Anna, yes, 'hello possums'. Love it! Bonjour opossums.
Also, in some good news, 1200 people around the world coming together for the 7 week course ' Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet' hosted by Plum Village ( Thich Nhat Hanh). This is the second time they've run it and I've been very grateful to join the course this time around. 🙏 Focusing on deep listening, letting go of attachment, dealing with uncomfortable emotions, connection with the Earth, and compassionate actions.
You’ll get there with the French, Sarah. I spent four years living in France, learning as I went. It was a brutal experience, given how protective the French are of their language. 12 years later, I have barely forgotten a word; scarred learning.
In response to the tech free Sundays, I’ve been delighted to have started this, and then read it in your newsletter. Huzzah for great minds.
Feeling my attention span decrease and my capacity for distraction increase, I’ve been substituting television for books. Ahhhh, books. That ancient and vital source of multi-layered healing. Mostly, I buy them at book shops and the act of browsing them in itself is calming. Can highly recommend.
Thank you for your writing and contribution to the world; even if this one was doomy, they are important reflections. They are especially refreshing and more relatable when heard from a wild and free woman.
Much like sugar, once you get over the immediate deprivation, it’s wide open spaces! Also meant to say I browse in op-shops for books. Oh, the treasure to be found.
I loved Macklemore's video - wow! On the 'undecided' posturing against Biden and the whole politics thing - it does sit uncomfortably but that's activism - disrupting the status quo and social norms - jolting people out of their fixed mindsets - I think art is the best medium to do this. And Biden does need a jolt - he's not moving very fast to protect Gazans in Rafah right now.....
Also, to your earlier point about collapse. When I mention it to people outside my bubble, there's a usual nod of agreement but it quickly turns into a comment flavoured with nihilism "oh well, yolo - let's party til the shitshow happens" kind of attitude - which is a mixture of denial and panic I think... When you mentioned the CEO knowing all this and not having a plan, it gave me some relief and solidified my plans to activate our community around resilient ways forward.
Oh I’ll check it out. Be interested in what he has to say in his new book. Joanna Macy eco-Buddhist talks a lot about the rollercoaster of hope & despair and how understanding it can keep us in action mode instead of paralysed.
I watched that Macklemore video 4 times. The first with wide eyes and frequent audible gasps. Then again with more comprehension and a continuous feeling of '....wow'. Then again. With anger rising and a sense of wooshy rush - adrenaline I guess. Then the last time, with the husband, gauging his reaction (similar to mine, for the most part). We talked about it, and the ceasefire talks, the imminent threat to those in Rafah, the overwhelming fucked-up-ness of the entire situation.
Then, stupidly, I spent about 4 hours on social media, marinading in a combination of footage from Gaza and footage and stills from the Met gala. It felt like watching irl hunger games. I woke up with a migraine. I can't use my time like that again, it literally makes me ill!
My first (gut) response was shock and fear. I thought it was irresponsible of him, I guess? But I had to really interrogate those feelings because on reflection, in very simplistic terms, I agree with him! Regardless of who anyone votes for, this genocide is happening and does not look likely to stop. I highly doubt that anyone with any reluctance to vote for Biden is going to vote for Trump, that's not the fear. But they may well not vote. Which just renders the entire democratic process as dysfunctional at best, and completely irrelevant at worst. We all know that the choice in these elections is farcical, but the alternative is a so-called democratically elected political party that operates under a gossamer-thin veil of legitimacy, as part of a system that the majority of people have opted out of. The cries of 'Not my President' would be deafening. And then what? Anarchy? Lawlessness? How would that be different to the way things currently are for a large chunk of the US population anyway? Try being anything other than rich and/or white and/or male and getting any kind of decent treatment by the forces of law and order over there! Lol! As if. Watching the footage of police on uni campuses violently restrain and arrest female professors in their 60's has shown me that those forces do not work for the people. At all.
But I think my real fear stems from the larger metacrisis lense that I can't help but apply to everything these days (thanks so much for that Sarah! /end sarcasm) - watching the slow crumble of all the institutions and systems that I have lived with/under for almost half a century is really fucking scary. But, the little socialist/anarchist/revolutionary in me is on the right side of history and knows that these systems and institutions have been built on the blood and sweat of all the oppressed people in the world, and so they SHOULD fucking fall. I am just too fragile to spend hours watching the collateral damage of so much death and pain and loss and suffering. It's obscene.
