What does freedom feel like?
Have you felt freedom, felt it in your body? Where does freedom lie in your body? Summon a bit of it, if you can, for just for a moment.If your freedom soars, summon that rising in your chest. If your freedom sits and settles, summon that good weight around your hips. If your freedom dances, summon that electricity on your skin. If your freedom is lightness or floating, banish that lump in your throat and ask your limbs to let go of their tightness.
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Have you witnessed the freedom of another? Seen a woman walk from prison? Seen a dog with ears flapping in the wind? Seen a child stick up for another when they know something is Right? Seen a man kiss a man on the street and in the sun?
How does it feel to witness freedom?
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Have you witnessed the chains of another? Opened your eyes to pain you couldn’t see before? Lifted the veil on a horror where oppressors had taped it down, refusing to let you see?
How does it feel to witness chains?
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Have you ever moved your body toward liberation? Not just lifting a helping hand, but moving your whole being? As Aboriginal activists said in the 70s, “If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”
How does it feel to be bound up with me?
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What does freedom feel like? Can you expand this freedom?
Can you move your whole being toward freedom?
Can you move your whole being toward your freedom, and mine?
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Words by Maggie Oates and Sue Watts. They were written for the voice and spirit of Sue Watts in mind. I am not associated with the following people or organizations, but this meditation was heavily inspired by the work of adrienne maree brown (particularly her book Pleasure Activism) and by all the wisdom and teachings of generative somatics.
The quote “If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” was popularized by Aboriginal activist Lilla Watson. It can be credited to Aboriginal activist groups, Queensland, 1970s.
If you use this work, I strongly suggest you consider a donation to individuals or organizations working at the intersection of liberation and body, such as generative somatics or Black Organizing for Leadership and Dignity (BOLD).
"What does freedom feel like?" by Maggie Oates and Sue Watts is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
