When you are overcome by chaos, fear and loneliness, little victories seem far fetched. What possible victory can be born of our exhaustion and pain? How can joy and despair co exist? Why can’t we just feel ONE emotion at a time?
Sens au coeur de la nuit
L’onde d’espoir
Ardeur de la vie
Sentier de gloire
We’re human – our brains don’t work that way. We are fragile – we suffer. We are communal beings – there is opportunity for love and hope in the midst of pain and sadness. Rituals embody the hope that community brings. No one person will give you everything you need; we all contribute a little piece of goodness to each other – that’s how connected we are. That’s why people attend weddings and baptisms, quinceañeras and baby showers. We burn sage and incense, we use chants and bread and wine, and bindis and fires. We are sacramental, ritualistic, we need to touch and feel.
For this new year M & and I burned lavender along with a list of the things we wanted to leave behind in 2016 and wanted to bring forth in 2017. Yes, 2016-2017 is just another day, but we need that day – to make something new, hope. And as the lavender and paper burned and cleansed the house the anxiety and tightness disappeared, and the fear and loneliness was relieved. This ritual WAS a victory – the courage to be vulnerable and hope IS a victory.
So this month’s little victories are dedicated to the tears we shed when we are overwhelmed with fear and uncertainty. When you wait for the doctor to call – hoping the test is negative. Little victories for 10 minutes of relief from chronic pain. But also, for vulnerability and courage, for first solo trips across the world, for transitions and self love.
little victories don’t make the tears go away, they simply remind us (through rituals) that we WILL be okay
What are some of your little victories from 2016?
In the dark of the night
A wave of hope and
Ardor of life
A path of glory
Caroláne 