On
Halloween, I pulled a Tarot card to see what the next six weeks would bring:
The World, reversed. It is usually a joyous card and, even reversed, the worst
translation of it is “stagnation.” A few
days later, the election hit, Mark’s cold lodged in my sinuses, and I
stagnated. The weather did not help; it
has been a remarkably dark and wet autumn. All I wanted to do was go to work
(it is easier, as a teacher, to power through work rather than dealing with the
repercussions), come home, nap, and sit by a fire with a cat. Stagnate.
About
a week ago, I woke up and looked around. It was still raining, but I went for a
walk. I can’t stagnate forever, I told myself. I have council trainings to
attend, people to talk with, cookies to bake, backyards to clean up….and an election
to react to. The next day, Jill Stein announced a recount effort. I know it will not change the outcome, but
action makes us all feel better. To paraphrase T.H. White in The Once and Future King the best thing
to do when you are feeling sad is to learn something—or do something. There are
about 21 days to the Solstice, when the world tips towards the light once more,
I thought. I will take some small political action every day for 21 days.
What
counts? Clearly, any day I have council training or meeting I have met the
requirement. Small donations count. Thank you letters count (we love our
national Representative, Peter Defazio), emails of concern about political appointments
count. Even a serious conversation with someone I do not usually talk politics
with could count. What does not count? Signing an on-line petition. Ranting on social
media. Talking with Mark. Anything I
would do any day.
Action so far:
·
Donated to the recount
·
Emailed the president about Standing Rock—and the
governor of North Dakota
·
Council training on legal issues
·
Thank you note to Defazio
·
CEA work at school
·
Pre- council meeting
·
Email Oregon senators about the proposed Secretary
of Education
I will say, it
is still rainy and cold outside. The fire and a cat still look tempting. I am
still massaging my forehead to move the stagnated fluids along. But I am
moving. Taking small actions every day has made me feel better about the
future. And then, there is Corvallis—where women will be the majority on city
council for the first time.
Loved the post. Movement forward thwarts stagnation. Congrats on the city council. Pete DeFazio is a gift. RESIST.
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