I feel like I just emerged from the depths yesterday, still processing, but am now back in the fresh air, breathing, present. It was as if on November 6, a part of myself went away, dove somewhere deep below the surface. I could not post about it until now. Two days ago, I nearly lost whole sections of this forum, and when I was able to retrieve them, that lost part of me was revived. I came up from the depths to the water's surface and am back!
The election result was unprecedented and traumatic on many levels. I know I'm not alone in having to need space to process it. There is still so much to process, but at least now I can share how I'm navigating it with you, and invite you to share with us how you are navigating this new reality.
In short, I'm opening this thread to get real about how the election affected us and how we can guide each other forward.
Right after the election, @Dannyboy, bless him, started the Path Forward thread to get us moving. It's as if many of us had been struck down, and he came into the room spraying cold water on our faces, and said, "Everyone, get up!, Get moving! Come on! Let's talk about how we are going to handle this!"
And some of us did that. And it was good. But the election was such a blow that even when I got moving, a part of me was still submerged.
Then I opened up the "Do Something!" thread. Because we are stronger and happier when we take positive actions. But many of us are exhausted from years dealing with this new reality, and we don't even want to read the news any more. I believe people will still find positive actions to hold our democracy together. I wrote some letters, and was happy to see that Biden now plans to declare some sacred lands national monuments, which had been one topic I'd written to him about. The one where he actually sent back a reply. So taking action is good.
But I bet that many of you are still reeling and processing in some way. Avoiding the news. Finding activities that bring you peace.
Yesterday, I reopened the Post Election thread so people could continue talking about the post election issues. I apologize for closing it, but I got so much feedback that many people couldn't handle it.
Now I realize that people need to be wherever they are. And if someone doesn't want to read about national politics, then they can avoid that thread.
That is where I am at. Where are you at?
How are you doing? How are you coping? How are you taking care of yourself?
@journeywithme2 @tgraf66 @bluebelle @deetoo @lovendures @seaholly @baba @anya @tesseract @lynn @unk-p @dannyboy @allyn @tara @theungamer @lowtide @Isabelle @ghandigirl
@baba shared this article with me this morning and I so want you all to see it too. It's about coping with anxiety in the best possible way. Oprah's personal coach, Martha Beck, talks about some of the things that melts her anxiety away, especially doing anything creative. In addition to my Circle of Light loving kindness meditation that gives me peace, I also love doing something creative, be it writing, painting, playing the piano, even doing jigsaw puzzles.
Would love to know what any of you find helps with anxiety.
@journeywithme2 @tgraf66 @bluebelle @deetoo @lovendures @seaholly@baba @anya @tesseract @lynn @unk-p @dannyboy @allyn @theungamer @lowtide @Isabelle @ghandigirl
@jeanne-mayell Jeanne, I'm so glad you're feeling better, and that you were able to recover the lost portions of the forum that disappeared. Sometimes when we're feeling low and then something urgent happens that resolves itself, it reminds us that things aren't so bad. It kind of reboots our spirit. You are so loved and valued for what you've created and the home you've given here us that it breaks my heart that you were feeling low for so long. Please know how much we value and appreciate everything you do.
I will post about the way I'm handling things in a day or so, but for now, please Google "Karen Pence snub." You should get a link to video of her (she's Pence's wife) refusing to acknowledge Mango at Carter's funeral today. She not only snubbed him, she vibed him like a boss. Karen Pence is all decent people today. Hilarious. Moments like these are helping me cope, lol.
I'm easing myself back into a bit of yoga and sound healing.
I am also giving myself permission to do much less and not spring into action during winter. I can't do it due to body fatigue, as well as residual emotional fatigue due to personal issues. I'm also trying to allow myself to be lazy and rest for the last few days of reasonable democracy.
I am also giving to charity. Just a bit.
@jeanne-mayell Love this thread, Jeanne. How am I coping? I am trying to practice yoga and then walk every morning. Being outside everyday is possible here and walking through the trees, breathing fresh air, visiting with friends on my walk-all these things help me feel centered. In my arts community, I’ve noticed more artists coming to our regular weekly painting and sketching sessions. Artists who haven’t been around for a while are now coming back into community to work on creativity and we all benefit from that.
While I am watching bits of the news about Carter’s funeral and a lot of news about the fires in L.A., I am not watching national political news on networks or cable. I read the news and know what’s going on, but find that I get upset watching it on TV. Mostly, I feel peaceful every day, but have some anxiety about our unknown future. When I meditate, I just have a feeling of calm. Guess you would say I’m muddling through.
Each of us have our own personal tribes of like minded people and we are gathering together and supporting one another. That’s how we are going to get through this-by nurturing and strengthening our local communities. And this website is another community of like-minded people, people who are interested in consciousness and intuition. All these bonds are integral to dealing with uncertainty.
