84 Comments
Oct 10Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

Mary, this is haunting and heartbreaking and stunningly beautiful. I pray for your home and your neighbors, hopefully in a meaningful and energetic way.

I lived in Santa Barbara for 20 years, right on the edge of national forest land, and almost annually we were evacuated. The first time--being a novice evacuee--I took everything and nothing. I was not thoughtful about my packing; I was panicked, so I kept shoving random things into boxes and bags and suitcases until there was no more room in the cars. After I unpacked that first time, I laughed at my stupidity and made a checklist of important things. I was surprised at how very short it was after all. Photo albums, my wedding gown, a small bag of family jewelry and sentimental "heirlooms" (a pocket watch, a knife, an old pair of reading glasses), a few "irreplaceable" items of clothing I adored, original artwork, my computer. Everything else was "stuff" and I had way too much of that anyway. When the watches turned to warnings turned to orders, we'd walk through the house videotaping things--for insurance purposes--grab our "important things," lock up and leave. We were fortunate to always come back to a home, but we know many who didn't. After the Thomas fire and subsequent mudslide in 2017 killed 23 people and wiped out hundreds of homes, I decided I had had enough and we moved to Texas. Certainly--as you noted--you can't outrun Mother Nature. But sleeping peacefully--as peacefully as one can these days--is important, too.

Thank you for sharing this touching essay, and hoping and praying for the best for you and the country/world.

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Thank you so much for sharing your own experience with evacuation in this comment, Jenna. I was reminded of one of the flooded houses I walked past, the day before we decided to high-tail it out. A couple was packing up their car to leave, and the wife said, "It's pretty easy. Photos of our children, important documents. The rest is just stuff." I was actually very grateful she had said that; her words rang in my head as I threw shit in a bag. I'm DEFINITELY following your lead, however, for next time: a list. What a concept. 🤦‍♀️

Grateful for your presence here, AND for your most recent stack -- your dose of humor was much needed and appreciated! I laughed out loud at the "me at the party" schtick...😂🙏🏼. There's no way we're going to get through this mess without laughter, and you're one of my favorite purveyors!!

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Oct 9Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

Oh Mary. The gale force winds of your penetrating mind seeking answers - dismay and inspire me. Your eloquence literally blows me away. The all of your musings today brought to mind a favorite quote by Auden- “Stagger on rejoicing”. Those in the path of this storm are in my prayers from my - for now- safe perch in NYC.🙏💗 Keep seeking and sharing.

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Kate! What a generous comment, thank you. And I've never heard that MAGNIFICENT Auden quote. "Stagger on rejoicing" will grace the space over my desk, when I return to it -- I only have a few quotes, and that one makes the cut! So much love to you... xox

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Oct 10·edited Oct 10Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

Honestly, Mary, I don't know how you did this. Write this piece, with so much balance, compassion, honesty. Somehow - in the midst of having to evacuate - moving effortlessly between 'truth' as facts and that deeper 'truth' we all innately crave.

I truly believe the insanity out-there - manufactured or Natural - is pushing us into better and bigger versions of ourselves. If that's a fairy tale I'm telling myself then it 'true' for me right now, and perhaps will lead me to something more true down the line. But I think it is true and this essay feels like evidence of that.

So, so impressive. So beautiful. Thank you. XOXO

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I don't think there's anything fairytale-esque about that belief. Everything that challenges us -- spiritually, emotionally, physically -- is an invitation to expand.

I'm tremendously grateful for your kind words, Kathleen, thank you! xoxo

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Oct 9Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

I'm floored by your essay, Mary. Maybe grounded is a better word--floors can wash away. You walk that line so sure-footed between the devastating reality, the research and logic into weather weapons, and the ineffable foundation-of-it-all. I'm so honored to call you my friend.

And speaking of friends, doesn't it seem eerie that in our small little circle, we've experienced one crisis after another? A major health crisis, the loss of a husband, two career/ economic crises if I'm not mistaken, and now you going through this. It feels as if there's an intimate knowledge we're being 'given' of the puzzle pieces.

I hope the knowledge you're given continues to be close enough for compassion but not the loss of home. I had a tiny taste of that in the 'wild'fires here, when they thought it might reach the town, enough to get an inkling of what that would mean.

State Farm has cancelled my homeowner's insurance because of a scant cup of lichen on the edge of a building not even insured. I haven't decided yet if I care enough to fight it. But I think they're jettisoning policies because they know the plan. With gratitude that you're safe and grief for what others are going through.

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So well said, T. This essay miraculously reconciles “unspeakable devastation” with a faith in the “ineffable foundation of it all.”

You, Mary, are a huge soul who can encompass these seemingly opposite truths while eloquently sculpting the words that can help us wrap our minds around the chaos and confusion. How extraordinary and necessary!🙏 💕

Tough times catalyze our soul’s purpose as we were born to shine in the darkness. Shine on, beautiful Mary!!

