I want to skip over this part.
The desire to avoid the present moment and what happens when you don't.
It’s not that pleasant all the time right now to be grounded in the present moment. There is a lot going on and the old expected dopamine hits aren’t carrying us the way they used to. I wish I could shop my way to (pretend) happiness again instead of worrying about wildfires, covid’s next season, my 2 month old niece’s future reproductive rights, or the fact that a lot feels huge and ugly right now. But I can’t.
Giving yourself permission to take action towards the life you dream about doesn’t bipass all of that. It’s actually an opportunity to take a step towards something good even though you are perfectly fucking aware of what’s happening. It means pulling up a chair for your trauma, the guilt about the trauma you’ve inevitable caused others, and some huge systemic impacts that are not interested in you thriving, AND STILL deciding that you can do what is possible for bringing as much of your gifts into the world as you can.
I’m pretty sure what you dream of is better than what we’ve got going on in a lot places right now. It’s kind, additive, fulfilling, and is ready to do things differently—that’s why it’s not happened yet because it’s hard to do things differently.  But I know that’s where the good future for all of us lies because it’s so hard to do right now. When we make it ok to be in this tough present moment we start building our way out of it.
There’s this organisation I love called Lemon Tree Trust that helps people in refugee camps grow gardens. They facilitate a very human opportunity for people to provide for their families, tend beauty, ground and touch the earth each day in the midst of a pretty big fucking shitshow of being human on this planet right now. It’s one of the most beautiful things I know of. Gardening doesn’t change the fact that people are in the camp. It does change how they might be able to go forward—better nutrition, stress management, moments of joy…
You aren’t alone if your present moment isn’t great. I just want you to know that if you are too broke to buy the ‘good’ groceries this week to ‘treat yourself like you deserve’; or if you don’t have the energy in your bones to help all the good work in the world you wish you could; or if you are filled with waves of unnameable rage; it’s ok. The Present isn’t inherently good, it’s simply the place where better can start. It’s the first stop on the map.
On August 29th my friend Tara Gangadharan, creator of Thara Sacra, and I are going deeper into what a grounding practise can bring into your life and offering a couple of new things to try—including a sample of her amazing Ground Chakra oil. Join us if you can. All the details at the link below.
Embracing the Power of Transformation and Grounding Yourself in the Present Moment.