Letter to a Young Activist During Troubled Times

[G_j]

www.twinoakscenter.com/perspec/perspectives_cpestes.htm

CLARISSA PINKOLA ESTES, Ph. D.
Letter to a Young Activist During Troubled Times

Do not lose heart.  We were made for these times.  I have heard from so many recently who are deeply and properly bewildered. They are concerned about the state of affairs in our world right now . . . Ours is a time of almost daily astonishment and often righteous rage over the latest degradations of what matters most to civilized, visionary people.

You are right in your assessments.  The lustre and hubris some have aspired to while endorsing acts so heinous against children, elders, everyday people, the poor, the unguarded, the helpless, is breathtaking.  Yet, I urge you, ask you, gentle you, to please not spend your spirit dry by bewailing these difficult times.  Especially do not lose hope.  Most particularly because, the fact is - we were made for these times.  Yes.  For years, we have been learning, practicing, been in training for and just waiting to meet on this exact plane of engagement . . .

I grew up on the Great Lakes and recognize a seaworthy vessel when I see one. Regarding awakened souls, there have never been more able crafts in the waters than there are right now across the world.  And they are fully provisioned and able to signal one another as never before in the history of humankind . . .  Look out over the prow; there are millions of boats of righteous souls on the waters with you.  Even though your veneers may shiver from every wave in this stormy roil, I assure you that the long timbers composing your prow and rudder come from a greater forest. That long-grained lumber is known to withstand storms, to hold together, to hold its own, and to advance, regardless.

We have been in training for a dark time such as this, since the day we assented to come to Earth.  For many decades, worldwide, souls just like us have been felled and left for dead in so many ways over and over brought down by naivete, by lack of love, by being ambushed and assaulted by various cultural and personal shocks in the extreme.  We have a history of being gutted, and yet remember this especially -- we have also, of necessity, perfected the knack of resurrection.  Over and over again we have been the living proof that that which has been exiled, lost, or foundered can be restored to life again.
..more..

[G_j]

1. don't die yet, little thread!

[CivilRightsNow]

2. You'd think being the start of a brand new year and all..

This message would be inspiring to some :)

I will kick your thread cause it should be.

[G_j]

7. this appeared to be heading for a sure

unacknowledged death. Thanks for saving it. :-) I'm glad you found it inspiring. As an activist I find it completely relevant to my experience.
It may not last long in GD, but I thought I'd give folks a chance to read it. When it dies I'll re-post it in the meeting room where people are more likely to be familiar with Clarissa Estes.

[Stone_Spirits]

3. Clarissa Pinkola Estes, an awesome woman

Dr. Estés is a Jungian psychoanalyst; Member Hispanic Journalists; Post-trauma specialist, Columbine High School and community, since massacre, 1999-2003; Board member: Author's Guild, New York.
Author of "Women Who Run With Wolves" and other books.

some excellent essays available here:
www.tinyurl.com/sa3k


thank you for posting

[CivilRightsNow]

4. That is a fantastic book..

My older sister gave it to me as a right of passage. :)

[Stone_Spirits]

6. very fitting

& aware males (such as my partner :-) ) have found much wisdom in the book.

The Letter:
9-11 and the aftermath traumatized us all, especially humanitarian activists. What better person to address that trauma?
This letter is right on.
Clarissa Rocks!!

[G_j]

8. smiles! n/t

:-)

[proud patriot]

9. I'll have to check that book out

:hi:

[G_j]

11. I think you'll find it

a real treasure, full of a deep compassion and wisdom.
Her tapes are also wonderful.

It makes sense that you would have found her letter worth a read. You always add something positive to this forum.
:-)

[proud patriot]

12. awe very sweet of you G_j

:hi: I try to ..

[G_j]

13. in the days leading up to the war

when I think of discussion on DU, one of the things I remember are your lawn signs. I found it encouraging. Funny the things one remembers. :-)

seriously though you are one of the people here who tries hard to stay positive.
I try also, but sometimes succumb to grumpy fits and bleak sarcasm. :-(
Clarissa's letter resonates with me though.
Here's to the positive! :toast:

[proud patriot]

14. I still have my signs out there too

Except I'm flying the Culpepper Minutemen flag now .

[proud patriot]

5. Woo Hoo Thanks for posting this

:bounce:

[dawn]

10. Thanks for posting this! nt

[pearl]

15. Very Encouraging Post

from an "old" activist, Thanks
:bounce: :bounce:

[dajabr]

16. Thanks! (nt)

:kick:

[dweller]

17. Fitting indeed for the New Year

and i will send this in a New Year's email to my close contacts.

many thanks G_j

peace,
dp

[Stone_Spirits]

18. kick

for a hopeful new year

[Suspicious]

19. Beautiful and Inspiring -

Thank you for posting this.

[Stone_Spirits]

20. Happy New Year all ye good peeps!

:toast: :party:

[G_j]

21. U 2 Stone & everyone

:party: :party:
:party: :party:
:party: :party:



btw, that was a great link you provided above. thanks

[Stone_Spirits]

22. my last kick :-)

[Hekate]

23. Thank you from a late-night DUer

Last year was very hard for uncounted numbers of people who opposed the invasion and oppose Bush*. Most of us, I am sure, have had repeated sessions with the dark night of the soul, with more to come.

Sometimes a message of encouragement comes at just the right moment, and so it was with this essay by Clarissa P. Estes. In March and April of 2003 it fell into my in-box not just once but several times from different sources. It was so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes and hope to my soul.

I forwarded it along, of course, and shared it in other ways. When I reformatted it and used it for a handout at a meeting of one of my activist groups, I later found that our "tabler" was xeroxing his copy to give away along with our bumperstickers and literature.

When I was asked to speak briefly at a grants-award ceremony for progressive grantees, I closed with her opening words, and I could tell it went straight to their hearts as it had to mine --
"Mis estimados, do not lose heart: we were made for these times."

Thanks for bringing this back.