I deeply resonate with what you have brought forward today. I have very similiar contemplations around capitalism and consumerism. It is deeply ingrained into our societal programming and has not been easy for me to disengage from! But I am, one step at at time, one breath at a time, as you invited us into. One thing that does help is that I follow the wheel of the year. Making altars for each Sabbat, that stay up till the next one. So right now my Yule Altar is the altar I engage with everyday. An ongoing connection with this season. Not the one to come for that is down the road. Right now I am taking a gentle walk, it feels good to just mosey along.
Lovely...I’m deep into lighting all the candles. Some flickering battery operated because of safety and yet now adding real candles and finding warmth, comfort and quiet in the melting wax.
Thank you Kaitlin, for this throughtful and evocative essay, and for the wonderful breathing exercise and meditation that you offer. I like that term, the Toxic C's. I tend to agree, Capitalism gives rise to consumerism, but in their relenteless rage, they both become toxic.
This world would feel even harder without your writings, your sharing and the Liminality journal. Thank you.
Thank you for this post. I am taking some time off work, and it is difficult for me to consent to presence and stillness and observation. My existential anxiety creeps up the back of my neck, sits on my chest, and demands that I do something to validate my existence and keep annihilation at bay... today I resisted and went for a long walk in the snowy woods. Consumerism is another escape that beckons from every aspect of our culture - buy something, you will feel better.
I exhale and resist. Pet my cat. Lick the snow. Draw, paint, write... notice and release. Let go. Thank you for encouraging my resistance with your writing.
Thank you, Kaitlin for your wise words and important reminder to be present in this moment, in our bodies so we can bear witness to the guidance of Mother Earth.
Thank you for this. I’ve also got the lingering virus + existential dread combo that is exacerbated by the cold. I, too, feel there’s very little I can do other than keep lighting candles. Helps to know I’m not the only one.
Thank you for writing this piece. It echoes my own feelings. For a long time I haven't bought or even looked at 'seasonal items' until the month they actually occur in. I can feel myself getting sucked into booking any paying for things later in the year through a fear of scarcity or increasing prices (tickets for shows, trips away) but thinking of this as propaganda will help me slow down and not get caught up in it and live within my values, one of which is being present.
This was a fascinating read and deeply relatable. Very much with you on keeping in touch with the rhythms and cycles of Mother Nature. I’m from the U.K and the shops here started selling Easter eggs within the first week of January!!!
Kaitlin this article means so much to me. You nailed what I feel on a regular basis about consumerism AND can we add onto that - people who complain about the seasons we are in, who can't live in the moment. who can't enjoy the cold weather. who can't embrace the here and now for what it is. I find myself naturally flowing to writing about in the moment living (about halfway through this piece: https://kristenluiso.substack.com/p/write-now) In my writing i had not linked it to my utter hatred of as consumers being forced out of the season we are in. But it resonates!!
"If being in the moment means not contemplating over what something has to offer and letting it unfold naturally and meaningfully, even better." ~ me
I feel strongly this is a moment for all of us to reconcile and reckon with the fact that we have been hypnotized by propaganda. Only when we admit our folly, can we move to the jolly. From there, maybe we can begin walking over the distracting capitalist bridges into nature, serving her while sharing bread, spirituality, music, and play.
I needed this one today as well. This cold/snow in the south situation has kept us housebound this week and between that and a few other things going on I’ve just been looking to move on rather than stay present in the here and now.
I love this. I also feel like the creep of seasonal and holiday paraphernalia has gotten earlier. Do other people feel this way too? There is already Easter chocolate on the shelves. Easter is at the end of March. We JUST finished the Christmas season. Let people breathe. Leave space on shelves. It’s so off putting.
I don't think we can have both. For one thing, many people are so trapped in the cycle of consumerism that they go into debt and have to work more to support this habit including paying for storage space! If you are always working, running around buying things, planning on buying things etc it's hard to be present. The other problem is too much stuff is distracting and draining. I've been slowly getting rid of stuff and i feel so much lighter without it.
