"Now is the time..."

Whoa...the universe.

Transitioning into each season, I do some reflection, reading, and research to decide what my intention will be for the season ahead. My intention for winter was inspired by this line from a Rumi poem titled "The Roses Are in Bloom!":

now is the time to unite the soul and the world

You can read the poem in full here: https://issuu.com/rizan6/docs/rumi/80

Broadly, I think this poem captures a sense of irreverent joy amidst chaos, specifically a joy that comes from being fully present and united with the real world. When I read this poem, I imagine the narrator like a carnival barker or newspaper salesperson standing on the corner, shouting out the terrible headlines of the day; they feel detached, hopeless, and yet steadfast in their quest for grounding and enlightenment, deeply committed to rise above it all, and encouraging their community to join them.

I found this poem shortly after Trump won the US Presidential Election this past November. It immediately resonated with my doomer, nihilist, millennial spirit. Wouldn't it be nice to just laugh it off? To move through the world admiring roses as if none of this matters? It's tempting to me. But I reflected, and read some more, looking to texts on yoga philosophy for help.

"When the twofold characteristics of the individual soul and cosmic soul become one, all desires are eliminated and that state is called samadhi."- Hatha Yoga Pradipika translated by Swami Muktibodhananda, Chapter 4, Verse 7

Samadhi (enlightenment or liberation) speaks to the idea of freeing oneself of ego in order to connect with the inherent union of all things. Esoteric and unattainable? Yeah maybe. Something to strive for? Definitely. If we approached day-to-day life as if we're all connected, we'd probably make choices that benefit everyone and not just a few.

I'm not a religious scholar or historian, but I've been really digging yoga texts that explore non-dualistic philosophy. Personally, it helps me to keep straight in my mind that my struggles and successes are intrinsically tied to your struggles and successes, and that no one can get free until we all get free. Our experiences don't cancel each other out; they work together to create a larger, more complete reflection of reality.

So my intention NOW IS THE TIME TO UNITE THE SOUL AND THE WORLD isn't just about remaining present and grounded amidst chaos. It's about deciding that now is the moment to act, to call ourselves back into our bodies, back into the real world from this state of detachment and overwhelm. Now is the time:

• to heed the warnings

• to find like-minded folks

• to share and listen

• and to cultivate these relationships NOW

It's taken me this long to realize that the "people in charge" don't care about you and me. We are all we have. It would be wrong of me not to say this plainly: BIPOC and queer folks and disabled folks have spent (at least) decades organizing, calling us in, and offering these same messages, largely ignored by straight, cis-gendered, able-bodied white folks like myself...until we finally feel the threat.

Maybe it's just my bubble, but I'm feeling the shift. And I want to be part of it. And I want you to be part of it too. Now is the time.

-Taylor (she/her)