Revealing Sources of Disconnection and Trauma
"We are called to the place where the world's deepest hunger meets our deepest gladness"
Recently, I listened to a podcast called Upstream.
The episode I listened to was published last December, with the Winter Solstice as the theme.
I’d followed Upstream’s IG account for nearly a year for their memes, and only recently did I try listening to the podcast.
Honestly, I was blown away.
I was blown away because of the sheer power of the ideas, concepts, and terms discussed on the podcast.
Here’s a sampling of the ideas and terms discussed in that episode:
“Reconnecting to the Web of Life” – Capitalism has severed us from the Web of Life. We need to do the work of reconnecting to the natural world to regain a sense of balance ecologically and culturally.
“Entanglement” – Whether we like it or not, we are entagled in each others’ lives.
“Revealing sources of disconnection and trauma” – If you can’t perceive it, you can’t fix it.
“Creating compelling narratives for systemic change” – What stories do we need to galvanize movements for systemic change?
“solutions-focused media” – We need more media that concerns itself with providing solutions for the problems and issue that regular people face.
“Eating Five Pieces of Pizza and a Ben and Jerry’s Tub”
Here’s a quote from the podcast that I really felt, from Natalie Nahai, who hosts a podcast called The Hive.
There’s also this sense of numbing out…when we feel disconnected, which consumption plays into. And if we find a way to not numb out…then we can travel to where it is that needs the most healing in that moment.
So instead of kind of eating five pizzas and a Ben and Jerry’s tub…you go ‘ok, wait I’m feeling really…alone.’ So maybe I want to go out singing with my friends tonight.
And then that gives you the reflection to be able to talk about things…like ‘small t’ or ‘Big T’ traumas. And what I’ve been really struck by in this year in particular…is how many people are actually talking about trauma and pain.
Jump to 30:39 to listen:
Going Upstream
At a certain point in the podcast, host Della Duncan explains the meaning of the name Upstream.
Instead of quoting her, I’ll put it in my own words.
Imagine you’re standing on the bank of a river.
You see a person floating down the river. They look like they might be drowning.
You hop in and save them.
Then another one comes, and another.
But also, more people arrive at the river to help save people.
At a certain point, there’s a lull in the rush of people drifting downstream, so you get to talking with the other people.
You decide to go upstream because that’s where all of the drowning people are coming from.
You go upstream to figure out:
Where is this steady stream of drowning people coming from?
What is causing them to fall in and float downstream?
What can we do about it?
TTSE Is Not Just About The Housing Crisis
I started this newsletter to share my journey to either start or join an intentional community.
However, I’m realizing this newsletter is about more than that.
Maybe I never join another intentional community, or start one.
I’m realizing that my desire to live in an intentional community springs from a desire for connection, and for a more meaningful life.
I do still have this desire to live on land, grow my own food, and get to know my neighbors.
I am starting to see that the bigger picture is building meaningful relationships, and living a life that’s aligned with my beliefs.
Perhaps this seems like a fairly obvious thing to realize but the profound part to me is the risk that’s involved.
We’re living in a time of change, rising cost of living, etc., and I find I’m constantly having to fight my own normalcy bias and individualistic tendencies(tendencies that are near-ubiquitous in the US). I’ll admit to a fair amount of resentment towards current economic conditions.
I’m learning to sit with these feelings, to digest them, to reach out to friends more often, to make the initial effort to start and maintain healthy, reciprocal relationships with others.
You might call the practice described above as trying “be a better friend”, “build community”, or maybe even part of doing mutual aid.
I’m in Austin until the end of February, and then I’m going back to NYC. Frankly, I’m terrified of living in NYC again. I’m afraid of getting stuck there, and burning through my savings one more time, and leaving exhausted and miserable.
But I’m taking the risk anyway.
Maybe it will produce some unexpected growth, opportunities, or friendships.
The plan is to move to somewhere smaller and more peaceful. For now, it’s New York City, baby.
One thing I know? It will definitely put this newfound resolve to “be uncomfortable and build relationships” to the test.
Praying it will be more eustress than distress.
Until then, I’ll enjoy the sunlight, nature, and breakfast tacos in Austin.
And the goofy and treat-loving presence of the Cabin cows 🐄🐄