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Aw Katie... thank you. How beautifully you put that! "Tough times catalyze our soul’s purpose as we were born to shine in the darkness." Amen.

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Well, said.

Couldn't agree more.

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My sister lives in Boulder in the mountains and she says lots of home sales are falling through there because insurance won't cover it. Does make ya wonder.

And yes - on your small circle comment - I sense the same.

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Oct 10Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

Yes many of the people who lost their homes in the fires here can't rebuild because they can't get insurance. There's a default state-backed one but it's prohibitively expensive. So now they're begging State Farm to raise its rates ...

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Thank you so much, Tereza. I feel just as honored by our friendship. And yes, that's a really cool observation about our collective puzzle pieces; I hadn't thought about that!

Those State Farm vipers. The whole insurance industry infuriates me. The idea that sick people have to raise money for their treatments (like our dear buddy did) really boils my blood.

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Oct 10Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

So powerful to hear in Your words the simultaneous ability to question everything potentially nefarious while also savoring the beauty and resilience of the human spirit when aligned with the heart and acting from compassion… a dear friend of mine who lives an hour south of Asheville is opening her in tact home as a birthing center and gathering supplies from her woman-tribe up here in NJ & it feels good to be prayers in action as thoughtful donations …several SoulSisters joined me today to speak to the trees and plants and animals including humans and tell them all of Milton’s pending arrival and it is our sincere hope that the roots hold firm and those like yourself listen to their intuition and make it to higher ground if they can.

Blessings to all…this is the time of The Great Shift and the planetary enema is in progress on all levels and there are celestial and galactic forces involved far beyond feeble attempts of the WEF/ NWO sociopaths who sponsor geoengineering …& we are way more resilient and creative than we even know!

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Oh Marcelle! Such a beautiful description of beautiful actions! (And "planetary enema" made me laugh out loud. That's perfect.) We ARE more powerful than we know, starting with the very words we speak. Why else would there be such a push to control speech?

Thank you for helping us see the possibilities for taking concrete actions that lift spirit -- of all living creatures. xox

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Oct 10·edited Oct 10Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

Coincidentally, I was thinking about those very questions this morning on a hike up in the mountains, then came back to find your essay. I have been through some disasters in California (e.g., the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake) and Vermont (e.g., Tropical Storm Irene). Now I'm in the Sierra Nevada foothills, and last weekend there was a nearby fire that caused the sheriff's deparment to issue evacuation orders for my town. I was 150 miles away, blissfully unaware of what was going on until I got home a day after the fire was put out, and saw dozens of fire trucks leaving town, and then heard the four voicemails from the sheriff's department telling me to evacuate.

On my hike I realized there is really no escaping nature, no truly "safe" place to live. I have to take my chances on picking a home and hope for the best.

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Love the synchronicity, Mark. I also appreciate hearing of your experiences with evacuation. You're so right; there is no truly safe place to live. My husband and I have been wrestling for a few years now -- after leaving NYS -- with finding the place that feels right. FL works for us in some ways, not in others... for me the biggest hole in the program here is that I feel very cut off from nature, other than the beach. The Sierra Nevada foothills sound pretty marvelous! Do you have a community there?

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Oct 13Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

I'm in a little town at 3100 feet elevation, on the margin between the lower foothills and the snow country. I have felt very welcomed here in the five months since arriving, a very pleasant change. I love the High Sierra, and have since my teen years, so it's good to be so close finally.

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Wonderful. Seems like the right place.👍🏼

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Oct 10Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

Ah Brilliant, Curious Mary - you never cease to amaze me! I have always admired and appreciated your wit, humor, intelligence - aptitude and talent for the written word in many forms. However, after traveling this latest path with you I am

Increasingly inspired by your ability to walk the razor’s edge of paradox. Always asking great questions and offering more space, more light and more honest conversation. Thank you for continuing to show up and shine your light. Answering my text about a retreat zoom call when you are evacuating your home for “safety”. 😳 I love learning and upleveling when reading your SS - and laughing and crying and feeling your deep compassionate nature and beautiful open heart through it all. Honored and Blessed to call you my sister in spiritual friendship. Wishing you Safe Home in every way possible. 🙏 C.Wheels

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Cath, your comment humbles me. Thank you so much. I don't really know how to respond... I'm kinda verklempt!

I will say that honesty is something I have always associated with you. You never shy away from yours or anyone else's -- and in so doing, invite others to explore their own truths more and more fearlessly. That's what you did, and still do, for me.

