Staying Human

Life sometimes takes turns that require decisive attention and action. When you have chickens, you can count on it.

We have free range chickens, really free range. They lay eggs in the darndest places and then the game of hide and seek is on. Because if we don’t find them, a predator will. And of course, there are hens who trick us and find a way to sit on five to fifteen eggs that we hadn’t found. We figure this out when the hen doesn’t make it back to the coop at night. And then the hunt is on, this time with a dog kennel in tow.

One hen had been sitting on eggs inside a kennel for way too long, but she wouldn’t give up. We knew the eggs could not be viable, but her insistence made us slip another few eggs under her. One determined fellow finally made it out of the shell, which, from what I can tell, is no easy feat. The mama is completely devoted to its presence and it is a delight to watch.

And of course, there was the hen who decided to roost inside the coop high on the rafters. Every day we looked for a chick that might have fallen, but this mom was on it. Two chicks hatched and somehow landed softly. Mama hen took them outside and with little coaching walked them into a tiny coop set up for them. A couple eggs that had been left behind in the rafter were put near her. One never knows if the hen will accept an egg, but this mama ever so gently used her beak to pull them under her belly and into the warmth required to hatch. And voila, by morning there were four little chicks parading in the coop.

But wait, there’s more in this busy week. Another hen didn’t come home and a storm was on the way. We had scoped out a nest of eggs and sure enough she was there, stone faced and determined. Luckily, we have many dog kennels. She was scooped up along with her fifteen eggs just before the all-night rain. In a few weeks, another brood will be enjoying their freedom.

There is joy in witnessing their effort, determination, and caring. They are brilliantly who they are meant to be and when permitted they teach us compassion and resourcefulness. So we’ll keep learning from and with them; staying sane and being human.

Enjoy the miracles that aren’t really miracles, my friends. It is simply life unfolding.

Juneteenth

Let’s celebrate that which is worthy of celebration!

Some things never took on me. As a teen I had a fierce reaction against the Vietnam war when most people were blindly in support, before the narratives changed and the body count rose. I remember at even younger years, I was not willing to mistreat or even speak poorly of children less advantaged. And I never understood the disregard and dehumanization of Black children who I counted as friends. I hated the stigmas on diversity or anything that smacked of difference issued by “God fearing, church goers”. Their hypocrisy was repugnant to me. It chased me from religion, but not from my Creator.

A favored aunt tried to help me “see the plight of white people”, offering books that spoke of being outnumbered and more. I felt sorry for her. I didn’t realize at the time she was unwittingly warning me of what was yet to come. That those Sunday worshiping, people of God were about to unleash hatred so vile as to make me want to withdraw from society as a whole.

But that’s not my fate. I choose instead to champion the truly Good in all of us. And however desperate the times appear; I’m committed to fulfilling my life’s purpose: to be fully human, fully alive. I’ve lived a life of questioning and choosing. And my choices, while not easily executed, have allowed a love of humanity and of the earth that I cherish.

Baraboo, Wiscsonsin will be celebrating Juneteenth for the third year. It’s a community refusing to surrender to the racism that has haunted it. Haunted all of us. I’ll be there again. This is what we need. To celebrate our stories of victory, to revel in the colors of the rainbow and to delight in our diversity which is our strength.

It’s time for the silent to waken. The line is drawn. We are either human or we are not. There is no other choice. Time to dance.

Abolish ICE. End racism. Choose humanity. Celebrate Juneteenth.

Fragility

Fragility is not always a weakness. It can be the direct result of living in an insane world.

Today began with another reminder of how fragile we are. The call came early; the voice was shaky and broken. I sat down. Another youth made the ultimate sacrifice. Another life lost in the crush of a society that refuses to walk away from inhumanity and senseless hatred. We’re living in a death wish that pretends to be civilization. And for some, suicide becomes the last resort and a final slap to the world that refuses to listen.

This upside-down world filled with contradictions and dead ends are too much for many. They are the Ones whose empathy becomes the sword they fall on. The Ones whose question “Why?” is screamed into an abyss. The Ones we say “were not meant for this world”, instead of saying “we must repair the garden we have destroyed”. We carry on. We say prayers, raise money to cover burials and refuse to look deeper. Those closest to the departed will feel the sting of shame and the torment of guilt, but that should not be their burden, as we all have a hand in this human spider web.

In a land where guns outnumber humans and children are taught their lives are political fodder, how could we expect anything else?

