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I imagine a lot of us are in high emotional gear now about this election– both in terms of its outcome and how Election Day itself might play out in various places. For good reason. So much is at stake. Friends in the US:

EARLYVOTE IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY!
It's unclear what's going to happen tomorrow. Get it done now.

(Also: I'll be serving as a poll chaplain in WI, will be posting updates to my IG and Bsky from there.)

And: No matter what happens, a few essential truths remain and behoove us to hold on to today, tomorrow, and the day after that.

Before anything else, though, a couple of website updates:

1) Over the years, people have mentioned that they wish some of LiST's non-biblical posts were organized in a way that could be easier to find again. In addition to the search bar, we now have a this page under the "Resources" tab on the site, so you can find some of your favorites, find things you missed the first time around, and share the goods with others who might love it:

2) At long last, you can toggle between light and dark mode! On the top of the site, next to the search bar, is a little sun/moon icon that allows you to choose your preferred reading background:

Image of a dark green background with a moon and "switch to light mode" and a cream/tan background and a sun icon that says "switch to dark mode."

Now. No matter what happens with the midterms, remember:

1) Nervous system regulation is job one.

Please pay attention to how you're feeling in your body. It matters. Of course you may be feeling more anxious than usual, of course adrenaline or cortisol might be flowing. And real life might be life-ing in a way that makes it difficult for you to stop and, like, do a whole yoga class in e midde of the cubicles at the office –but what can you do when you need help reground a bit?

Can you make tea and just take some deep breaths holding on to the cup and feeling its warmth on your hands, the flavor and heat in your mouth?
Can you go outside, walk around or sit next to a tree for ten minutes? Longer?
Can you put on one or two songs that make you dance and rock out entirely, fully, for a few minutes?
Can you do deep stretches in the places your body is tightest for the length of between one and three songs?
Can you sing your lungs out in your car or at services or in the shower or somewhere else for a few songs?
Can you have time with community, even just complaining and laughing and talking about nothing in particular?
Can you take ten minutes to dump your feelings into a journal or a sketchbook?
Can you give yourself the gift of a meditation, prayer or silent scream break?
Can you get some oxytocin from deep breathing co-regulating snuggles with a critter or human, whether tiny or big?
Or something else? (Give us some other ideas in the comments!) (Down at the bottom, click the 💬 icon).

Whatever the thing(s) are that work for you, please do them a lot, OK?

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"Vote Love" by Gillian Dreher (*A lot of computer-drawn florals in orange, yellow, purple, peach, green with VOTE LOVE in white)*

2) The work continues, regardless.

No matter how this election goes, we must keep fighting. God willing the electoral outcome will make the path easier, but there are no versions of the story that will allow us to stop pushing for everyone’s rights, safety & justice in the days after tomorrow.

The only way to win is through a groundswell, a grassroots movement that is a diverse cross-section of our country pushing forward with a commitment to all of our collective liberation.

We're entering a new global era of pushing against hateful, corrupt rulers and systems–

A two-year student-led movement for government accountability turned into those same students unseating the Serbian president in the election just over a week ago.
The surprise election the next day of a Brazilian president from the Worker's Party – unseating the fascist Bolsonaro – was also due to a groundswell of Gen Z activism that brought others along.
Mass protests are underway across Europe; France just hit its third consecutive weekend of mass protests over the cost of living and education, and similar actions have been spreading across Europe, to Germany, Portugal, Austria, Belgium, Spain, the Czech Republic, Greece, Ireland, Poland, Albania, Switzerland and more. Italy just held a national strike, eg.
In India, a mass protest movement for education reform has joined with other movements demanding electoral accountability and regime change.
In Bangladesh, sweatshop workers have closed over 500 factories as they demand fair pay, forcing the government to set up a wage review board.

We can grow deep change here. But we must show up for it.

With all of us on deck, showing up from our places of talent, capacity, passion, access, and more –
With each of us, as Mariame Kaba said during her LEARN, TO DO session, taking action "at the scale of our own lives."
And pacing ourselves not to burn out because what's at stake– whose lives are at stake– matters too much to just quit when things get hard.

It's possible that I sound like a broken record, but true things are true.
More below.

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"Democracy is a Practice" Rommy Torrico (Drawing of what seems to be a small Brown (Latinae?) child on a woman's shoulders, and three people beneath them with a megaphone and shouting. Banners say, "Liberation: Democracy is a practice. Colors are black and white with blue background.)

3) Spirituality and Liberation. All connected. Always.

When we are integrated people, caring for ourselves and caring for the broader world are all one thing. Our capacities may ebb and flow (please do not overpromise and underdeliver when you work with others) but we are connected to all life and the work is all one work. And so I leave you with two blessings, or meditations, to hold as we move forward into whatever happens next:

This, from the sadly-former project Enfleshed, not sure which author (perhaps Black theologian Robert Monson?):

may my solidarities be serious. may they reach beyond what is most familiar to me. may my own story be an entry-point, not an end-point. may the parts of myself with most proximity to power be examined and tended with commitment. may the healing work of undoing dominance within manifest as actionable divestment from and disruption of the systems that favor me. may i trust i will not be left alone in the consequences. may i not be fooled into misunderstanding this path as charity or sacrifice. may i ground in assurance that these are the truths that set free and this is the path of love and satisfaction.

And this, by a dear colleague, from this blessing collection.

Holy Breath of Liberation
Rabbi Dr. Koach Baruch Frazier
Berucha At Shekhinah, Eloteinu Ruach Ha’olam
A blessing you are Shekhinah to this universe
Giving breath. And wind. And spirit to the G!d within us

May this breath that flows through the lungs of the earth
infuse our bodies
allowing the rage, the grief and anxiety
the joy, the delight and excitement
to flow through us without impediment
letting us feel it, but not getting stuck

May this wind of transformation
that is sweeping through the universe right now
blow through the trees, through the halls of government,
and the clouds of zoom
creating space for the reckoning that must come

May the spirit of truth and justice that lives within us
find the courage to cry out---shaky voice and all
to join in the chorus of our siblings throughout the world

Blessed are you Shekinah, who gives us the spaciousness
to inhale and exhale our way to liberation

No matter what happens.

❤️ 🌱 ❤️

Who'd dig this post? Spread the word!

Give yourself permission– and the tools– to get your work out there.

Join me for our next practical writing workshop.

November 18, 8ET: How to Write a Book Proposal
PLUS: How to Write a Book Proposal GUIDE available for purchase anytime, here, and included with the proposal series.
EXTRA GOODNESS - House of Study members get 75% off everything !

(And yes, as long as you’re registered, the session’s recording will also be available to you.)

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