Thanks for your succinct observations Faye (in both comments). You've largely summed up my feelings and observations on the US and world stage. I no longer have the resilience to watch (or even read) the horrid (intimate) details of the carnage in Palestine, US and beyond.
I'm just quietly waiting for everything to crumble and optimistically hoping for a new (better) system to arise from the ashes of colonialism, consumerism and capitalism.
I’ve no idea what’ll happen but it triggered flashbacks of the 2000 election where third option Ralph Nader supposedly drew votes away from Gore, against Bush (Dubya, who won of course)
I had to restrain myself at the Jordan Peterson comment on ‘X’. I did read the entirety of your post Sarah, but a portion of my brain was racing ahead to click the comment icon. I know I shouldn’t be riled by him or any other figure making ridiculous comments.
I think some Freudian psychotherapy sessions would be helpful for him. (Steve eluded to this too) What would an analysis of his response to pro-Palestinian protesters reveal? Why did he speak of unconscious longing, domination, worship, resentment, childless harpies? Is he fixated on sexuality and gender roles hampering his ability to consider the reality of life for Palestinians and Israelis? The West’s role in supporting the Israeli government? The student’s activism?
There, got some of that off my chest. Excuse my sarcasm. Imagine if anyone who had a platform, a sizeable audience, just paused before they spoke and thought… What is the more beautiful question? What might advance this conversation in the direction of peace?
yup, similar went through my head. It's hard, though, to just be forced to accept it, to leave him and other phenomenon on a shelf marked "seriously f*cked up and powerful". He and others would not be on our radar if it were 20 yrs ago. He'd get no traction. He'd be in some dingy Canadian hall handing out flyers to weird preppers.
Wonderful post Sarah! So many interesting things to mull over. For me especially:
Encouraging progressives not to vote for Biden. Sure, it's not a great option, but it's miles better than Trump and if you've only got a choice of those two it seems like a no-brainer. It strikes me as short-sighted and unpractical. It reminded me of those opposing the Voice here in Australia because it didn't 'go far enough' so everyone should vote no now in favour of getting some sort of better, far-reaching deal in place in the near future?! I tend to think people need to be more practical and take what you can get, when you can get it and then try and build from there.
Your upcoming Wild podcast with Greg Lukianoff sounds very interesting.
The article on the shortened attention span really struck me. If we want to be able to grapple with complex, nuanced topics then we need to be able to sit with them, let them wash over us.
Finally, mad respect to the French that they can have these kinds of discussions on morning telly!
Please check the latest on the monamuseum ladies only lounge and art gallery
And the brilliant response of kirshakaecele who has taken the ruling of antidiscrimination ( a man complained of being discriminated against ) to the supreme court
Her response and discourse is brilliant.
And the stay cool chickens, may be likened to Barry humphries " hello possums " he had no fear, saw through the b.s and had to leave Australia to be welcomed. A genius
Did anyone else think of David Sedaris and his French lesson ridiculousness while reading this? His recount of learning French and explaining Easter to classmates makes me howl laughing… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0yqn_OK6eE 😂
I just listened...IT IS MY CLASS EXACTLY!! The Polish woman - Magda - is the class pet and has always done her homework etc. The Spaniards and Italians have half a chance with the grammar and the other Australian (a subscriber here) and I giggle at the back, laughing at our teacher who has Mr Bean vibes and wears denim tracksuits.
Tara Brach's Smile meditation is one of my favourites. Some kind person took the original 25 min version and edited it down to 10 mins, though it still flows really nicely.
Thank you for shaking me awake at my little kitchen table in suburbia.
I also cried at Macklemore's clip - all I can say is wow. I wonder if this will cut through in a way other mediums haven't been able to.
Of course the French are down with collapse - I would not have expected any less. I am so glad you are among people who are speaking your language (no pun intended).
Sarah, do you know what the significance of the Lily of the Valley is in France? I ask because just this week I’ve become struck by the work of musician/composer Jun Miyake and his piece titled Lilies of the Valley. I find the music absolutely striking. https://open.spotify.com/track/6TnMKt9Lv8hUO3GNVmmPq8?si=y5X3-WBTSkGCfoA36gtWTw
Anna, yes, 'hello possums'. Love it! Bonjour opossums.
