Be Loyal to What You Want

Abeja Rise | Substack no.04

Hello dear ones - I know it’s been two months since I’ve written to you. I spent much of the summer not only going inward but also connecting in-person with people that are important to me. I also celebrated my birthday. This was necessary work, given the heavy things going on in the world. But I’m back now to hold space with you. Thank you for your patience.

Before I get into our main topic, I wanted to address the wildfires in Canada and Maui and Hurricane Hilary on the West Coast and into Nevada. The wildfires in Maui and Canada are not natural disasters. Hurricane Hilary is also not a natural disaster. To say they are “natural disasters” is a passive way to detach from the reality of climate change and our participation in it.

I am not asking you, personally, to fix climate change alone. I am not asking you to “get into politics.” I’m asking us to wake up. This is not an individual problem but we do have collective power to push back on power structures and the people invested in holding those power structures. Get comfortable with agitating and disrupting power, dear ones.

Here’s a list of info and actions you can adopt that might be a good starting point. The danger of lists like this is that they place much of the crisis and work on the backs of people without structural power or who believe that they have no structural power. Please don’t fall into that trap. I’m going to say it again. Get comfortable with agitating and disrupting power. Here is another list of actions you can do to actively participate in changing the world. Behind the Substack paywall, I can also share a resource for anarchists. If you want it but don’t have paywall access, please email me.

And here are some ways you can directly help the survivors in Maui:

• Donate to this Maui relief fund and get access to a virtual training for emotional first aid ($5 minimum, free to residents of Maui)

• Share this link widely for any residents of Maui that need temporary housing

• Venmo mutual aid initiative by Lahaina residents for Lahaina residents affected by the August 2023 fires (on Instagram)

There is no perfectionism is any of this work AND please do what you can. 💗

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Recent weekly oracle card readings on Instagram

Are you following @abejarise on Instagram? Every Sunday, I’m posting a free oracle card reading to give us guidance for the week. Follow Abeja Rise on Instagram if that’s something you’re interested in. ✨

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Alright, as the sun moves from Leo to Virgo this week, I want to talk about what it means to be loyal to what you want. Before you can deep dive into that work, take some time to ask yourself what you actually want. Don’t be afraid to get specific.

Here are some questions and activity suggestions to help you get clear about what you want:

• Do a wheel of life assessment

• Have a brainstorm or free write session with the question, “What do I want right now?” (feel free to adjust or adapt the question as needed)

• Ask yourself what you want for yourself in this life. Now, ask yourself what you want for you and your fellow humans in this life? Ask yourself what you want for you and your fellow living beings in this life? Lastly, ask yourself what you want for the Earth. Where do the answers overlap?

• Work with a coach, therapist, or healer to help you unpack your wants and desires.

• Ask your ancestors if they have any unfulfilled hopes and dreams for you in this life.

The key to these questions and activities is to be honest with yourself without judgement for what you want and desire. There is no want or desire that is too big, too unlikely, or necessarily impossible.

When you get clear on what you want now, in the next five years, out of life, for other people, for the Earth, etc., you create an opportunity to practice loyalty to those wants.

When I think of loyalty, I think of connection, protection, boundaries, support and devotion. Whatever it is that comes to mind when you sit with the concept of loyalty, try to find the place where loyalty is interdependent with your wants or desires.

🌟 What needs to happen or shift for what you want to become reality?
🌟 What are ways you can devote your energy to make it happen?
🌟 What are ways you can fiercely protect what you want?
🌟 Where are there opportunities for boundaries around your want and yourself or others?
🌟 What kind of support do you need for this want to exist?

If those questions are hard to answer, it’s ok. Give it some time and try again another time. Encourage yourself to get specific with your answers when you can. If visualization works for you, lean into that. And when you’re ready…

Be loyal to what you want.

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Here are some things I think are cool. You’re welcome.

• 7 Steps to Healing from Decolonizing Wealth

• 301+ Journal Prompts for Freedom and Insight from Your Visual Journal

• Disability Justice is Climate Justice from Sins Invalid

• It's time to embrace community care & let go of individualistic self-care from Cosmic Anarchy on Substack

• PERSPECTIVES: Will the Ozempic craze mark the end of body positivity and plus-size fashion? from Reckon

Thank you for sharing space with me. I appreciate you.

💗 Jen Venegas