Portals

and lists in the month of February

I have stepped into another portal. I am a Russian doll of myself. I’ve talked about being in two worlds, and now unimaginably, it has become a kaleidoscope of universes.

I’m not ready to share about this further, but I won’t keep being annoyingly cryptic, so please enjoy this February listicle of things that I enjoy, or have encountered that I don’t enjoy. I hope you are enjoying this brief month, a month that has a Tuesday feel to it. (This is excluding every beautiful Aquarius’s birthday that I love; your day is a shining spot in February.) Please feel free to share things that you are enjoying as well. Or, things that you hate! The ability to elicit feelings and criticism is also part of the beauty of art, and should prompt you to try your hand at it yourself.

Poetry Unbound: “Prayer” (on spotify)

O come, in any way you want

I don’t think I ever realized that college would be the last time someone dissected poetry with me out loud, really reread the lines and add to my understanding. For about 15 minutes, I got to be a part of that process again, and recognize the beauty in pausing to hear. Mrs. Leahey taught me how to really dissect poetry, and I can still hear her referencing the line ‘holy palmers’ kiss’ and saying, “Have you ever been kissed on the palm? It’s actually quite erotic” to a bunch of mortified high schoolers. I think you’d love this poem too. May you rest in peace.

Lent

I don’t partake in Lent every year, only when I am called. This year, I realized that a large part of the media that I’m consuming is a bunch of peanut gallery opinions. Hours of interesting screen time to watch. But where was all of that time going? I could look up from my phone after hours of mindlessly surfing and have nothing to show for it. Life does not in its entirety need to be productive. But life isn’t promised to me for long enough that I feel comfortable wasting hours of it. Hours becomes days, and days become my life. So I gave up all rapidly consumable social media. I’m already bored, which is what brought me to write this post, so Lent is already working. Boredom is necessary for people who love to write, and especially for those of us who love to think about writing more than they actually end up writing.

I also read attentively and commented intentionally on this fascinating Substack post about Mrs. Dr. Seuss, may she also rest in peace. It wasn’t until hours later that I realized that my attention span has already improved- reading that in its entirety online and staying focused would have been difficult. (Books are a totally different story- I will be immersed for hours.)

This Cucumber and Sweet Pepper Salad

Thinly cut an english cucumber and a handful of mini sweet peppers, and then dice up an avocado. Add some ginger Makoto dressing and everything bagel seasoning and a squeeze of lime. I’ve eaten this like, eight times in the last two weeks. It’s delicious. I’m so glad Rachael Kirkconnell is famous if only so that she could give us this salad. (I left the chili crunch out, what can I say? I’m not a chili crunch girlie. Do what you want with your free will.)

The Chosen TV Show

I really debated on whether or not I should put this in here, as this list is already trending towards Christianity, but I love this show, and I feel it does the best job I’ve ever seen of capturing the true spirit of Jesus. Sitting as a little girl in Sunday Mass for years, the Old Testament was terrifying, but Jesus emerged as a figure who loved the little children, and who loved everyone, period. As it is with thinking of myself as a writer, it’s a good reminder of what being a Christian really means, which is not about thinking how you are a good Christian and others are below you for whatever reason, whether it be class, citizenship, disability, etc. It’s also a great reminder that Jesus paid no mind to and actively worked against the restrictive, punishing, and cruel laws at the time, and how I find that still applicable today. Laws change, and they have never been fair in the United States since its creation. The Supreme Court is a lagging body consisting of humans who, as an entity, typically require years of demonstrations of civil rights to catch up to the will of the people who have already been assaulted, died, etc. for these causes. I’m not saying anything new under the sun.

But this reminder that a person who has been a hero and the true epitome of God to me would agree that following God is different than following the law of the times helps me stay sane in…well, the times.

