newsletter #2
Hey loves,
It’s been a while since I came around here. I wanted to write to you before the Great Conjunction (Dec. 21, ‘20) but I was brought to my knees by a bones-deep fatigue I am still crawling through. I chose to release everything that was not absolutely necessary and since beginning this new Gregorian year, I have been moving slow in picking back up the not-incredibly-essentials. Writing to you all is a joy practice. A non-essential process I choose. & I am protective of keeping it that way. I believe that will allow my heart to remain grounded and pumping here.
2020 was unbelievably difficult and despite this settler country’s consistent gaslighting of all our grief, heartbreak, loss, I do hope you are taking care and compassion with your heart, body(s), mind. Remembering (as feels safe) all the twists, turns, loss of last [Gregorian] year, and allowing the compassion for all you are surviving to soften you to you (and others). I know our minds can be more easily manipulated into such a fast-paced system, but our bodies remember everything along the way. Our water ways, our nervous systems, our digestive organs, our neural pathways, our knees, ankles, feet, wrists, shoulders. They are processing and healing and grieving. And need our conscious love in the process.
I’m offering you this moment to go grab some water; some tea; some hand moisturizer; take some breaths with awareness; plant your feet on the floor and imagine roots spreading; give gratitude to the earth and their original and alive caretakers for another day of holding. Whatever can bring you a bit more ease…. I’ll wait <3
graphic by: @mosaiceye
¿en que piensas?
Hmmm. These days, I’m in a lot of reflection about time and its relationship to healing. The COVID-19 pandemic has broken open my sense of linear time and if I’m honest, I am mostly relieved. More love, more transformation, more growth, more connection feels possible in non-linear time. More queerness, more fluidity, more freedom. In the unknown of non-linear time, I am finding some respite. Gratefully.
An astrology aside: the planet Saturn rules our concept of time. And 2020 and 2021 are years ruled by Saturn-governed planets - Capricorn and Aquarius. Not only that, but I officially began my Saturn return on Dec. 17. *sweating emoji* *buckles in*
Needless to say, I am spending this year(s) sitting at the kitchen table with Elder Saturn - sharing tea, exchanging stories, listening & listening, witnessing all my resistance, and when I can, leaning into the at-times scary wisdom they offer me. Risking it all and believing that maybe (hopefully) this elder has more vision, more wisdom for what security means for me than I can currently see. Keeping myself at this kitchen table, running/antsy legs and all, is it’s own practice but I am choosing to believe non-linear time loves me too and will continue to show me so.
& when I can’t access the hope, when I’m in fear or doubt, I look at the scribbles on my wall written during a call with my mami that says, ‘aceptación y entrega’, ‘acceptance and surrender’. She says these are her key ingredients for moving with higher change.
All that saaaaid, the Gregorian calendar is feeling strange in my body. Emerging from an “end” of a year into continued winter/exhaustion/hibernation feels like I’m celebrating a birth while still in womb. Premature and rushed. I didn’t begin this “year” with excited energy for new beginnings. I didn’t commit to a bunch of new practices and unrealistic goals to measure my “success”. Instead, I felt mostly overwhelming gratitude and celebration that I and most of my loved ones had survived and loved to this point. I told myself - “my goal this year is to profoundly love myself and practice that in action to the best of my ability.” Along the way, I am deciding what that means while being grounded and clear in my values (Uranus in Taurus energy), because acting within my values is a self-love practice. I am trusting that deep self-love anchored by my values will radiate outwards and make me a more loving and compassionate relative (thank you Sonya Renee Taylor for the seeds of this framework).
I am looking towards the beginning of the astrological year (Aries season - which aligns with Spring and many non-Western forms of time-telling) as a time for cleansing, renewal and re-commitment. Taking inspiration from the plantitas who are currently sleeping and awaiting for springtime to grow anew. Until then, here I am, trying to rest in this lightning-fast hamster wheel.
I’m experimenting. I think this is what Saturn wants for me too. To experiment and choose for myself (not my conditioning) what works best for me and my ecosystems.