@jeanne-mayell I very much relate to this. I feel like I am in hibernation mode. I work from home and we had a quiet family holiday, just the four of us. Feel like I am just keeping to my simple routines, kids getting back to school, etc. I have some creative projects in the works and look forward to having energy to put towards that. I definitely love getting lost in art and making (I did start some crochet this week.) I don't feel overwhelmed, but rather like the Chariot card in Tarot -- gathering my energy and regrouping.
Post election has created some interesting shifts. Huge relief saying goodbye to cable/network news, social media has been reduced to personal interests. Cutting back on anything corporate and supporting local businesses. Am drawn to stay home and connect/have fun with family, friends and community. No sense of dread, but an inclination to share joy and stay humanity centered.
New Year’s Eve took a beautiful morning walk through the neighborhood and by the ocean. As many times as I’ve made this walk it was the first time that “Good Morning” and “Happy New Year” greetings came from everyone. Such love and kindness to wrap 2024 and open the door to 2025.
Began a purge/organizing of attic, garage, closets, etc as a means of clearing out old energy to make room for new (energy not stuff). This was not a my intention, more of a spiritual urgency and push. A lot of sadness with the fires the past few days but a friend once said, “when you’re sad, do something for someone else.” Contacted the Cat shelter where we adopted our Kitty Babies (Proud Cat Lady here) to see if they could use some fleece fabric that was taking up space in the attic. Was happy to hear that they have people to sew blankets for the animals and are thrilled to have new/unused fabric. Friend was right! Made me so happy to think of the warmth and comfort those blankets will bring. Next stop is a thrift store in town that takes donations for a women’s shelter.
May everyone experience joy and unexpected happy glimmers as the year progresses.
Jeanne, I so feel for you. Glad you are feeling more whole.
What I should do more of is read, and make art. I sing, occasionally bake and one thing I really do enjoy is cleaning. It's very satisfying to control what is right in front of you.
I keep a gratitude journal that I remember to write in occasionally. I always end with:
Thank You
I love you
I support you
~
@jeanne mayell
I have been a lurker since 2016, but I feel very compelled to comment on this topic. My initial reaction to the election was grief, denial and despair. I agreed with my son who said his faith in the American people had been completely obliterated.
As usual I turned to this community for comfort and as usual I wasn’t disappointed. I took to heart the advice to shelter in place and find your little joys in life. I was determined to do just that and I have. I had a little help with that when our youngest daughter told us she was pregnant and the baby is due on my birthday!
But somewhere along the way all the messages about love being the only thing that could defeat the darkness made me realize I was actually part of the problem. My angry feelings and yes, hatred for certain things and people were certainly not helping to banish the darkness. I am not intuitive in any way, but I decided to concentrate on sending light and love to EVERYONE and to just concentrate on having a positive attitude no matter what. It has been transforming for me. I find some joy in each day, especially with my family. I let go of worrying about the little, unimportant things and just concentrate on spending time with the people I love. I also enjoy the peacefulness of nature and plan to spend time hiking and appreciating our wonderful planet. I would also like to be active in the community, but I am very much an introvert so that will take some courage for me.
I have also found a new spirituality. The decision to give thanks everyday to Spirit and my spirit guides for all the blessings in my life has renewed my faith and helped to maintain my positivity. I am not always successful at constant positivity. I still have anxiety over what is going to happen and who is going to get hurt once 45 takes office. I have given up all MSM and political discussions on social media. My state of mind has definitely benefited from this.
I also take comfort in the fact that a lot of people in this forum say they are still calm and that democracy will survive even though it will take a beating.
Thank you all and especially Jeanne for your contributions to this site. I truly don’t know how I would have navigated the last eight years without you and I am certainly going to need you for the next four! I am praying for all of us during these turbulent times. May the light vanquish the dark sooner rather than later.
The sun is shining on the Outer Cape where winter is most welcomed by locals and f/t washashores like me. Bc winter is a welcome cocooning time for me anyway, I can’t complain about being far from the madding crowd.
I’ve stopped watching the news and just read it now. I also have deactivated Facebook and Threads this week which feels incredibly freeing. I hadn’t realized how much of the negative energy I was absorbing even if I kept the ugly trumpets away.
This afternoon, I take my second painting class nearby. I always hesitated bc of low confidence regarding my artistic talent, but last week I was compelled to join and give it a go. The first week was creating color via mixing paint and I brought home my work and hung it on the fridge. :-)
I experienced some minor psychic dread a couple of days before the fires erupted—my son is in Burbank and is safe thus far. I again have a sense of “waiting for the other shoe to drop” but feel resilient regarding these feelings. It’s as if my guides are saying “we’ve got you no matter what happens.”
