I am sitting here, like many U.S. citizens and people around the world, wishing we could do something. Many of us feel helpless. We feel our country has been overtaken by madness, our freedoms taken away in so many areas. I am in my 70s, and I never thought I would be living through such a failure of our democracy.

There were certain things we always believed we could rely on—our Constitution, for one. We didn’t always believe in the integrity of our politicians, but we never imagined that our own government would strike out against its citizens with violence—that we would be unsafe in peaceful protest or denied the freedom of speech.

I grew up with an Italian father who lived through the Mussolini and Hitler regimes in Europe. He would always say to me, “This country—the U.S.—is spoiled. You do not know what suffering truly is.” And now I say, “I know, Papa.”

The people of Minnesota are my inspiration right now, in the way so many are moving in inspired action. When a citizen like Alex Pretti stands up to defend another innocent person and is murdered, when a woman—a mother—like Renee Good is simply murdered, it is NOT OKAY. We wonder—how could this happen? We implore—please stop! We, the people, are the ones who must fight, with the best of our ability, to stand peacefully in protest. Is a revolution beginning?

I am told that my prayers do not matter—that they are idle words when much more is needed. I do not believe my prayers are idle. My prayers are felt, because we are all entangled in one Field of Energy. My prayers lead me to inspired action. My prayers are where I begin when I do not know what else to do.

If I do not know who I am, and if I do not know the Power of my Word that backs me, then what am I but weak, feeble, and truly unable to do anything?

So now I will do what I, Rita, can do. I will say my prayers—Spiritual Mind Treatments—which are prayers of solution, not beseeching. God is within us all. It is greater than any other power or those who wield power. I will trust that the Power of Love—the Universe—is greater than hate. Justice will be done.

I will stay informed. I will speak out. I will continually go within to receive guidance. I will assist others in remembering who they are and teach them to rely on their own intuitive power in every moment to lead them to inspired action. I will write. I will sing. I will be the artist. I will inspire. I will give. I WILL PRAY.

Love and Aloha,

Rev. Dr. Rita Andriello-Feren
Co-Founding Spiritual Director, CSL Kaua‘i
Author • Veriditas Certified Labyrinth Facilitator • Consciousness Coach

Rita Andriello-Feren — Transformational storytelling that blends mysticism, New Thought, and emotional authenticity.