The Courage to be Kind 😊

While Navigating Confusion and Chaos

Mar 29, 2025

Volume 3, Issue 6
March 29, 2025
New Moon/Solar Eclipse in Aries 🌑 ♈
Sun in Aries ☀️ ♈

New Moon Greetings, dearest Friends❣️

I hope this note finds you safe and well. I just want to take a moment to say thank you—truly. Your presence, your support, and the way you engage with these words mean more than I can say. This space wouldn’t be the same without you, and I’m so grateful to be weaving this journey together.

This space reminds me of a tapestry—woven with shared reflections, quiet moments of insight, and the ever-changing rhythms of the seasons and cycles within and around us. Each thread represents a connection, a conversation, a spark of understanding. Some of you have been here since the first stitch, while others have recently joined, adding new colors and textures to this unfolding expression of life. It’s a reminder of the profound miracle of human connection—and how much we need each other, especially in times like these.

We’ve come to another collective moment of dramatic shifts, and watching it unfold together inspires both bravery and courage. Each of us is experiencing something deeply personal as we witness rapid change. The consequences of this administration’s actions are beginning to take shape in our communities, and I believe what many of us feel at this moment is confusion and exhaustion in the face of cruelty.

All I can tell myself is to be brave—to have the courage to take the time I need to figure out how best to navigate this moment and to understand how I can make an impact in resisting this administration’s policies.

This week, some of these cruel policies are hitting close to home. I live and work near Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), a small research university known for its engineering and medical programs, with a strong commitment to research and innovation. This fiscal year, CWRU reported receiving $281 million in federal funding. Of its nearly 12,000 students—almost evenly split between undergraduate and graduate programs—about 18% are international students, according to my research.

This week, CWRU announced it is closing its DEI office. Earlier this month, it also announced a hiring freeze. Given the scale of research and innovation happening at CWRU, I’d go out on a limb and say the university could not exist without its federal funding and its international student population, who pay full tuition—$66,000, plus room, board, and additional fees. CWRU, like many institutions, is navigating difficult decisions about its future.

Is closing the DEI office the right decision to protect its federal funding? Ohio State University, the largest public university in Ohio, made a similar move earlier this month and faced significant public backlash. But was there another option? Could universities take a stand against these cruel policies aimed at dismantling DEI?

On top of that, Ohio lawmakers just passed Senate Bill 1, targeting public higher education, and Governor Mike DeWine has just signed it into law. This legislation dismantles DEI and removes protections for faculty who teach related subjects. It’s shocking to witness the extent to which both federal and local governments seek to restrict free speech and suppress higher education.

If these institutions were to face major downsizing—or, in the worst-case scenario, cease to exist—the economic and cultural impact on our communities would be devastating.

I don’t have the answers. But I do know that now is a time for bravery and courage in the face of these attacks on higher education and the students it serves. And I believe bravery and courage will look different for each of us.

I don’t feel comfortable judging these universities, individuals, or private organizations forced to make impossibly difficult decisions in a rush—without the time to thoughtfully respond and construct fair policies in the face of such cruelty.

Instead, I’m asking myself: Where can I be brave in this moment?

I think about the courage it takes to face my own personal midlife reckoning—the one I wrote about in my last post—and how my personal struggles shape the way I show up in public spaces. Like so many, I’m feeling stressed and angry. But expressing that anger publicly doesn’t feel right for me. Instead, I’m seeking the courage not to judge others for the decisions they have to make in order to survive in this environment of hate-filled policymaking.

Rather than passing judgment, I seek the courage to be supportive and kind—to myself and to those in my community making difficult choices. I seek the courage to go out into the world with a smile, to offer small acts of kindness in the face of so much ugliness. I seek the courage to rest when I’m weary and to honor the magnitude of this moment. The bravery to admit that this is hard—but also to know that even when I’m scared, I can still stand firm in my convictions.

I seek the courage to believe that offering simple kindness to those I interact with is enough right now—and that the right answers to the hard questions will come with time. I seek the courage to believe this moment is temporary, that it will pass, and that as long as I hold on to the strength, resilience, and dignity of humanity, we will emerge from this stronger and more organized than ever.

Finally, I seek the courage to be mindful of my privilege while honoring my personal struggles. And when I need inspiration, I will look to those around the world—the Palestinians, Ukrainians, Sudanese, Iranians, North Koreans, Tibetans, and all who fight every day to survive and resist oppression. I will be brave for them.

And now I turn to you.

Where are you finding courage in this moment?
How are you navigating the weight of these changes while also caring for yourself?
What small acts of kindness or resistance feel right for you right now?
Where can we hold space for complexity—grief, anger, hope, and action—all at once?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. However this moment is landing for you, know that you are not alone.

Warmly,
Jennifer 💫💖💫

Micro Meditation 🪷

Courage & Compassion in Uncertain Times (2 Minutes): In this short meditation, cultivate courage, compassion, and resilience—allowing yourself to navigate change with strength and kindness.

Close your eyes or soften your gaze. Take a deep breath in through your nose… and slowly exhale through your mouth.

As you breathe in, invite a sense of steadiness into your body. As you exhale, release any tension or worry.

Now, place a hand over your heart. Feel its steady rhythm. Let this be a reminder that you are here, present, and resilient.

Silently repeat to yourself: I am strong. I am capable. I move forward with courage and kindness.

Breathe in courage. Breathe out doubt.
Breathe in compassion. Breathe out judgment.
Breathe in clarity. Breathe out uncertainty.

Take one more deep, steady breath. As you exhale, feel a renewed sense of calm and trust in yourself.

When you're ready, gently open your eyes. Practice anytime and carry this intention with you into the rest of your day. 💛

Current Offerings - Planet Prana Meditation Space 🕉️

Guided Meditation Practice Library on YouTube

Experience a growing on-demand library of guided meditation practices designed to support your well-being. Explore collections of shorter practices for grounding, mindfulness, and embodiment, plus a new Midweek Mindfulness Break uploaded every week to help you reset and recharge.
You'll also get access to my signature course, Meditation Demystified, which breaks down meditation into simple, accessible steps—perfect for beginners and seasoned practitioners alike.
Subscribe today for unlimited access with flexible options: monthly, 6-month, or 1-year plans. Click the link above to learn more and start your journey.

Not ready to subscribe? Visit my YouTube page for free content and see how these practices can support you. 💛

Planetary Bodies 🪐

New moon/solar eclipse in Aries today, March 29, 2025 🌑 ♈
Mercury retrograde in Aries moves back into Pisces on March 29, 2025 ♓ 🔙 ♈
👀 Neptune in Pisces moves into Aries on March 30, 2025 ♓ ➡️ ♈
Waxing half moon in Cancer on April 4, 2025 🌓 ♋
Full moon in Libra on April 12, 2025 🌕 ♎
Mars in Cancer moves into Virgo on April 18, 2025 ♋ ➡️ ♍
Sun in Aries moves into Taurus on April 19, 2025 ♈ ➡️ ♉
Waning half moon in Aquarius on April 20, 2025 🌗 ♒

🌄 Sun rise today in Cleveland at 7:14 AM
🌇 Sun set today at Cleveland 7:49 PM

New moon in Aries intentions: I lead with courage and compassion, choosing kindness even in moments of uncertainty and struggle. I honor my personal challenges while remaining mindful of the larger world, holding space for both action and rest. I trust that clarity will come in time, and I allow myself to move through this moment with resilience, grace, and purpose.

Learn more about this new moon solar eclipse in Aries from astrologer Kathy Biehl.

Art Feature 🎨

Tapestry, China, Ming Period