to Re-member what is Lost, Abandoned, Left to Die...

is to perform a sort of Resurrection, an at-once gruesome & miraculous process of Revival, a Seeking out - often within - of those parts which have been severed, sometimes in the most violent of ways, others more quietly, perhaps unbeknownst to us, perhaps at our very own hand...

& we often find, in Searching for the lost pieces, that while bruised, cut & dirtied, they have been preserved quite well by the mud. we find that the Earth has embraced the parts which were, at some point, deemed Wrong, Shameful, or simply Too Much to bring with us. we find that in her infinite Wisdom, She has sensed the inherent value in these parts, enveloping them - and Us - in rock & soil, tucked away safely until we might come looking for them again...

it is true that once we’ve gathered the pieces, after digging & working hard to get the dirt out from under our nails, we might not like what lies before us on the operating table. we might find the sight of these severed parts too difficult to bear, or we may not wish to stomach just how much of Us has been cut off, as we sometimes stumbled through Life with no toes to grip, or eyes to see, or spine to keep us upright, feeling as though, just maybe, Something may be Missing...

yet it is our responsibility, our Soul’s Work, to bear witness to what’s been Lost. it is our duty to stand the sight of Death, of dismemberment, and Stay with the pieces. it is our & only our touch that can, at this point, perform the task of putting the pieces together, of fashioning a Whole from the parts once again...

& though the task may seem daunting, & we may feel as though we have no clue as to where to even begin, for how could we? & we might, in such a state, believe we are utterly Alone - this is not so. we need only Look Around, to glance up from our workspace to find that we are surrounded by those who, like us, are Searching for, Finding & Putting Together the Pieces. & though we may not pass on our lot or take on the work of another, we often find that in each other’s presence, support & guidance relieve us of fear, inspiring us to continue our Re-membering...

& so remember we do. alongside fellow alchemists, miracle-makers & mad scientists, we put together the pieces of ourselves, sometimes seamlessly, often imperfectly. we heal & mend that which we can, Rising from our tables as One with our creation, as much made of clay as we are the potter...

& as we take a look at our Self anew, & as we are gazed upon by our sisters & brothers, we See before us a Creature most strange & familiar, a Beast most Beautiful, a tender-hearted Wild Thing that stands & breathes & loves, as you & I do...

& so we are Remembered.