@lovendures I love your inspirational words about being brave everyday.
But there are also the highest forms of moral courage, which are even downright death-defying and which we may not yet be able to imagine under everyday circumstances. That's what I thought when I read some quotes from Sophie Scholl again today. As an 18-year-old German resistance fighter for freedom and humanity, she was executed by the National Socialist system in 1943, without having done anything other than informing her fellow citizens and calling for courage for freedom and humanity.
When the court informed her of her death sentence, she said "I still believe that I have done the best I could for my people right now. I therefore do not regret my actions and will accept the consequences of my actions."
@lovendures What a wonderful post. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, especially as you are working on healing your ankles. I totally agree. You certainly have not lost your eloquence!
I have not been on the Forum much this summer. Just busy on a lot of fronts and have not had the time or mental space to sit down and read through and respond. So your statement of, "Do what you can, when you can, where you can" really resonates and reminds me that we all have times when we can only do a tiny bit (or nothing at all) and that is OK. We will cycle through the waves of life and spiral up to a time when we can do more, in whatever way we feel called. Patience for the down-dips, and yes, bravery!
If it is all right with you, I would like to go back one more time to Sophie Scholl and the White Rose resistance group during the Nazi regime in Germany. The group distributed leaflets to their fellow citizens, reminding them of the typical actions of a tyrant, as described by the ancient Greek scholar Aristotle. In one of the leaflets, the White Rose quoted Aristotle as follows:
Aristotle, 'On Politics': Furthermore, the essence of tyranny lies in the striving to ... incite enmity between friends and friends, the normal people and the rich, and among the rich themselves
Typical trannical measures include impoverishment and make the citizens miserable.
According to Atistotle, this is a tyrannical means of ensuring that the tyrant's bodyguards are paid very well. Moreover, the citizens, understandably preoccupied with acquiring what they need for daily living, are effectively hindered to have any time or money to instigate conspiracies. Secondly, a tyrant does his utmost to gain and to maintain a high level of oversight with regard to the citizens actions and thoughts to hinder any conspiracies.
I felt the need to share this interview of Andry Hernandez by Tim Miller of The Bulwark. Andry is the Venezuelan makeup artist who was recently released from CECOT. His faith, love and compassion for others brought me to tears.
Andry does not share many details of his experience, instead focusing on the positive — his understanding of divine purpose, the joy and healing of human connection, and gratitude. What a remarkable human being.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ySsBj3OOg0
I felt the same watching it
I felt the need to share this interview of Andry Hernandez by Tim Miller of The Bulwark. Andry is the Venezuelan makeup artist who was recently released from CECOT. His faith, love and compassion for others brought me to tears.
Andry does not share many details of his experience, instead focusing on the positive — his understanding of divine purpose, the joy and healing of human connection, and gratitude. What a remarkable human being.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ySsBj3OOg0
Recently we were sharing especially good news here! I have another one:
BioDeSal, a German research project, works on a biological desalination process of ocean water in an industrial scale by using microalgae. This biological desalination has several advantages. It uses less energy and costs less than other desalination technologies. Microalgae can help fight climate change by absorbing CO2 and salt, while the marine environment is not being harmed. Moreover, for many years, people have thought that future wars are going to start because of lacking access to enough fresh water, but now there is justified hope that biological desalination will be able to make the oceans drinkable and turn them into a never-ending resource of fresh water.
https://www.awi.de/en/science/special-groups/aquaculture/aquaculture-research/projects/biodesal.html
A wise friend sent me this article about the lunar eclipse we are having today. It begins at 8:30 am PT and reaches its zenith around 11:30 am PT
https://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/astrology/full-moon-in-pisces-september-2025/
The author of this article intuits that this lunar eclipse is an invitation to awake people to search within their psyches for revelations and new growth.
"Think of a lunar eclipse as the Universe’s way of highlighting what needs to shift in your life. It’s like a cosmic spotlight illuminating the patterns, relationships, and beliefs that no longer serve your highest good. Lunar eclipses are ultimately about release. They ask us to let go of what we’ve outgrown, creating space for new possibilities to enter our lives."
Lunar eclipses as also called blood moons, which imply foreboding. The Ancients believed that lunar eclipses were to be approached with caution. They kept pregnant women indoors during eclipses, lunar and solar, and no one was supposed to look at the eclipse.
About 12 years ago, there were four blood moons in a row, six months apart, that were widely viewed as bad omens for America, because they were visible only in the Americas. I wrote a few articles about it back then, which are still available on this website.
I agree with the author of the linked article, that this moon is an invitation to wake up and rise to a higher level. For those who cannot or will not awaken, it is an omen that their closed minds will lead to a disappointment.
Before you give up hope, take a look at all the court cases that have been won, or caused pauses in illegal actions. This week, The New York Times and The Atlantic listed many of these important cases that have curbed the Administration. These were led by a patchwork coalition of lawyers, public interest groups, Democratic State Attorney's General, unions, and universities who have stopped and pushed back many of the Administration's efforts.