*exhales* What a sense of radical self-love and autonomous joy this brings me.
Finaaaaally, I wanted to remind you all that Mercury Retrograde in Aquarius (11*-26*) officially begins on January 30 and ends on February 20. We currently have 4 planets in Aquarius which is heavy fixed, air energy with Venus joining the crew on February 1st. We foresee a lot of technological advances and subsequent glitches (Aquarius rules advanced technology). Some of us may be called to see how we can embody our highest human values in various sectors of our lives - from our relationship with ourselves and others, to our worklife, communication patterns, senses of responsibility and senses of possibility. This is strong transformative energy if we allow ourselves to glide along the winds of change. And if we’re lucky, hopefully we can catch a night or two of good sleep in it all.
some of where I’ve been ~
I began a 6-month series offering astro-coaching for a loved one. We meet around every new moon, review their astrological chart and current transits and make interpretations together. I offer grounding practices and guidance as they reflect on what is unfolding in their life in accordance with their natal chart. The intention to support my loved one in building an embodied understanding of their chart while offering them a supportive/reflective/loving space.
I completed an “Introduction to Liberatory Coaching” training with Coaching for Healing Justice and Liberation and was chaaaanged (thanks Lawrence for the connect!). I’m applying for their 9 month intensive coaching program in the hopes of strengthening and rooting more in my work as a life coach / healing companion <3 I am hoping to support QT/BIPOC folks in healing and claiming deeper autonomy in their lives as well as white people committed to social justice seeking healing and deeper values alignment in mind/heart and action.
Upcoming: I’ll be co-facilitating the Holistic Vision program with my co-conspirator Danielle Coates-Connor! Stay tuned.
I’m beginning to dream about my house’s garden this summer and which plantita loves want to grow and build with us :3
❀ y ahora el amor ❀
offered by me:
Playlist (varied genre): newsletter #2 (spotify, lmk if you need another platform!)
offered by loved ones:
Video: A [wooooow] Poetry Livestream by Sarah Nwafor
Sarah Nnenna Loveth Nwafor (She/They) is a queer Nigerian (Igbo)-American Poet, Educator, and Facilitator who descends of a powerful ancestry. They believe that storytelling, and poetry is magick, and they speak to practice traditions of Igbo orature. When they witness, her forebears are pleased. When Sarah's not writing; she's probably sitting under a tree, reading about Love, dancing with friends or cooking a bomb-ass meal like the true Taurus she is. They can be found on instagram (@sarahnwafor) or on twitter (@nwafor_sarah).
Writing: Revolutionary Uncling by Lawrence Barriner II
Video: Interview of Luana Morales about Spirit of the Earth Carry Me Home Project (!!!) (video from documentary by Danielle Coates-Connor from Infinite Growth)
Luana Morales (she/her) is a Birth and Bereavement Doula, Death Midwife, Circle keeper, Officiant, Reiki Master Teacher, and Herbal Apprentice devoted to reclaiming our birth, death, and Afro-Indigenous healing practices.
offered by the greater ‘We’:
Writing: The Problem with Latinidad by Miguel Salazar
Writing: Love Letters To The Sun by Ari Felix (they/them): read a love letter to your sun sign <3 /// Tip Ari here
Miniseries: Veneno (HBO Max) - “A biographical story of La Veneno, Spanish transgender icon and TV personality, and those who surrounded her.”
Album: Sanación, Maria Jose Llergo - MJL is a Romani artist from Southern Spain. I am learning from her about the radical Romani roots of Flamenco. This album is *gorgeous* to me.
you can offer (verified sources):
Housing Support for Black Femme Artist: support Andrine Bell (very incredible young artist) secure housing.
Support Our Community Members After a Fire (less than $8,000 from goal!)
Black Trans Rent Relief ($$ and share).
That’s it for now! Thank you for sitting with me for this time. Feel free to write me with any thoughts, feedback, reflections <3 And share this newsletter with who you think may resonate with here.
Mucho amor.
✣Sol writes from occupied Massachusett Ponkapoag territory and Black liberator land
✣For tips: venmo @sol-stice