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yes yes yes I am with you- i have been weaning myself and unsubscribing from following the machinations of the 'awful' - I know it same same except more horrid than i could ever imagine . I have been a bit obsessive the past 4 -5 years but enough now - it is not what I choose - I am here not for that but for something beautiful kind creative and respectful - I am here for platypus echidna tree earth and wonder - I feel like that energy is harmful and taking me away from Presence and here we are Susan miles away from each other going about our worlds with grace and awareness and we are not Alone . thank you

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What a gorgeous message to receive from you Sandra. It gladdens my heart to meet even virtually a kindred spirit, especially one on the opposite side of the world.

I relate to the obsessive, the urge to keep up to date became a compulsion. On reflection I was looking for the positive , that there would be a stop to the violence , that the protests etc would bring back sanity.

I see our strategies for “world “ peace failing and now is the time for expanding our capacity to hold that and still find peace internally.

You are here for the beautiful, kind, creative and respectful. I love your image of the platypus, echiida , tree , earth and wonder …Thank You 🙏🏻

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I celebrate you freeing yourself from maya, Susan. Your post makes me want to squeal "Yes!"

A great leap up the fire escape of the apartment block! Whoop! 🤸💖🙌🏽

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Dear Dot,

Hurrah, this brought a laugh and I am enjoying my new apartment view. X

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Sending some hugs for your time off. xo xo

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Thank you x

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How do I live now? I so relate to this question, Susan, and your self-inquiry. I recently saw an advertisement for a 4-year cruise marketing to "get you through the next 4 years". I do say it initially sounds inviting. But we can't run or hide; we know that. Learning how to live fully is the challenge. I trust that each of us will find our way. At least I'm not giving up yet. I'm returning to the "grace and grit" mantra. As always, thanks for your courageous conversation.

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What brilliant marketing , a 4 year cruise 😂 Thanks Paulette , but as you say we can’t run or.hide.

You are a wonderful , wise companion for the challenge of living fully now. I am grateful for you being here.

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Isn't it just!

And I, you, my friend. We hold one another up.

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We do 💗

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We must be kindred spirits, as I, too, have these same feelings and desires to disengage from "worldly affairs." Yet, the pull is strong. I'll just check this headline or read this article, and before I know it, the feelings of despair creep because I know there is nothing I can do except take care of my own well-being and those around me as much as I can. It's only the ego that says we must be informed. Why? What good does it do? The futurologist Faith Popcorn, predicted the Anchoring and Cocoon trends where we yearn to explore spirituality and find deeper meaning and connection. It's time to take care of ourselves.

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We are kindred spirits Mary and I am glad we found each other. The news is like any addiction , I was going to say crack cocaine , but fortunately I don’t know that one.

I know what you mean about seeing the headline, then being sucked in..especially as so many dramatic and tragic things are happening. It is an ego thing, I can feel superior because I understand things and know more than others..maybe it gives me a false sense of control. I am exploring these questions and feelings as part of my new orientation, including what good does it do….

In my bones , I feel we are heading into darker times and the need to protect ourselves is paramount.

I am going to look up Faith Popcorn, what a wonderful name . Plus I love the idea of anchoring and cocooning , thank you 🙏🏻

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I, too, have given up the media that focuses on the bad news and what tragedies can be imagined. My meditation time has increased as has my emotional well being. I do believe I affect the whole when I am at peace within myself.

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That is encouraging to hear Gay, thank you. Like you I believe that my being at peace affects the whole, as does yours 💗

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A fantastic essay! Well-reasoned and inspiring.

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Thank you Katherine, I am delighted to read that 💓

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Thanks for this Susan. I agree we’re never really going to know what’s going on. I think it’s a ‘both and’ situation. We can view it from the wider perspective and still be with the Palestinians (and everyone else) suffering on the ground level. They have asked us to witness and amplify their voices and for me, that’s part of staying engaged with my humanity. I know it’s a hard balance between rising above and being consumed but I think we can find it. An ongoing dance…

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Thanks Amy, you have identified what I struggle with and it is a “both and “ situation. I will never desert the Palestinians . I feel passionately about their plight and history of injustice and violence .

How best to help beyond what I do , but not be overwhelmed by the bad news is an ongoing dance. I just feel as if the music and tempo is changing for me ….to make full use of that metaphor.

It really helps me to know that you are courageously staying engaged with your humanity.

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Hi Susan, I really hear you and find it a difficult balance too. And sometimes I’m more on the upper level (very necessary for resilience) and sometimes lost in the ground floor. I read less media (and no mainstream as ridiculously biased) but listen to individual people’s accounts. I feel helpless and guilty that I’m not doing enough. But I appreciate it’s a privilege to even be able to do this dance.

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Well put, I stopped listening or reading mainstream news years ago…as the bias often made me shout and was not good for my nervous system or brain.

You are doing enough , you are enough and encouraging others to do more is all we can do. We are privileged and fortunate enough to do this for those who can’t.

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Hi Susan. I understand what you’re talking about and my provisional conclusion is that no person is required or expected to carry the weight of the world on their own shoulders. What you can do while seeking soul nourishment is to focus on that which is in your immediate orbit. Your local community, for example, and have kindly conversations and mutually beneficial connections. This substack is certainly one of these. What I suggest draws on the power of speech itself. Mattias Desmet has written and spoken on this and is a good recent example. Speech created vibrations. I’m new to your words and thoughts but resonate with what I’ve read so far. Perhaps you’ve already heard of Mattias given your list of recent concerns. There is a “both and” response available; not just “either/or” and personal connections are vital.

Just now, a memory has surfaced: years ago I was giving a talk and spoke about a book called “Women’s Ways of Knowing” which had a number of authors. What I’m recalling now is that one woman-author retreated from her caring of the world to the extent that she could not longer water her plants.

Thank you for this writing. The title is excellent.

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Good Day Laurent, I agree with what you say about the weight of the world, none of us can do that. We do need to give our energies to what we can do locally and in our orbit.

I looked back but could not find anything specifically about the power of speech from Mattias , maybe you could send me the link ?

There was a wonderful article about waking up to the sound of the first bird. Sounds, and in our case speech does have vibration and travels far beyond our knowing or hearing. So we do need to keep talking and questioning…..hence I love the question you write about from the Meads…everything we do has impact and consequences both useful or destructive etc.

I maybe going on a ‘retreat’ from news , but not from caring about the world, us , humanity , the future . My news break will open up more time and opportunities to explore how that care can manifest perhaps in new and unexpected ways…

I do see more people retreating from the world in various distractions or decisions and this is their refuge. Judging by the mental health data many are giving up and this is very concerning and sad…to not care about yourself or to be able to look after a simple living thing like a plant …but then I have killed some plants in my time. The book and your talk sound interesting , as is you writing all much appreciated.

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Ps. Thanks for bringing me to Substack through your writing! I’m finding it a really creative place with more potential for deep connection…

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You are very welcome , I am sure you will meet some wonderful people with your writing, insights and big heart. X

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