Love you to bits, soul-sister. xox

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Oct 10Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

Glad you are safe Mary! I have been thinking about safety too.. from a different impetus. It strikes me, as it did post pandemic, we cannot effectively be safe on our own. It is only in faith and together with those around us that we can get through difficult times. Sending good energy. ☔️

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Yes. Faith and community: the two essential survival tools. Chocolate is nice, too. :-)

Thank you for opening your home to us, CM, even though we didn't end up staying with you. It meant the world to me... xox

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Oct 9·edited Oct 9Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

May your time in NC and your journey home again go well, and may your home survive!

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Thank you, TB! It did!

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Oct 10Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

The greatest truths are the ones that are arrived at organically.

You have certainly accomplished that.

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Greatly appreciated, Phillip.

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Oct 10Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

All I know is that we are here for a reason all of us truth Seekers we see through all the deception going on today thank you for this we are the ones that think differently than others such as we are in touch with the spirit world we have an instinct that many would be jealous about we can see through the Veil and we are able to present the truth in a way that others who do not want to see it will actually look at it we are the new leaders we are the ones that will help Humanity going forward keep telling the truth keep seeking the truth use discernment the powers within all of us learn to love yourself because we Our God's light we help bring the Lost home I apologize I did not use any punctuation in this rant because I suck at typing my eyes are bad and my fingers are too this is all I have left to give I feel like I died years ago and I want to go home

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It is deeply challenging to feel spurned by those who don't want to hear what we have to say. I do agree that continuing to tell the truth is really our only option.

I'm so sorry you're hurting, Becka. xox

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Oct 13Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

Thank you Mary 💜

I'm finding my way out of the darkness again. So many are waking up!

We are definitely making waves.

Prayer works as well. I happened to catch on the news that they're blaming the hurricanes on global warming or climate crisis stuff and in a way it is it's being manipulated

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I'm so glad to hear! Prayer does work well -- when I remember to take it up. I'm getting better at that... 😅

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Oct 9Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

A beautiful & heart-touching article, thank you MPM. We the People coming together with our Lord in the middle - priceless ...

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Thank you, Susan.

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Oct 11Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

I'm pleased to hear you are okay after the recent natural disasters that affected your part of the world.

I've read you piece, and it made an impact on my thinking during the past 24 hours, although I am not sure how to respond. Nevertheless, I eventually came up with the following...

You know, there's so much in this world we can't control. We can't stop a hurricane in its tracks or calm an earthquake. But what we can do – and what really matters – is how we respond to these challenges together.

When times get tough, we step up for our neighbors, our community, and even strangers. It's not just about being nice; it's about recognizing our shared humanity. We're all part of this grand tapestry of life, each thread connected to the next. Beyond our surface differences, we share the same fundamental experiences – we breathe the same air, ponder the same big questions, and face the same joys and sorrows. That's what binds us together, don't you think?

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Yes, what really matters is coalescing to rebuild what is broken -- no matter how it was broken. I'm hoping that all of the turmoil and chaos of these times will ultimately knit us together, though I think it may take quite a while.

I appreciate your comment, Jack, so much, because as usual, you find the common ground between us. I'm happy to meet you there.

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Oct 11Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

Bit late to this Mary, but hope you and your family remain safe and protected. Thank you for the poetic insights into a reality completely removed from mine.

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We are back home, relieved to be back in our intact house. Thank you for the kind comment, Isaac!

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Oct 11Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

Forms change but content is eternal. Content is invisible love.

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Oct 10Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

I don’t know how you hold the capacity to keep expanding when the world feels bent on shrinking you. The parallels and conclusion you draw in the face of this unfortune (I’m getting a red dotted line here, is that not a word?!? 😬maybe I’m misspelling it. No matter. Don’t try to shrink me, autocorrect! *shakes fist at sky.*) — finding the profundity if it all…you’ve written a haunting and goose bump inducing piece and I’m just filled to the brim. I’m sharing this one with my bestie. She is all about seeing silver linings lately. But one thing she shared with me was the idea that since we don’t know why Providence moves in one direction or another, we don’t know if a specific occurrence is for our long term good in the end anyway. And there is something to be said for the strength I see being drawn out of our little lady circle. What exactly is happening? It all feels like some kind of a spiritual endurance test. But didn’t we just have a whole lot of 2020 testing our limits already? Gah. I’m rambling.

I love this essay. Really love it. 🥰

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I'll listen to you ramble any day, T. What your friend shared is EXACTLY what I'm trying to embrace -- this idea of holding it all close, all of it, even the parts we think are wrong wrong WRONG. How can we puny beings really know? A story with no antagonist creates zero growth in the protagonist, or in the audience. AND it's boring, to boot.

So here we are, surrounded by antagonists, and our little lady circle (😂) just gets stronger and more powerful, so that we'll REALLY be prepared for whatever is coming next.

BTW, in case you haven't noticed, YOU have been expanding, too. Ain't no autocorrect (or diagnosis) gonna hold you down.

Thanks for your thoughts. They always make me think. ❤️🙏🏼

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❤️ ❤️ ❤️

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