Ritual IV
A Question of Abandonment
Grounding
A Question of Abandonment
Let us plead our case.
We have tripped up, stumbled, transgressed.
Let us plead our case.
Let us seek reconciliation.
Social Impact Assistant Kalé Camara offers today’s grounding.
Mantras
I am safe when I am alone, I am safe with others.
I am held, and safe, in the circle of my community.
Questions
What have we left behind?
What do we have hesitation to leave behind? What needs to be retrieved?
From where? How?
These questions are offered by the Black Liberation Collective. View their Liberation Vocabulary, crafted to accompany the project.
Self-led Activations
Text + Image Making:
Do Not Ignore My Plea
In Movement 4 of The Ritual of Breath Is the Rite to Resist, librettist Vievee Francis asks us to consider a plea for reconciliation. In writing the libretto she was inspired by composer Jonathan Berger’s Jewish faith, in particular the prayer of the Vidui. She imagines a plea for understanding and forgiveness in the face of death. In this ritual we are going to make a plea for the present moment. Right here. Right now. You will need something to write and draw with and a surface to write and draw on. In The Ritual of Breath Is the Rite to Resist text and image live alongside each other to communicate to and draw in our co-conspirers. We are going to practice that process in this ritual.
Consider a major transgression in your family or in your local or national community. Take a few moments to isolate a central conflict.
We are going to make a drawing with text to inspire someone in our community who can help reconcile and help pave a new path forward. That someone is you. You are writing text and drawing to inspire yourself.
Grab your tools.
Begin with the words, ‘Dear [your name], I plead with you to’
Then continue writing and drawing
Implore yourself toward action
Don’t pause, let your impulses fly free
Make whatever marks you want to make on the surface
Write letters, words, phrases
Draw shapes of different scales and weight
Move back and forth between writing and drawing
Do this for as long as it takes to fully express the urgency you feel
When you are done place this drawing someplace you will see it often
Today we will practice our ritual through text, image and movement.
You can do one or all, join as you are able.
Music Making: What Did I Do That Needs Forgiving
Sometimes the practice of reconciliation is a solo act. In this practice we will explore personal forgiveness and accountability. You’ll need your favorite song, a device to hear it and somewhere to record your reflections afterward.
Consider a time you could have shown up more strongly for yourself. Maybe you didn’t give your own needs the priority they deserve. Perhaps you asked your body to do something that damaged it. Or was it a time you dismissed your gut feeling.
This moment happened. That is ok. We are going to bring awareness to that moment. Forgive ourselves. And embody that forgiveness in such a meaningful way, we will carry this consideration with us into the future.
Set your favorite song to repeat. Play it as loud or as soft as you like.
Remember that time you could have come through more strongly for yourself.
Dance it out. Move it out.
Let your body go.
Let your breath go.
You are forgiven.
You are forgiven.
Let your body go.
Let your breath go.
You are forgiven.
Dance it out. Move it out until you need to pause and take some deep breaths.
Record your reflections. Keep them. Return to them as often as you need to.
Visualization
In this visualization, Marion Gray-Hopkins guides us in a potluck to heal the soul. You can listen to this anywhere, anytime, but we recommend listening with your eyes closed.