Also, in some good news, 1200 people around the world coming together for the 7 week course ' Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet' hosted by Plum Village ( Thich Nhat Hanh). This is the second time they've run it and I've been very grateful to join the course this time around. 🙏 Focusing on deep listening, letting go of attachment, dealing with uncomfortable emotions, connection with the Earth, and compassionate actions.
I presume it's online?
Yes.
I want to visit Plum Village.
Me2
That course sounds wonderful!
You’ll get there with the French, Sarah. I spent four years living in France, learning as I went. It was a brutal experience, given how protective the French are of their language. 12 years later, I have barely forgotten a word; scarred learning.
In response to the tech free Sundays, I’ve been delighted to have started this, and then read it in your newsletter. Huzzah for great minds.
Feeling my attention span decrease and my capacity for distraction increase, I’ve been substituting television for books. Ahhhh, books. That ancient and vital source of multi-layered healing. Mostly, I buy them at book shops and the act of browsing them in itself is calming. Can highly recommend.
Thank you for your writing and contribution to the world; even if this one was doomy, they are important reflections. They are especially refreshing and more relatable when heard from a wild and free woman.
browsing for books...it needs to be protected! I'm amazed as well how much more I want to read when I turn off apps. It's almost instant...
Much like sugar, once you get over the immediate deprivation, it’s wide open spaces! Also meant to say I browse in op-shops for books. Oh, the treasure to be found.
I often think the same, ditto with alcohol...you go for a few days without it and fundamental gears shift.
Your comment about the French and their protection of language had me delve back into my podcast listening history.
Rough Translation episode: “We don’t say that”
https://pca.st/episode/4badb673-f290-43d3-85a0-8aadb060d730
A fascinating story of language history, government policy, race and change. Who writes a dictionary? What does it take to change a word?
I'll take a listen!
I loved Macklemore's video - wow! On the 'undecided' posturing against Biden and the whole politics thing - it does sit uncomfortably but that's activism - disrupting the status quo and social norms - jolting people out of their fixed mindsets - I think art is the best medium to do this. And Biden does need a jolt - he's not moving very fast to protect Gazans in Rafah right now.....
Also, to your earlier point about collapse. When I mention it to people outside my bubble, there's a usual nod of agreement but it quickly turns into a comment flavoured with nihilism "oh well, yolo - let's party til the shitshow happens" kind of attitude - which is a mixture of denial and panic I think... When you mentioned the CEO knowing all this and not having a plan, it gave me some relief and solidified my plans to activate our community around resilient ways forward.
I loved listening to Paul Hawken on the regennarration podcast yesterday - I think you'd like the way he describes 'being' with nature. https://www.regennarration.com/episodes/204-paul-hawken
Paul was on a Wild a few months back. TBH, I think he's really struggling with his own thesis (based on some of the stuff he said to me).
I get similar responses re "let's party as Rome falls" nihilism. I'm writing about it at the moment - where it fits in with hope v doom etc.
Oh I’ll check it out. Be interested in what he has to say in his new book. Joanna Macy eco-Buddhist talks a lot about the rollercoaster of hope & despair and how understanding it can keep us in action mode instead of paralysed.
I watched that Macklemore video 4 times. The first with wide eyes and frequent audible gasps. Then again with more comprehension and a continuous feeling of '....wow'. Then again. With anger rising and a sense of wooshy rush - adrenaline I guess. Then the last time, with the husband, gauging his reaction (similar to mine, for the most part). We talked about it, and the ceasefire talks, the imminent threat to those in Rafah, the overwhelming fucked-up-ness of the entire situation.
Then, stupidly, I spent about 4 hours on social media, marinading in a combination of footage from Gaza and footage and stills from the Met gala. It felt like watching irl hunger games. I woke up with a migraine. I can't use my time like that again, it literally makes me ill!
Bring on digital-free sundays!
Oh Faye, same. Met/Rafah contrast was wild.