Friends are reaching out to me re getting together and engaging in fun activities to keep ahead of any societal angst and this feels like great protective light around me. I am grateful.
I suppose I’m taking life one day at a time now and the otherwise peace and calm I feel, albeit perplexing amid such loss and suffering, is a gift I accept and am opening every day. I wish peace and comfort to all when you need it most.
@jeanne-mayell I cook..bake things and gift them to neighbors, make meals to share with coworkers for lunches, spend time out in the fresh air and caring for fellow creatures, I color in coloring books for adults!!! I do 1000 piece puzzles... Charley Harper has some fantastic ones.... and they are available on Amazon..which I still use because of being in a rural area as well as having an Amazon outlet in our county... so .. I am supporting local employment and small business on Amazon as well. I received a hydroponic garden for Christmas and I tend it and am growing lettuces and herbs for culinary efforts. I read books and listen to music. I have lately been tuning out news, social media tho I have enjoyed watching the services for my much loved Jimmy Carter. The only blight on that was seeing the orange stain.... but it just clearly illustrated how unfit he is...and... how he health seems to be failing. We have a snow/ice storm occurring today in my sector.... so I have enjoyed the snowflakes falling... now? that part is over and it's sleet and freezing rain ahead.... a good time to take cue from the bears and "hibernate" briefly. :-)
The only blight on that was seeing the orange stain...
Libra Sister,
Maybe this photo from the D.C. Ceremony will help. The photographer clearly knew how to get THE best angle on the "President's Club."
I don't know who took the photo, it was not attributed where I saw it. ENJOY.
I hope I attached it correctly! My phone is doing goofy things when I try to post from it here 😔
@tesseract PERFECT photo! That’s a keeper. Thanks for sharing.
@TedP I could use another “Cup O’Jo” right about now.
But somewhere along the way all the messages about love being the only thing that could defeat the darkness made me realize I was actually part of the problem. My angry feelings and yes, hatred for certain things and people were certainly not helping to banish the darkness. I am not intuitive in any way, but I decided to concentrate on sending light and love to EVERYONE and to just concentrate on having a positive attitude no matter what. It has been transforming for me. I find some joy in each day, especially with my family. I let go of worrying about the little, unimportant things and just concentrate on spending time with the people I love. I also enjoy the peacefulness of nature and plan to spend time hiking and appreciating our wonderful planet.
@Shari Your whole post was so lovely to read and my "Spirit Chorus" want me to tell you that this, what you did and then wrote about, is what they have been trying to get across to humanity for a very very long time. If we would all work on this (I know it is not a breeze, but often a challenging conscious decision) the healing we are in the midst of would go much faster. We don't have to condone the ugly stuff, we just have to NOT BECOME IT. And you wrote the perfect way to actively heal, (aka not become it) not only yourself, but all those around you —and beyond. Like a stone thrown into a lake, one motion can make a delightful splash and then ring out and out and out all across the lake. In helping others and giving, you are actively healing. Thank you!!! The Universe always sends a manifold return to Energy sent out. Negative or Positive is irrelevant, because the return exists, regardless of the emotion that began it. Thus, your wonderful Sending OUT should bring you a marvelous Coming IN. If more of us did this, instead of being negative, we'd get through this current maelstrom of hate sooner. The dark loves our fear and hate, and instead of giving in to their delight, when we transform our fear into actions based on Light, Love and Giving, AS YOU DO, their hate and fear falls short of us, dissolving into a neutral nothing. Blessings to you for this example for us all.
WELCOME to non-lurker status! 🌼 ❤️ 🌻
I'd talk about how we are all intuitive, Yes,YOU, and about how I too am an introvert (yes, really 😲 Spirit has just nudged me into spaces I was reluctant to go) but I think I am trying to write less instead of more today!A very real challenge!! 🤣
It has been hard since the election to maintain a level of positivity and calm breaths. However, at a certain point I started focusing on Not focusing on the fear and worry if that makes sense. It doesn't always work because I'm not always surrounded by much positivity-I have to create that for myself. Also due to disability and circumstances, I do have people in my life that help but are heavy maga people too...soo again deep deep calming breaths and let the frustration blow away. I read alot, listen to music, recently started exploring anime (who knew I would love it so much and some of the stories are so emotional and deep), and doing lots of organizing. I try to get my family to not focus so much on the what ifs but what are we actually dealing with instead (sometimes it works). I guess mostly I've been focusing on trying to reroute my own fears, anger and frustrations into positive things that bring me joy. I have tried to help with other family and friends but honestly if someone isn't open to not letting fear overtake them then you just can't force it. But, overall just trying to focus on small joys, prayers, happy moments and trying to not go down negative thoughts and paths is more helpful than anything. I have a prayer/chant I say in my head ("Dear father, full of grace, help me though this time and place") when I need to ground myself and center my thoughts. So far, it seems concentrating on simple joys and small moments of true peace have made things better than anything else--anything that diverts away from drowning in panic or fear. Wishing everyone finds their moments of joy and peace too!
