Love and Listening
Over the last week, I have been overwhelmed by the death of George Floyd and the response worldwide to not only his death but so many others. Responses I see daily on email and social media from yoga teachers, friends, strangers.
I hope that this is a time of great change, of love, listening and unity. That this time around we move forward.
I have been reflecting deeply and am very aware that where I thought I was I am not.
I have always been aware that I am white middle class, educated within predominantly white middle class schools, college and university. I have always been taught and aware of my privileges. I was aware my children are brought up, so far, in the same way. I share this only because it is the experience of so many of us.
In the past I have taken several trips with colleagues of Action Transport Theatre, Ellesmere Port, to Soweto, a township in Johannesburg, to create theatre for young people. Theatre to bridge the gap of race, and unite township schools and Cheshire schools with the joy of British and South African township performers. This too was a privileged. Both in the opportunity and in the life changing and humbling experience of meeting beautiful people and learning more deeply of Apartheid.
When I lived in America it was a joy to connect with Native Voices, an LA based company developing and producing work by Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and First Nations playwrights. To learn just a tiny bit of the daily struggles of Native American lives.
I am now aware that I have been looking and hearing, but not seeing or listening deeply enough. Both at -home and globally. I am not as far down the path as I thought I was. I have not been taking action, but these wonderful people I have met are - all day, everyday, as they fight to be listened to, as they fight to live equally and without fear.
Recently I have been studying the Bhagavad Gita (an ancient Indian text and key to the history and philosophy of yoga) with two wonderful teachers with a focus on the challenges of our pandemic. Now I revisit those teachings with a focus on Black Lives Matter.
Bhagavad Gita chapter 6 verse 29
"One who is absorbed in yoga
sees the universal Self within all beings
and all beings within the Self.
That one sees the same Self everywhere."
Translation by Bill Mahony
The Bhagavad Gita also teaches of purpose and right action. To sit with our discomforts, challenges and look deeply within and without to find the right path, the right action to take.
We don't have to practice yoga to see the wisdom in these ancient teachings and to know that the above is true.
So the action I now take begins with myself, to listen, to learn to take the action I can and must. There are so many amazing voices and resources being shared right now - there's plenty to do.
I am going to take more time with my boys, being love, sharing love, listening. We watched CNNs Sesame Street town hall on racism over the weekend, as I gave them the context for the programme they were way ahead of me on tolerance, empathy and love. I thank my family, friends and schools for this great start for them. Now our job is to help them take it forward. All children are our future.
I don't want to make token gestures, but I will call out racism, I will support those organisations and voices that are leading change in Black Lives Matters, I will continue to listen, learn, love.
I repeat that I hope that this is a time of great change, of love and unity. That this time around we move forward. We all need to be on the same path, some of us are already on it, some of us are further along it. Let's help everyone get on the path together because that's what it is going to take. We all have work to do. We must and can do it. It starts with love and listening.
www.actiontransporttheatre.org https://theautry.org/events/signature-programs/native-voices/about-native-voices
heart image Ed Robertson - www.unsplash.com