Savoring deep satisfaction is erotic power, the most dangerous, radical, and revolutionary thing a woman can do—because she becomes useless to capitalism.
I read this at the perfect time, Prajna, after releasing a potentially taxing event from my schedule. Discovering this post felt like an affirmation from the universe. Your passion for slowing, softening, and savouring experience resonates. Beautiful piece. Thank you.
Hi Robin, Thank you for reading. I am glad it landed with you and at the right time. I appreciate and support you. I love it when we feel this huge acknowledgement to release. Yes, slow and soft—savoring. And its okay if it's messy as it usually is at some point.
You are amazing and filled with an inner strength few ever reach. We may share womanhood as a gender or spiritual journey yet there is that uniqueness that you possess that sets us apart. While each of walk alone on a path we can stay open to meeting and sharing with others we meet along that road in a different way than others who meet along the parallel road. I’m glad I met you along this one. Thank you Prajna for being true to you and letting me see you.
Hello Cathy, thank you so much for these incredibly kind words I feel seen by you and I appreciate you very much. We are all unique and fortunate to have each other to learn and grow.
Thank you, Prajna. I missed this when it was posted as I was stepping back from social medias and even from the use of technology in general. Going hours a day now without my phone. Doing absolutely SOFT NOTHINGS for longer periods of time.
Who would have ever imagined these little rectangular thingies would be something what we’d become addicted to, driving us into frenzied involvements, purchases, physical and mental taxations…that have little to nothing to do with being “soft” and “resting.”
I still have to catch myself when I’m consciously “stopping”, such an act of “softness” to the body. It’s so wired in me to grab a book, listen to a talk, write…none of which are wrong in any way. But all of these activities keep me in my head. I had no idea how hard it is to simply sit and be…allow enjoyment of the 5 senses, without doing anything about or with those sacred pleasures other than purely and simply enjoying them.
Working up to taking more long strolls through the forest with nothing but my water body and a body firing on all 5 senses.
as I’ve apparently hit some version of burnout. Thank you Prajna. This really tracks and puts me in touch with what needs tending. Today, I’m going to head out into the Devon (UK) woodlands, with my dog, the Autumn sunshine and your invocation to do soft, sensual things. I notice that I am in the photo you posted of the women’s circle, back-right, turquoise necklace. So sweet to remember that moment. Blessings.
Hi Vicki, Oh I love the Devon Woodlands and dogs. I can feel you walking in the Autumn sunshine, softening, slowing, feeling all of you and your connection to our great mother. Wonderful that you are in the photo. A gorgeous time of receiving flowers for all of our sensuous bodies. Thank you for being here and adding your voice to the conversation. Sending you a soft huge hug. P
This arrives synchronisticly with other reminders to flow. For me, doing the hard things is fine, but if I consider how to do them *with* the flow of life, rather than against it, things are likely to go better.
Hello Sara, I know the experience of feeling tangled in knots from all the 'doing.' I am glad you are here and adding your voice to this blooming community of women who understand the need to be soft, go slow and feel so we can return to the needful with renewed clarity and energy. Thank you.
I have entered my heart space, and live like what you're talking about. I am so joyful most of the time now, even during the hard things. I love how you've written about it. I have read many of Clarissa Pinkola Estes' books and identify as a wild woman.
I love your response. I am continuously cycling through to gather more of myself and my bloodline. I find all of it to be exquisite, mysterious, and fun — never ending cycles. Clarissa speaks of every 7 years. studied with her years ago. So powerful. I love myth making. I am post menopause and feel like I am blossoming anew again. Don't you love the wildness of being a woman in the life death birth cycle of existence, we're all connected through our bloodlines. Thank you for being in this conversation. Sending a soft hug.
I can't believe you got to study with her, that's so awesome. I will definitely dive more into your writing soon. I do absolutely love the life and death birth cycle of life. I love thinking about how many times I've died already. I love writing about death and life. I love the sensuality of being a woman. I hope to eventually start writing more about these same themes as I go on. I'm glad I found you. I wrote a poem about how I was summoning my crone within me, my future self. That changed my life.
I would love to read your poem about becoming crone. I am finding the myth of Medusa right now to be most powerful for me. a very focused way to encounter any lingering shadow material in myself and my entire family as my girls have disabilities and this intrigues me.
I’m not sure how else to say that, but that’s why I write about finding meaning through a hard stuff, the mysterious stuff, even the dark stuff
Thank you so much. What is the name that you go by if you don’t mind me asking?