What do you make of the line in the song re not voting for Biden? I feel it's posturing for now
My first (gut) response was shock and fear. I thought it was irresponsible of him, I guess? But I had to really interrogate those feelings because on reflection, in very simplistic terms, I agree with him! Regardless of who anyone votes for, this genocide is happening and does not look likely to stop. I highly doubt that anyone with any reluctance to vote for Biden is going to vote for Trump, that's not the fear. But they may well not vote. Which just renders the entire democratic process as dysfunctional at best, and completely irrelevant at worst. We all know that the choice in these elections is farcical, but the alternative is a so-called democratically elected political party that operates under a gossamer-thin veil of legitimacy, as part of a system that the majority of people have opted out of. The cries of 'Not my President' would be deafening. And then what? Anarchy? Lawlessness? How would that be different to the way things currently are for a large chunk of the US population anyway? Try being anything other than rich and/or white and/or male and getting any kind of decent treatment by the forces of law and order over there! Lol! As if. Watching the footage of police on uni campuses violently restrain and arrest female professors in their 60's has shown me that those forces do not work for the people. At all.
But I think my real fear stems from the larger metacrisis lense that I can't help but apply to everything these days (thanks so much for that Sarah! /end sarcasm) - watching the slow crumble of all the institutions and systems that I have lived with/under for almost half a century is really fucking scary. But, the little socialist/anarchist/revolutionary in me is on the right side of history and knows that these systems and institutions have been built on the blood and sweat of all the oppressed people in the world, and so they SHOULD fucking fall. I am just too fragile to spend hours watching the collateral damage of so much death and pain and loss and suffering. It's obscene.
Thanks for your succinct observations Faye (in both comments). You've largely summed up my feelings and observations on the US and world stage. I no longer have the resilience to watch (or even read) the horrid (intimate) details of the carnage in Palestine, US and beyond.
I'm just quietly waiting for everything to crumble and optimistically hoping for a new (better) system to arise from the ashes of colonialism, consumerism and capitalism.
I’ve no idea what’ll happen but it triggered flashbacks of the 2000 election where third option Ralph Nader supposedly drew votes away from Gore, against Bush (Dubya, who won of course)
I had to restrain myself at the Jordan Peterson comment on ‘X’. I did read the entirety of your post Sarah, but a portion of my brain was racing ahead to click the comment icon. I know I shouldn’t be riled by him or any other figure making ridiculous comments.
I think some Freudian psychotherapy sessions would be helpful for him. (Steve eluded to this too) What would an analysis of his response to pro-Palestinian protesters reveal? Why did he speak of unconscious longing, domination, worship, resentment, childless harpies? Is he fixated on sexuality and gender roles hampering his ability to consider the reality of life for Palestinians and Israelis? The West’s role in supporting the Israeli government? The student’s activism?
There, got some of that off my chest. Excuse my sarcasm. Imagine if anyone who had a platform, a sizeable audience, just paused before they spoke and thought… What is the more beautiful question? What might advance this conversation in the direction of peace?
yup, similar went through my head. It's hard, though, to just be forced to accept it, to leave him and other phenomenon on a shelf marked "seriously f*cked up and powerful". He and others would not be on our radar if it were 20 yrs ago. He'd get no traction. He'd be in some dingy Canadian hall handing out flyers to weird preppers.
Re the platform...we can do that here!
Wonderful post Sarah! So many interesting things to mull over. For me especially:
Encouraging progressives not to vote for Biden. Sure, it's not a great option, but it's miles better than Trump and if you've only got a choice of those two it seems like a no-brainer. It strikes me as short-sighted and unpractical. It reminded me of those opposing the Voice here in Australia because it didn't 'go far enough' so everyone should vote no now in favour of getting some sort of better, far-reaching deal in place in the near future?! I tend to think people need to be more practical and take what you can get, when you can get it and then try and build from there.
Your upcoming Wild podcast with Greg Lukianoff sounds very interesting.
The article on the shortened attention span really struck me. If we want to be able to grapple with complex, nuanced topics then we need to be able to sit with them, let them wash over us.
Finally, mad respect to the French that they can have these kinds of discussions on morning telly!
Sarah,
Please check the latest on the monamuseum ladies only lounge and art gallery
And the brilliant response of kirshakaecele who has taken the ruling of antidiscrimination ( a man complained of being discriminated against ) to the supreme court
Her response and discourse is brilliant.
And the stay cool chickens, may be likened to Barry humphries " hello possums " he had no fear, saw through the b.s and had to leave Australia to be welcomed. A genius
As is kirsha.
I posted a Dame Edna clip on IG the other day.
