“Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Do not become bitter or hostile. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble. We will find a way to make a way out of no way.”

—Rep. John Lewis (1940 – 2020)

I was talking with a few friends last night about the challenges of remaining engaged activists in the world as it is, when so much seems unfair, broken, lost, and corrupt in the world around us. For me, and I would venture to guess for others, it frankly feels as though the world is on fire.

In times like these, I recommend finding new tools and strategies. Our conscious minds are not going to be able to “figure this one out”. It is in times like these that I recommend building a Spiritual Worm Bin. When you put compost in a worm bin, you don’t think “Oh my god, how am I going to get all of these food scraps to break down and turn into rich, healthy soil?” If you were worried about that, then, my friend, I would be a little worried about you.

No, the usual tools won’t work when the world is on fire. It’s time to admit that we don’t know and to release our mess to be composted as we do our best to learn, grow, and move into something new.

How to Build a Spiritual Worm Bin

1. Choose a container. I recommend finding a small-medium sized container that you really like, and one that’s pretty solid and has a lid. Choose a spot in your house where the container can sit undisturbed over the course of several weeks or months.
2. Divide a piece of paper into strips. Don’t worry about the size of the paper or the size of the strips. (Hint: Don’t over-think this.)
3. On each strip of paper, write down something that you can’t make peace with, something that brings you to your knees late at night that you just can’t bear. It can be personal or societal, but I’m talking like big, unmanageable things. Unsolvable things. The things in your life that have resisted all of your fixing efforts, all of your efforting and “I’m going to take care of this once and for all” life or planetary improvement campaigns.
4. Gently and kindly fold up all of your strips of paper and put them in the box.
5. Say a little prayer over your box, turning over all of these unsolvable problems to the most benevolent forces in the entire Universe and asking for them to be composted and turned into rich soil out of which new and better things may grow. Release any sense of martyrdom you carry around these issues and admit that you have been unable to solve them on your own.
6. Name your intention to learn from the transformational muck and to find new and better ways to walk in integrity with yourself.
7. Close the box. Let go.