Happy colder weather, depending of course on where you are. I always feel a bit hesitant to accept this season, and this year things are feeling a bit easier. One reason might be that I am in a sunnier region than I’ve been before – New Jersey, my new home spot. At the moment I am sitting in a sun patch. If there’s not sun where you’re at, I wish you the warmest flame on the inside.
I send you my love and gratitude from this place. For subscribing and reading. For being here and alive. For bearing the ugliest manifestations of the sickness of u.s and european imperialism; for not turning away but resisting in your own way.
I hope for brevity in this letter, to share my excitement about my future, and to process and be grateful for the cool stuff that’s happened in the recent past.
Not Quite A “How To (Do)” Self Defense
It has been tripping me up a bit this past year thinking that in a few months I will reach an age that my parents never got to see. That realization hit me in a different way a few weeks ago while visiting my uncle in Florida for some self defense and martial arts training, he showed me a picture of my dad training in martial arts. He was probably early-ish thirties in the photo, holding a fully focused and predominantly serious demeanor with an almost imperceptible touch of goofiness on his face. It’s a posture I know well, and somehow have always known.
people ask me how long you been doing this
I say it’s in my blood
I mean exactly this
It’s worth it to say that my dad and uncle were best friends, being only a few years apart in age. Uncle Dan- big bro and protector; my dad- likely looking up to him and shining in similar ways. He told me story after story of what it meant to come up in the 60’s as young black boys and confront racism. What it meant to protect his brother. What it meant to lose him. After a beautiful and vulnerable conversation, it occurred to me to say I’m sorry for your loss. He grieved a brother and best friend, neither of which I have ever had to do.
when did the word warrior find its way into your vocabulary?
such a small thing to know the full weight of the meaning
and I know I don’t know
Over the years Uncle Dan has been teaching me some cane and tactical defense techniques. During this most recent trip to Florida I was seeking a sort of three day intensive, anticipating the juicy physical stuff. We ended up talking a lot, and I was able to witness my Uncle in a much more open state than I have before. During these many conversations and quiet moments, I was offered some unexpected lessons about what self defense is, and can be.
I do know something- myself.
It’s not so much, but
I can learn something about you.
Become still and
as soon as you enter my space,
trust that I know myself enough
to learn you, become softer,
accept, then respond
He was more expressive with his verbal affections and generosity this time around; hugging me often and showing me ways to incorporate ghee into any and every dish possible. I was more open to receiving this generosity and offered my own; sharing things about my queer life, letting him see some of my art, and introducing him to the pure pleasure of a glass of Amaro Ciociaro on ice.
My uncle is a man who has devoted his life to thinking about, teaching, and enacting self defense techniques. Some of the stories he tells me are wild. He has been in many violent situations by strategically putting himself in that place at the right time, and outright avoided potential situations by focusing on his breath and ability to tap into his intuition. I’ll consider him one of my major sources of knowledge in how I think about, and do, self defense.
I want to practice and notice the possibly less exciting aspects of self defense. The slow down, the intuitive, the intentional, the shit before shit pops off. I offer a few questions to think over. They are questions I am thinking about daily. What are your questions around self-defense? What is it for you or what do you want it to be? How do you do such a thing?
Is it self defense when we let ourselves grieve?
Is it the often silent and consistent mutual aid we give one another?
Is it self defense when we take enough zinc, vitamin C
Is it self defense to not only breathe deeply but to notice we’re doing it more often than not?
Is sitting in silence self defense?
Summer & Fall 2023 Highlights!
- I co-hosted a Taiji + Writing Workshop with friend and like minded/hearted Detroit community activist Ru, founding member of Solutionaries Collective. We did a 45 minute Qi Gong practice followed by some writing/journaling time inside the cafe. We were exploring emotions connected to the movements we performed, how they showed up in our bodies, and how we might move through them. Shout out to La Ventana Cafe for donating the space!
- I led a Taiji segment with Grounds 4 Gratitude Community Farm and Composting in Chicago! The event was an outdoor cookout, engagement and acknowledgement of the land, and movement session- all a part of their Movement and Meals initiative
- I have been able to support WILL EMPOWER ( Women Innovating Labor Leadership) as their Resiliency Practitioner during their last two retreats for the Women Executive Cohort. This national cohort is composed of women in the highest levels of leadership in their respective labor organization. The last retreat was November 2023, and I look forward to supporting their upcoming retreat in April 2024!
- Jack and I made a move to Jersey City!
- Now offering an on-going Taiji in Solidarity Class. This is an every other week virtual offering on zoom (peep the zoom link below). Sharing the restful and rejuvenating practice of Taiji with all we’re holding in our hearts and bodies, then share resources, links, upcoming actions and protests. Refer to my Instagram page (@taijiwithchalene) or the Taiji in Solidarity Page on my website for updated schedule- but generally we’re holding them the second and last Monday of each month
https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/96674227766?pwd=YUtscnJGZnVISDFxcXZtd3l1RURndz09
Love and gratitude to Georgia St Community Collective and Mark for letting me use the community space all Winter, Spring, and Summer long. I was able to host my drop-in classes there, one of which included my Global Majority + Queer /Trans class where we explored different elements within the 5 Animals Qi Gong series.
Highlights for the Future
- Donating some special goodies to The Stoke Collective for their Help Sustain The Stoke Collective Fundraiser. Looking forward to sharing my art and expertise for this incredible organization. Check out their work, and fundraiser below
https://www.thestokecollective.org
https://givebutter.com/c/xwczQQ
- I wrote and submitted my first grant for this Taiji and Self Defense thing I’m up to. I’ve been considering myself a freelancer up to this point, and am thinking about incorporating soon. So, hopefully my future involves receiving a letter (or email perhaps) of congratulations on receiving the grant funds!
I’d love to do more collaborations and work with more change making organizations in my future. I’m looking forward to how this happens, and the opportunity of working with more amazing humans.
Other Newsletters and Papers to check out
The Good News– hyper-local Detroit newspaper celebrating the city, and uplifting its various communities. Only in print. Ff you’re in the D or visiting pick it up at Cairo Coffee, La Ventana, Cafe Sous Terre, Kitab Bookstore
Solnox Newsletter– online newsletter from friend residing in Albuquerque, artist, scribe, dope human & entrepreneur. Horoscope stuff, podcasts to check out, their art and writings. Just check it out! https://solnox.substack.com/
Emma’s Zine and Zine CSA – Friend and love of a love in Northampton, MA who was recently featured at NY Queer Zine Fair! Check her out on instagram and use the direct link to check out the details for the CSA.
https://www.instagram.com/personal_femme_assistant/
https://forms.gle/gysCKML1XJQrdbJZ6
DREAMING
of a Taiji workshop where I collaborate with other martial artists/ resiliency practitioners/ somatic practitioners, or musical artists. If you have any ideas, shoot them my way. Hope you stay dreamy out here.
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