I feel your rage and I share it. Why can’t everyone, especially the perpetrators, see that they are under a spell, and it is an evil one. We all recognize goodness and the feeling we have when we turn away from it, (for most of us in small ways that don’t seriously harm anyone). When will these ICE criminals see themselves finally and their abandonment of humanity.
Thank you for voicing this for us all who are so deeply upset by what is happening, and the lies that only add to the tragedy.
Thanks. Arni… i believe the spell is about the hunger for power, control and dominance. Some people are so drawn to it they can’t get enough. It’s an extraordinarily painful time.
This is a powerful, tremendous, well written, important post. Thank you for writing it.
That you not only survived but thrived after so many medical issues is a testament to your strength of character. Survival, however, is not a given. It remains to be seen if our country survives the attacks on the body politic.
That’s the question. How to remain kind, compassionate and strong in the face of all of this. It’s a daily practice. And sometimes we will not be kind, but we can keep trying to remain focused while we do our best to care for each other. 🙏
Oh Elizabeth… you have written what it is my heart. My own narrative, posted here on Substack, has felt more and more irrelevant in the face of our present reality. Your post magnificently walks the fine line of being heartfelt, but not preachy. There are so many like us, wanting to understand how it all went so wrong, considering what our place in society is right now. A few days ago, a friend posted a picture from the shooting at Kent State University in the ‘70’s. I remember the outrage, as though this killing marked the proverbial straw that broke society’s back. How far have we moved the goalposts that society at large has not reacted with that same level of horror and outrage? Many days I do not recognize our country as the same one that has been a haven of democracy all my life. Thank you for giving voice in such a humanistic, compassionate way. 🥰❤️
Thank you, Rosemary...I've been amazed at how strong the feedback has been for this post. I'm glad it resonates. As I keep saying, I'm so sad that this needed to be written at all. I appreciate your support and your work!!
This piece cuts deep in ways most political writing doesnt dare. The parallel between your own body's systemic failures and societal breakdown actually illuminates something crucial: fragility always lurks beneath what seems invincible. I've watched people dismiss structural warnings until collapse was undeniable, sameway medical symptoms get ignored. When systems stroke out, whether biological or political, recovery demands acknowledging the damage happened atall.
Thank you for this great comment. When systems fail it's vital to acknowledge that there was, in fact, a collapse and possibly an adjustment that needs to be made. Sometimes it's not possible to save what was, but assessing what led to the failure is an important first step.
Thank you, brave Elizabeth. These events have collectively forced anyone with an intelligent awareness of their environment and their own bodies to stop—not merely pause, but be halted outright. A profound distortion of reality is pressing in on us, bludgeoning our shared world and poisoning our understanding of what is true. My deepest concern is that money itself is being used as the instrument of this assault—waged against a nation that, in fact, voted for it to occur.
I appreciate your kind words, Ricky. I so wish it was unnecessary to write this post. I felt compelled. It was a feeling in my body that prompted me to put into words what I was experiencing. Thank you.
You wrote just the right post, Elizabeth. You wrote what so many of us are feeling, irrelevant in the face of a cruelty we can't understand. We are a collective body broken apart by the insatiable power lust of money-hungry men. And the message of hope you share is that of survival. It's just some days the gut punch of what it is we need to survive completely takes away my ability to breathe. Still, I read and feel your relevance.
You remind us, we will survive this great unraveling and move forward. To believe anything else feels like giving away my soul. We will not let Renee's Good's sacrifice be in vain.
So thank you for just the right post, at just the right time. I am grateful.
Thank you so much for this incredible piece of writing. Once again you have hit the nail dead center and driven it home. I so need a voice like yours as I stumble through these times with profound fatigue and a painful numbness. I was thinking about how numbness can have a feeling (like if something is numb should it not be void of feeling?) and I thought about the after effects of stroke such as numbness and motor weakness. These effects are not painless as you have articulated in your previous posts. But rather the result of a blockage (clot) or hemorrhage to the brain causing a short circuit and complete breakdown of body systems. Our country is experiencing just that in this moment in history. Just like the body, if the offending assault is not addressed and treated, the poison, the hemorrhage, the disease will continue to prevail. I will end with one final thought.. Like disease, until we address the overt level of misogyny taking place in this country, we really have no hope for healing.
Thank you for these kind and supportive words, Prajna. So many of us are hurting right now. It’s important to feel part of a community. I’m looking forward to reading your work. 🌹💫
Thanks, my friend! Your comment hits home. You have been on the front lines dealing with the vicissitudes of the body and have been through so much yourself. So much respect for you! 🌹❤️
I feel your rage and I share it. Why can’t everyone, especially the perpetrators, see that they are under a spell, and it is an evil one. We all recognize goodness and the feeling we have when we turn away from it, (for most of us in small ways that don’t seriously harm anyone). When will these ICE criminals see themselves finally and their abandonment of humanity.
Thank you for voicing this for us all who are so deeply upset by what is happening, and the lies that only add to the tragedy.
!!!!
Thanks. Arni… i believe the spell is about the hunger for power, control and dominance. Some people are so drawn to it they can’t get enough. It’s an extraordinarily painful time.
A brilliant comparison between the body human and the body politic, Elizabeth.
Thank you, Dina. My deepest respect to you. Thank you also for restacking. 🙏🌹
This is a powerful, tremendous, well written, important post. Thank you for writing it.
