Metta is a Buddhist practice where you direct loving-kindness toward yourself and others. Not knowing how to engage and feel safe after being 10 feet from the car that killed Heather Heyer at the 2017 violent terrorist attack in Charlottesville, I printed metta broadsides for the year anniversary and put them up at specific sites across town, including: the Jefferson statue, near the UVA Rotunda, on the Corner, as well as surrounding Lee Park, the Downtown Mall, and Heather Heyer Way.
“May You Live Without Fear” | August 2018 | Typeset in 20th Century Bold 18pt, printed on Crane’s Lettra paper
Metta print for the anniversary of A11/A12 in Charlottesville.
“May you live without Fear” is for those in our community continually traumatized by white supremacy, police violence (or negligence) and institutional racism. It also points to a personal challenge and commitment to go beyond our comfort level and be courageous in our lives, how we engage with others, and how we seek to change and heal the world.
“You Are Perfect and Complete” | August 2018 | Typeset in 20th Century Bold 18pt, printed on Crane’s Lettra paper
Metta print for the anniversary of A11/A12 in Charlottesville.
“You Are Perfect and Complete” is a metta message intended to encourage gentleness and love toward oneself, which then can manifest as gentleness and love towards others. Violence and hatred toward others, and violence and hatred against ourselves are interconnected. If we can learn to see the perfection in ourselves, we can see the perfection in others, giving rise to compassion, patience, and understanding, instead of violence, fear, and othering of those who seem different from us.
