienced it and don’t really know why as we’re drawn heart-to-heart like magnets. My husband gave it a word— “imprinting.” Now, at first his choice gave me pause, I worked at a wildlife center for years and imprinting was something to avoid at all cost, otherwise you might have a 500# pound bear thinking you’re his mama! But upon closer inspection of the word, my husband may be onto something:

To impress or stamp upon, to come to recognize in another habitual trust

Hmmm, um, yah, could meet the definition. My newest love is the dear, sweet girlfriend of my nephew (another one I’ve imprinted on). Somehow I know, whatever may come, this girl is a keeper for me. I also owe her tremendous gratitude  because in analyzing the precious ones whom have imprinted upon me, they all share something in common—Grit (with a capitol G).

I realized too, those spiritual ancestors that I have imprinted upon: Martin Luther King, Jr (happy MLK day, ya’ll), Joan of Arc*, Rumi, Jesus, Hafiz, Malala Yousafzai, Thich Nhat Hanh, Nadia Murad, Sister Chan Khong, ...the list goes on and on and on....they also have Grit with a capitol G. Perhaps Grit is a telling North Star?

So what are the forces within a person that intermingle and shape who we become? Have you ever considered that whenever you are with someone—a dearly beloved imprinted one, or the bagger at the grocery store—those 90 seconds you spend together are your opportunity to make connection—to be a bright light on the path of life, to reach out and let them know they are a treasure. When a person is met who impresses in another deep trust—that is a tremendous gift, perhaps the greatest gift one can give.

Who are the ones who open your heart? Be with them, love them deeply and reflect back their qualities of open hearted presence. Awww, it’s time for this Sappy McSappy Pants to go fall in love again, and again, and again....


* Karla’s full length ebook novel: Child of God: The Humble Beginnings of Joan of Arc

Increasing Our Capacities

Lately when I do my mindfulness practice, I find myself with this intention:

• May my capacity to receive be increased

I've been working such well-wishing into my Metta phrases. Something I've experienced in my life is that Creation is in a constant state of transmission; I however, do not always have the capacity to receive.

Two things should be defined here. What do I mean by Creation? Goodness, God, the ancestors, blooming life itself, happiness, peace, joy, love....You get the point. What do I mean by receive--I don't always have the capacity to receive what? Goodness, love, joy, wisdom from those who trekked this road before ie my spiritual and blood ancestors (Inner Constellation Truth #2 Energy Never Dies It Just Changes Form).

So with all this beautiful Goodness flying around, how do I expand my capacity to receive it? Especially in the midst of daily hubbub, emails, blah, blah, blah. After continuing to sit with my intention, a smidge of insight emerged:

• take time for stillness upon waking and come back to this center through out the day
• sit in the presence of the stars, moon and night sky--the very same palette that lit the sky of my heroes: Joan of Arc, Buddha, Martin Luther King, etc--and soak in these inspirational points of commonality. No problem, I'm a lover of the Inner and Outer Constellation!
• read words of inspiration that filled the minds, intellect and wonder of the great ones. Crack open Song of Songs, the Suttas, poetry, listen to "I have a Dream." Nourish and water wholesome seeds.
• and then, these words from one of my teachers Thich Nhat Hanh, graced my mind in meditation this morning (wait, was that transmission?!!?!)

"There are so many paths leading to the homeland. They all talk to me in silence. I invoke the Absolute."

Invoke...how do I invoke? By being goodness, happiness, peace, joy, love. When these energies are embodied, and expressed to others (especially in the midst of the hubbub, blah, blah, blah:), Creation never dies but continues on....It's a practice. May our capacities to receive the Goodness be increased. Yes, indeed, Happy Monday.

Ordinary Magic

Magical September days are unfolding. I've been home from Deer Park Retreat a week now and was corresponding with a dear friend who was a travel companion about our transition back. We both agreed that we continue to feel nurtured and held by community.

Thich Nhat Hanh, alongside Martin Luther King Jr., have made establishing beloved community their life's work. Both men have been instrumental in my practice of peace and the idea that every moment provides a practice opportunity. It doesn't matter if we're in retreat, at work, knee deep in the mundane or  steeped in the holy; in fact, there's no differentiation. This brings me to dish washing, yes, dish washing! It's something I do every day, but I notice myself sometimes rushing through it so I can move onto the next something.

Guess what work group I was placed in during the Deer Park retreat? Yep, dish washing. Everyday I worked within the collective mindfulness of my team and we assisted with washing dishes for over 200 people. Such occurrence, the opportunity to be so perfectly held in community, is what I now refer to as--The Miracle of Mindfulness.

