im sitting in a coffeeshop – saxby’s – in downtown dc. it’s been raining all day, and i’ve been running from one meeting to the next. this is my first time in the capitol since obama came into office, i’m trying to feel the difference – it mostly comes up in the energy of the meetings i’m in.

the overall tone is – this is the worst of times (where is the $$??), this is the best of times (what can we be after $$??)

i’m in town primarily for the capitol coal action (http://www.capitolclimateaction.org/) and powershift, getting to access the fresh and earnest energy of 11,000 students who want to meet and teach and march and dream and act and change the world. i’m proud to be rolling with the action folks from ruckus {including most of the brown action folks, and a lot of the anti-oppression speakers, which is really indicative of some of the shift that this organization has gone thru} – we’ll be training and talkin all weekend, and then on monday we’ve got our fingers plugged into the tactical, contingent groups, action teams, all over!

today i’ve been meeting with foundations, where the tone is fascinating. on one hand, there’s not a lot of money out there for anyone, and the foundation folk i deal with are aware and apologetic about their shrinking resources while also somewhat giddy. progressive folks see this moment for what it is – hard times, and huge opportunities. the economy, and the systems of oppression which create it, are floundering. the foundations on which we have all been building our castles – personal, organizational, societal – they are shifting rapidly.

i go into these foundations with this hopi elder prophecy in my mind:

You have been telling people that this is the Eleventh Hour, now you
must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour. And there are
things to be considered. . . .

Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Where is your water?

Know your garden.
It is time to speak your truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for your leader.

Then he clasped his hands together, smiled, and said, “This could be a
good time! There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and
swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold on
to the shore. They will feel they are being torn apart and will suffer
greatly. Know the river has its destination. The elders say we must let
go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes
open, and our heads above the water.

And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate. At this time in
history, we are to take nothing personally, least of all ourselves. For
the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey come to a halt.

The time of the one wolf is over. Gather yourselves!
Banish the word ‘struggle’ from your attitude and your vocabulary. All
that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.

We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.

this has stayed in my mind as ruckus has gotten itself into a super sleek and flexible shape, targeting all of our resources at delivering a strategic impact. i have no interest in organizations existing for the sake of existing. i only want to do work and support changes i am passionate about.

one of the things i am passionate about is my FAMILY so i am off now to see my little sister 🙂