Song of the Week

Listen to some Irish fiddle, The Salley Garden Set by Cassie and Maggie as you read to help open you up.

I still haven’t found out how my great grandpa’s brothers escaped from prison or where they were held but I believe I’ll be able to find out in a bit more time. John and Michael Gorman are the names I will research more when I’m back in Minneapolis. I’m working my way through The Flame and the Candle, War in Mayo 1919-1924 and Jailbreak to learn more. From what I’ve read, jailbreaks were used by the IRA as a strategy to embarrass the Brits, uplift moral, and uplift the story of the trickster.

For a small island to beat an empire after 900ish years of occupation, one needs hope from within the community and sympathy from the world outside.

Two good stories to know that exemplify the power of the trickster are the Mountjoy Prison Helicopter Escape and the Catalpa Rescue. During the Mountjoy escape, the IRA flew their helicopter into a prison. Using the concept of power blindness that Ricardo Levins Morales talks about in this brief video. Power blindness is essentially when power leads one to neglect the signals around you. Signals that normally should raise a red flag. Those who have less power, have to be hyperaware of these signals to survive. If you’re a caterpillar on a leaf, you have to know which way the wind is blowing at all times and position yourself accordingly. If you’re a big bird of prey, you might not be as aware as your prey.

If you like the Mounjoy story, you’ll also appreciate the Catalpa Rescue. The Catalpa Rescue involved generating enough money and support from the people to buy a whaleboat, crew and all, in order to rescue members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood who had been imprisoned in Australia. It’s quite the rescue story.

I’m nearing the end of this trip to Ireland. I’m feeling the feelings of coming to the end of a really transformative trip. Next newsletter I’ll write more about Derry, Northern Ireland, and what we might be able to learn from folks who have done an extraordinary job of being a part of a global solidarity movement with oppressed people around the world.

Edible seaweed!

There is so much edible seaweed here. It’s a dream come true as it feels like a merging of my Japanese and Irish food heritages. I harvested some and am excited to eat it when I get home. I’ll try the three different kinds pictured below!

Schedule With Me

OTR/L, BA, MHP, LMT,
she/they) Integrative Therapies

I offer trauma informed somatic informed therapeutic coaching, craniosacral therapy, Swedish massage, Thai bodywork, myofascial release, group workshops, and healing through art, play, and connecting to nature.

Catalyst Community Herbals

Meet Tara Máirín (they/them) is a queer Irish traditional herbalist who self describes as someone with abolitionist values and intersex femme vibes who is here for herbalism, lore, and collective liberation. We hung out with them in the state park they live in while visiting Donegal. Here is an amazing herbal mutual aid list they compiled in response to genocide. They filled us in on some of the less rosy sides of Irish current events in addition to charming us with their sweet and deep knowledge of the land and people here. If you’re looking for a specifically northern Irish insult, they’ve got you.

Community Events

Nothing this week, mostly because I’ve been traveling, but I’ll have more community events next week!

Thanks for READING! xoxo Eiko