Resilience Is the New Resistance
Disruption brings opportunity, welcome or not. We’re now in a moment of transition and turmoil, sure to intensify with the second Trump administration and Project 1525 (not a typo - that’s the century where it belongs). I also see this as a powerful time to set our resilient course for the future, personally and collectively.
Delaware’s Rep. Sarah McBride boldly called this “a sling-shot moment,” when we can transform the momentum of being pulled backward into a springboard to advance farther and faster than we would have otherwise. I am inspired by this declaration from Congress’ first openly trans member, and I accept this new assignment.
The word resilience comes from the Latin re + salire, meaning to leap again. In the coming days, months and years, I have no doubt we will gather our resilience for the next great leap forward, and it is already happening now.
Resilience reflects how quickly or easily we can return to a previous level of health following a setback or challenge. At the least, it allows us to survive.
At best, we surpass our previous state of health. We can use any healing journey to learn more about our bodies and ourselves, our priorities and our resources, to achieve greater wellbeing than before.
I can’t say I’m entirely glad for last year’s cervical cancer and radical hysterectomy, yet I deeply appreciate what I learned from the experience, and that I am healthy and still getting stronger every day, with Reiki and other practices. I’m also profoundly grateful this Thanksgiving for all the loving care, help and support of my family, friends and community. Multiple crises in the last several years have brought out the best in many people I am richly blessed to have in my life.
Resilience requires both self-care and support. True healing occurs from deep within our cells and our psyches, regardless of what loving care, sophisticated professional treatments or outside interventions we receive. And healthy relationships and local communities are the foundations of our collective healing, regardless of national or international party politics or power plays.
We can learn from resistance movements of the past and present around the world how holistically taking care of ourselves and one another, along with creating strong, deep, inclusive communities, is the combination that best prepares us to respond to any challenges that may arise.
Resilience includes resistance. While our immune systems build up resistance to disease, and resistance training can help us gain strength, these are only part of achieving and improving optimal wellness, in our bodies and communities.
Resistance helps protect us from what we don’t want, what’s hurtful or unhealthy, while resilience encompasses the larger picture of our abilities, intentions and goals. We manifest what we can sense or envision, consciously or unconsciously, so it’s important to take time to clarify our positive vision for the future. I’d love to hear about yours in the comments!
What would you wish for the next couple of months, through this holiday season and into the new year?
If it’s hard to see past disturbing news stories, or imagine strained or broken relationships ever mending, it can help to take a few minutes every day to practice creating safe, sacred space to brainstorm possibilities until a destination or path emerges. Let it be vague at first, and don’t rush to know how it can be accomplished. Editing and judging can kill a good idea before it’s allowed to develop, so be patient. You can start with a feeling like relief, peace, hope, health, love. That’s enough of an intention to hold every day as you listen for your intuition and Divine guidance to show you ways to manifest this reality.
What does resilience feel like for you?
This may be settling into familiar wellness routines and community connections, or it may mean getting serious about caring for your health in new ways and reaching out for the interactions and relationships you need and want.
My vision for this holiday season is a magical snow globe holding us in a protective bubble where we reach deep into the roots of our sacred practices, higher intelligence and most mutually supportive connections to nourish ourselves and our loved ones, while creating and shoring up networks and systems, so we are ready to begin the new year stronger, calmer, wiser and more resilient than ever.
In this moment, I’m excited to be crafting a beautiful and empowering holiday program for the Essential Arts community, combining festive gatherings and inspiration with support for moments of quiet healing.
Holiday Healing & Sacred Celebrations is both a party and retreat, inviting you to drop in on either one whenever you like. To be sure you receive the Holiday Healing & Sacred Celebrations Guide as soon as it’s available, sign up now at www.essentialarts.net.
And I’ll be with you every step of the way throughout the coming year, with favorite Reiki healing, training and coaching offerings, and new year-long Reiki novice-to-master program and Vermont summer retreat, as well as support for reclaiming and reenergizing the archetype of the priestess to bring balance and healing within ourselves and our world.
Reiki and honoring the sacred feminine are the best ways I know to cultivate resilience and healing, and they've gotten me through the toughest years of my life, so I hope you'll join me in activating and enhancing your natural superpowers through these gentle and powerful paths and practices.
I’m so grateful to be on this journey with you, whatever it may bring, and to know we’re stronger together. Onward, with love and blessings,
Dawn
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