More Love 💕
Supporting Each Other Through the Pain
On Monday morning I got a message from my best friend Katie of 25 years, calling to tell me she was on her way to Covenant because there was an active shooter at her child’s school. She did not know if her child was okay for quite some time.
I moved to Nashville out of college to work as a youth director. I worked at Covenant until 2007. I know several of those that were killed and their children. I have not known what to say. I have wept and wept for these families impacted by this senseless tragedy.
On Sunday my partner and I brought flowers to the church to pay our respects to these precious souls. Black, White, and Hispanics were together holding hands, praying and hugging. I asked if everyone would sing with me and we sang Amazing Grace together. I do not want to make this a political issue because it is a HUMAN ISSUE. We all want to know that children and teachers can go to school and feel safe, secure, and loved. The only things I know to do are to support those who are hurting, to pray endlessly, to bring more and more love into this world, and to do whatever I can do in my power to change gun laws.
I grew up on a farm with a daddy who was a hunter. He taught the importance of gun safety constantly. This is not me saying responsible people should not be able to have guns. But the fact that an extremely mentally and emotionally unwell person was able to buy assault rifles LEGALLY with zero background check from many places blows my mind.
This is a human issue.
Period.
Please consider calling 615-741-6808. Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally is considering supporting Red Flag Laws and his office is keeping a list of Tennesseans in support of this protection order. I love you. I love us. We MUST DO BETTER.
God bless you Evelyn, Mike, William, Katherine, Cynthia, Hallie and your families and loved ones. Our hearts are with you.
If you are in Tennessee, here are some numbers you can call, and if you are wanting to make a donation for free counseling from an incredible place in Nashville, see below. This counseling is being offered to any child and family in need from the Covenant School.
Sending you all so much love, peace, and comfort.
Ruthie
Keep reading for:
Upcoming workshops & offerings with me.
Q&A with Audrey Assad
Our Monthly Community Event - A New Moon Ritual Circle!
Invitation of Pain Small Group, Starting Next Week!
Dr. Hillary Mcbride and I are so excited to be offering our Invitation of Pain Small Group starting April 12th from 6-8PM Central. We will go for 4 weeks. This is one of my favorite offerings I get to do each year because it is truly everything my younger self so deeply needed after all of those years I lived in despair over the intense emotional, physical, and spiritual pain I was in. It will be a mixture of the latest in research on chronic pain, embodiment practices, and deep connection with others that have also felt isolated and alone with their pain. It is incredibly magical and we would be so honored to share this space with you.
Now Offering: Love Reflection Sessions - 6 Month Containers!
I am so incredibly thrilled to be offering my Love Reflections as 6-month containers instead of 2 or 3-month containers. This feels so good in my body. I have had several clients sign up for two containers back to back because it will feel like we were really just getting to the deep breakthroughs when it was time to close out. I have 4 more spots open if you would like to set up a free discovery call with me! Learn more here and apply for a free discovery call →
Truth With Ruth: Audrey Assad, Writer & Musician
I am so excited to share with you today’s Truth with Ruth from my best friend, Audrey Assad. She is one of my favorite song writers and has the most beautiful heart I think I’ve ever come across. You you can find more of her incredible writing here on her Substack.
Meet Audrey!
Audrey makes textured, dreamy alt-pop in Nashville, TN. Check out some of her links below and scroll on down to get to know a bit more about her!
Website: Audrey Assad
IG: Audrey Assad
Upcoming Offerings: Songwriting Clinic!
The Q&A
What does healing mean to you?
Softening my scar tissue—feeling myself compassion—seeing goodness everywhere and in everyone—remembering to breathe deeply.
What is your biggest fear?
my children passing away.
What brings you joy?
Cool, crisp things—watermelon, fresh white linens on the bed, nearly-melted ice cubes, spring breezes. And great tv shows (like White Lotus, Severance, and The Last Of Us.)
What is your favorite childhood memory?
New York City in the fall. I don’t even have one specific memory—more of a general sense of the *feeling* I would get, shuffling through fallen autumn leaves on the gum-pocked concrete of the sidewalk in the golden light of afternoon beneath the skyscrapers. It felt like being in a painting.
In what areas of your life could you give yourself more grace?
I’m generally pretty hard on myself for failures of any kind, even tiny ones; sometimes I feel myself hopping from one hamster wheel of rigid and self-judgmental thought to another. But I am learning to feel something different, at least more of the time.
Who do you admire most? Why?
I thought about this pretty hard and I decided it’s got to be Jane Fonda. She’s funny, talented, enterprising, good humored, persistent, community minded, oriented towards serving others, and really fucking honest. I respect her very much.
What is your favorite quality in a person? What is your least favorite quality?
Favorite: The ability to laugh at oneself.
Least favorite: Cruelty.
What is your current state of mind?
Sleepy…thoughtful…borderline optimistic.
When and where are you most peaceful?
Under the giant oak tree in my backyard in the late spring when it’s not hot enough yet to bring beads of sweat to my pores. I love to lay on a blanket underneath it in the warm, bright air, stare up into its branches, and look for spiderwebs and nests. I feel a certain refreshment when I get still enough to imagine and sense the intricacy and size of its ecological system (and then, zooming out, to imagine and sense the infinitesimally small role it plays in the cosmos).
Which talent would you most like to have?
Is natural athleticism a talent? If so, that. If not, playing bass.
What is something you are proud of in yourself?
I don’t lash out at people.
What is breaking your heart right now?
Politics, both major parties. It’s hard not to feel discouraged by what feels like increasingly Dickensian chaos and corruption—difficult to resist apathy, to ward off cynicism.
What is a song you will never get sick of?
Never Gonna Be Alone, Jacob Collier / Lizzy McAlpine / John Mayer
What do you think is (or is one of) your greatest accomplishment(s)?
My music. I’m proud of every last bit of it even though I am not the person I was when I recorded it. That’s how it works…that’s what makes it special. Each recording is a rhythmic, harmonic, melodic painting of how I saw the world then. That feels magical.
Favorite quote or poem?
“It is strange to be here. The mystery never leaves you alone. Behind your image, below your words, above your thoughts, the silence of another world waits.” - John O’Donohue
Do you have a morning routine? If so, tell us about it!
I don’t have one right now, actually. My current life phase isn’t very conducive to it for various reasons. But I hope to move back into that type of rhythm someday soon.
What does your perfect day look like?
Probably something romantic and windswept. Maybe some croissants and tea on a sunlit terrace in Greece. There would obviously be massages involved—and later, as darkness settled, wine in the moonlight and a feast on the table and our laughter ringing in the air like bells. Something like that.
What is the compliment you get the most? What do you wish you were complimented on?
I am told my voice is beautiful. I wish I was being complimented more often for the fact that my farts only smell about once or twice a year, though.
If you could give one piece of advice about life, healing, self-love, living your truth, or the like, what would it be?
The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time. — James Taylor
UPDATE: THIS MONTH’S CIRCLE IS CANCELLED! We’ll be back next month with another live event. Thank you for understanding! <3
Offering’s like this are for paid subscribers to Love’s Invitation. If you’re not already subscribed, you can do so and join us for our monthly live events!