The Revolutionary Act of Rest

There are so many powerful and non-violent revolutionary acts; women elevating each other, taking charge of one's health, birthing outside of captivity. I've noticed that among the top acts of resistance is REST. Choosing to rest adequately has some of the greatest impact on your person and our movement to build new and sustainable systems. Choosing to rest honors ourselves as dynamic creatures who work best in alignment with the cycles of the planet, solar system and universe, which is ultimately our own being. We see rest in the change of the seasons, a pause of activity caused by weather, and when the dark moon calls us inward. As above, so below. As within, so without.

Over the holidays I had the opportunity to midwife my family through covid. I was the first to experience symptoms on Christmas, and watched as each family member presented with their own set of symptoms one by one. We did a very thorough check with the few people we had been in contact with that week, and were relieved to find out that we hadn't infected anyone else. It was fascinating to see how the virus presented differently for each one of us, and worth speaking to because one major facet to all of our recovery was rest. One needed throat gargle, another heavy duty respiratory decoction, the kids needed the Avatar series, and ALL of us needed SLEEP. I understand now why some people had been saying that the fatigue was the worst part of it all. That wasn't my take on it. I can see it being the worst part if one was unwilling or unable to follow the sleep. I rested more deeply than I had since becoming a mother (my oldest is 22 years), and what I experienced was a profound reset. And I recognize my privilege in that. I've been listening to my nurse friends, and others, who are being called back to work 5 days after their symptoms appeared who are asking for ways to overcome the brain fog and fatigue. It just doesn't work that way. It angers and frustrates me that we live in a culture that won't honor the need for rest in our most dedicated and compassionate members of society. This is the root. And I do believe that if covid has a useful message for us to download it is this: end stage capitalism is killing us and we need to decolonize our thinking NOW, and start taking care of ourselves and each other.

This pattern of glorifying being able to handle everything, to get back in the saddle, over being able to pause and bring ourselves into alignment, is pervasive in our society. When it's brought to the light most people don't feel like they have a choice but to keep chugging through. The expectations of postpartum mama's are a prime example. We have to care for our children no matter what our circumstances may be. In the United States, more often than not, new mothers and parents are left to tend to their new babies in isolation. Babies are designed to need a village of people. We, as adults, are designed to need a village of people. Within a village context there are enough hands to make food so that Mama can be in bed healing her body. In a village there are enough arms to snuggle that baby so that mama can sleep. A village provides the security of collective knowing, already built trust, and the emotional support that all parents NEED, which allows rest.

And by rest I don't mean just sleep. It is restful to co-regulate with our people. This allows our nervous systems to sooth and balance. Knowing that the weight of keeping a house, having the responsibility of feeding a family, and tending to every need, is shared among many allows rest. And this is important because the quality of children's health is dependent on the mother's health. Healthy, thriving children need a healthy thriving mother, and a huge factor to health that is often sacrificed is rest; rest in the form of sleep, time to think for one's self, to sink into meditation, and to receive healing.

Another area where we see rest sacrificed is during menstruation. I have had enough women write to me this year asking for help with debilitating periods to know this is an issue that needs to be addressed. My first question to them all now is, "do you rest when you bleed?" Answers vary reflecting how much and the degree. Many answer with a sigh and a feeling of hopelessness, as they cannot see where rest would fit into a colonized work schedule and caring for a family. There are many options to pursue for relief, but REST is a vital facet to honoring our cycles. When we rest with our moon we give ourselves the opportunity to go deep, re-source, and re-store ourselves, and then we return more fortified than ever. For your health this needs to be a line in the sand because it not only impacts you as an individual, but also your children and ripples into your entire community.

I committed to making rest a practice a couple years ago. With it was an informed decision to not rely on pharmaceuticals and force of will to plow through pain and exhaustion, but rather listen to my own sovereign rhythm and honor my song. This is the path to thriving. I have changed and healed in big ways which shows in my family, and how I interface with my community. I am more vibrant and powerful because of rest, and I had to assert myself to make it happen. Still making it happen. Still healing. Yes, some things fall to the wayside, but my family and community are learning to support my rest (and that of others) because they know it to be better than the alternative. When we are adequately rested our brains function better, our bodies heal themselves, and our intuition is restored. Rest is necessary.

I would like to hear from you about rest. I know there are so many ways people in our culture are impacted by sacrificing rest. It's a big conversation. Let's have it.

Much love to you all

Kathleen