On acknowledging non-human collaborators

It's a snowy day in RVA...

... and I find myself leaning into my capacity to show up.

These days it feels essential to name What Is, without allowing any friction I experience internally to stop me from naming what I see and feel. So I'll start by saying that coming back to this space feels odd, unfamiliar. When I sit with why that may be, the main impression I receive is Shame:

• the shame of abandoning something I cared a whole lot about and set aside;

• the shame I feel when I consider the existence of this space in the first place, its subject having in the past felt very taboo;

• the old shame I unconsciously absorbed from people around me regarding the desire to creatively express/perform in a place of visibility.

I've learned a ton about shame since I stopped coming to this space to share (mostly from a teacher and very powerful communicator on the topic, Britten LaRue, whose work I'm so grateful to have discovered). I've learned to sit with some uncomfortable truths about myself, and listening to the discomfort has changed me, I realize as I look back.

Given the destabilization in many places around the world, and certainly the current upheaval in this country, this Uncomfortable way of being offers an invitation to a lot of humanity right now, indeed especially to those among us who are not actively suffering from war, illness, famine, discrimination, climate change, and the ever-cascading effects of corruption.

So I suppose this is a shame-disrupting post, brought to you by my most frequent collaborators:

• the sweet Earth I live on;

• the planets of our solar system, and their geometry in relation to Earth;

• the tarot;

• the myths and mystery these all animate in my body, being, and life;

• furry friends present and passed;

• the creativity I allow to visit and work through me, which insists on no longer being hoarded.

During this full moon in Leo, my personal assignment is clear to me: to quit being a hoarder, to release resistance from naming myself an Artist, Astrologer, Diviner.

So much wants to come forward at once, what feels most in alignment to share is something brand new - a dry little seed, unpolished, just begun and far from perfect: A song for the 7 of Swords that's been moving through the creative birth canal for a month now. She's starting to crown, it seems.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/fd1054_6fe0c152161247f484263594fadadb1c/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

singing with a cat, and a cold

Thanks for reading! May beautiful energy choose to amplify itself in this space. Your presence here helps.

P.S. To that end, I am sharing part of a message and invitation to support an incredible Richmond musician, Justin Golden, who has quite suddenly found himself on a healing journey from cancer. If you're able, I hope you will contribute to the network of support that has rallied around him, either through a financial donation, sharing and amplifying his music, or attending a fundraising show in RVA in the coming weeks. See below for more details.

"In addition to his musical achievements, Justin Golden is the founder of the Richmond chapter of The Rhapsody Project, a nonprofit committed to promoting cultural equity through the preservation and exploration of musical heritage. Known for his unwavering dedication to the local music scene, Golden has consistently championed fellow artists, helping to elevate Richmond’s vibrant creative community. Now, that same community is uniting to return the care and passion he’s shown during his time of need.

For those looking to for other ways to support Justin Golden, a GoFundMe has been set-up by his family that will directly go to his care and expenses during his treatment and recovery. Streaming Justin Golden’s music on Spotify as well as purchasing his merchandise on Bandcamp can also assist during this time, as well as just sharing the news about all of these fundraising efforts." (Goldenfest RVA, February 10, 2025)