In a country steeped in empty faith with compromises and contradictions so great a camel could pass through the eye of that needle. We missed the boat of humanity. We prefer lies and excuses. We prefer beliefs of Santa Claus and heaven. We want sugar coated exceptionalism to reign. And the ugly truth is something we refuse to handle. Fear is and has always been the driver of this country, but today it’s on steroids.

But not for all of us. It has never been all of us. Some of us have always known better. And perhaps it is time for the fearless to lead.

For those unafraid of facing truth, let us recognize one another with dignity and compassion. Let us help one another. Love and peace are not only possible; they are our birthright. It requires a deeper dive and a willingness to accept and celebrate the incredible gift that is life. Help one another. We can do this.

LGBTQ+ Rights and Our Duty to Protect-2 Download

Transformation

It’s easy to say, “We need transformation’; it’s yet another thing to be actively engaged in it. Transformation, by its nature, implies urgency to move from one state of being into another. Nature repeatedly shows us this. The butterfly is not alone in this emerging. Whether nature’s rapid transformations of insects and amphibians or the slow altering of the seasons, these shifts are essential for survival and the balance of life’s systems. And what are the consequences of not transforming?

Stagnation does not serve us. In traditional Chinese Medicine stagnation refers to restriction that hinders vital energy and ultimately causes pain and dis-ease. That’s why people seek movement in the forms of Tai chi and Qi Gong, to avoid stagnation and to maintain health’s optimum balance. And to a great extent it works.

But when we are identifying disease within our communities, our state and world, movement alone will not suffice. There must be clear thinking and honest assessing of the conditions causing our illnesses – literally and figuratively.

Wisdom would dictate that no single individual should be saddled with the obligation and responsibility of what we have come to know as leadership. Marx had it wrong, following is in fact the opium of the masses, organized religion is only a symptom. The giving away of our individual accountability to ourselves, our communities and the earth has led us to this imperiled moment. Handing our power to a leader brings a stagnation that we can not afford in this urgent time. Cooperation and community where everyone assumes responsibility to the whole is what is needed now. And that will be a transformative step that we have not yet tried.

Many of us prefer status quo thinking and are not prepared to rock the boat. Understood. There are people desperate to crown a new king to follow, both on the left and the right. Tucker Carlson and Pete Buttigieg come to mind in this delusional attraction. But transformation requires immediacy and I would say to you, if this is not your moment to be accountable as a human being, capable of clear thinking and decisive action, please step aside.

There are many brilliant minds and stellar hearts seeking to bring more than hope back to our existence. There are communities of people readying for the transformation needed for all of us to create better ways forward. Look to the ones creating community. Look to the ones invigorating more than resistance; look to the determined, to the unrelenting. The people refusing to accept ‘this is how it must be’. And maybe then you will realize you are an essential part in this massive shift – for all of us.

Embracing Life

Sometimes it takes great courage to get out of bed in the morning. The weight of circumstance has shifted the balance of life. But this is not a time to cower and hide. This is the time to embrace life.

Spring is gradually replacing winter. That is its nature. And it is our nature to appreciate the warmth and to be amazed at the green sprouting up. My sheep devoured dry hay all winter, now go in search of the moist green shoots and I am happy for them. They are wise. They understand time.

Memories come. Some harsh, some sweet. But can I let go of the bitter, can I accept its teaching and move on? Can I trust that the lesson taught was valuable and that it deepened my capacity to live more fully, or simply regret?

Because true living is not automatic. We are not robots. We have choice. There is nuance. We have the opportunity to discover something new and miraculous with every moment.

We can bear witness to the power of life, but even more satisfying, we can co-create with it. We can enjoy the dance and allow it to be unique to us.

I know the weight of circumstance has brought despair. I know it has brought doubt. We are being led by people who have forgotten the preciousness of life. And there are far too many in influential places who echo the insanity of the ignorant. The voice of humanity is being suffocated, but only if we let it. This is where courage comes in. This is where remembrance comes in. Hold those moments close, when you witnessed life’s kindness and beauty. They live within you still.

We have choice. That is where freedom lives. Embrace Life and walk away from fear.

Meet Thelma and Louise. They were the first sheep at Echo Valley Farm. They lived for eighteen years. When I bought them and they went into the back of my SUV, I said “You must be Thelma and Louise – and this is your last ride.” We all lived up to that. Sweet memories.

