8 Comments
User's avatar
Heather Plett's avatar

Beautifully said. It reminds me of the time that I and a bunch of other North Americans sat with a Kenyan woman who worked with farmers in her home country. Someone asked her about how to fix the problems in her country, and she shook her head and said, with some exasperation, “Why do you North Americans always think you need to FIX things?” I’ve reflected on her question many times since then.

I’m glad I found your work. Whenever I find someone connected to Bayo, I know I’ve found a contemplative thinker whose work will likely resonate.

Expand full comment
Gregory Pettys's avatar

Yes! Precisely. It's a balancing act I suppose, because so much does seem to be broken, but not what we are concerning ourselves with. Like our broken relation with Gaia. Or our broken memories. I am glad you found me too! Oh, Bayo is a true gift to us all... I look forward to reading your work too Heather. In the meantime, let's not fix anything today shall we, let's, instead.... rest. :)

Expand full comment
Wendell Potter's avatar

I read this in the quiet of the morning and was so moved my it. How did you know I needed to read it and know you?

Expand full comment
Gregory Pettys's avatar

Thanks for sharing Wendell. I’m glad it served you in some way. I think we all are feeling similar vibratory resonances through offshoots of the same yarn. All blessings…

Expand full comment
Patrick Chalmers's avatar

Keep going G. I love you

Expand full comment
Nikki Hill's avatar

Really lovely read. Life is indeed so messy. I have a dear friend who does healing work, inner bonding type of thing, where you come back, drop down from the mind, into your own heart and perceive what's emerging from there, what wants seen. One thing she shared with me I have been recalling when most needed: the inner colonizer tries to control by explaining everything. You can tell when this is the voice in charge, because everything feels tight, constricted, hard, self judging.

When I was in Thailand I got sick with Dengue. It was during Covid, but instead I had another house guest. There was a strong feeling of some one else being in me. And apparently, dengue still lives in me. This has been an interesting teacher.

thank you for sharing your journey. Hugs to you all.

Expand full comment
Gregory Pettys's avatar

Wow. So powerful. Thank you for sharing, Nikki. Reminds me of the Chöd method for sure. Who are these guests?? They don't always seem to be coming to us from this life time. I wonder who this being is with you now? I recall when I had dengue. Nothing helped me until a friend began serving me copious amounts of papaya leaf juice. That helped nearly instantly. ... and yes, the inner colonizer is strong in me, that's for sure. I am learning to be aware. Healing takes both courage, and time... All blessings....

Expand full comment
angelica 🌹's avatar

i love this ! it’s nice to be reminded of bayo akomolafe’s work … i think he is excellent at dismantling meta structures. and leaning into / dancing with disability … sickness … the whole lot.

i also have respiratory issues, among a couple other things plus massive medical trauma / paranoia. essentially feeling that my body is being invaded even when it isn’t, even when it might be being cared for.

i have often felt that there’s a tender line between embracing the notion that all our bodies are kindred and there really is no ‘i’ and having a self that tends to its needs and is knowable and known…

Expand full comment