Occupy Heartbreak
November 26, 2012 § Leave a comment
This essay was originally published on The Under 35 Project under the title Heartbreak and Revolution. A version of this piece appears in the January 2013 edition of Shambhala Sun Magazine.
It’s a windy October Wednesday afternoon and I am heading down to Liberty Plaza to meditate at the Occupation of Wall St. My heart is bruised, raw… I feel an ache in the center of my chest, a lump in the back of my throat that I can’t swallow away. It hurts and it hurts and it hurts. The one I loved and trusted has kicked me to the curb. There were words.
“This is not working for me, and please don’t take it personally.”
Ouch. This silly heart, she breaks so easily. I should be used to it. How many times have I nursed this frivolous risk-taker of a heart this year? Four times? Five? « Read the rest of this entry »
Urban Sangha Project at Occupy Town Square
February 14, 2012 § 1 Comment
On February 11th Occupy Town Square at the West Park Presbyterian Church on west 86th St brought together activists young and old, seasoned veterans and newcomers, Marxists, anarchists, socialists, bloggers, screen-printers, dreamers, and me. Walking in I found myself unexpectedly incredibly moved by the atmosphere of camaraderie and, dare I say it, family. It felt so good to be together again in solidarity, occupying the same space, with my brothers and sisters in this struggle for a more peaceful and just world. Occupy Town Square was the easy relaxed conversation and sharing that we’d been missing since Mayor Bloomberg’s brutal eviction of OWS from the grounds of Liberty Plaza (Zuccotti Park).
Food from the People’s Kitchen! Books from the People’s Library! Performances on the People’s Stage! Think Tank. Dancing. Yelly person yelling. And so much more. It was like being back in the park but indoors! It was truly beautiful.
We met awesome new people and reconnected with old friends as Booker and I passed around flyers for the Urban Sangha Project’s new Thursday afternoon class called Sustainable Activism. It’s a 90 minute class that includes yoga, meditation and dialogue.
Sustainable Activism: Yoga and Meditation Class from the Urban Sangha Project
in affinity with the Meditation Working Group of Occupy Wall Street
Join us on Thursdays at noon for an hour and a half of yoga, meditation and dialogue to express and celebrate our work as Change Makers. These classes are a way to get support, release tension, create community and to find some balance so that there is sustainability in their activism.
Join the event on Facebook.
Follow OWSMeditation on Twitter.
Follow Margarita on Twitter.
This post is published as Reppin Urban Sangha Project at Occupy Town Square on PinnedNYC.
A Visit to the Occupation
October 30, 2011 § Leave a comment
It’s snowing and raining, hard, three days before Halloween. Thanks, Global Warming (extreme weather patterns). We are carrying bags with blankets and sleeping bags to Occupy Wall St. Making our way through the encampment we ask “Which way to the Comfort station?”
“Donations?” he asks.
“Yes.”
“Any gloves?”
“No, blankets.”
“Ok, cool. It’s right over there.”
I take a few steps then turn around. “Here, take my gloves. I can get more.”
“Really?” he beams.
“Sure.”
He’s tugging on the gloves. They were a little big on me so they are a bit tight on him.
“Thank you. This really helps. I’m out here on patrol.”
“Thank you!”
We wave and walk off, back to our car and then our warm dry apartment. The heroes stay at Liberty Plaza braving the elements to protest corruption, greed, and injustice.
Margoshka and the Infinite Process 