Here's another example of the Miracle of Mindfulness and beloved community--as you may know, the September Inner Constellation monthly theme is "Magic." This morning, I reached for a book on my shelf that I had purchased after moving from my childhood home in PA. Back then, I was wet behind the ears, having arrived in Florida to begin college. I had stumbled into a tiny bookstore crammed with all variety of, well...variety. A book title jumped out--Ordinary Magic: Everyday Life as Spiritual Path. So I purchased it, and then it sat on my book shelf over the years, somehow avoiding my regular weeding out routine. I just kind of held onto it, never having read it until this month when I needed inspiration for our theme of "Magic." I turned to the first author in this anthology and I find Thich Nhat Hanh! His contribution is entitled, "Sunshine and Green Leaves," and do you know what he wrote about? Yep, dish washing! Another Miracle of Mindfulness wherein I am gently guided by community. So with gratitude, in this same spirit of community, I offer the following gatha (practice poem), inspired by dear Thich Nhat Hanh, Deer Park, my dish washing team, the Lotus Root :), and the aspiration of practicing peace in every moment:


9/26 InnerConstellation.com Blessing*: Washing Dishes

Hot water, fragrant soap, sponge,
movement of my hands
and strong legs to stand--
each are precious miracles.

©Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

May each dish you wash today, nourish you completely as you love and care for yourself, your loved ones and your community.


*Inner Constellation Blessings are short, sweet little ditty's to inspire your practice. They are my gift to you, sent via email Mon-Fri. If you would like to receive, please contact me.

Take Refuge in Spiritual Ancestors

Christiane Vleugels "Aphrodite"

We've answered the question—what do you take refuge in—what gives you comfort, based on the last blog article, Take Refuge. I've heard a variety of responses; one of my favorites from a lovely woman, who in trying times will ask, “What’s perfect about this moment?” She then will switch her focus to all the things for which she’s grateful. Gratitude is one of her North Stars, it’s a refuge and guiding light.

Next up is an exploration of generating and taking refuge in one’s spiritual ancestors—the people who show you the way on your path; they can be alive or dead (IC Truth #2—Energy never dies it just changes  form). For me the list of inspiring spiritual ancestors is lengthy: Thich Nhat Hahn, Joan of Arc, Mother Mary, Rumi, Hildegard von Bingen, Martin Luther King, Jr, Abe Lincoln, Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Buddha, Kuan Yin/Tara….

• Who are your spiritual ancestors?
• What are the attributes they possess that you value?

A poetic way of exploring refuge in spiritual ancestors is to say—know to whom and what you belong. These people and attributes are concrete safety points that hold, sustain and regenerate us in times of need.  The other day I had a reflection of this concept while driving on a busy road.  I was driving through a school safety zone, decelerating in a line of cars going 25 mph. A father and young daughter were walking together beside this busy road. Dad was shielding daughter from the cars, his body providing an alert and attentive barrier, yet he smiled while she held his hand and chatted animatedly while skipping along, oblivious to her dad’s watchful concentration. I was reminded of the ancestors, whose protective attention is ours to engage. I've felt this attentiveness all my life, it’s been something I can’t rightly explain or articulate, but I feel it every day, and I take refuge in their love and care. I generate a connection consciously and frequently.

This week, I look forward to exploring spiritual ancestors. Who are your spiritual ancestors? What are the attributes they possess that you value? Contact me, slip me a line or an email so we can discuss one of my favorite practices—generating and taking refuge in spiritual ancestors. 

Fearlessness...GRRRRRR

Month of May brings snow to Tahoe and fierce resilience as bright Daffodils push up and out in spite of stormy elements. Tahoe spring seems the perfect metaphor given our theme of "fearlessness." What does it mean to be fearless when one is committed to practicing peace, compassion and understanding?

A mindfulness training comes to mind:

Aware that words can create happiness or suffering, we are committed to learning to speak truthfully, lovingly and constructively. We will use only words that inspire joy, confidence and hope as well as promote reconciliation and peace in ourselves and among other people. 

It goes on to say...

We will do our best to speak out about situations of injustice, even when doing so may make difficulties for us or threaten our safety. (9th Mindfulness Training (of the 14): Truthful and Loving Speech)

Fearlessness is required when engaging in Truthful and Loving speech--not to be carried away by another's words or actions but staying anchored to our commitment to practice peace and understanding. Yet, as we engage with our world, this training recognizes that situations of injustice will arise and we are obligated to do our best to speak out in a truthful and loving way.

Whom are examples of people modeling and living such fearlessness? Martin Luther King, Gandhi, Thich Nhat Hanh, Hafiz, Malala Yousafzai, Maya Angelou, we could go on. It's the fruits of such teachers that enable us to know with certainty that we too can be fierce in choosing freedom, love, peace, and understanding above all else. Doing so on a moment-by-moment basis becomes our fearless acts of resistance.

True fearlessness seems to require open-heartedness, not turning away or shielding ourselves but engaging fully, using North Stars we hold dear: kindness, compassion, freedom, peace....GRRRRRR, we're kittens, but we're also lions!