I deeply resonate with what you have brought forward today. I have very similiar contemplations around capitalism and consumerism. It is deeply ingrained into our societal programming and has not been easy for me to disengage from! But I am, one step at at time, one breath at a time, as you invited us into. One thing that does help is that I follow the wheel of the year. Making altars for each Sabbat, that stay up till the next one. So right now my Yule Altar is the altar I engage with everyday. An ongoing connection with this season. Not the one to come for that is down the road. Right now I am taking a gentle walk, it feels good to just mosey along.
Lovely...I’m deep into lighting all the candles. Some flickering battery operated because of safety and yet now adding real candles and finding warmth, comfort and quiet in the melting wax.
Thank you Kaitlin, for this throughtful and evocative essay, and for the wonderful breathing exercise and meditation that you offer. I like that term, the Toxic C's. I tend to agree, Capitalism gives rise to consumerism, but in their relenteless rage, they both become toxic.
This world would feel even harder without your writings, your sharing and the Liminality journal. Thank you.
Thank you for this post. I am taking some time off work, and it is difficult for me to consent to presence and stillness and observation. My existential anxiety creeps up the back of my neck, sits on my chest, and demands that I do something to validate my existence and keep annihilation at bay... today I resisted and went for a long walk in the snowy woods. Consumerism is another escape that beckons from every aspect of our culture - buy something, you will feel better.
I exhale and resist. Pet my cat. Lick the snow. Draw, paint, write... notice and release. Let go. Thank you for encouraging my resistance with your writing.
Thank you, Kaitlin for your wise words and important reminder to be present in this moment, in our bodies so we can bear witness to the guidance of Mother Earth.
Thank you for this. I’ve also got the lingering virus + existential dread combo that is exacerbated by the cold. I, too, feel there’s very little I can do other than keep lighting candles. Helps to know I’m not the only one.
Francesca, you are not! Keep lighting the candles!
Thank you, Larry. What a kindness! ❤️🩹
🙏🏻
You are welcome! Kindness is a part of the resistance!
Kindness is a part of the resistance! Of course it is! Thank you!
Thank you for writing this piece. It echoes my own feelings. For a long time I haven't bought or even looked at 'seasonal items' until the month they actually occur in. I can feel myself getting sucked into booking any paying for things later in the year through a fear of scarcity or increasing prices (tickets for shows, trips away) but thinking of this as propaganda will help me slow down and not get caught up in it and live within my values, one of which is being present.
This was a fascinating read and deeply relatable. Very much with you on keeping in touch with the rhythms and cycles of Mother Nature. I’m from the U.K and the shops here started selling Easter eggs within the first week of January!!!
Kaitlin this article means so much to me. You nailed what I feel on a regular basis about consumerism AND can we add onto that - people who complain about the seasons we are in, who can't live in the moment. who can't enjoy the cold weather. who can't embrace the here and now for what it is. I find myself naturally flowing to writing about in the moment living (about halfway through this piece: https://kristenluiso.substack.com/p/write-now) In my writing i had not linked it to my utter hatred of as consumers being forced out of the season we are in. But it resonates!!
"If being in the moment means not contemplating over what something has to offer and letting it unfold naturally and meaningfully, even better." ~ me
Thank you for sharing! I'm so glad my words resonated and are helping you process this.
I feel strongly this is a moment for all of us to reconcile and reckon with the fact that we have been hypnotized by propaganda. Only when we admit our folly, can we move to the jolly. From there, maybe we can begin walking over the distracting capitalist bridges into nature, serving her while sharing bread, spirituality, music, and play.
I needed this one today as well. This cold/snow in the south situation has kept us housebound this week and between that and a few other things going on I’ve just been looking to move on rather than stay present in the here and now.
I love this. I also feel like the creep of seasonal and holiday paraphernalia has gotten earlier. Do other people feel this way too? There is already Easter chocolate on the shelves. Easter is at the end of March. We JUST finished the Christmas season. Let people breathe. Leave space on shelves. It’s so off putting.
This was just what I needed. ❤️
I don't think we can have both. For one thing, many people are so trapped in the cycle of consumerism that they go into debt and have to work more to support this habit including paying for storage space! If you are always working, running around buying things, planning on buying things etc it's hard to be present. The other problem is too much stuff is distracting and draining. I've been slowly getting rid of stuff and i feel so much lighter without it.
💕
Great post! The earlier the stores release seasonal stuff, the more it puts me off.