We’ve Had Enough

The $tate of the Union is scheduled for Tuesday, February 24. Groundswells of people, including Congressional members, will be tuning it out. What better way to steal the thunder of one who feasts on false accolades than to ignore him? Media will be paid to record, regurgitate and correct or bolster every line, saving us our precious time. After the speech we will be force fed false stories of grandiose exceptionalism as they desperately try to have us not look behind the curtain of illusion. Bets could and should be made on how many times the Epstein files are mentioned. Odds are not at all. And there will unlikely be no mention of our “peace” president’s blockade on Cuba that is crippling that sovereign nation. Nor will we learn any more clarity on the possibility of going to war with Iran and what role Israel plays in our ongoing militarism.

And this administration has refused to reel in the inhuman acts of the mercenaries called ICE, paid for by the “big beautiful bill” with Congressional approval. Our tax dollars are funding Department of Homeland Security detention centers that are essentially prisons, and one must wonder, if criminal deportation is the point, why are so many prisons necessary?

We live in an imperialist and racist nation. One that hid the truth of Native American genocide and the anguishes of slavery. We’ve allowed the myths of grandeur to cloud our vision and to promote this grotesque new normal we are living in.

But as the realities of child rape and sex trafficking through the elite world cabal comes to light, surely, we are ready to say, “We’ve had enough”.

It’s time for a revolution of kindness. Kindness to ourselves, to our children and to the children and people throughout the world harmed by imperialism, environmental extraction and debauchery.

It’s time for a worldwide human revolution. Let’s stop letting ignorance lead. Do something meaningful during the $tate of the Union that will help bring power to its knees. Not listening to there $tate of the Union is a start. Create a new narrative of love, community, diversity and joy. Because we can.

Trajectory

I’ve been thinking a lot about trajectory. So, I took a moment to look up the word. “The path of a flying object moving under the action of given forces”. In Latin, it roughly translates to “throw across”. I found this over simplification rather boring and so I read on about the trajectory of life. It referred to the overall path one’s life is taking, with an emphasis on cumulative choices and experiences that can be intentionally guided or altered.

Now that’s more like it. Intentionally guided choices, not the throw of the dice take-what-comes theory of life. But the reminder that our relationship to life’s experiences, however harmful, however elated, can be altered by our choice. That I am not a victim to circumstance; I have the free will to perceive and the gift of conscious choice to steer my trajectory. And while I may not be able to alter the external, I most definitely can choose the path of my soul.

How I think and what I choose to give my attention to is my hidden power. And once I arrive at my knowing about any given subject, it’s my duty to preserve my compass and maintain the chosen trajectory of my life. It is my duty and my responsibility to hold the course of the Good within me. And that need not have words, nor does it need to be seen.

Today confusion challenges us. We’re easily motivated by consumptive greed and fall prey to power and the seemingly powerful. And in doing so we forgo the discernment that is gifted to us at birth.

Be clear about your goal. And do everything you can to keep it in line with your highest possibility. It is available to you.

The good news is while it’s easy to get lost; it is as easy to right ourselves. Seek wisdom within. Choose your trajectory wisely.

As I looked for images of trajectories, arrows and such, I came across this little image and the author was “youth hostel” and they gave it freely “to the world”. Whoever you are, thank you. We share a similar trajectory. It captures my piece precisely. Even the smile.

Dignity and Grace

Don’t Let Them Bury My Story is the book by the oldest living survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre. Viola Ford Fletcher passed from this life on November 24th. She was 111. Her story will not be buried.

If you know of the Tulsa Race Massacre, it’s likely because of the lifelong effort of Mother Fletcher and others who suffered the haunting memories of White hate. It’s said ‘history is written by the victors’, but those who survived the two-day massacre in 1921, are proving that wrong.

Mother Fletcher was seven years old when the White mob began the massacre that slaughtered at least 300 Black people and burned down the affluent Black Community of Greenwood.

None of the White mob were ever convicted of the killings, lootings and torching of businesses and homes. Authorities deputized lynch mobs and harassment by Whites continued. Viola’s family escaped with only the clothes they wore. Many of the homeless families spent the winter in tents. Human perseverance and advocacy refuse to allow the erasure of truth.

Mother Fletcher’s lifelong quest for reparations was never fulfilled, but her words continue to echo giving way to truth telling and the possibility of healing. Her life and legacy is one of hope and much more than survival.

