Yes. Yes, it is alchemy. And I’m so moved that you felt it. That you saw the raw materials for what they were—and what they might become. We do this invisible work behind closed doors, transmuting overwhelm into care, scarcity into offering, silence into voice. "Into something like a life" ;)
Your restack meant the world to me. Thank you for walking with me to make the invisible more visible. I'm so glad we’re finding each other here. 🧡
Thank you for the shoutout my dear friend! I’m so sorry you are going through so much, my heart goes out to you and Libby. Best of luck with your search and I hope you find the right people for their care. I appreciate this post so much, we get to meet you right where you’re at. Congratulations and welcome to the adorable Ruby and please give Woody an extra treat for me!! 🥰😍
Hi Lyns, Your words land so sweetly—thank you, dear friend. I feel your care across the miles, and it means more than you know. I’m doing my best to keep showing up honestly, even when things are messy and uncertain. Libby felt your love (I read her your message), and Woody did get an extra treat… Ruby is now resting on his belly. They are becoming fast and funny furry friends. I will post a photo soon. Thank you for all the ways you frighten, reflect, and uplift with beautiful photos. I’m so grateful for your presence here. 💜
Wow. I'm so moved by your words. Every one of them, but in particular these:
"In refusing to disappear.
Where fear softens. Strength gathers. We begin again."
These words speak to me on so many levels. As a woman. As a mother. As a writer. As an advocate. As a concerned citizen. I gather strength from them. Truly.
I believe in the power of our shared stories. It's why I'm on Substack. It's why I love your Substack. We do indeed gather strength from one another, especially when we share from a place of vulnerability.
I'm sorry you had to fight so hard to get what your daughter needs and deserves. Why must this be the case? Mothering has so many components to it, doesn't it?
Thank you for writing this and many thanks for the mention. I'm honored and touched by your kindness and generosity. And I loved reading about the Ruby/Woody antics. And the photo of you and your little women - precious. xx
Thank you so much for this beautiful reflection. Your resonance with those lines touches something deep in me—they came from a place of raw truth, and knowing they spoke to you as a mother, advocate, writer, and concerned citizen brings a sense of shared purpose that steadies me.
Yes, mothering holds so many unseen, complex layers—and the fight for what should be basic care is exhausting and infuriating. But here we are, refusing to disappear, finding each other in the fog, gathering strength in story.
I’m so grateful for your presence here—and for your powerful voice in this space. And yes, Ruby and Woody are still sorting out their turf, but somehow it makes us all laugh a little more. Thank you again for walking this path with me and sharing this post. 💜
Powerful poetry Prajna! Appreciate the rawness, vulnerability, and power in these words. I especially liked: "It mirrors the sanctuary we are curating here where inclusion isn’t an afterthought, But the point. A place for unabashed, joyful belonging."
It's amazing to me the fight and the energy required at times to manifest inclusion in our culture. To bring a natural reciprocity into our relating Yet this is not a priority. Which makes it complicated when I see so clearly the harm being done and it tears my heart into a million pieces. Only to be sewn back together again with the connection that is so deep and inherent as our natural expression. Beneath it all is the true reality of our being that so wants to be free, wild, and feral in a culture that tames the wild, conquers nature, and degrades the divine feminine. It is exhausting... I feel it in my bones, my nervous system. And yet I rise again, I get up, I do the work...
And as you also said, not necessarily with signs and protests, but behind the scenes in every moment.
Hi Julie, Yes… I feel this in my bones too —the ache, the exhaustion, the clarity that cuts, and the rising—again and again. Your words name it with such fierce grace.
This behind-the-scenes work of inclusion and restoration—it’s soul labor. And yet, like you said, beneath it all is that wild, untamed truth of who we are, still pulsing, still insisting on freedom.
I’m grateful we’re walking this path together. Your voice strengthens mine.
