Dear Earth, I hear it.
On 30th November 2019 by SatyaYesterday I was feeling physically low and so I rested at home. In the afternoon I walked around the temple garden, which I have neglected. The spent hydrangea pom-poms were holding their rich dusky pink. The pyracantha’s berries have turned firebox red, and hang in clumps like grapes. The pond is clotted with hairy weed
Dear Earth, let’s talk about politics.
On 28th November 2019 by SatyaWhat do politics have do with you, darling Earth? The false promises, the stinking lies, the manipulation, the undignified jockeying for power. Why invest my time and energy into all that when I could be planting trees? Politics are “the activities associated with the governance of a country or area, especially the debate between parties
Dear Earth, I am boring.
On 27th November 2019 by SatyaI am 45 years old. For decades, I have written about how we can accept ourselves. For decades, I have lost myself in computers and overwork. For decades, I have liked the same things – cats, words, chocolate – and disliked the same things – fairground rides, cleaning, secrets. Sometimes I yearn to be a
Dear Earth, what dance shall we do today?
On 26th November 2019 by SatyaIt’s miserable out. My body is thick with an impending cold. Right now, I feel like a useless hulk of flesh. I want to go back to bed and hide. A question keeps arising in me – what can I offer today? I don’t want to ask this question. I want to ask ‘what can
Dear Earth, the weather inside my head is gloomy.
On 25th November 2019 by SatyaNothing particular has happened. A series of irritations, an underlying grief, a couple of triggers. Weariness after weeks of work. A backlog of bitterness that has burst like a spot. Weather systems are complicated, both inside my head and on your body, dear Earth. As complex as they are, we can change entire weather systems.
Dear Earth, help me to stop reading the news.
On 21st November 2019 by SatyaI am being pulled in a thousand tiny directions. The election. Brexit. Impeachment. He said. She said. What I think about what he said. What they think about what he said. And the Amazon is still burning. Keeping up to date with these tiny details is an attempt at feeling less afraid, less out of
Dear Earth, I finally washed my robes.
On 20th November 2019 by SatyaSince my arrest at the rebellion at the start of October, they have been splattered in mud. I’ve worn them as I’ve been celebrant for our three weekly Buddhist services here at the temple, catching sight of the dirt and grime as I circumambulate our golden Buddha and bow to the floor. I’m a lazy
Dear Earth, please help me to ask for help.
On 18th November 2019 by SatyaBeloved Earth, I am terrible at asking for help. When others help me I feel vulnerable, a nuisance, in their debt, and a failure. My culture has taught me to worship self-sufficiency. “What a clever girl – you’ve done it all by yourself.” “If you want something done properly…” I was a good student, and
Dear Earth, is deep change possible?
On 16th November 2019 by SatyaI spent many happy years in ‘the rooms’ – twelve step programmes like Alcoholics Anonymous which help us to manage our unmanageable compulsions. I especially loved the group that meets at the Buddhafield festival, where those of us with different preferred addictions come together and find out what we have in common. Lots, it turns
Dear Earth, it’s the simple things.
On 12th November 2019 by SatyaYesterday we had a very simple day. We woke in a leisurely fashion, went for a long walk with Aiko, ate a vegan fry-up for lunch, napped, read our books, did a little bit of writing, and had a pizza-and-television evening. I remember several times thinking, ‘I am happy’. It wasn’t because of anything complicated,