Transformation contains profound grief and loss
I would love to listen and yarn with you to seek refuge and foster resistance in our conversations
Folks of the Struggle,
As the resounding cries of pain and suffering echo and reverberate across the globe - dulling the sounds of NYE celebrations, I am shattered by my resolution. A resolution that will ultimately transform the fabrique of my familial and friendship bonds of the past - to connect deeply with those who both understand the language of resistance and entangle it into their way of being
While this journey has already begun — from swimming in the streets and dancing in relation with the ocean, to forging connections with artists and inspiring activist scholars who germinate the way forward. Yet, I recently found myself reverting to the familiar and uncomfortable, slipping back into interactions with those whose perspectives feel disconnected and unsafe. This tension between my burgeoning activist identity and the pull of past relationships is a constant reminder of the intricate dance between old and new, comfort and transformative loss and grief.
A poignant example of this struggle occurred during a dialogue with a loved one, who has become deeply entrenched in right-wing ideologies, notably manifesting in his Zionist views. Their opinions, heavily influenced by the echo chambers of right-wing YouTube channels, starkly contrast the world I am striving to create. It was a conversation that laid bare the vast ideological divide between us, a deeping void that extends beyond mere disagreement to a fundamental difference in understanding and empathy.
These moments highlight why I cherish those who resist, who do not flinch in the face of injustice but stand ready to challenge it at every turn. It is you who represent love and transformation. It's why this written piece is more than a mere reflection; it's a call to connect and co-regulate with those who understand that complacency is complicity - i need you, but i fear that i might be too broken.. though I’m ready now to try wholeheartedly.
We have merged into another age of Aquarious, a juncture, while old-and-new, sees us facing an ever expanding poly crises that is penetrating into our lives, our psyches and communities - threatening to strangle that which is the foundation of life itself. While its hard to say this, battle lines are being drawn not only in the streets but in the narratives we choose to accept, the alliances we form, and the futures we dare to imagine.
This year, i’m pledging to deepen my commitment to the struggle, to embrace the grief of transformation, face the fears and fight with love. I pledge to learn my stories if possible, from a linage of ancestors that undoubtably has a more deeper connection to the earth - at some time and place and to test those stories with those of today. To do this, i’d love to connect with others who have done the same.
I'm reaching out to you… you who are weary, yet who carry the fire of change in your belly. I invite you to connect with me at clairemelodyburgess@gmail.com, share your stories, your hopes, and your strategies.
Let's weave a tapestry of resistance, flourishing with the vibrant complexity of our messy tendrils of our chaotic yet wonderously divergent personalities toward communities of care and solidarity.
I would love to listen and yarn with you to seek refuge and foster resistance in our conversations
In solidarity,
Claire