What Collapses Me Expands Me: Meditations for Solstice from the Deep Divers
Last night’s solstice prep deep dive was a miracle. I am so grateful to everyone who participated in the quieter darker, less on camera way that felt so right for last night. We practiced silence. We investigated our rib cages. We pondered what are we doing to protect our hearts? What do we want to open our hearts up to in this new decade? What are the practices and beings that support our openness. It was a journey. Trust came up again and again and I am grateful for the folks who decided to trust ourselves and each other by participating in the space in whatever ways we did. I am grateful for your participation right now. Below is a poem we created of the affirmations that we want to ground and hold us as we navigate these darkest days. As usual, this poem is wonderful to read aloud. See if there is a particular line or set of lines that you want to meditate with this solstice.
Oh and our last writing intensive of the year “Cycles: The Unlearning Intensive” is next weekend. More info here: http://brillianceremastered.alexispauline.com/2019/12/16/cycles-the-unlearning-intensive/
Love,
Alexis
What. Me.
by the participants in Brilliance Remasterd’s Deep Dive Solstice Prep: Black Feminist Lessons from Marine Mammals
“deep in the ocean there is pressure. a lot of pressure. it will press on your chest and your lungs will collapse. you call it heartbreak. it is not. it is how what made you embraces you. reshapes you. welcomes you back. let it happen.”
-from Seven. Dive Deeper. (APG)
what breaks me births me
what collapses me expands me
what softens me keeps me fierce
who breathes with me loves me
what teaches me acknowledges me
what loves me strengthens me
what sees me knows me
what knows me builds me
what pleasures me nourishes me
what creates me enjoys me
what enjoys me will recall me
what moves me motivates me
what leaves me returns me
what abandons me frees me
what empties me opens me
what opens me strengthens me
what breaks my heart transforms me
what has been lost to me shapeshifts me
what dreams me confirms me
what calls me will keep calling me
what scares me stretches me
what stretches me opens me
what reminds me centers me
what comforts me holds me
what inspires me sustains me
what intrigues me humanizes me
what connects me teaches me
what hails me hushes me
what heals me loves me
what nourishes me finds me
what lulls me can wake me
what wakes me knows me better
what feeds me deepens me
what calls me deepens me
what i desire roots me
what grounds me fruits me
what ruptures me transforms me
what abuses me shames me
what poisons me takes me
what poisons me exits me
what angers me motivates me
what oppresses me agitates me
what concerns me organizes me
what kills me reveres me
what judges me forgives me
what shames me falls before me
what broke me was not the end of me
the love of god made me
the love of god embraces me
what hears me answers me
what whispers to me ignites me
what challenges me sharpens me
what captures me lifts me
what breaks me perfects me
what speaks to me writes me
what me what me
what is me
what was me
what will be me
what feels me is me
what terrifies me is me
what destroys me rebirths me is me