Dear sangha sisters,
I'm looking out my window at a cluster of bay laurels that grow alongside a seasonal creek beside my house. From the topsoil upward, they appear a bit crowded—each one stretching toward a patch of open sky and sunlight. They seem like individuals, each doing their own tree thing.
But over the years, I've come to see how much they need one another to thrive. When storms roll through and the wind howls, I sometimes worry that their narrow, tall trunks won't withstand the force. The way the land is shaped funnels the wind through this area at alarming speeds. And yet, the trees survive. They buffer each other, each taking part of the impact from those gusts. Some even hold one another up, as sagging limbs rest on their neighbors' boughs.
Beneath the soil lies another support system—a vast network of roots intertwined, digging deep into the earth. It's said that trees "talk" through their roots using chemical signals, with the help of the living mycorrhizal networks in the soil.
I like to imagine the sangha in this way. There is the visible support we share—the ways we come together, helping one another through difficult times. And then there is the unseen support—the felt sense of belonging, of being part of something that holds us. A community of people who notice when we're not there, who touch our hearts with their sharing, and who witness us as we grow through our practice.
I don't know what will happen next in our country or in society as a whole. What I do know is that sangha—a spiritual community—is deeply needed and profoundly relevant right now. However we move forward, may it be through togetherness, connectedness, and heroic empathy. Perhaps this is a time of great unfolding—a chance to reimagine how we live on this planet. If so, maybe we already hold the building blocks for what's possible within this rooted network of women. I like to think so.
We have a supportive collection of offerings this month and next. Whether you're new to our community, have been thinking of sitting with us for a while, or you've been a regular, we look forward to seeing you soon. You are very welcome here.
Wishing you all well,
Kate Munding
Guiding Teacher, Assaya Sangha
https://mailchi.mp/assayasangha.org/november-2025-newsletter
