It seems odd to start a blog in this time. What is there to say when the world is on fire, when for our own safety we must isolate from each other, when at the same time our technological connectivity has us on the edge of overwhelm? But here we are.
I have been thinking a lot about starlings. I hadn’t thought much about starlings before reading adrienne maree brown’s emergent strategy. I had seen plenty of them lingering in the sky, had seen the groups of them in their bizarre configurations swooping about - as if to warn of a danger or predict the winds of change. This is a murmuration. It is beautiful to watch. (I’ve included a video at the bottom of this post.)
But I didn’t know why they did this. In an effort to avoid predators the group of starlings engage in deep trust with one another to move together with a singular vision: to live. They must trust in the movement of those around them, engage in real-time adaptation. Create the right distance to avoid collision and yet be close enough to feel the micro-adaptations of each other.
Adaptation reduces exhaustion. No one bears the burden alone of figuring out the next move and muscling towards it. (emergent strategy, page 71)
In this time of COVID it seems as our singular vision is to live. Then how do we adapt? How do we move with grace and intentionality? How do we recognize while we are all in this together this virus is having a disproportionate impact? And how do we recognize that this is a time of deep grief, transformation and this work is exhausting?
We breathe. We feel. We do what we need to do - for ourselves and for others. We lift when we can do the lifting and we allow ourselves to be lifted when we need it.
Practice: Giving and Receiving
Find a comfortable seat. Allow your eyes to close or soften your gaze.
Feel the heaviness of your seat, your connection to the earth. Staying rooted in that weight allow your spine to lift all the way to the crown of the head, your connection to the heavens. From this lifted yet rooted place, notice your breath. Not changing or judging, just noticing. What is the sensation of your breath, where does it feel open or closed, full or short?
Slowly lengthen both your inhalation and your exhalation, perhaps counting to 4 on the inhalation and repeating the 4 count on your exhalation. Notice how there is a natural flow to your breath. Notice how the inhalation and exhalation work together. In order to nourish ourselves we must push out and take in. We can not have one without the other.
As you continue your breath feel again the heaviness of your seat and the length of your spine. Feel the connection to your breath, to this earth, to each other. As you are ready begin to feel the air on your skin and slowly become aware of your surroundings.
Yoga for Turbulent Times
Each Sunday at 5 pm EDT, I have been teaching a free, virtual yoga class and will continue to do so through this pandemic. Some people have asked me if they could make a donation for the class or otherwise contribute. As I am in a privileged position and do not need the resources, I would ask that if you feel moved or can contribute you give to the DC East of the River Mutual Aid Fund. This is my community, these are people I know and love putting themselves on the line to get resources to the most vulnerable in our community that need it. And whether or not you can donate, I hope you will join me on Sundays.
With love,
Monica