mind wanderings from abolitionism to zen

by Kayce Stevens Hughlett

Over time, I have collected a bag full of trickster practices that I use to encourage myself to write or paint or get out of bed when life feels overwhelming or uninspired or just plain scary. One of them is what I call an #abcprompt. I begin with the alphabet and move across the page from a-z, following the rhythm and being witness and scribe to what wants to arise. Curiosity without judgment or censorship is my goal (in all things).

Abolitionism and audaciousness beckon.

Calling. Demanding exploration:

fuckery, freedom, grace, gratitude.

Here inside, intuition just keeps knocking.

Liberty, love, laughter mean nothing.

Oh?!??!?! Phewy! Pssshaw! Pffffffttttt!

Quit resisting soul’s trustworthy understanding.

Vacillate willingly, warily … eXacting, eXtracting

your zen-filled zest.  

(... and then i journal or sit in silence or move on with my day. Today was more journaling ...)

There is a field I enter in my dreams. A field filled with daisies and wise women stringing garlands from those daisies. Sometimes I enter the field via a shaky bridge, other times an old wooden door, halfway open. It is a door of older times, a symbol of past leading into present. Sometimes I sit by the door and wait. (A closed door is the wise women’s signal that the time is not right.)

Today I almost wish the door was closed, that I was not invited in, that I couldn’t hear their wisdom that invites me to morph into cheetah, throw my throat open, and let stars pour out. Stars, strung together like daisy chains. Chains that are meant to be broken. Beautiful chains. Shining. Brilliant. Chains of growth and unity.

There is so much swirling in my mind these days. Creativity. Social justice. My work in the world. How do I weave them together? What is my platform? Where do I begin? Ah, but there are the wise women again, whispering that I am uniquely equipped for this work (my work) of marrying creativity, deepened awareness, and social justice. It is the dance I’ve been practicing and learning for decades.

Ritual, meditation, intention setting and remembrance bring me into deepened awareness and balance … into a zen-state that doesn’t always feel zestful. Zen (lower case) … a state of calm being, similar and different for every body (two words). Every. Body. I use arts and story, drums and incense, writing and image, guided meditation and silence.

I listen. I walk. I pray. I beckon myself to stay.

I lay down in the field where daisies bloom and invite others to join me.  

~~~

You're invited to join me wherever you are, however you desire. Create. Dream. Pray. Conversation. Coaching. Collaboration. Partaking of resources for your own best journey. Here are a few of mine from this past week. 

Listening:

Sounds True podcast "Somatic Abolitionism" with Resmaa Menakem 

Letter from a Birmingham Jail - Martin Luther King Jr. 

Reading my way through: 

Reading Women Challenge

Recommending:

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo

Practicing: 

Insight Timer Mindful Mornings Challenge

Facilitating: 

Bringing the Arts to Spiritual Companionship

Pondering:

Online pop-up groups for creativity, presence, social justice & daisy chain making. Let me know if you're interested.