Sunday, March 1, 2026

Reflections On Understanding the War on Iran and Responding Wisely to These Dark Times

Photo by Molly


There are so many layers to the horrifying war against Iran by Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu and what has brought us to where we are today.

It is nothing short of pure evil madness to be attempting regime change, starting a catastrophic war, sabotaging midterm elections, distracting from the Epstein files, lining the pockets of the powerful who benefit from war, killing thousands, displacing and inflicting terror on millions, risking nuclear war, destroying the Earth and accelerating the climate crisis — all this and more at the hands of a malignant narcissist and his sociopathic fascist enablers who are the embodiment of greed, hatred, and delusion. These are such tragic, dangerous, and frightening times!

It is my belief that there are two imperatives for us today — and which also extend back through time and into the future:

1. Inform ourselves. Seek consistently reputable resources. Discern who can be trusted and who cannot. Embody a profound commitment to truth and refuse to be pulled in by subtle and blatant propaganda. Courageously seek depth and empower ourselves with understanding of the many layers that we are faced with internally and in our shared outer world. Follow threads wherever they may lead which represent truth, justice, compassion, and fierce love. Stay open, embrace not-knowing and humility. Cultivate and grow in a passionate pursuit for how the truth can empower us to ever more deeply identify and do our part individually and collectively in bringing about a more just, kind, and peaceful world.

These are among the interwoven issues and many excellent links which I have found empowering in better understanding the crisis of the war against Iran and what has brought us here:

This is just a glimpse among countless other illuminating and trustworthy resources and links which are not doing the bidding of the military industrial complex, neoliberal or fascist politicians, the mainstream corporate funded media, etc. Perhaps many of you are already aware of and connected with these resources. And many are not.

2. Respond wisely. It is my experience that there are also many layers to what empowers us to respond to these dark times in ways which help and heal rather than cause more harm. Sometimes this is really hard — and especially when we are confronted with and witness to so much injustice, suffering, separation and dehumanization, trauma and terror, and the many other faces of violence and unprocessed ancestral and cultural trauma.

To empower ourselves to respond to the horrors and heartbreaks of these times, what comes to me are these glimpses into what has been helpful, healing, empowering, and transformative for me:
  • remember to take time for self care
  • deepen in our spiritual paths and practices
  • embody a daily practice of gratitude
  • notice beauty
  • connect with resources which help us to grieve and keep our hearts open
  • continue the inner work of recognizing, healing, unburdening, and transforming our own ancestral and cultural pain and trauma
  • address our substance and non-substance addictions and the pain that underlies them (https://mollystrongheart.blogspot.com/2026/02/reflections-on-what-sobriety-means-to.html)
  • practice wise speech and seek and speak the truth
  • cultivate community
  • practice random acts of kindness
  • notice what does not suck (https://mollystrongheart.blogspot.com/2026/02/reflections-on-practice-of-noticing.html)
  • commit to not returning dehumanization and hatred with more of the same
  • deepen and expand our capacity for empathy and compassion
  • find our own ways of practicing activism as an antidote to despair
  • seek out wisdom-keepers, truth-tellers, visionaries, authors and artists, and others who inform and inspire — this can be through in-person experiences, in books, community gatherings, on-line events, and any resources which facilitate a strong relationship with the wisdom of our hearts
  • practice vulnerability and cultivate authenticity in our relationships
  • expand and deepen our capacity and embodiment of fierce love
This, again, is just a glimpse of the many ways, ideas, values, practices that might help us respond wisely to these very challenging times. On the web version of my blog, and below all of the photographs, there are also some "favorite websites, authors, and resources" which you may find helpful. In addition, I also wrote this longer piece regarding what we and our world need to heal: https://mollystrongheart.blogspot.com/2025/05/some-thoughts-on-embodying-what-we-and.html. 

I'm sure that we each will have our own unique ways of meeting both the sorrows and the joys of our times. So please just take what you like and leave the rest.

None of what I am addressing here today will make the pain and trauma that we are experiencing and witnessing go away. That said, maybe something here will help change our relationship with some of what is deeply disturbing, traumatic, and frightening to experience and bear witness to. I hope so.

We are all one human family, one interrelated planetary family, and all in this together. May we grow in consciousness, support, and love together.

With Metta,
💜
Molly

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