While I created this circle to discuss what it’s like to approach the question of immigration spiritually, the news from the last 2 days about the H1B visa deserves immediate solidarity and compassion. Spiritual bypassing is when we deny or ignore our “negative” feelings like fear, pain, anger, sadness to stay in positive states of joy, happiness, excitement etc. However, this moment is to process this significant news, & hold space for all the feelings it brings up, ALL of them. Shock, paranoia, fear, rejection, uncertainty- all of it. Once we hold space for all of these difficult feelings, we can then move through them & device practical plans & strategies. Me personally- I woke up on Saturday morning at 5am to pee, and saw my WhatsApp blow up with messages from friends & family. I almost had an anxiety attack. I texted everyone, vented, panicked, and eventually went back to sleep. I spent the day processing & doing my work, but it hasn’t been easy at all.