woke. revolution begins within.
issue no. two
woke. TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PHOTO BY
Samantha Qeja
THE TROUBLE WITH WINNING by Ellie Lanphier
I’ve had trouble with a phrase: “you just can’t win these days” although I think it’s true. When I see the news when I see the comments on the news (goodness why) it seems that everyone else believes that there is (1) a winner and (2) a loser a notion that as I get older the less sense it makes. The trouble with winning: someone loses. And yet, I am inextricably linked to you, and you to me on this planet with finite resources, saddled with our infinite appetite for growth. So we can only really learn how better to share. Win/lose is the enemy of celebrating and building together. We do the best with what we are given, we build on what others have made before, we pass along our best effort to those that will come after. It’s a different picture than winning, maybe the problem is that no one knows when to cheer. woke. POETRY
The trouble with winning: we are all in this together. Thankfully, we couldn’t do it alone.
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A PRACTICE FOR INNER PEACE by Tracee Stanley
Find a comfortable seated position, with your spine long, and the crown of the head reaching towards the sky. Feel the shoulders drop down away from the ears. As you sit, you hold the essence of relaxed, effortless grace in your posture. Bring your attention to the base of your spine and see yourself drawing a ring of light around your body. Become aware of the element of earth as you feel your body seated on the floor.
Next bring your attention to the spiritual heart center at the center of your chest. And draw another ring of light around the first ring. Become aware of a vast blue sky at the heart center.
Now let your attention move just above the crown of the head and draw a final ring encompassing the other two rings of light. Contemplate the heavens and all of the celestial objects in the universe. If you like you can repeat the mantra Om Bhur Bhuva Swaha 3 times as you see yourself sitting inside of the center of these three rings of light. As you see and feel yourself sitting inside of the three rings of light. Feel as though nothing can penetrate through these rings of light.
No noise, distractions or thoughts can enter.
You are sitting in the center of the circle like a single point of infinite light. Now please notice your breath, without needing to change or adjust it. Just follow the journey of your breath for a few moments.
Robert Sturman
woke. MEDITATION
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woke. TABLE OF CONTENTS
Remember who you are...
PHOTO BY
Oladimeji Odunsi