Beautifully outrageous, always.
And so so clever.
A little spark of joy in amongst the crap: Priyanka Singh lives in a high rise apartment in Mumbai, which I would have assumed was mostly a nature desert. She planted a butterfly garden on her balcony and has raised 55 different species and nurtured more than 5000 butterflies. Check it out here: https://www.thebetterindia.com/346252/garden-attracting-butterflied-mumbai-priyanka-singh-endangered-rare-species-in-apartment-balcony/. Wishing you all a beautiful day!
Thx Gill n Bean x
Made me giggle - Gill n Bean rolls off the tongue so nicely!
Love Julia Baird's books on awe. Fabulous read - both books. ♡
Did anyone else think of David Sedaris and his French lesson ridiculousness while reading this? His recount of learning French and explaining Easter to classmates makes me howl laughing… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0yqn_OK6eE 😂
I just listened...IT IS MY CLASS EXACTLY!! The Polish woman - Magda - is the class pet and has always done her homework etc. The Spaniards and Italians have half a chance with the grammar and the other Australian (a subscriber here) and I giggle at the back, laughing at our teacher who has Mr Bean vibes and wears denim tracksuits.
Denim tracksuits. I am living for this imagery.
I will try to sneak a photo one evening.
Thank you SO much for sharing this Shay.
I haven't laughed so much in a long time 🤣🤣
On a positive note Tucker Carlson is touring Australia with Clive Palmer ✌🏼🤣😝
Hank the rooster and I are going along to see what’s up ✌🏼
nooooooooo !! IS THAT SERIOUSLY TRUE? Moderated by Josh Szeps?
I wish it was a joke , it is , but not a funny one.
Tony Abbott and John Howard are going to hold a seance and try and do a live podcast with the ghost of George Pell as a warm up act.
https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=TUCKERCA24
For realzz 🙃
good Lord, i'd almost believe the seance bit, too.
I had a very hearty laugh at those comments Steve 😂
Then I followed the link and realised that s**t is for real!!
Definitely not laughing now.
I'm gonna crawl back under my rock and hide under my doona where it's warm and safe and quiet 😨
Not those old phlogs!
That Macklemore video was gutting
I’ve sent it to my teens and asked what they think.
I have nothing uplifting to add
Except my dog rushed out the gate to specifically pop on my neighbours lawn and I nearly died…. You’ve got to laugh!
Onwards ..
the dog watched the video, too?
Haw haw
Also, listening to tara brach meditations who alerts us to the fact
HUMANS HAVE A SMALLER ATTENTION SPAN THAN GOLDFISH.
( and is declining )
Tara Brach's Smile meditation is one of my favourites. Some kind person took the original 25 min version and edited it down to 10 mins, though it still flows really nicely.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElqvedaxxSA
Thank you for shaking me awake at my little kitchen table in suburbia.
I also cried at Macklemore's clip - all I can say is wow. I wonder if this will cut through in a way other mediums haven't been able to.
Of course the French are down with collapse - I would not have expected any less. I am so glad you are among people who are speaking your language (no pun intended).
Lots of love xxx
Wish you were here, too!
is 'How Everything Can Collapse' available in english?
yes it is...https://www.booktopia.com.au/how-everything-can-collapse-pablo-servigne/book/9781509541393.html
Sarah, do you know what the significance of the Lily of the Valley is in France? I ask because just this week I’ve become struck by the work of musician/composer Jun Miyake and his piece titled Lilies of the Valley. I find the music absolutely striking. https://open.spotify.com/track/6TnMKt9Lv8hUO3GNVmmPq8?si=y5X3-WBTSkGCfoA36gtWTw
His music was used in the film Pina by Wim Wenders. The trailer of the film is incredibly moving as is the film. https://youtu.be/F-cV74Mq7KU?si=ol90caoK36vehAph
Just curious about the timing of coming across the flower twice in the space of a week in different contexts...
I’ve been wanting to read Le Monde Sans Fin ever since Nate Hagens interviewed Jean-Marc Jancovici last year. Have you read it?
I don't know...but it's a big tradition on that May day holiday to hand it out. J-M J - trying to get him on wild - wasn't he great on Nate's pod!
Thanks, Sarah.
Yes, I really enjoyed J-M-J. I hope he comes on your show.