🌗 July Last Quarter Links
“A doctor once told me I feel too much. I said, 'So does god. That’s why you can see the Grand Canyon from the moon.'" ― Andrea Gibson 🌗
I did it. I adopted a tiny, one year old, fluffy, rescue pup. He’s a dream: playful, sweet, affectionate, chill, part Muppet, ridiculously adorable. Waking up to an absurdly joyous being has been every bit the medicine I imagined it would be. And summer continues to offer other beauty and bounty in the form of friend visits, time in nature, continued physical healing, and lots of laughs.
I still can only manage to do about three things per day. I am not exaggerating. If I do much more, I feel exhausted for twice as long. Perhaps this is the new m.o. around here. Probably not, but I would not be mad about that. I no longer have the same tolerance for the busyness and noisiness (not that I ever had much, or not since my thirties). Since the new year, when all the pain and nonsense set in, I was forced to stop. Not simply slow down. S.T.O.P. Things I perceived as crucial instantly fell away. I’ve slowly been reviewing and reviving only that which feels vital—meaningful or nourishing or joyful (or all three!). One meaningful task I have not had bandwidth for is the monthly donations I started when I joined Substack. I even took it out of the newsletter description. I can put it back because now I’m ready.
This month marks the return of my donating 10% of paid subscriber fees to different causes. July’s donations will go to Glia to help fund emergency healthcare in Gaza. Thank you for your support. July’s links and memes are below.
🌗 Last Quarter List 🌗
My friends Dalila and Booker are leading a six-day non-residential retreat 7/26–7/31 in person (in NYC) and online. If you’re looking to practice deeply yet stay put, this is the program for you! They’re both brilliant teachers and people. Plus, Dalila (knowing they’re the only thing I miss from social media) is my main meme dealer—you’ve seen many of them here. Registration and more info here.
This from Mariame Kaba:
“Maintaining a sense of humor and focusing on small wins are great ways to find encouragement to keep going. Another way is to refuse to believe the bad press about human beings… At bottom, I’ve been concerned since I was too young to articulate it with the question: “How do we create a world where everyone on the planet has enough?” That’s really it. Everything flows from that. When I am fearful or when despair rears its head, I return to this guiding question… What is your guiding question? What helps you move through chaos, fear, and a sense of being overwhelmed with the vagaries of this world? What grounds you?”
I could keep quoting, adding too many ellipses. Really, the entire post is a masterclass on staying encouraged and engaged in these times.
I knew nothing of these incredible socialist women mayors of Barcelona and Madrid.
“The most radical thing you could do, they argued, was not to retreat from power, but to test your ideas inside it: to see whether housing justice and climate planning could be translated into the daily work of governing and whether the left’s diagnosis of the crisis of inequality could produce a viable alternative. They took office on promises to expand housing, rein in real estate speculation, decarbonize their cities, and prioritize social services. They were accused of being too radical. They governed with competence and restraint.”
I’m not sure I’ve ever had to, but this article on why debating Republicans almost never works is full of interesting ideas and tactics.
This Sun Magazine interview with Richard Reeves on rebuilding masculinity to address the current crises amongst by boys and men.
Who else is watching The Gilded Age and why is it so satisfying to witness the reversal of fortune/power between Aunts Agnes and Ada?
I only have two in-person events this year—one in August, the other in October. You can read about them here.
I’m not a regular Drag Race watcher, so I didn’t know about Uma Gahd. I’m loving all the wisdom and insight they offer from their experiences as a drag performer and practicing witch. Also, a sweet reminder about the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence whom I first encountered in S.F. in the early nineties. Now I’m going back to listen to more of Your Art Is a Spell.
I want Ocean Vuong to be my friend. Someone please tell him.
I am a paid subscriber because I so value what you offer and want to support your work. I am very impressed by your no paywall policy given that pretty much everything is monetized now. I have a hard time with the teasing posts where the texts abruptly stop and the substantial part is only available to those who pay. I know this is marketing....
Anyway I love receiving your emails. There's always a nugget there that speaks to me. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing the deep feeling wisdom of Andrea Gibson. 49 years on this earth, their words will impact so many forever. Stupid stupid cancer. Well, we know that already. And congratulations on you new four legged family member. I am sitting here hoping for a photo or 50. But you enjoy first. I can wait. Maybe. Oh and pup's name? Much love and gratitude to you.