That you not only survived but thrived after so many medical issues is a testament to your strength of character. Survival, however, is not a given. It remains to be seen if our country survives the attacks on the body politic.
Thank you so much. Yes, it does remain to be seen. We will transform, one way or another. It's inevitable.
Thank you, Elizabeth.
Thank you! You helped me so much with my story. I will always appreciate it.
It was a pleasure.
Our bodies, brains, beings,
being hurt, killed by our own kin.
How to remain kind?
That’s the question. How to remain kind, compassionate and strong in the face of all of this. It’s a daily practice. And sometimes we will not be kind, but we can keep trying to remain focused while we do our best to care for each other. 🙏
May cruelty not
turn us blind, mute, deaf, dumb, numb
to each other’s pain.
...
May our rage fire not
turn us, our hearts, hard, turn us
against each other.
You are wise and inspiring. Thank you…
“Wise… inspiring,” all?
Clear minds, calm hearts, open palms,
as our true nature?
Oh Elizabeth… you have written what it is my heart. My own narrative, posted here on Substack, has felt more and more irrelevant in the face of our present reality. Your post magnificently walks the fine line of being heartfelt, but not preachy. There are so many like us, wanting to understand how it all went so wrong, considering what our place in society is right now. A few days ago, a friend posted a picture from the shooting at Kent State University in the ‘70’s. I remember the outrage, as though this killing marked the proverbial straw that broke society’s back. How far have we moved the goalposts that society at large has not reacted with that same level of horror and outrage? Many days I do not recognize our country as the same one that has been a haven of democracy all my life. Thank you for giving voice in such a humanistic, compassionate way. 🥰❤️
Thank you, Rosemary...I've been amazed at how strong the feedback has been for this post. I'm glad it resonates. As I keep saying, I'm so sad that this needed to be written at all. I appreciate your support and your work!!
This piece cuts deep in ways most political writing doesnt dare. The parallel between your own body's systemic failures and societal breakdown actually illuminates something crucial: fragility always lurks beneath what seems invincible. I've watched people dismiss structural warnings until collapse was undeniable, sameway medical symptoms get ignored. When systems stroke out, whether biological or political, recovery demands acknowledging the damage happened atall.
Thank you for this great comment. When systems fail it's vital to acknowledge that there was, in fact, a collapse and possibly an adjustment that needs to be made. Sometimes it's not possible to save what was, but assessing what led to the failure is an important first step.
Powerfully written. Thank you.
Thank you, Nancy. So many of us feel the uncertainty and cruelty of this moment, but we go forward with the support of each other. 💫
Thank you, brave Elizabeth. These events have collectively forced anyone with an intelligent awareness of their environment and their own bodies to stop—not merely pause, but be halted outright. A profound distortion of reality is pressing in on us, bludgeoning our shared world and poisoning our understanding of what is true. My deepest concern is that money itself is being used as the instrument of this assault—waged against a nation that, in fact, voted for it to occur.
I appreciate your kind words, Ricky. I so wish it was unnecessary to write this post. I felt compelled. It was a feeling in my body that prompted me to put into words what I was experiencing. Thank you.
You wrote just the right post, Elizabeth. You wrote what so many of us are feeling, irrelevant in the face of a cruelty we can't understand. We are a collective body broken apart by the insatiable power lust of money-hungry men. And the message of hope you share is that of survival. It's just some days the gut punch of what it is we need to survive completely takes away my ability to breathe. Still, I read and feel your relevance.
You remind us, we will survive this great unraveling and move forward. To believe anything else feels like giving away my soul. We will not let Renee's Good's sacrifice be in vain.
So thank you for just the right post, at just the right time. I am grateful.
Thank you for reading this and for all the beautiful words and thoughts you share, Stephanie. You’re a light! 🩷💫 We carry each other. We must.
"We carry each other. We must."
And we will. Thank you for all that you share of your heart and spirit, Elizabeth.
Thank you so much for this incredible piece of writing. Once again you have hit the nail dead center and driven it home. I so need a voice like yours as I stumble through these times with profound fatigue and a painful numbness. I was thinking about how numbness can have a feeling (like if something is numb should it not be void of feeling?) and I thought about the after effects of stroke such as numbness and motor weakness. These effects are not painless as you have articulated in your previous posts. But rather the result of a blockage (clot) or hemorrhage to the brain causing a short circuit and complete breakdown of body systems. Our country is experiencing just that in this moment in history. Just like the body, if the offending assault is not addressed and treated, the poison, the hemorrhage, the disease will continue to prevail. I will end with one final thought.. Like disease, until we address the overt level of misogyny taking place in this country, we really have no hope for healing.
Hello Elizabeth, I just found you through Dina and Stephanie. So glad to read this powerful piece.
I have many stories to share of a similar vein and the capacity to hold it all is aching.
I am out for a good scream
Thank you for helping me clear my lungs
I look forward to more of your work
With Care, Prajna
Thank you for these kind and supportive words, Prajna. So many of us are hurting right now. It’s important to feel part of a community. I’m looking forward to reading your work. 🌹💫
Thanks, my friend! Your comment hits home. You have been on the front lines dealing with the vicissitudes of the body and have been through so much yourself. So much respect for you! 🌹❤️