Embracing Duality with Piscean Energy
reflections on finding harmony within our opposing nature
Hello Beloved Weirdos,
Happy Pisces Season!
Pisces is symbolized by two fish swimming in opposite directions that are bound together for eternity, and is thought to be a representation of the human condition. One fish represents our divine nature and inevitable spiritual evolution; the other fish represents our humanity and our material reality. While one can easily project tension on these two fish, the many myths I have read about these fish in different ancient cultures indicate that they chose to be bound together so they would not lose each other as they plunged into the expansive, churning unknown of the ocean.
This image and interpretation provides with comfort as I reflect on the unique companionship our bodies and spirits provide each other as we navigate our lives. In many ways the story of this symbol invites us to find harmony in spaces of duality, a turn towards instead of a pull apart. Through Piscean wisdom we are able to embody wholeness, wisdom, integration and unity.
Ruled by Jupiter and Neptune, Pisces, like the ocean, is thought to be expansive and to contain the wisdom of all the prior zodiac signs, as Pisces is the archetypical elder. Through this unifying containment, Piscean energy enables us to give birth new visions, new futures, new cycles.
This year, the energy for a new beginning is especially potent. On Tuesday March 7th there was a full worm moon in virgo (said to be a worm moon because the worms are awakening from winter!) AND it also coincided with Saturn, the planet that is said to rule boundaries, limitations, and Daddy issues, moving from Aquarius to Pisces.
Saturn entered Aquarius in March 2020, coinciding with the pandemic and intitating my Saturn Return. This Tuesday marked the end of this 2 year transit, and I was able to celebrate with a Saturn Return Graduation where I was lucky enough to be the class speaker (because I volunteered first lol). If you have been following me on instagram, you know that I have been taking steps make my dream of being a professional speaker a reality, and speaking at Saturn Return Graduation was a dream come true.
My speech was mostly centered on what I learned from Saturn: my unexpected love of responsibility, my realization of how powerful I am, and lessons from my emergent career as a conflict navigator. I’ll be sharing these reflections on Substack soon, so keep your eyes peeled!
About my dream of being a public speaker…
It’s been a dream for many, many years, and as I shared on instagram it was a goal that I took steps towards as a young person. But the more successful I became, the more likely it was that I would inadvertently out myself to my conservative Indian parents. Anxious and unprepared for what might happen if they found out, I ended up releasing my dream and finding another career path that I was less passionate about, and running away from my relationship to my parents.
10 years later and freshly post-Saturn return I have not only re-established contact with my parents, but I moved back to the Southeast to be closer to them. It is finally time for me to revive my childhood dream of being a speaker!
On March 1st I was invited to Northeastern University in Boston to share about my journey of self acceptance and inner peace.
I had never been to Boston before! I honestly really haven’t traveled much due to the pandemic, and I was on the fence about taking this risk. But I’m so glad I did, because the staff and students at Northeastern University were so excited I was there! Sometimes I forget how transformative my presence is (not to toot my own horn), but I do know that the presence of someone like me, a visible gender bender with an open heart, can really activate people for better and worse. Luckily on this trip it seemed to activate people for better <3
It was so validating for me to be seen and respected for my life expierences and my body of hard won knowledge. I cannot describe how joyful it was to connect with queer and trans students of color. They were all so brilliant and it felt like a gift to spend time with them.
There was catered food at my event! Trays and trays of delicious middle eastern food, and the space was decorated with fresh and paper flowers. It was a joy to be a source of abundance in the space
Finding the above flyer was a dream come true, and felt like a sweet throw back to my last speaking gig almost ten years ago with Laverne Cox. I feel so blessed to continually share the stage with such incredible Black women.
The title of my talk was “Ending the war within: My journey to inner peace. “ I started by acknowledging the multiple wars we are surviving ( an acknowledgement inspired by the brilliant Marielle Saba), and naming how we as individuals often bear the weight and consequence of these wars.
I shared about my journey to self acceptance, the push and pull I found myself in as a young intersex person of color growing up in South Carolina with immigrant parents. I shared about my journey of accepting that my healing journey would indeed by a journey and not just something I could knock out in a weekend.
I kept it light, but we went deep.
It was an incredible talk and I received so much positive feedback about the impact my words had. It honestly surprised me to realize that people were thinking about things I said days later. My whole life people have always told me that I am quotable and wise , but it feels really good to share this gift with the world.
This experience has taught me that I have SO MUCH to share with the world!
I am on a mission to spread the message of peace and my strategies for releasing toxic stress with at least five more groups of people before the end of 2023!!!
If you are interested in bringing me to your community, university, or organization reply to this email and let me know!
The conditions we are surviving are unprecedented and its more important than ever that we connect and share strategies to support our wellness!
In addition to speaking about inner peace I am also mediating conflicts and offering crisis de-escalation and generative conflict workshops for groups and organizations. If you are looking for support around a conflict you can reply to this email or book a free consultation.
A few life updates…
This is my first email in a few months! As some of you may recall I shared about expierencing deep heartbreak in my last email, and I have spent the past several months being present with my broken heart.
Break ups are special. In Buddhism they say that
“we are closest to god when we are grieving because we are awakened from to impermanence “
All grief is valid. In relationships we create a special energy together, and when that ends it is natural to grieve, and in that grief I believe we have special powers that I often refer to as “ break up magic”
I have used my break up magic to get better at henna, revive my creative practice, and start taking dance classes. I also went to India for the first time in 13 years!!!!
All this to say, I have so much to share with you and I am finally in a place where I hope to start sharing weekly!
I understand if that is too many emails for you and if you need to unsubscribe.
If you made it this far…
THANK U FOR READING. LOVE U. XOXOXOXO
OPI
Love everything you share here!
I was particularly captivated by the expression of Piscean energy you started out with (+ the thematic thread this energy played throughout your share...🙌🏻).
My natal North Node & moon reside in Pisces- the framing of the human/spirit a connecting & circling one another resonates deeply & is a subtle/powerful re-framing for me that lands in perfect timeliness, thank you!!!
So glad to see your public speaking and presence connect with others. Hearing your speech ten years ago saved my life, and it's so amazing to see you pursue that work. I'll keep in mind and heart about ways to plug you in for speaking engagements (maybe you can come and visit my classroom sometime). Love you dearly!