It took me a couple of weeks to get over the shock, pain and disappointment.
I have been fortunate to belong to a very progressive church. We wrote thousands of postcards, marched, supported candidates together, did all we could do, and after the election, we met for two debriefing sessions and we grieved and laid all our feelings bare together. Now, we are in the process of regrouping and developing how we are going to work for social justice in our community in this changed era.
So there's that. It's very empowering to be part of a group that is of like mind. Like Jeanne's community here!
I have intentionally made lots of travel plans for this year. Family visits and vacations together. Humanitarian medical work here in the US and internationally.
When we moved here almost a year ago, I had no idea that our condo community would be the source of so many friendships and so much support. We do things together, all the time. It blesses all of us.
I intend to be so busy helping others that I won't have time to dwell on upsetting things too much.
Oh, and I joined a yoga class. I'm set for 2025, God willing.
A list from Tesseract - to make the writing seem less long and more succinct. HA! Well, it's an experiment!
- I stopped msm news. I even stopped the independent journalist news, mostly, because although fact-checked and honest, it is still negative.
- I am trying to go through the myriad of "stuff" 30 years in this house has "manifested," so my sons will NOT have to go through it when I am on the "other side."
- I just finished 12 weeks of Physical Therapy that made me work hard physically and see really amazing results with all the spine pain issues I have.
- I meditate daily and like @Shari, I try to daily send out a kind of Universal Healing Ray of Light.
- I watch little clips of "bloopers" on my phone of Betty White, Friends (which I never watched in real time) Big Bang Theory, Bob Newhart, and many others, because they all make me belly laugh out loud.
- I read. A LOT. Novels, Bios, Nonfiction.
- I do watch TV, but usually really well-done shows like Astrid (PBS) or Ted Lasso, and the good TV not only makes me laugh but often the poignancy of a story will have me crying. My son Matthew says, "Mom. You cry for COMMERCIALS!" so it doesn't take much.
- Long ago, a metaphysical lecturer, whose name has left me, said we should make sure we both laugh and cry at least once every day because tears and uh (snot) take toxins out of our bodies. I don't know if that is true, but the idea never left, and I heard it at least 35 years ago.
- I listen to music, both classical and contemporary. Josh Groban, as I have said previously, has healing in his voice. Other singers may of course be healing, but JG's voice (and his personality) certainly connect with my soul.
- I talk to friends!
- I explore interesting people on YouTube who have fascinating things to say and share on a multiplicity of topics.
- I have been learning about the Vagas Nerve, which controls so many things, physical and emotional in our bodies and minds. There are a TON of Vagas healing videos on YouTube, so always do your due diligence and check with your medical folks about what you should or should not do.
- I take Bach Flower Remedies, especially Rescue Remedy when things seem too much. These are homeopathic, created by a British MD and have been around for decades, but even so, always check with your medical folks when trying something new to you.
- I practice Jin Shin Jyutsu, a healing modality that works with the emotional and the physical.
- When I am upset I take a pillow and throw it around or thwack it on a couch while yelling-or just scream into it. These are all ways to get the negatives out of the body.
- I read and post on this most marvelous site, feeling community and Light.
❤️
... Contacted the Cat shelter where we adopted our Kitty Babies to see if they could use some fleece fabric that was taking up space in the attic. Was happy to hear that they have people to sew blankets for the animals and are thrilled to have new/unused fabric...
So many wonderful ideas on this thread. Thank you all for helping with your ideas. You are helping us all, including many unseen lurkers.
My own coping:
- Lap swimming nearly every day, finding a meditation in movement through water; walks with puppy in the woods, doing puzzles (like @journeywithme2!), baking, staying close to loved ones and friends;
- Avoiding the news, except for the L.A. fires, where I want to feel what they are going through, because that is how I can love them, and I believe my tears for them will help them.
- But tears for the City of Angels, are not just for those who live there or have lost their childhood homes. Tears for LA are also tears for us all who have benefited from the radiant light of artists and the entire film industry people who live there. So I send angels to them, and grieve with them. I watch their news and send prayers of protection.
- Helping others helps me the most. So giving readings has been a blessing for me, Circle of Light has been a blessing for me, and now I have this new idea from you:
- @theungamer: Going through closets for comforting fleece and furry things for animal shelters. I even have a large vintage fur coat someone gave me that I could not let go to waste. Now I know that some fur babies will snuggle into it.
These measures are healing. And giving me strength to stand up for our precious long-lived democracy. For we must stand up for democracy and people's rights early and strongly if we are to save it.