The Sun Is Still in Our Hands

A Peri Holding the Sun Rides a Composite Lion, Kashmir, c1700” is from the Persianate world, specifically Kashmir, which at that time was deeply influenced by Persian art, mythology, and aesthetics.

A Peri is a mythical, celestial female being from Persian folklore — something between a fairy, angel, and divine feminine spirit.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about what is happening in our world—over the past year, and even before that. So many changes.. on the surface looks like they bring ease and progress and at the same the world feels different, weird, a bit cold. What I keep coming back to is how much separation there is created between us, although I deeply believe it is superficial, we all are humans and basic needs are the same - human needs. 

With all the confusion, non stop events around the world how little we truly understand what is behind all this chaos, but one thing is clear as the shadow in brigh summer day - how often power is maintained by turning people against each other. When we are divided, when we fight each other, when we are confused and exhausted, we become easier to control. And it is overwhelming to witness this. We have barely enough time to process our lives and all the conflicting information what is happening around the world..let alone truly understand it. Everything moves so fast, and fear and overwhelm becomes the background noise of our lives.

And yet—when I look at the world, I also see different perspective.

I look at Iranian women who bravely cut their hair, who sing and dance although it goes against the rules. At Indian women. At people who are punished simply for speaking, for existing freely. And I realize: we still have some freedom here, in Western world. Even if it is already fragile, slipping through our fingers like sand. Even if it is partly an illusion.

As a woman, I feel this deeply and as someone who comes from post Soviet Union country, I recognize these patterns. We were taught to survive through manipulation, silence, obedience, fawning, appeasing, freezing—just like in dysfunctional families. And when I look at global politics today, I see the same dynamics: gaslighting, control, “right and wrong” narratives imposed from above, while no one truly listens to the people, no one truly listens to the land. 

And my nervous system is roaring.

How much knowledge have we lost because of control? How much wisdom? How many healing traditions? How much ancestral medicine, herbal knowledge, and embodied wisdom disappeared because someone wanted profit, power, or dominance?

And I keep asking myself: what can I do?  What can we do? My inner fighter and truth seeker doesn't want to collapse in fear.

One thing feels clear to me: we can begin by supporting our bodies. By listening to our nervous systems. By remembering the wisdom that still lives in us—wisdom from the land, from our ancestors, the East, West, from indigenous cultures, just listening to people and wisdom which is already in our bones. 

We can support each other instead of competing. We can celebrate our differences instead of fearing them, by listening to each other and learning about each other. 

But first - we have to learn to listen to ourselves.

We all carry generations of pain. Generations of war. Generations of survival.

And many of us feel it in our bones - the way the world is structured right now does not work anymore.

But maybe we still have time to change it.

If we still have our voices, our bodies - we can start by healing ourselves. And when individuals heal, humanity heals too.

Our anger is not wrong. Our fear is not wrong. our depression is not wrong. Our emotions, feelings - they are the lights which gives us direction.

They are signals and energy which wants to move through us. And they can be transformed into boundaries, into truth, into action, into healing. 

Because when you stand up for yourself, you don’t just stand up for one person, you stand up for generarions before and after you. 

Much love,

Juste