The news is bad. Just when you think it couldn’t get any worse it does.

It makes us want to check out. It forces us to check out. Taking time out is an important act to grasp any psychological health, but it is not the same as shutting down. Shutting down is what they want.

We’ve been told this would happen from the beginning. We would be hit with an onslaught, a chaos of events designed to distract and overwhelm. Designed to make us throw up our heads, bury our heads, give up hope and be paralyzed by despair.

So, knowing that, we can strategize.

I have a list of suggestions.

Mantras: These help keep a clear separation of you and that. It is protective.

• I am a sovereign being. You cannot take my joy.
• I am a sovereign being. You cannot take my joy.
• Your despicable energies are not my life. My life is my own.
• That is you. This is me.
• I will still hold up light and not be affected by your sickness.
• I will not shut down. I will not shut down. I will shut down.
• I choose to live. Every day, I choose to live.

Positively, make your own mantra.

Put your body somewhere nourishing with no electronics: The forest, a hot tub, a sanctuary, a quiet room.

Shamanic antidotes:

• Guard yourself from energetic intrusions from the media. If you are already in trouble, help from another practitioner.
• Contribute healthy energies to the global/national town square.
  It is possible to hold to the ethics of not doing any works that affect people’s personhood without their permission, but there are so many creative ways to contribute energy people need into the psychic town square: inspiration, creativity, fortitude, healing, comfort, clear-thinking, community connection and sheer good luck. If someone needs it, it will be there for them because you put it there. When I am less tired I will write more about this but you can journey to the web of light where eveyrone is doing whatever they are inspired to do.
• Continue your normal spiritual practice. Whatever it is, do not abandon it.
• Acknowledge to yourself the immense beauty of all the people making change in different ways. This is nourishing and energetically supports them.
• Mourn if you need to. This energetically supports others who are mourning. Be sure and let it go through you. Do not hold onto it.
  
  Note: Remember to do this work in conjunction with the Spirits of Kindness. As in all healing arts, you do not want to contribute your personal energy into this effort or it will deplete you. Rather, ask your helpers to source the energy and help you direct it.

Media Consumption:
Yes, of course, we need breaks from the media but we cannot abandoned our contributions to a better society. Vote. Petition. Vote. Vote. Network. Keep moving. Stagnation brings sickness.

Mundane Activities:

• Call or write your representatives and thank them for holding the line.

• Donate to groups that are doing hard work that we cannot.
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• Attend high-media events to help keep the conversation in the news.
https://seattle-protests.org/ for local folks
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• Reach out to marginalized people and let them know you are there.

• Join the groups that monitor ICE if you have the means.
• Encourage and support others who are doing things that we cannot.
• Divest from credit cards from Bank Of America and other such institutions. I just did.

• Research your bank. I switched over to Beneficial Bank from Portland.
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• Keep being a good person and supporting others to be their best selves.
• Vote.

Every human, every person is an agent for change. But keep yourself healthy. Remember that you are beautiful and that is no joke. Thank you for being you.

Tasara

P.S. We are a community. Please post your mantras, ideas, inspirations and tools in the comments. Who knows who you might help?