Hello Reader,
The past several months have dug in with heartbreak, the active rendering of loss, both immediate and anticipatory, private and collective.
I’ve been thinking about legacy after the sudden passing of two young creative friends and one of my older siblings in Uruguay.
Today I draw strength from the legacy of multidisciplinary artist and performer Dahlia Kash who once texted me, “I got the fish. U got the fire. Together, it’s dinner.”
Musician and writer Nick Cave writes “that many of my lyrics are attempts to keep those who have passed away […] as fully embodied incantations of our love. […] The dead are glad to be remembered.”
This resonates as so much of my creative work is about remembrance.
Filmmaker, visual artist, musician, and actor David Lynch said, “I believe life is a continuum, and that no one really dies, they just drop their physical body and we'll all meet again, like the song says.”
Losing someone precious reminds me to give loved ones their flowers now.
If they are no longer on this physical plane, I can still honor them with my actions.
This practice doesn’t have to be limited to the legacy of humans, but also to the animals and natural world.
As Kansas City’s Poet Laureate Melissa Ferrer-Civil says, “We know that what is material is temporary and what lasts are the relationships, love, community, lessons and blessings that we cultivate and unearth while we are alive.”
We can leave a trail of soft petals in each other’s names. Draw strength from our beautiful qualities. Embody and shine our light, so ancient, so new, so loved.
Reflection
What qualities about you shine brightest? Under what conditions does sharing your light feel best? What qualities do you embody that were passed on, either from humans from your ancestral and/or creative lineage, animals, and the natural world?
Resources
My Creative Updates & Offerings
Coming soon: In June in Portland, I'll be offering an in-person Portland "Somatic Sometimes" series. By the summer, I plan to launch a virtual offering of "Somatic Sometimes for Writers."
I'm excited to be kicking off another residency with Literary Arts Writers in the Schools.
Community & Care
Disability Cultural Center’s “Care Work Under Fascism, Part Two,” virtual on April 3, register here. The recording for part one is here.
My Resilience Toolkit teacher Nkem Ndefo of Lumos Transforms, has a free recording of Resilience for Liberation.
Regsiter for the virtual event "Works in Translation: Poetic Expressions in Indigenous Literatures," Saturday, March 29th, 11 a.m. ET.
Today I light virtual candles to remember Dahlia Kash, co-founder of Melange: A Queer & POC Variety Show; Nick Leonetti, a beautiful person and writer in the Randolph MFA community; y D. mi hermano mayor.
Soft Pants for Your Mind
The gorgeous trailer for Flow, an animated film on grief and collective care, bring tissues to cry!
Notes & Citations
https://www.theredhandfiles.com/this-line-on-wow-o-wow/
https://www.them.us/story/david-lynch-in-memoriam-queer-themes-twin-peaks-fix-your-hearts-or-die
https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20230525-david-lynch-interview-how-the-mulholland-drive-director-worked-with-composer-angelo-badalamenti
https://kansascitydefender.com/fire-verse/what-love-taught-me-melissa-ferrer-civil-poet/
Let’s resource! Let’s play! Let’s happen to notice, together.
In peace,
Vanessa Micale
Founder of Poderosa Voz LLC
(she, they, ella)
P.S. You can show your support by sharing this micro-newsletter with a friend, or you can send me a digital tip and treat me to a pastry.
P.P.S. Sharing resources is one of my love languages. Is there a resource related to somatic and creative realms you want to see or you know of? Hit reply and let me know.