I love Medusa. I feel like she's heavily misunderstood. I know exactly what you mean about finding lingering shadow material. I plan on writing more about my experiences with how I actually see the dark shadows lingering around people eventually.
I'm going to go through and read more of your work when I get more time. I'm really excited we have connected.
I've decided to keep my name anonymous at the moment since I am still processing my fears around being found by certain people from my past. Moss works fine for now, if you don't mind. I do eventually plain on opening up more about who I am in the future though. Substack is clearing away those types of blockages though, it is shadow work all on it's own.
Hello Moss, Yes, I understand your need. I support and honor you for having the kind of boundary you need. This is a courageous rebellion—really. My last name is not my legal name. I too want to write whatever I want to write without external censoring.
I am glad we found each other. Your voice here is so important and wise. Anyone who gets 'Medusa' has my full respect. Unpacking this foundational myth is the deepest shadow work. Love to you.
Aww…thank you for the kind hearted reply. It really means a lot to me. You think this rebellion is courageous? I’m not so sure sometimes. It feels pretty terrifying. I have to do it though. I can’t…just leave my story unheard.
I’m glad we found each other too. I feel the same about anyone who gets Medusa as well. I feel like she comes to me now and then, and I am happy to see her gracing me with her presence through you. Now I’m sure I’ll see loads of stuff about her and I’m happy about that.
I’m glad you’re doing your thing without censoring. So far, what I’ve seen is awesome. and I can’t wait to read more. Many blessings :)
Thank you for this reminder, Prajna. I have not been allowing myself much soft time in the 18 months since my husband’s death, and it has really begun to show. Lots of insomnia and general fatigue. I did get away on a trip to the Mississippi River headwaters a couple of weeks ago, and have been writing an essay about that. Hope to send it out tomorrow morning. I realized that I have used the sauna in my house only once since he died. That needs to change.🙏💕
Thank you Mary. Isn't it amazing once we recognize that we can give ourselves permission for self-care, we remember the ways we used to do this. I imagine the loss of your husband was a huge shift for your inner life. Insomnia is tough. I hope that your nervous system will recalibrate from your trip to the Mississippi River. It sounds wonderful. I look forward to reading all about it and how you learn to recalibrate and integrate soft restful self-care. Thank you.
LOVE LOVE this Prajna! I come home to myself when I slow down. When I also savor this, I find a deeper belonging. There is incredible power when we savor our experience, feelings and moments. And it is radical. Because corporations cannot commodify it. Finding deep soft, slow, juicy, yummy, satisfaction within as you said is revolutionary!
I adore this. I have transitioned into a period of life where everything has slowed inside. My world view in my little world is so much more colorful, sensuous and juicy. I don’t care to be hard anymore. Even my body physically is moving to softness. And I no longer hustle. I don’t think I could embrace this state without doing alot of soul work, but healing reminds me it isn’t in ‘my time’ but it will happen. Thank you for this beautiful introspective work. ❤️
I love this (body moving more slow—no longer in the hustle and-receive color, sensuous juicy... I am so happy for you and you received my points well. I also love what you restacked and what you pulled out from the essay and that you want to share it with your/our sisterhood. Absolutely, it is always the soft slow (sometimes it is the hard that has me collapse to slow) but inevitably without being soft and vulnerable we miss important information in our bodies and observations are missed when we’re pushing/achieving/producing — answering to the over culture and not listening to who we are. Thank you again! Sending you a big slow soft hug.
Thank you Shiela. I agree, but I think it is essential that we go slow take time for rest and renewal so that sharper discrimination can arise and we see that maybe there are certain things we don’t need to be doing and taking time for rest makes hard easier.
I read this at the perfect time, Prajna, after releasing a potentially taxing event from my schedule. Discovering this post felt like an affirmation from the universe. Your passion for slowing, softening, and savouring experience resonates. Beautiful piece. Thank you.
Hi Robin, Thank you for reading. I am glad it landed with you and at the right time. I appreciate and support you. I love it when we feel this huge acknowledgement to release. Yes, slow and soft—savoring. And its okay if it's messy as it usually is at some point.
You are amazing and filled with an inner strength few ever reach. We may share womanhood as a gender or spiritual journey yet there is that uniqueness that you possess that sets us apart. While each of walk alone on a path we can stay open to meeting and sharing with others we meet along that road in a different way than others who meet along the parallel road. I’m glad I met you along this one. Thank you Prajna for being true to you and letting me see you.
