Here are some useful links for self-care and community care during this time. I will add others. Email me with suggestions of useful things to share.
COVID-19 info and support
Pawtucket based support and info, from City Counselor, Meghan Kallman
Self-care and community care, in the absence of regular acupuncture
Do-it-yourself acupressure videos. These are short, wonderful videos created by POCA just for you.
Do-it-yourself acupressure for nausea and anxiety.
Do-it-yourself acupressure for calming and to help sleep.
Simple qi qong exercises for lung health from acupuncturist, Peter Deadman.
20 minute morning qi qong routine from Lee Holden
A tea to break a fever, and more from Manchester Acupuncture Studio
Do-it-youself “air moxa” technique for strengthening immune and reducing stress
Music and Art and Play for Joy and Melting
Playing For Change: Beautiful music videos to raise money for music programs around the world
How I Got Over: ahalia Jackson
Sanctuary Music TV: Live music series from Troy, NY
WWOZ: The best radio station in the world. Streaming from New Orleans
Writing and Poetry and Praise and Prayer
“ Prisoners”. Gwendolyn Brooks
“Wilderness”. Carl Sandburg
Brain Pickings: A fantastic daily journal from writer Maria Popova. Try it.
Two poems from the founder of the U.S. Dept of Arts and Culture, Adama Horowitz.
"To Our Elders"
When you turn off the news
When you sit for a breath in the sunbeamed chair
What is the stirring in your heart?
The memory that dances across your mind?
We’d love to hear.
We need to hear.
Not answers, nor certitude; not even a sense that all will be well. (We are not well.)
But a story, perhaps, of how time has lived you,
Pulled you into and out of the wilderness
A memory of mystery unfurling,
A tale of mutuality amidst turmoil,
The saying or story that an elder once told you,
And that has tumbled through your being so many times
So as to grow smooth like a riverstone.
This is an invitation to take the riverstones from your pocket and put them on the community altar.
If you’ve never considered yourself an elder, this is the invitation to become one.
Not because we’re expecting perfect words of wisdom,
But because in this unraveling of the world, we are reweaving the village—
And you have a role to play.
Listen in, and know that we’re listening too.
Know that we’re seated in this circle together,
that we need you to stay,
and want to hear what you have to say.
-Zoomed Out" or "What To Do When Everyone You Know, Love, and Dream of a Better World With Is A One-Inch Talking Head In A Pixelated Box"
Praise their presence, grieve their absence.
Grow in your capacity to be touched by other faces, and to not touch your own.
Look someone directly in the eyes (they won’t know) and send them love and a prayer for the wellbeing of everyone they care about.
Try to wrap your mind around how they got here, in front of you.
If that doesn’t spark radical amazement, try to explain how *you* got here, and who “you” is…
Wiggle your toes and watch the freshly budding tree rustle outside your window.
Envision that tree occupying one of the squares on the screen; ask what they would like to contribute to the conversation.
Take your dreams off of mute and drop your spells in the chat box.
Then, dazed by days online, unblock the gridlock with a tech Sabbath—
Recover three dimensions, reach for a fourth.
And remember, we’ll be back at the bonfire before long;
Gather your poetry, prepare your song.
