Yesterday I “paused” my post and left you with words from a dear friend Edyka Chilomé, a powerful “artivist” invested in the healing of our world. And our world is in need of healing indeed.
Today was another tough day of carrying the pain of our continued inhumanity toward one another: Las Vegas, Puerto Rico, Myanmar…and so many other ongoing tragedies. I find it hard to find words – to know what to offer here on Feminism and Religion. Some days it seems necessary to go on with our work as planned; la lucha is every day and we keep at it. But other days, keeping on as planned just seems absurd. I think these are precisely the days that Audre Lorde had in mind when she wrote that poetry is not a luxury.
For women, then, poetry is not a luxury. It is a vital necessity of our existence. It forms the quality of the light within which we predicate our hopes and dreams toward survival and change, first made into language, then into idea, then into more tangible action. (Sister Outsider, 36)
My friend Edyka is someone who is helping to form “the quality of the light within,” inspiring our hope and moving us toward action. In her poetry, which she often performs as spoken word, she shares about specific human experience, including her own, in the context of its interrelatedness to the human community as a whole. Her words have a way of capturing the individual and the communal, the personal and the systemic, all in pursuit of our collective healing and well-being. Her words call us to new life and inspire us to continue our part in the work of birthing a new world.
I present to you, Edyka Chilome, sharing one of my favorite of her pieces:
Consider yourself introduced. And if you ever have the opportunity to see her in person, you should take it, she is a powerful presence and a beautiful human. Also, you should feel free to introduce yourself; she is a friend of FAR and has contributed here before. You can read more of her poetry in her book, She Speaks Poetry, but for now, I leave you with these two short poems.
Labor pains growing strong
the winds sings a new song
be sure it won’t be long
till we see a new day
a new world
a new clay
for the cosmos plants the seed
the earth paves the way– edyka chilomé (posted on her Facebook page)
And from She Speaks Poetry, “If I Go Missing”
Remember. We will find home
again. It will exist in the depths
of compassion again
in the euphoria of love
we will built it with courage
again and again. We will rest
in the roots of our intentions
If we dare survive this war
We must remember to choose
love again and again
Remember
For the last part of this post, where I continue with my brother’s wisdom, see “Listening Deeply to Yourself.”
Xochitl Alvizo, loves all things feminist, womanist, and mujerista. She often finds herself on the boundary of different social and cultural contexts, and works hard to develop her voice and to hear and encourage the voice of others. Her work is inspired by the conviction that all people are inextricably connected and what we do, down to the smallest thing, matters; it makes a difference for good or for ill. She teaches in the area of Women and Religion, and the Philosophy of Sex, Gender, and Sexuality, at California State University, Northridge.
feminismandreligion.com 
Dear Xochitl
Thank you for returning to FAR – I have missed your voice – but can see why writing for this site as well as the other demands upon you has been a step too far.
I’m sorry to hear that you’ve also had this experience of unsustainable requirements and am glad that your wonderful brother was able to speak words you were able to hear
Thank you for sharing yourself and your experience, for introducing us to your brother and to Edyka, for giving voice to the ambiguities and contradictions and, as ever, for being an inspiration
I will hold you in my prayer for your wellbeing and for hope in these days and weeks as you work with the insight and apply that to life
Blessings be upon you honoured Xochitl
Margaret
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Margaret, thank you for your beautiful words and your support. I also send you all good wishes!
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What a powerful piece. Thank you Xochitl and Edyka … beautiful <3 … sharing in the divine feminine group.
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Thank you, Karen!
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I personally have a problem relating to anything that speaks to the “collective healing and well being” of humanity at this time. We are facing seemingly endless suffering, death by gun violence, rape, atrocities of all kinds and “healing” isn’t happening – rather just its opposite. What is it about us that is unwilling to stay with the dying?
The Earth will probably survive as long as no one mourns the loss of species after species, the death of the trees, water… I could go on and on here.
I am much less optimistic about humans because we don’t seem to be able to stand what we see – witnessing the human horror/hatred that is embedded in our current global culture is the first step to doing something about it. And few seem to be able to stand this collective suffering…
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I think I understand what you mean, Sara – it can seem that to seek healing is to not be present to the reality of our perpetual ill-being, so much of it human inflicted and created. However, for me and, I know, for Edyka also, the directing of our energies and efforts toward this end is born precisely from our seeing – seeing means that everything changes – witnessing demands our response and action toward change. I see and feel our collective suffering, thus, seeking our turn toward well-being is an ethical imperative for me. And yet, I do think I understand your point, nonetheless.
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Thank you for double sharing this wonderful poet, Xochitl. I couldn’t understand the video – you young folks talk so fast! But the printed poems touched me deeply. They remind me that darkness can signal the birth of new life. When the seed falls into fertile ground …. I, you, are that seed….
We must remember to choose
love again and again
Remember
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Yes, I love that Barbara – “darkness can signal the birth of new life.” May we all be fertile soil indeed. Thank you for your words.
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Oh Xochitl, it’s so wonderful to hear your voice again here on FAR! I’ve missed you. I wish I could say that I don’t feel the same type of overwhelm that you’re experiencing. Mine has to do with my new book “The World is Your Oracle: Divinatory Practices for Tapping Your Inner Wisdom.” I love the workshops I’ve been offering, I love the deep inner work that women are doing in them, but it’s the internet marketing that keeps me from sleep at night. As opposed to you (if you want to keep your overwhelming job), I could just drop the internet stuff. But I believe in my book and the amazing spiritual growth it produces. So I plod on.
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Nancy! It’s good to hear from you too. And I believe in your book also, and relate to your frustration of the internet marketing world. Would you like to write a post for FAR introducing us to your new work? I think we would love to hear about it. And it could contribute to your marketing efforts :)
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I would love to write about my experience with my book “The World is Your Oracle.” I will have to carve out the time, but it will be great to share it here on FAR.
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So glad you hit “play” after the pause. Such heart, such beauty!
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Thanks, Elizabeth. I’ll have the final installment of this topic tomorrow – you will hear from me at least once more! <3
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“Like:” was the best I could do. But I really wanted to say “wow. so powerful”. Thank you for introducing me to this incredible poet.
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You are welcome :) She is pretty amazing.
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This post wells up my ocean of tears. Poetry is often what keeps me from going off, ending it, unraveling, imploding. I write all the feelings of rage and desire out, and I cannot write when the feelings are not there. I’m glad there is a source for my spill that turns destruction into art that can also destroy but in the dismantling way that is healing and cathartic. I’m all for a collective, multi-tonal voice. May it ring through me.
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