There is no separation, the work of social justice and the work of healing. Many of the behaviors that lead to small and large injustices come from selves that have not yet healed. People -and the unjust systems they have built and continue to build- we attempt to ‘change’ are not healed and themselves have suffered injustices, in their families, their communities and their nations. How do we make sure we do not act out of fear and greed, the characteristics that fuel the very systems we are trying to change? Fear and greed in anyone results in diminishing ability to see others as an extension of ourselves because we feel separated. We consume and compete and become attached to individual accomplishments as ways to fortress ourselves against this fear. We are in constant states of contraction, holding ourselves hostage to fear and greed. And in these tight states of mind and heart, holding onto past and present embodied injustices, we say we are working toward justice outside of us. Healing ourselves begins the true path of healing all injustices outside of us. While we cannot wait until we have healed all the traumas, small and large, inside of us before we contend with the systems and policies that are unjust, they must go hand in hand.

The upcoming book, Healing Our Way Home published by Parallax Press by Valerie Brown, Kaira Jewel Lingo and myself is an example of this internal healing journey occurring right alongside the external work of social justice. (Order for 20% discount here with code HOME20)

We have been doing the work of justice, paused, and realized that the deeper inner work of healing is necessary to continue the external work of justice-healing justice. This healing journey slowly reveals a self that is clear and discerning in all decisions. Healing from the wounds of this and previous lifetimes brings us slowly back to a more authentic version of ourselves. This self can see our connection with others on the human level even while their actions may cause great harm. As we work for social justice, we cannot let other’s hatred water the seeds of hatred in our own hearts. This is the deepest form of injustice. So what do we do? We heal our hatred, and greed, and delusion so that as we do our work of justice outside, we are not at risk of acting like the ‘enemy’. If we are to change these times of great injustice, it requires us to look deeply and heal the injustices we have inside ourselves. Tomorrow Tuesday Feb 13 2024 at 7pm est, on zoom, we will read from this book of healing for our collective liberation from racial and social injustice. All are welcome to join us here– and invited to go deeper still on this journey of understanding and justice.

Join us: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwoc-2hrz0sGtThtMouMhAxBsmEfT31VXWH#/registration,