On May 19, 2021, she testified before Congress, “I will never forget the violence of the White mob…I still see Black men being shot, Black bodies lying in the street. I still smell smoke and see fire. I still see Black businesses being burned. I still hear airplanes flying overhead. I hear the screams.”

The first Black mayor of Tulsa, Monroe Nichols, has proposed June 1, 2026 as a Day of Observance with a plan to raise $105 million for reparations. This hope for healing will include releasing documents related to the massacre.

Viola Ford Fletcher’s Foundation will continue to “operate for the Good of humanity, believing we are stronger together.”

May dignity and grace continue to lead.

Viola’s Vision for Leadership

-from the Viola Ford Fletcher Foundation: To humanity’s leaders:

Fundamentally people are the same. We need clean water, air, quality food, safe spaces free of violence to rest our heads, raise children, learn; love, be loved, and respected. We want to belong to our communities because they allow and support us to explore our best. When our basic needs are met, we become freer to dream and learn… to read more of Viola’s principles

photo of Viola Ford Fletcher is from her foundation.

There Are More of Us

While I was handing out “No Transmission Corridor” flyers, I learned again the adage, ‘There are more of us’. The majority of folks didn’t know about Dairyland’s proposal to bring what would be the highest transmission line in Wisconsin through the Driftless, but they were glad to find out, and thanked me for letting them know.

There were a few who didn’t care, but they learned something that will hopefully be nagging at them as they drive through our precious landscapes. And of course there were the very, very few who weren’t opposed to it – not for it, but not opposed to it. They’re the ones who don’t court independent thinking and are content not rocking the boat. But nonetheless, there it was again – that sweet knowing that we are the majority.

We, the ones who care, the ones just waiting for that precious piece of knowledge and inclusion that allows us to stand for something. The ones who are still capable of feeling dignity and who love the earth unquestioningly.

Corporate media has done a great job keeping us placated and ignorant. We’ve been fed lies about what is necessary and what is progress for decades. We’ve been told what is inevitable and have lost our clarity and our voice in the process.

But now as we witness lies exposed, as we learn of neighbors viciously stripped from families and communities, as we see the extend the powerful will go to hide the grooming and raping of children, and as our earth is rocked by extraction, we are also witness to the rise of this: There are more of us. And I say bring it on.

Use time wisely. Look for people who want to know. Let’s widen the circle of our humanity with those who are waiting to be invited.

AND IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

“Another packed night, with probably over 600 people coming out in Charlotte, NC to be trained to join the safety patrols who are fanning out across the city each day to make sure that everyone can get to work and school safely… and home again at night.
Every night, hundreds more people come out to find out how to plug in.
And while CBP and ICE expanded their operations to other cities, so did we.” – Gwen Frisbie – Fulton

Read about the COP30 Climate Summit with over 1,000 Indigenous people registered for the event and their impact.

Survivors speak out in this video: World Without Exploitation. Bring abuse out of the shadows.

And learn more how to protect the Driftless:

Dignity: Tap Into It

Dignity. The word has been with us in Latin and French since the 13th century. It was used to exalt human characteristics of moral and ethical uprightness. We’ve celebrated our dignitaries and, as we have the tendency to do, emulated the trappings of those we believed qualified to carry the term. We acknowledged status, but this is a far more superficial understanding of what it means to hold dignity, or to be a dignified human being.

The Enlightenment brought the understanding of treating human beings with respect and recognized dignity to be an inalienable right. In 1948, the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed that ‘All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.’ And while this marked a major milestone in human evolutionary thought, little has changed in the ways we’ve treated one another or have allowed others of us to be treated.

In fact, when you dive into the word (as Frederick Douglas did) it becomes apparent that political, legal and scientific scholars are ambiguous about the term. Dignity is largely left undefined.

But this is when the true meaning of dignity can emerge; when people cannot agree to a definition because the term cannot be encapsulated. Dignity cannot be caught in the trappings of language, and not in the mindset of intellectualism.

Dignity must be felt. Each of us has the right to claim and manifest the inherent dignity that lies within – which no one can take away and no law can circumvent.

It is our right and duty to manifest dignity. But first we must tap into it. Be courageous. Be human.

The photo is of my Diné friend and mentor who lived “Walk in Beauty”

“The soul that is within me no man can degrade.” Frederick Douglas

“No power on this earth can destroy the thirst for human dignity.” Nelson Mandela

Prem Rawat on Realizing Your Potential as a Human Being

Tag: Dignity