These places of possibility within ourselves are dark because they are ancient and hidden; they have survived and grown strong through darkness. Within these deep places, each one of us holds an incredible reserve of creativity and power, of unexamined and unrecorded emotion and feeling.
-Audre Lorde
It was so good to be back with so many of you.
Yesterday’s gathering was the first of what I’m now calling our monthly Sunday Cauldron. In these times, we need a place to throw our grief, fear, and rage into the (virtual) fire and offer them up—in community—for transformation.
A Gathering Recap:
Reflecting on these past few weeks, I emphasized the timeless potential of crisis to hone our values and the meaning of our lives and work. This is when culture is born and human integrity is on display.
I briefly spoke to The Descent of Innana, the ancient Sumerian story, and its connection to this time (entering Venus retrograde). It’s an early story about the need for empathy in the darkest of places; the need for our pain to be mirrored.
We entered into a small alchemical ritual together:
Journaling for 10min on our own experience of grief.
Sharing one image or experience of that grief with the group.
Adding our pain to the fire for witnessing and for transformation.
We emphasized the need for the Artists, the Poets, and the Mystics in these times, the need for those engaged in the most profound work of self-becoming: the antidote to frozen overwhelm and group think.
Readings: passages from two incredible essays:*
James Baldwin, The Creative Process, 1962.
Audre Lorde, Poetry is Not a Luxury, 1977:
Some final beautiful sharing from the community. Thank you.
*The Baldwin and Lorde essays are attached below as PDFs.
After our gathering ended yesterday, I was sorry to realize that I had not saved the chat! There were so many beautiful messages and thoughtful ideas accumulating, and I wasn’t able to see all of them while we were together.
If you were with us live, and want to share again what arose for you, please do so in the comments below. If you watch the recording and want to add your voice to the mix, please do! Feel free to share ideas for the future too. What are you longing for in terms of community?
The recording and comments are only for paid subscribers to protect privacy and create a closed container.
Paid subscribers* can watch the full recording, access the Baldwin and Lorde readings, and share comments below. Free subscribers can upgrade anytime to see the full video and join the conversation.
*If you’re drawn to participate but finances prohibit a paid subscription, please reply to this email or send me a note at satyadoylebyock[@]substack.com — I don’t ask for any explanation, just your honesty. All emails go directly to me.
Upcoming Workshops:
Sunday, March 2nd, 10-11am PST — register here.
Sunday, April 6th, 10-11am PST — registration will be available soon.
Videos from Past Workshops:
I’ve created a new workshop-specific page where you can see last year’s gatherings.