Along with these lawsuits came exposure of illegal actions, which in turn has led to a steady lowering of approval ratings and more pressure to slow down adversarial efforts.
We wouldn't know about much of the worst things if it weren't for the lawsuits.
Of the 384 cases filed through August 28 against the Trump administration, 130 have led to orders blocking at least part of the president’s efforts, and 148 cases await a ruling. Dozens of those rulings are the final word, with no appeal by the government, and others have been stayed on appeal, including by the Supreme Court.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/us/trump-administration-lawsuits.html " target="_blank" rel="noopener">The New York Times also has tracked hundreds of lawsuits in birthright citizenship, immigration, DOGE cuts, climate and the dismantling of the EPA, funding cuts across a wide range, and actions against universities.
Just saying.
@jeanne-mayell I've noticed that lunar or solar eclipses can sometimes make me feel a bit restless or agitated on the inside. Yesterday's blood moon was soothing. Its energies brought to me a sense of peace, calm, and fulfillment. It was a really beautiful experience.
And in the other democratic countries, the press is still doing their work. I feel this is right now another precious key for you US friends, as this also supports you, also inside your country because T is on stage for the whole press in the world. But most of all, I feel, the following is important:
You US friends are not alone in many aspects, and I feel more and more citizens in your country need to find their way to heal again and they will find their way. You all seem to need some healing from the deep political rift and all the pain in your country, and you need a movement starting towards a new overall unity, I feel. And I feel this healing has already started. Maybe it is right now much much more silent than T is, but it definitely has started. To go with this starting wave of healing, may it be as a supporter for healing or may it be as a person receiving healing, is so very much better than giving up hope.
This was just published in an article of a big German papier, I think it describes how a healing wave has started in the MAGA world (please see also https://leavingmaga.org The organization Leaving MAGA was started, because of the need to create a safe, non-judgmental community for those who left MAGA, as well as for those who want to leave MAGA)
I really appreciate you sharing this perspective. It’s so easy to feel overwhelmed and hopeless when it seems like harmful policies keep piling up with little visible resistance. Reading about the role that the courts and coalitions of lawyers, public interest groups, and states have played is a grounding reminder that democracy has many layers of defense, even when Congress or the press feels quiet.
It struck me when you said we wouldn’t even know about some of these actions if it weren’t for the lawsuits. That transparency is powerful, and it’s encouraging to remember that exposure itself can slow momentum and shift public opinion.
Thank you for offering us that broader lens Jeanne! It helps to remember that progress often happens in quieter, less visible ways. Even when it feels discouraging, there are people working tirelessly to protect rights and hold those in power accountable.
I think it's wonderful how Queen Camilla and Melania together embodied a quiet yet powerful female wisdom. I find it particularly special that they stood in such a way in the official joint photo before the state banquet that together they formed eaxactly the colors of the Ukrainian flag. I would like to congratulate you both wholeheartedly on this wise feminine behavior, dear ladies! Hats off to you!
Melania and Camilla 'subtly match outfits' on state visit to make 'great statement'
@ana I want to wrap my virtual arms around you. Sending right now to you and to anyone else here who needs it, @rick and @herondreams, love and warmth and healing to get you through the dark times. I am grateful to you for reaching out and feel lucky that you are part of this community.
I fell asleep last night feeling lost and heartbroken over the state of our world. This morning I awoke with this song in my head. I was then led to this magnificently soulful performance. It brought me to tears.
In this period of darkness I don’t claim to know how all of this will play out, but I do know this: the power of our connectedness and the beauty of our souls.
I share this song with all of you.
Keep shining your beautiful light.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kn7E-OauJI
Here's a wonderful article in today's NYT about the sisters of a monastery in Wisconsin who restored 170 acres of land to prairie habitat after it had been used as lawn and for vegetable farming. (The link is to a gift article.)
This quote about the new habitat really resonated with me:
“It’s a place of connection, awe and reverence,” Dr. Alstad said. “You feel both big and little when you’re out in that restored prairie. This healed land is now the healer.”
This particular piece of land was being held back, made smaller somehow, until these women and many other volunteers came along and released it, if you will. And now, being healed, it can help others to flourish and be released.
Jimmy Kimmel is back in a not-to-miss show. It was a long YouTube, and every minute of it was excellent. And funny,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1tjh_ZO_tY
Recently we were sharing especially good news here! I have another one:
BioDeSal, a German research project, works on a biological desalination process of ocean water
https://www.awi.de/en/science/special-groups/aquaculture/aquaculture-research/projects/biodesal.html
In visions years back of the long-term climate future, I've seen desalination, combined with a vast network of water pipes, as a way to provide fresh water. Currently there are a few in the US, but the cost of water has not yet reached levels to make desalination and piping profitable. San Diego has the biggest plant and parts of Texas are also planning.