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Jessica Velez's avatar

“I have been locked by the lawless.

Handcuffed by the haters.

Gagged by the greedy.”

The things she has been through, and yet she still manages to write about these hopeful things, is extraordinary to me. I can’t wait to delve into her writing more.

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Bethany Nicole's avatar

Truly truly. There is so much power in a story about self told in One’s own words. The strength required. Wow.

Thank you for reading and sharing!

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Jessica Velez's avatar

“Some books don’t want to be devoured quickly.” The way I felt this in my bones. Last year, I picked up “War Against All Puerto Ricans,” and I put it down after the prologue and part of the first chapter. Still haven’t picked it back up. The pain of my people was something I felt as if it were my own.

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Bethany Nicole's avatar

Ancestral pain can be felt in the cells and the marrow I think.

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Kanika's avatar

And I believe that seeds grow into sprouts.

And sprouts grow into trees.

I've been ruminating on seeds for the last few days - they've been coming up everywhere. My name means seed in Sanskrit, and I've been thinking of what it means to be an embodiment of my name. So that stood out first. I can see how with time and depending on where I am - other sections come forward.

I really love the idea of taking our time with it. I realized I've been doing this with texts that I find nourishing, that speak to my spirit. I wonder how much slower I can get. What more I can absorb and stretch. I love what you've shared here. Thank you.

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Bethany Nicole's avatar

What a beautiful name and reflection. This was such an honor to read.

I love how poetry connects us to ourselves as well as each other.

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Kanika's avatar

I appreciate your kind words. These reflections caused me to realize I've been so focused on the fruit that I've forgone nourishing the soil.

I've been applying slowness throughout all areas of my life - even got rid of my smartphone. It's been a slow unraveling. I'm so grateful.

I look forward to seeing the way the syllabus practice unfolds.

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Rhea Daniel's avatar

I have seen … bloodthirsty maggots prayed to and saluted…

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Bethany Nicole's avatar

Whew. That line absolutely DID hit so hard.

Thank you so much for engaging w me here and w the text. It means a lot to me.

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Rhea Daniel's avatar

Brilliant sharing of this auto/biography. We are reliving some of the terrors of those persecutions.

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Bethany Nicole's avatar

Way too many of them. I think that’s why it’s so important to sit w the work. Understand it. I think our lives depend on it

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