Thank you, Marisol for reading and sharing. You are a luminous offering. I feel the tilt toward togetherness in your words, the joy woven through daring and blissful homemaking. And yes… even the cat chasing the dog’s tail is FUN in motion. We need this in the mix. 💫
Hello Nan, I apprecaite you and the the truth of your resonance in your essay—the sacred, holy breaking open. Sometimes rage is the only honest prayer for breaking through long held denial. I’m grateful for your comment.
I do wonder if your mom read your essay? I'd love to know... Hugs, P
I have no idea if she's read it. She was blocked and banned a while ago. I have no problem with her reading it, it's all my truth. I know it's going to hurt her, there's nothing I can do about that. Or maybe it won't hurt? I'm here for whatever happens next. xo
Prajna, you touched me with your passionate championship of “care like crumbs from a table.” You fight for every crumb, proving that the most vulnerable among us are precious, unique and lovable. These acts of resistance will never end. I am honored to be among your inspirations. You inspire me back.
Rona, I'm so thankful to you. Your words land well. Yes, I will keep fighting for every crumb, because every soul—especially the most vulnerable—deserves a full place at the table. I'm honored to walk beside you in this lifelong act of love and resistance. You have a warm place in our hearts. I love reading your essays. Thank you.
Powerful poem that honors the strength of womanhood, often unseen and under celebrated.
Women are weavers of the humanity fabric. Yes, we can and often do more than one thing at a time, because that's how nature works. Forcing us to compartmentalize our thoughts and feelings is like muffling our soul's voice. We can and do hold the complexities of the world in our hands, with:
"One eye opened to a brutal world,
The other, attuned to the astonishing beauty of the soul."
Thank you for showing how this is possible through your lived experience!
Aww Lily, I knew you would resonate, thus I tagged you so you would not miss this one. Thank you. Your words hold soulful clarity. I feel deeply seen in what you reflected: the weaving, the refusal to compartmentalize, the both/and of it all. It’s how we survive the brutal and cultivate the beauty. I’m so glad this vulnerable piece spoke to you. Big heart to you.
Regarding your work, wow. Beautiful, truthful expression that conveys strength and courage in the face of difficulties. I love all you wrote, but these lines stood out to me:
"But resistance isn’t always marching with signs in public.
It’s in the tender, invisible daily work of undervalued care—
advocating for your children, your parent, your friend,
in copious emails and calls to a crusty patriarchal system."
Advocating for one's children, especially in the patriarchal world we live in, is a Herculean effort. And all one can do is the best possible job at it.
As you know, I've had to advocate for my medical care -- and I faced a bunch of hurdles in a patriarchal medical system, with many doctors who tried to put me in my place. How dare I trust my gut instinct and question their expertise?
Had I let them sway me into complacency, I would've been dead by now.
Aww Beth, thank you so much for your generous words and honest reflection. I continue to be moved by your story—and yes, I feel the Herculean nature of it too.
Trusting our instincts in the face of authority takes bulldog determination.
I’m grateful you’re still here, still trusting, still speaking. That matters deeply.
Sometimes, I am convinced that injections of complacency are part of the design. The design we are slowly setting fire to. I must write about this. Big hug, sister!
Gorgeous, vulnerable, soulful-Prajna, there are not enough adjectives to describe your beautiful gifts to us. Your family is lucky to have you as their guardian angel. Thank you 🙏🏻
Prajna, I see you, truth-tender, fierce with grace, walking wide awake in this world. Thank you so much for letting us witness the raw beauty of your journey here in this garden of light and delight with its ache, alchemy and quiet revolutions. You remind me that even in exhaustion, there is light, and there in those ordinary, everyday moments of our life, the sacred waits. I hold your story with reverence. Thanks so much for the mention, I’m honoured. Long may our words meet, soul to soul. 🙏💖✨
"Our conditioned personality prefers the familiar, even when it cages us.
But we are most connected, body and soul
When we live close to the innate spark set within us
to begin again, to birth another way, to remember."
So much reaches me through your beautiful words. ✨️ Thanks for this inspiring post, Prajna, and for the example you set. It's always uplifting to see your family. Thanks for the mention. Very touched.
