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Dangerous Compassions

praying for the house

Dear friend, Thank you for encouraging me when I mentioned that I wanted to do a ritual, praying for the house.  Thank you for supporting my spiritual life, which is the foundation of my wellness.  And thank you for praying with me sometimes. I’m grateful you understand the prayer part of me, grateful we can… Read More »

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Dangerous Compassions

drugs in cheese

“What kept the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles together?” Ming asked our good friend.  I think it’s Splinter, but also drugs in cheese. We were at temple for Shabbat service, talking quietly as folx in kippot entered the room. “Wasn’t it a rat?  Splinter,” our friend replied. “Yeah, that’s what I said,” Ming replied.  I was… Read More »

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Dangerous Compassions

escape from prison

“Thank you for what you’ve done, to escape from prison,” I said to my housemate. We were at the dining room table, both eating dinner late.  He had served himself up a big, beautiful plate of food: roasted veg, dumplings, and spinach salad.  We had just been talking about food justice, how crappy food is… Read More »

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Dangerous Compassions

anxiety and pain

Hello, reader.  How are you?  Anxiety and pain are a bad combination, especially for insomnia.  Lately my anxiety is high, and my pain is high.  So I’m working hard to sleep. A housemate will ask me in the kitchen how I am, and I’ll often enthusiastically say, “I slept great last night!”  It’s such an… Read More »

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Dangerous Compassions

holding hands in a circle

Hello, reader.  How are you today?  I was thinking about hippies.  A defining characteristic of hippies is holding hands in a circle. At the community where Ming and I live, we share house dinner four nights a week.   The nicest tradition here is circling before dinner.  Supposedly this community has no spiritual basis.  But I… Read More »

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Dangerous Compassions

Noam Chomsky

“I was just cheating on you,” I told Ming. He was entering our room after taking a shower.  I showed him my screen, which had this paused video of Noam Chomsky talking about liberation theology.  He’s been my pretend boyfriend for a long time.  Long before Ming. We laughed. “It’s ok,” I said.  “I’ll share… Read More »

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Dangerous Compassions

active and passive safety

Hello.  I was talking to my elder housemate friend about safety.  He’d mentioned safety can contribute to laziness.  I disagreed, as I see safety as a vibrant, living thing if it’s going to be actually safe for anyone.  Sort of like nonviolence.  That sparked a fun conversation.  My friend suggested I write about active and… Read More »

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Dangerous Compassions

direct action

I want to change culture, and direct action is part of my life.  I think about direct action of different kinds–symbolic, performative, solidarity.  Some acts of service can be direct action also. statement Serving food to hungry people is a real way to help, but it can also be a statement.  Food Not Bombs says… Read More »

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Dangerous Compassions

we’re moving

Hello, we’re moving.  I decided to share with you the letter I wrote to the supporters of Nevada Desert Experience announcing our departure.  It was fun to write, but the paragraph thanking the holy people is edgy! happy May Day Dear peace supporters of Nevada Desert Experience, Hello and happy May Day from the desert,… Read More »

Categories
Dangerous Compassions

how I learned to do less

Last year I knew I needed to cut back on my responsibilities and activities, but I didn’t know how.  Everything I did felt crucially important.  But I needed to give more energy to myself, work on my health, and lower my stress.  It could be a matter of life and death.  I want to tell… Read More »