It’s the time of year when the veil thins and shit can get very weird. That happened for me this year, with strange visitations, dark dreams, wild out of body experiences (some that were actually quite pleasant and exciting), and many nights awake and moonwatching instead of sleeping soundly. In response to these sometimes scary, sometimes wondrous experiences, I often end up contemplating the deepest questions of my life. Why am I here? What do I want? What should I be doing between now and my ever-approaching death? What should I do after death? What the holy hell is all of this? What’s the most important thing, right now, that I can cling to, to navigate the weird and wild, the mundane, the exalted, the terrifying, the otherworldly, and the thisworldly?

These questions caused me to remember and revisit the Manifesto I’d written about a year ago, with the help of a trusted mentor and teacher, while I was right in the middle of claiming my sovereignty and agency in the face of difficult and confusing experiences. It has changed very little between then and now. It feels timely and important to publish the Manifesto, both as an act of strength and clarity for myself, and as encouragement and support for others who may be navigating their own claiming of Self.

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My Manifesto
I vow to honor, respect, engage with and take seriously my own sacred interior, the sacred interiors of others, and our shared collective worlds. To strive in all things towards the ideals of healing and evolution, for the benefit of myself, and for the benefit of all. I am in service to the Earth, and to our human relationship with Her and all of Her creatures, seen and unseen. I accept the gifts, blessings and responsibilities that come with being a human on this planet in this life, and I take my place in the primordial human lineage, using creativity and joy to dream a better dream. I acknowledge and accept the help of my bright ancestors, allies and guides on this journey, both incarnated and disincarnate. I vow to strive for loving kindness, compassion, fierce boundary and discernment, clarity and peace within and without. I am in devotion and service to the well-being of all sentient beings.
I dedicate my life to the study of skillful means and helpful ways to achieve my devotional aspirations, and vow to use those teachings and means to be of service to others. I will not walk this path alone, but honor the ideals of reciprocity, regenerative practices, and communal teaching and learning with others who walk the path of highest service. I respect and honor the many ecosystems that surround and hold me and acknowledge the deep interconnection that exists in all things.
I orient towards gentleness and care, and strive to heal all of my own unhealed and wounded parts and pieces, so that I may be a safe, kind, and effective, first for myself, then for the room, and then for the world. I strive to hold all that arises in my field, within and without, with loving awareness and healing attention. I strive to create peace and healing and to bring safety and love to all of my interactions.
There is nowhere else to go.
There is nothing else to do.
I am here, I am here, I am here.