Hello Cathy, thank you so much for these incredibly kind words I feel seen by you and I appreciate you very much. We are all unique and fortunate to have each other to learn and grow.
Thank you, Prajna. I missed this when it was posted as I was stepping back from social medias and even from the use of technology in general. Going hours a day now without my phone. Doing absolutely SOFT NOTHINGS for longer periods of time.
Who would have ever imagined these little rectangular thingies would be something what we’d become addicted to, driving us into frenzied involvements, purchases, physical and mental taxations…that have little to nothing to do with being “soft” and “resting.”
I still have to catch myself when I’m consciously “stopping”, such an act of “softness” to the body. It’s so wired in me to grab a book, listen to a talk, write…none of which are wrong in any way. But all of these activities keep me in my head. I had no idea how hard it is to simply sit and be…allow enjoyment of the 5 senses, without doing anything about or with those sacred pleasures other than purely and simply enjoying them.
Working up to taking more long strolls through the forest with nothing but my water body and a body firing on all 5 senses.
🌹🌹🌹
Beautiful Lila. Thank you for honoring your slow soft sensuous body.
Mmmm needed to read this today
as I’ve apparently hit some version of burnout. Thank you Prajna. This really tracks and puts me in touch with what needs tending. Today, I’m going to head out into the Devon (UK) woodlands, with my dog, the Autumn sunshine and your invocation to do soft, sensual things. I notice that I am in the photo you posted of the women’s circle, back-right, turquoise necklace. So sweet to remember that moment. Blessings.
Hi Vicki, Oh I love the Devon Woodlands and dogs. I can feel you walking in the Autumn sunshine, softening, slowing, feeling all of you and your connection to our great mother. Wonderful that you are in the photo. A gorgeous time of receiving flowers for all of our sensuous bodies. Thank you for being here and adding your voice to the conversation. Sending you a soft huge hug. P
This arrives synchronisticly with other reminders to flow. For me, doing the hard things is fine, but if I consider how to do them *with* the flow of life, rather than against it, things are likely to go better.
Hi Mary yes that sounds very wise.
To have slow flow for balance,,,
Ooff yes I needed to read this today. I’ve been a tangled knot of “doing”. Your words reminded me to just be ❤️
Hello Sara, I know the experience of feeling tangled in knots from all the 'doing.' I am glad you are here and adding your voice to this blooming community of women who understand the need to be soft, go slow and feel so we can return to the needful with renewed clarity and energy. Thank you.
I have entered my heart space, and live like what you're talking about. I am so joyful most of the time now, even during the hard things. I love how you've written about it. I have read many of Clarissa Pinkola Estes' books and identify as a wild woman.
Hello, Thank you wild woman.
I love your response. I am continuously cycling through to gather more of myself and my bloodline. I find all of it to be exquisite, mysterious, and fun — never ending cycles. Clarissa speaks of every 7 years. studied with her years ago. So powerful. I love myth making. I am post menopause and feel like I am blossoming anew again. Don't you love the wildness of being a woman in the life death birth cycle of existence, we're all connected through our bloodlines. Thank you for being in this conversation. Sending a soft hug.
I can't believe you got to study with her, that's so awesome. I will definitely dive more into your writing soon. I do absolutely love the life and death birth cycle of life. I love thinking about how many times I've died already. I love writing about death and life. I love the sensuality of being a woman. I hope to eventually start writing more about these same themes as I go on. I'm glad I found you. I wrote a poem about how I was summoning my crone within me, my future self. That changed my life.
I would love to read your poem about becoming crone. I am finding the myth of Medusa right now to be most powerful for me. a very focused way to encounter any lingering shadow material in myself and my entire family as my girls have disabilities and this intrigues me.
I’m not sure how else to say that, but that’s why I write about finding meaning through a hard stuff, the mysterious stuff, even the dark stuff
Thank you so much. What is the name that you go by if you don’t mind me asking?
I love Medusa. I feel like she's heavily misunderstood. I know exactly what you mean about finding lingering shadow material. I plan on writing more about my experiences with how I actually see the dark shadows lingering around people eventually.
I'm going to go through and read more of your work when I get more time. I'm really excited we have connected.
I've decided to keep my name anonymous at the moment since I am still processing my fears around being found by certain people from my past. Moss works fine for now, if you don't mind. I do eventually plain on opening up more about who I am in the future though. Substack is clearing away those types of blockages though, it is shadow work all on it's own.
