Last week, we explored the powerful history and current role of quilts as tools for activism. But quilts also serve another vital purpose: they are tools for rest.

“What if our ancestors’ wildest dream was to rest?” - Christina Gardner (Reference)

As Audre Lorde said, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” In a world that constantly demands more of us, taking the time to rest is an act of resistance—it recharges our bodies and minds, enabling us to continue the fight for justice and to sustain our movements over time.

Now, more than ever, we recognize the profound importance of rest in our lives. During the Liberation Table meal, we embrace the time to recline—to lean back, relax, and restore ourselves, knowing that our self-care is an essential part of the work we do for our communities.

At some point today or this week, give yourself permission to rest. And when you rest, know that precisely by resting, you are your ancestors’ wildest dreams. They resisted so that we may rest our bodies in ways they could not.

TODAY’S PRACTICE: Rest.