There is a kind of solace that arrives not as an answer, but as a deeper question. It finds us when we sit still enough to feel the weight of what we’re holding—the fear alongside the hope, the weariness next to the resilience. This fourth Gentle Friday is an invitation into that kind of spaciousness.

Together, we arrive just as we are. We breathe into the quiet, we name the mixed-bag feelings in the chat (sad and soulful, curious and concerned, hopeful and heavy), and we remember that holding complexity is itself a sign of deep resilience. We explore the teaching that peace begins as an inside job, inspired by the vision of walking monks and their quiet procession across the country.

Ashley offers a reading from David Whyte’s Consolations on the word solace—not as an escape, but as a way of asking the beautiful question in unbeautiful moments. We then turn to the plants, our faithful allies, for support. From the everyday ritual of chamomile tea to the nerve-repairing wisdom of ginkgo and the soothing, polysaccharide-rich infusion of marshmallow root and rose, we share the tangible ways we tend our own nervous systems. We practice a 478 breathing technique together, a simple tool for regulation.

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The circle closes with two oracle cards—the Blackberry, reminding us of the fruit born when heart and mind align, and the Crone (Hecate), standing at the crossroads, listening for inner wisdom. This is a space for plant spirit support and community healing, a place to remember our sacred smallness and our profound connection.

Pull up a chair. Pour a cup of tea. Let’s be still together.

In this gathering:

A centering silence and a collective pulse on how we're feeling

A reading on "Solace" from David Whyte's Consolations

Community-sourced care practices for the nervous system

Plant wisdom: chamomile, lemon balm, ginkgo, milky oats, marshmallow root, and rose

A 478 breathing practice for regulation

Oracle readings: The Blackberry (heart-mind unity) and The Crone (inner guidance at the crossroads)

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