Anthony Rella

"Because this practice yokes together the body with these qualities, injuries offer symbolic language to interpret otherwise vague experiences. It's not that one is causing the other ... but that larger forces move within and around simultaneously. My body tells the story of my soul, which tells the story of society."

- "The Iron Pentacle Moves Through the Body" https://anthonyrella.substack.com/p/the-iron-pentacle-moves-through-the

I had a great conversation with Julian Crosson-Hill on the Q***r Spiritualiy Podcast, and it's available now - https://www.thejuliancrossonhill.com/episodes/navigating-the-cycles-of-time/

"Long-term spiritual practice is a kind of marriage that has all the blessings and struggles of any deep commitment. Sometimes you're really in it, really present, and so grateful to be walking together. Sometimes you take it for granted because other parts of life need your focus. Sometimes you need to change things up to keep it alive. Other times, you need to go back to what you know helps."

- On the Iron Pentacle and physical therapy - https://anthonyrella.substack.com/p/the-iron-pentacle-moves-through-the

"The lessons of physical compensation offer a curious perspective for problems of the Iron Pentacle. When one point is deficient, perhaps others must become hyper-active to compensate."

- This week's article on Substack and my home blog on the relationship between physical therapy and esoteric psychology: "The Iron Pentacle Moves Through the Body" - https://anthonyrella.substack.com/p/the-iron-pentacle-moves-through-the

Spectacles of a Bygone Age

The plastic box of junk
contained six worn glasses
which I had kept—in case.

Through thick green rims I saw
isolation and fear,
protecting precious air.

These fashionable browns
perceive wounded people
desperate for my gaze.

This pair shows only love,
and these merely mistrust,
the threat behind each grin.

I set them in a stack,
to see through all as one,
yet they yielded a blur.

I’m grateful for these views.
Because of them, I live,
but now their lenses fail.

My vision has altered.
Young eyes no longer serve,
and I wouldn’t return.

What’s clear: it’s time to purge
these senior perspectives
to see today anew.

Full available at https://anthonyrella.substack.com/p/spectacles-of-a-bygone-age

"Simply recognizing, naming, and sitting with your pain might bring about the changes you seek."

- from this week's Substack article, "Coping is Normal, but Pain is Part of Our Wholeness" - https://anthonyrella.substack.com/p/coping-is-normal-but-pain-is-part

"We need to feel our pain and discomfort to give us fuel for change and growth."

- from this week's Substack article, "Coping is Normal, but Pain is Part of Our Wholeness" - https://anthonyrella.substack.com/p/coping-is-normal-but-pain-is-part

"Coping is normal human behavior ... it’s impossible to heal from and resolve all of the issues of life, and some things we must learn to live with until change is possible. Coping might be so successful that we lose tolerance for any discomfort ... what was mildly uncomfortable starts to feel more upsetting, causing us to lean harder on our coping, which makes the discomfort sharper when it returns again."

- from this week's Substack article, "Coping is Normal, but Pain is Part of Our Wholeness" - https://anthonyrella.substack.com/p/coping-is-normal-but-pain-is-part

"Our ideals are always aspirational, but we can get confused and instead see people as deficient and unacceptable for not already living in that ideal state. ... How lovely it would be if we first accepted our humanity, and then turned toward our ideals for guidance."

From "What inspires us begins to devour us," this week's Substack available at https://anthonyrella.substack.com/p/what-inspires-us-begins-to-devour

"Once we've tasted life as we imagine it could be, the disappointments of life as it is feel sharper. We may also be caught in situations where our ideals are not enough to protect us from harm. Is it that our ideals are unworkable? Were we simply too naive?"

From "What inspires us begins to devour us," this week's Substack available at https://anthonyrella.substack.com/p/what-inspires-us-begins-to-devour