I highly recommend: Season 1, Episode 3, “Jesus Loves the Little Children”. The title is from a song I grew up singing. Watching this episode, I was surprised on how it focused almost entirely on children, their thoughts, their ministry, and how much Jesus valued them. And then my own surprise surprised me- I realized in that moment how far I’ve come from being a child, not just chronologically, but developmentally. When I was a child I used to think, of course Jesus loves me, and is here for me. Who else? I did not devalue my own opinions or my own presence. It was a good reminder to adjust my own thinking regarding the sovereignty of children. Matthew 18:6- “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” He really wasn’t playing around.

This is a full-sized millstone on the right. Essentially: drown yourself.

Terry Gross’s interview of Malala Yousafzai

When I read I Am Malala years ago, I couldn’t believe that we were two young women, alive in the same time, but having such different experiences of life. She’s an inspiration, and the youngest Nobel Prize winner ever. Talk about defying laws, and honoring the children’s sovereignty.

Terry Gross, however.

I’ve never been a fan of her interviewing style. I go into each interview with as clear a mind as I can cultivate after years of being let down; she also has fascinating guests that keep pulling me back in. It had been a few years since I’d given her a listen. But when I heard her ask this young woman who was literally shot in the face by the Taliban and forced to stay in her home and not go to school if going to Oxford University in England felt like being imprisoned due to her recent fame, I wanted to scream. It’s difficult to grasp the reality of those whose lives are so different from us. I understand. I did this to myself, I also understand. I’m not an interviewer. I get that too. But to protect my peace, I had to turn the rest of the interview off. I’ll find a transcript and read it later.

And finally…

Sorcery and Witchcraft in Indigenous Towns in Provincia de Honduras

I decided the other day to see what I could find of my ancestors’ spirituality on Al Gore’s internet. I was shocked to find Lida Escobar’s published article citing records from the 17th century. She transcripts court records of those accused and the witchcraft they ‘confessed’ to, even citing one of the towns my family is from.

Below is a quote from her article:

In fact, during the colonial period’s mature stage, in the eighteenth century, we find the publication of an edict from the Holy Inquisition, directed specifically at the indigenous people:

Destruid los ídolos, echadlos por tierra, quemad, confundid y acabad todos los lugares donde estubieren, aniquilad los sitios, montes y peñascos en que los pusieron, cubrid y cerrad a piedra y lodo las cuevas donde los ocultaron, para que no os ocurra al pensamiento su memoria; no hagáis sacrificios al demonio, ni pidáis consejos a los magos, encantadores, brujos maléficos, ni adivinos, no tengáis trato ni amistad con ellos ni los ocultéis sino descubridlos y acusadlos, aunque sean vuestros padres, madres, hijos, hermanos, maridos o mujeres propias; no oigáis, ni creáis a los que os quieren engañar, aunque los veáis hacer cosas que os parezcan milagros, por que verdaderamente no lo son, sino embustes del demonio para apartaros de la fe.

Translated:

“Destroy the idols, throw them to the ground, burn, confound, and finish off all the places where they are, annihilate the sites, mountains, and crags where they were placed, cover and seal with stone and mud the caves where they were hidden, so that their memory does not cross your mind; do not make sacrifices to the devil, nor ask for advice from magicians, enchanters, evil sorcerers, or diviners, do not have dealings or friendship with them, nor hide them, but expose them and accuse them, even if they are your own fathers, mothers, children, brothers, husbands, or wives; do not listen to or believe those who want to deceive you, even if you see them do things that seem like miracles, because they are not truly miracles, but lies of the devil to turn you away from the faith.”

Lida Escobar clearly states, “Under colonial circumstances, an accusation of witchcraft represented the most convenient form for injuring one’s enemies.”

Disturbing.

It made me feel grateful as ever to be an American in 2026 where I am able to type away in my little blog and then run to take my dog to the park before the sun sets without any fear of retribution. In this timeline, anyways, I am safe, protected, and blessed. I wish that my ancestors could have said the same.

Thank you for reading.