Dear Reader,
I’ve been pondering what I could possibly write you that would tear a fissure through the long heavy shadow that’s fallen upon us.
I read the news daily and I’m maddened. I’ve read the countless takes, the essays just bubbling with insecurity, declaring that as a culture we simply went too far! Now it serves us right to be beaten back into submission by a bunch of fucking idiots. This nagging narrative that it’s all our fault, we got too Trans! We put our pronouns in our emails! Too focused on acknowledging idk- History?
It made some guys feel bad :( they don’t like that! :( A merry go round of clowns now with careers created off of being outraged. Now in charge! Holding the fucking wheel, it’s enough to make you lose your goddamn mind.
So here we are, hearing daily about raw milk (i swear to fucking god), constant racist word salad and bracing ourselves for years of destruction. Listen, when the Republican senator of Louisiana is the voice of reason in the room it’s…not a great situation.
As reality becomes more hideously absurd, full to the brim with dangerous obscene moronic hatred, I find myself gripping onto any strip of art or poetry, any thought that can breathe life into me. I am writing this all to you so that if you too are feeling like you are tied to cement and sinking into the depths, I’m there with you, falling below. There’s plenty of very smart people out here who have ideas of what we do, but I’m just lovingly encouraging you to keep your heart. Hold onto your mind however you can. Here is some of what I am holding onto.
David Lynch’s Master Class on The Art Life
I have been taking this class in slowly, I believe anyone who wants to live a creative life can learn from this beautiful being who left us so much.
Benjamin Booker's new album LOWER
I encourage you to listen in full to Ben’s new album. It has become the soundtrack of these times for me.
As we suffer through this increasingly more anti-thought time, listening to PT! stimulates and soothes my mind.
The Stacks Podcast : Toni Morrison's "Goodness" with Saeed Jones
Saeed Jones is one of my favorite poets, and has an excellent Substack as well. I loved this conversation, regarding one of the best thinkers/writers of all time, Toni Morrison. The harder things get the more I run towards interesting, thought provoking conversations!
Freedom for Immigrants National Network
In 2020 I volunteered with Freedom For Immigrants as a part of their visitation network. I visited two men seeking asylum who had be stuck for over a year in for-profit detention centers. I met brave loving people of all walks of life who believed people should be treated with dignity no matter their citizenship status. Leaving this link with you to learn more about their valuable work that will remain necessary in our future.
To my paid subscribers, I leave you a link to my February playlist, some of the music that is guiding me through the deluge.
Take care, hang on, and don’t take any shit.
xo alynda mariposa segarra xo