Hello Moss, Yes, I understand your need. I support and honor you for having the kind of boundary you need. This is a courageous rebellion—really. My last name is not my legal name. I too want to write whatever I want to write without external censoring.
I am glad we found each other. Your voice here is so important and wise. Anyone who gets 'Medusa' has my full respect. Unpacking this foundational myth is the deepest shadow work. Love to you.
Aww…thank you for the kind hearted reply. It really means a lot to me. You think this rebellion is courageous? I’m not so sure sometimes. It feels pretty terrifying. I have to do it though. I can’t…just leave my story unheard.
I’m glad we found each other too. I feel the same about anyone who gets Medusa as well. I feel like she comes to me now and then, and I am happy to see her gracing me with her presence through you. Now I’m sure I’ll see loads of stuff about her and I’m happy about that.
I’m glad you’re doing your thing without censoring. So far, what I’ve seen is awesome. and I can’t wait to read more. Many blessings :)
Hello Louise, Thank you so much for reading and stopping by. I hope you receive deep inner rest and revival. Best wishes for soft and slow.
Thank you for this reminder, Prajna. I have not been allowing myself much soft time in the 18 months since my husband’s death, and it has really begun to show. Lots of insomnia and general fatigue. I did get away on a trip to the Mississippi River headwaters a couple of weeks ago, and have been writing an essay about that. Hope to send it out tomorrow morning. I realized that I have used the sauna in my house only once since he died. That needs to change.🙏💕
Thank you Mary. Isn't it amazing once we recognize that we can give ourselves permission for self-care, we remember the ways we used to do this. I imagine the loss of your husband was a huge shift for your inner life. Insomnia is tough. I hope that your nervous system will recalibrate from your trip to the Mississippi River. It sounds wonderful. I look forward to reading all about it and how you learn to recalibrate and integrate soft restful self-care. Thank you.
Thank you 🙏for reminding us to slow down and be soft 🌸, Prajna!
Samantha Corrie also encourages softness, simple ness, and stillness.
“When you sit with me here at Soft. Simple. Still,
you will find that my writings encourage subtle exquisite change and empowerment,
you will find that my writings encourage you to live a softer simpler calmer life,
and you will find that my writings will encourage you to re-write your own story.”
.
https://open.substack.com/pub/samanthacorrie/p/simple-ways-of-living-mindfully?r=3le9sh&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
That is so beautiful. Thank you so much. I’m going to check her out. It is funny the name Samantha has come to me several times today
💚🧡❤️
Soft is efficient and beautiful for us to embody Balance.
LOVE LOVE this Prajna! I come home to myself when I slow down. When I also savor this, I find a deeper belonging. There is incredible power when we savor our experience, feelings and moments. And it is radical. Because corporations cannot commodify it. Finding deep soft, slow, juicy, yummy, satisfaction within as you said is revolutionary!
Hi julie, thank you so much for your comment and your juicy lifestyle of rest and savoring. So glad to have you here and sharing. Thank you.
A revolution is underway
🔥
I adore this. I have transitioned into a period of life where everything has slowed inside. My world view in my little world is so much more colorful, sensuous and juicy. I don’t care to be hard anymore. Even my body physically is moving to softness. And I no longer hustle. I don’t think I could embrace this state without doing alot of soul work, but healing reminds me it isn’t in ‘my time’ but it will happen. Thank you for this beautiful introspective work. ❤️
I love this (body moving more slow—no longer in the hustle and-receive color, sensuous juicy... I am so happy for you and you received my points well. I also love what you restacked and what you pulled out from the essay and that you want to share it with your/our sisterhood. Absolutely, it is always the soft slow (sometimes it is the hard that has me collapse to slow) but inevitably without being soft and vulnerable we miss important information in our bodies and observations are missed when we’re pushing/achieving/producing — answering to the over culture and not listening to who we are. Thank you again! Sending you a big slow soft hug.
Thank you Shiela. I guess I could say without the soft and only hard—we’re toast! Enjoy
Thank you, Sister!
My thoughts on this piece are encapsulated thusly -
"The ability to "do hard things" is a vitally necessary skill but it is not synonymous with the requirement to get all the hard things done.
Thank you Shiela. I agree, but I think it is essential that we go slow take time for rest and renewal so that sharper discrimination can arise and we see that maybe there are certain things we don’t need to be doing and taking time for rest makes hard easier.
Sending you a big hug .