Your words are a balm—like moonlight on the skin of something just remembered. Thank you.
I love what you pulled out. Yes, that wild spark within—the one that dares to begin again, even when the familiar pulls like gravity. I'm grateful it reached you.
Your presence in this weaving matters more than you know. And your life, your love—it’s part of what reminds me to keep choosing the path that re-members the soul.
Is this alchemy?
Yes.
It's the magic and wonderment of taking the raw materials and turning it into something like a life.
Hi Dina,
Yes. Yes, it is alchemy. And I’m so moved that you felt it. That you saw the raw materials for what they were—and what they might become. We do this invisible work behind closed doors, transmuting overwhelm into care, scarcity into offering, silence into voice. "Into something like a life" ;)
Your restack meant the world to me. Thank you for walking with me to make the invisible more visible. I'm so glad we’re finding each other here. 🧡
Thank you for the shoutout my dear friend! I’m so sorry you are going through so much, my heart goes out to you and Libby. Best of luck with your search and I hope you find the right people for their care. I appreciate this post so much, we get to meet you right where you’re at. Congratulations and welcome to the adorable Ruby and please give Woody an extra treat for me!! 🥰😍
🥹💜🌹
Hi Lyns, Your words land so sweetly—thank you, dear friend. I feel your care across the miles, and it means more than you know. I’m doing my best to keep showing up honestly, even when things are messy and uncertain. Libby felt your love (I read her your message), and Woody did get an extra treat… Ruby is now resting on his belly. They are becoming fast and funny furry friends. I will post a photo soon. Thank you for all the ways you frighten, reflect, and uplift with beautiful photos. I’m so grateful for your presence here. 💜
Thank you Prajna, you always leave me speechless 🥹
I like the way you wrote this, it made me made and empowered me!
That’s a good impact. Thank you for reading!
Hi Prajna,
Wow. I'm so moved by your words. Every one of them, but in particular these:
"In refusing to disappear.
Where fear softens. Strength gathers. We begin again."
These words speak to me on so many levels. As a woman. As a mother. As a writer. As an advocate. As a concerned citizen. I gather strength from them. Truly.
I believe in the power of our shared stories. It's why I'm on Substack. It's why I love your Substack. We do indeed gather strength from one another, especially when we share from a place of vulnerability.
I'm sorry you had to fight so hard to get what your daughter needs and deserves. Why must this be the case? Mothering has so many components to it, doesn't it?
Thank you for writing this and many thanks for the mention. I'm honored and touched by your kindness and generosity. And I loved reading about the Ruby/Woody antics. And the photo of you and your little women - precious. xx
Hi Nancy,
Thank you so much for this beautiful reflection. Your resonance with those lines touches something deep in me—they came from a place of raw truth, and knowing they spoke to you as a mother, advocate, writer, and concerned citizen brings a sense of shared purpose that steadies me.
Yes, mothering holds so many unseen, complex layers—and the fight for what should be basic care is exhausting and infuriating. But here we are, refusing to disappear, finding each other in the fog, gathering strength in story.
I’m so grateful for your presence here—and for your powerful voice in this space. And yes, Ruby and Woody are still sorting out their turf, but somehow it makes us all laugh a little more. Thank you again for walking this path with me and sharing this post. 💜
Gorgeous poetry! I am so inspired... especially this:
I meet a teacher who tells me about Urban Works
a vessel that offers people with disabilities
a way to play, to be seen, to thrive.
It mirrors the sanctuary we are curating here
where inclusion isn’t an afterthought,
But the point.
A place for unabashed, joyful belonging.
This is my mantra today: Where inclusion isn’t an afterthought, But the point.
Thank you. I needed this. You are a wonder. Much love!!!
Silicious you are, my dear Crone Sister,
Your words mean so much—thank you.
I love knowing that line became your mantra today.
That’s how we build it, right?
One truth at a time, spoken and shared. I'm so grateful we're in this together, curating spaces where belonging isn't earned—it's honored.
