Song to listen to/dance to as you read. Be the sugar.

Updates

I’m feeling into the ways the current administration is trying to illicit a collapse response from our nervous systems. Their strategy relies on us being terrified. While they have the money on their side, we have the people power, and by a huge margin. If we are afraid we play into their plans. Fear works great as a way to control people, and they know it. We need to outsmart and outlove them. If we can notice the fear, feel it, contextualize it, then move into our own strategies and visions for the world we strategically resist and can destroy their plans. All of this requires embodiment, strategy, intention, communication, mutual-aid, play, laughter, and so much care. These are things we know how to do. Let’s apply them with a clear sense that we know what we are doing, where we are going, and that they should actually be afraid of us. AOC has this great live video last night which really highlighted our power and how to stay “locked-in” aka focused on what’s true. Indeed it is time to lock in and my research below is made to help us lock in, stay in our bodies, and understand why consensual touch is so important right now in helping us resist and build the world we want without falling into a collapse all the time. Big hug if you are in a collapse as you read this. We got you.

ENDORPHINS In Times Like These, Endogenous (within the body) + Morphine (an opiate pain reliever)

Ok, so I wish the word endorphins were from being related to dolphins, our most delightful relatives, but alas the word root is from our bodies innate ability to produce opiates which soften the pains of life. We’ve probably all heard that animals who are handled “gently” can handle stress FAR better than animals that are handled roughly. Being licked after birth in numerous animal studies show over and over again that this mammalian licking elicits a physiological response which promotes not only survival, but excelling in life. A friend and I discussed how our urge to bite has been increasing recently. Do you feel it too? I DO! Minneapolis’s new poet laureate, Junauda Petrus, air bit me recently, and my body was like, “yeah, more of that”.

Massage releases the endorphins oxytocin, serotonin, dopamine, and enkephalins which impart a magic effect on our neurotransmitters, helping us experience a sense of more solid secure attachment while also reducing physical pain. Oh the things we could do if we all had secure attachments! Well, feel free to imagine your heart out, because this is one of the best ways to embody our values, to move from a secure place within our own bodies— a deep knowing that we are loved, cared for, and in right-relationship with our surroundings that hold us upright. We know that endorphins are also released during exercise, laughing, good sex, and eating. If you don’t have access to any of these one things, it’s not a huge deal, and it is critical that we have access to a variety of “coping mechanisms” aka techniques that help us get through the hard stuff and into the juicy “I like/love being alive” things.

Touch facilitates "getting in touch" with emotions that can be more difficult to access. Touch is particularly helpful for symbolic mothering, feelings of self-acceptance when experiencing self-blame, staying in the present moment when pulled to the past or future, exploring aggressive feelings that we suppress, and demonstrating genuine care for someone (McKinney & Kempson, 2012). What happens to us when we don’t get this? Well all of life just becomes harder. It’s no surprise then that since many cancers are caused by or related to stress, that massage therapy also reduces cancer risk (Post-White et al., 2003).

I hope that you are are able to get some loving consensual touch soon or give it to someone else today. Below are some of the breakdowns of the endorphins listed above if you’re a nerd.

Dopamine: intuition, joy, and enthusiasm

Serotonin: helps with sleep and depression, reduces irritability, cravings.

Oxytocin: known as the “love” hormone, it increases feelings of trust, empathy, and connection

Enkephalin: an opiate that can help with mood and pain relief

McKinney, K. G., & Kempson, D. A. (2012). Losing Touch in Social Work Practice. Social Work, 57(2), 189–191. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23718924

Post-White, J., Kinney, M. E., Savik, K., Bemtsen Gau,J., Wilcox, C., & Lerner, I. (2003). Therapeutic massage and healing touch improve symptoms in cancer. Inte grative Cancer Therapies, 2, 33

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Current Events

Ricardo Levins Morales’s Book Launch at Moon Palace Books THIS Thursday, February 6th from 6-7p, masks required. The Land Knows the Way Eco-Social Insights for Liberation.

Olivia’s Hosmer Library Mural Mosaic Celebration: February 8th 2-4p at Hosmer Library THIS SATURDAY! 20, 50, 80 years from now you can say you were at the celebration for the installation of this mosaic mural treasure that will forever live at Hosmer Library. Jayanthi Rajasa and Jordan Hamilton will be there offering their musical gifts as well. I’m really looking forward to this!

Art Shanties: THIS WEEKEND is the last weekend! Ends on Feb 9th.

Candlelight hikes: There are TWO this Saturday, one at Frontenac and one at Wild River. A few hours north of Minneapolis has more snow, so if you’re a snow bunny like me, it’s worth an hour or two drive to feel the sweet relief of deep snow. Drive safe.

THANKS FOR READING! xoxo Eiko

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