Each passing day brings the heart-wrenching reality of innocent lives lost, and just when I think I’ve seen the worst, it gets even more devastating. As we witness the current wave of siege and destruction in Rafah, the suffering of my people feels all-consuming from my vantage point on the opposite side of the world, leaving me grappling with a profound sense of helplessness. What will it take to end the relentless genocide ravaging Gaza?
I have been engulfed by a torrent of emotions for nearly eight long months, desperately clinging to hope amidst the chaos. I've poured my energy into action—protesting, reaching out to MPs, donating what I can, signing petitions, and engaging in conversations with anyone willing to listen to the plight of Gaza. As someone deeply attuned to my Human Design, the irony isn't lost on me: according to my chart, my motivation, which to put in lament terms is the mindset to reach our highest vibrational state is Hope, with Peace as the defining signature of my energy type, the Manifestor. This intrinsic alignment shapes my personal journey and underpins my business ethos.
Yet, how can one authentically live out their design and run a business while witnessing genocide and fearing for the safety of loved ones? The truth is, I can’t. I find myself paralyzed by a deluge of emotions—fear, anger, grief and countless others—that threaten to overwhelm my entire being. It isn't numbness from the absence of feeling but rather an inundation of emotions that renders me incapable of processing them.
In the face of such immense suffering and uncertainty, finding an equilibrium between honouring my authentic self and navigating the world's harsh realities became an agonizing struggle. The weight of responsibility and the relentless barrage of heartbreaking news seems insurmountable.
Yet, amidst the darkness, glimmers of resilience emerge. Despite the anguish, the flicker of hope persists. My beacon of hope is personified in my Grandma, who was born in Palestine before the creation of the state of Israel, like many generations of my ancestors before her. Her words of hope and determination feel different this time from every other wave of violence from the past 76 years. Despite not leaving her house in the West Bank since October 7 and being startled awake by the sounds of gunfire or destruction regularly, she shows me that the true essence of resistance is love and hope. She taught me that love for the land and humanity is resistance, and this resilience runs through my veins. While the road ahead may be fraught with more challenges and heartbreak, through the power of my Grandma’s strength, I refuse to surrender to despair. Instead, I'll continue to lend my voice to the chorus of those demanding justice and peace for Palestine, fuelled by the unwavering belief that change, however arduous, is within our grasp.
As a Manifestor seeking peace and driven by hope, I commit to channelling my energy into fostering a world where power is universal and used for the greater good of humanity, as there are no winners in war. Together, we have the power to create change, just like the dismantling of apartheid states before.
On my healing journey of reconnecting with my power, I have learned that there is no humanity without cultivating the power of community. We are united, and none of us are free until there is liberation for all humanity. This realization has amplified the importance of standing together and supporting one another in our individual and collective struggles. I write this so those reading know that living life as usual during such a sickening time for humanity isn’t normal. If you are heartbroken, enraged, and struggling with the everyday motions, it’s a sign you have what is needed to make the world a better place—empathy and power. Although you may not have access to a beacon of hope like my Tayta (Grandma), knowing she remains hopeful despite living directly under the impact of the Zionist regime can offer hope to us all.
Resources and Support:
As we journey toward healing and understanding, I encourage you to explore resources and contribute to organizations committed to justice and peace. One such avenue is Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME). Visit their website at https://www.cjpme.org/home for information on their efforts and how you can help build a more just and peaceful world.
In unity, we find strength; in collective action, we pave the way for a future where hope and peace prevail.
Free Palestine.
(Me in my ancestral village of Burqa, West Bank in 2018.)