Episode Description
In this moving Midweek Pause for Peace, Laura Davis shares "V'ahavta," a stunning poem by author and activist Aurora Levins Morales that reimagines an ancient Jewish prayer for our current moment. Aurora's work reminds us that resistance isn't only about opposing what we hate—it's also about knowing and proclaiming what we love.
The "V'ahavta" is a Jewish prayer that means "and you shall love," commanding believers to love God with all their heart, soul, and might. Aurora's version, penned in 2016, perfectly captures the moment we're living in—a call to inscribe love on our doorposts and our bodies, to teach it to our children and neighbors, and to recite it even in the cruel shadow of empire.
Through the words of the prophet Roque Dalton, Aurora offers us this truth: while those in power have more death than we do, together we have more life than they do. Another world is possible.
What Laura Covers in This Episode
The meaning and significance of the V'ahavta prayer in Jewish tradition and how Aurora Levins Morales transforms it for contemporary resistance
Aurora Levins Morales' powerful voice as a writer and activist who has produced compelling work despite decades of struggles with disability and chronic illness
The relationship between love and resistance and why knowing what we're for is as important as knowing what we're against
Practical ways to carry words of hope and love with us through difficult times
The power of poetry and ritual to sustain us in our daily lives and social justice work
Building another possible world through everyday acts of love and solidarity
Key Takeaways from This Episode
Resistance requires knowing what we love – It's not enough to be against injustice; we must also be clear about what we're fighting for and carry those truths with us always.
Ancient wisdom speaks to modern struggles – Traditional prayers and texts can be reimagined to address contemporary challenges while maintaining their spiritual power.
Words are tools for survival and transformation – By inscribing words of love and hope on our doorposts, garments, and hearts, we create daily reminders of our values and commitments.
Collective power exceeds individual suffering – Though we face powerful forces of destruction, together we hold more life, more possibility, and more creative energy than those who deal in death.
Creative work persists through adversity – Aurora's continued productivity despite decades of disability and chronic illness demonstrates the resilience of the creative spirit and the importance of making space for marginalized voices.
Poet Featured: Aurora Levins Morales
Author and activist Aurora Levins Morales is a Puerto Rican Jewish writer who has produced compelling, socially engaged work for decades. Despite ongoing struggles with disability and chronic illness, Aurora continues to create poetry and prose that speaks to justice, resistance, and the possibility of transformation.
Aurora is community-supported writer, historian, artist and activist. It takes a village to keep her work coming. To become part of the village it takes, you can make a donation on her website. You can find this poem and support her powerful work here.
About Host Laura Davis
Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience guiding writers through their creative journeys. Her award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars" won the prestigious BookLife Prize in 2021.
Throughout her distinguished career, Laura has become known for her compassionate approach to teaching memoir and personal essay writing, helping countless writers find their authentic voices.
Laura leads writing classes, workshops, and international retreats, creating transformative spaces where writers can develop their craft while exploring profound personal truths. Her work emphasizes the healing power of storytelling and the importance of creating community among writers.
Join Laura's Community
Subscribe to Laura Davis' Midweek Pause for Peace series for consistent, nurturing content that honors both your need for beauty and your nervous system's need for calm.
Each week, host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering writers and creatives essential respite and inspiration for thoughtful engagement with our world. These weekly pauses nourish your creative practice and support sustainable activism rooted in peace rather than panic.
Perfect For:
Writers seeking guidance on how to engage with troubled times without burnout, anyone struggling with how to be a thoughtful citizen amid division and conflict, people looking for alternatives to reactive activism and online outrage, those who want to practice peace while staying engaged, memoirists and poets drawn to powerful, purposeful writing, and listeners drawn to Laura Davis' thoughtful approach to living and creating with intention during challenging times.
Connect with Laura Davis:
The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully curated poems and nature photos, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.
You can subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/
Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at:
