Sending Love 101
by Yaa Addae
Note: This is essentially a very long voice note from me to you on digital love. You can listen to it while in transit, or save it for when you have a moment of stillness. If you can, I encourage you to do the latter and drink some water first.
This soundpiece is in conversation:
Deep Down Tidal - Tabita Rezaire (Video Essay)
How Do We Make Love Go Viral, Pt.1 - Neema Githere (Visual Essay)
How Do We Make Love Go Fractal, Pt.2- Neema Githere (Visual Essay)
Data Healing: Digital Doulas Take Restorative Justice to Cyberspace - Yaa Addae (Essay)
Transcript:
Hi I’m Yaa Addae and welcome to Sending Love 101, a guided meditation designed to transmit care using the technology of imagination.
[Text Incoming Sound]
Find a comfortable position, one that allows you to hold yourself. If you can, lie down. I invite you to place your hands on your chest and close your eyes as we imagine alternative technologies for transmitting love to those who are far away.
What are you feeling in your body at this moment? Acknowledge the emotions and thoughts that are vying for your attention.
Breathe in for 3
And Out
You have reached a portal. As you reach out towards the vastness in front of you, a wave of calm passes through your entire body.
You begin to lean in slowly, feeling relaxed and curious as you slip into a memory.
When was the last time you felt cared for?
Call forth this warmth and sink into it.
Now take some time to think of who you can send that love to at this moment.
Madison Lavern (2019)
Imagine this person on the other side of the portal - How does their laugh sound? How big do they smile? Notice how their face registers joy and as you concentrate on this moment, a light around them grows brighter and brighter.
If you can, slowly cocoon yourself into the fetal position, hold your body in your arms and take another deep breath.
In
[3 seconds]
And Out
[3 seconds]
In
[3 seconds]
And Out
[3 seconds]
Keep your mind on the recipient of your love, send them what you feel they need to glow even more - is it strength, ease, comfort, softness?
Your love is big enough: rhizomatic, branches sprouting out of your heart and out into the world. Your love goes places you have never been, travelling alongside those you love far and wide.
Your love is fluid, shapeshifting in space to fit the tiniest corners or largest rooms. It takes form outside of your body and stretches where it needs to.
Your love is consistent, like the sunrise and sunset, like the seconds it can take for kind regards to be sent via an email through a connection in the ocean. Each heart emoji, a spell and every text, a wish.
[Fireworks]
Come back to your breath
In for three.
[3 seconds]
Breathe out
[3 seconds]
You can stay here for a while and open your eyes when you’re ready.
[Text Outgoing Sound]
Yaa Addae (she/they)
is a participatory curator, writer, and community researcher. Their practice is informed by the liberatory power of the imagination, play, and restorative love economics: bringing love to the systemically underloved.