Much love back to you!
I couldn't wait to share the words of Marion that you shared with me. They seem fitting.
Thank you for always reading. JUST WOW!
Your words feed me, so thank YOU!! xoxo
💙🌹💚
Powerful poetry Prajna! Appreciate the rawness, vulnerability, and power in these words. I especially liked: "It mirrors the sanctuary we are curating here where inclusion isn’t an afterthought, But the point. A place for unabashed, joyful belonging."
It's amazing to me the fight and the energy required at times to manifest inclusion in our culture. To bring a natural reciprocity into our relating Yet this is not a priority. Which makes it complicated when I see so clearly the harm being done and it tears my heart into a million pieces. Only to be sewn back together again with the connection that is so deep and inherent as our natural expression. Beneath it all is the true reality of our being that so wants to be free, wild, and feral in a culture that tames the wild, conquers nature, and degrades the divine feminine. It is exhausting... I feel it in my bones, my nervous system. And yet I rise again, I get up, I do the work...
And as you also said, not necessarily with signs and protests, but behind the scenes in every moment.
Hi Julie, Yes… I feel this in my bones too —the ache, the exhaustion, the clarity that cuts, and the rising—again and again. Your words name it with such fierce grace.
This behind-the-scenes work of inclusion and restoration—it’s soul labor. And yet, like you said, beneath it all is that wild, untamed truth of who we are, still pulsing, still insisting on freedom.
I’m grateful we’re walking this path together. Your voice strengthens mine.
Thank you for reading and sharing!
Prajna dares, ventures,
making a bliss haven home.
Beyond known, belong.
...
Light, beauty, joy, fun*
Tilts toward togetherness~
Cat chasing dog’s tail!
Thank you, Marisol for reading and sharing. You are a luminous offering. I feel the tilt toward togetherness in your words, the joy woven through daring and blissful homemaking. And yes… even the cat chasing the dog’s tail is FUN in motion. We need this in the mix. 💫
Beautiful work, Prajna. This, especially after my experience this week:
Until the day rage erupts
politeness vanishes, impatience kicks
Like a tsunami crashing through years of denial.
Sacred. Clean. Holy.
Thank you. xoNan
Hello Nan, I apprecaite you and the the truth of your resonance in your essay—the sacred, holy breaking open. Sometimes rage is the only honest prayer for breaking through long held denial. I’m grateful for your comment.
I do wonder if your mom read your essay? I'd love to know... Hugs, P
I have no idea if she's read it. She was blocked and banned a while ago. I have no problem with her reading it, it's all my truth. I know it's going to hurt her, there's nothing I can do about that. Or maybe it won't hurt? I'm here for whatever happens next. xo
Powerful boundary and commitment to self-love. Well done. Me too, although not sure what more I can meet. Hugs
Prajna, you touched me with your passionate championship of “care like crumbs from a table.” You fight for every crumb, proving that the most vulnerable among us are precious, unique and lovable. These acts of resistance will never end. I am honored to be among your inspirations. You inspire me back.
Prajna, what a truly lovely comment. A rainbow of smiles.
Rona, I'm so thankful to you. Your words land well. Yes, I will keep fighting for every crumb, because every soul—especially the most vulnerable—deserves a full place at the table. I'm honored to walk beside you in this lifelong act of love and resistance. You have a warm place in our hearts. I love reading your essays. Thank you.
💙
Samnatha, thank you for reading and sharing your heart.
Powerful poem that honors the strength of womanhood, often unseen and under celebrated.
Women are weavers of the humanity fabric. Yes, we can and often do more than one thing at a time, because that's how nature works. Forcing us to compartmentalize our thoughts and feelings is like muffling our soul's voice. We can and do hold the complexities of the world in our hands, with:
"One eye opened to a brutal world,
The other, attuned to the astonishing beauty of the soul."
Thank you for showing how this is possible through your lived experience!
Aww Lily, I knew you would resonate, thus I tagged you so you would not miss this one. Thank you. Your words hold soulful clarity. I feel deeply seen in what you reflected: the weaving, the refusal to compartmentalize, the both/and of it all. It’s how we survive the brutal and cultivate the beauty. I’m so glad this vulnerable piece spoke to you. Big heart to you.
Thank you for tagging me. I'm so glad you felt seen in my reflections. From a big heart to another 💕
Prajna,
Your family is beautiful.
Regarding your work, wow. Beautiful, truthful expression that conveys strength and courage in the face of difficulties. I love all you wrote, but these lines stood out to me:
"But resistance isn’t always marching with signs in public.
It’s in the tender, invisible daily work of undervalued care—
advocating for your children, your parent, your friend,
in copious emails and calls to a crusty patriarchal system."
Advocating for one's children, especially in the patriarchal world we live in, is a Herculean effort. And all one can do is the best possible job at it.
As you know, I've had to advocate for my medical care -- and I faced a bunch of hurdles in a patriarchal medical system, with many doctors who tried to put me in my place. How dare I trust my gut instinct and question their expertise?
Had I let them sway me into complacency, I would've been dead by now.
Aww Beth, thank you so much for your generous words and honest reflection. I continue to be moved by your story—and yes, I feel the Herculean nature of it too.
Trusting our instincts in the face of authority takes bulldog determination.
I’m grateful you’re still here, still trusting, still speaking. That matters deeply.
Sometimes, I am convinced that injections of complacency are part of the design. The design we are slowly setting fire to. I must write about this. Big hug, sister!
Thank you so much Prajna! I am so glad our paths crossed. Sending hugs back.
Gorgeous, vulnerable, soulful-Prajna, there are not enough adjectives to describe your beautiful gifts to us. Your family is lucky to have you as their guardian angel. Thank you 🙏🏻
Thank you, Robin. Your words wrap around me like a warm blanket today when I need it most. 💛
The fire and tenderness I’ve been forged in… keeps teaching me how to stay.
I’m grateful this landed with you. As for guardian angels—maybe we’re that for each other, in quiet ways.
Big hug, sister.
Yes. Here for each other. Quietly and out loud. Feeling your wings
Always, I love Substack for allowing me to meet you.
❤️
Aww, Kieran, thank you for reading. Full heart back at you across the sea. Hugs to you and your family, my friend.
Prajna, I see you, truth-tender, fierce with grace, walking wide awake in this world. Thank you so much for letting us witness the raw beauty of your journey here in this garden of light and delight with its ache, alchemy and quiet revolutions. You remind me that even in exhaustion, there is light, and there in those ordinary, everyday moments of our life, the sacred waits. I hold your story with reverence. Thanks so much for the mention, I’m honoured. Long may our words meet, soul to soul. 🙏💖✨
Hello Deborah, Thank you for seeing me so clearly—truth-tender, fierce with grace—I’ll hold that close. Your words are a balm and benediction.
The garden of ache and alchemy, where exhaustion has a gentle light. I feel your awake soul, weaving sacred into the everyday.
I’m honored our words have met—and the ways we find each other, again and again, across the hush and the howl. 🌿✨
Thank you for all the support you provide. Your presence here matters more than you can know.
Deep bow, sister.
"Our conditioned personality prefers the familiar, even when it cages us.
But we are most connected, body and soul
When we live close to the innate spark set within us
to begin again, to birth another way, to remember."
So much reaches me through your beautiful words. ✨️ Thanks for this inspiring post, Prajna, and for the example you set. It's always uplifting to see your family. Thanks for the mention. Very touched.
Hi Robin,
Your words are a balm—like moonlight on the skin of something just remembered. Thank you.
I love what you pulled out. Yes, that wild spark within—the one that dares to begin again, even when the familiar pulls like gravity. I'm grateful it reached you.
Your presence in this weaving matters more than you know. And your life, your love—it’s part of what reminds me to keep choosing the path that re-members the soul.
I see you. I’m walking with you. ✨️
Thank you, my friend. ❤️