Listen now (41 min) | In episode 6 of cosmic cheer squad, chris and bee sit together in Clark, Colorado—surrounded by rivers, mountains, and deep emotion—to reflect on the recent celebration of life for Seph Johnson. Seph was a gifted, queer, nonbinary young person whose insight, imagination, and honesty touched many lives. They recorded Episode 24 of Positive Disintegration with Chris and Emma, and their passing at age 21 has left a profound impact.
Thank you bring Seph's beautiful presence to so many. They remind me of others with whom I am close. Listening to your own tears and joyful wonder for them brought the same to me.
As some point, one of you (I think Bee) states that they believe in the inherent goodness of all beings. This feels trite, but it is anything but that... it's essential for the goodness of all things to be recognized and amplified. There is a fabric of love that runs through all things in this universe. A binding force that we may never fully cognitively "know." Yet, that's not necessary... we understand it by other means of awareness. And that is enough.
I'm now listening to their episode on the Positive Disintegration Podcast. It's the least I can do see them a bit more... to honor a soul who touched so many, yet maybe who couldn't see that all the time. I cannot and will not judge. Their path and journey was important and valuable... we needed them to be here and their presence still graces this massively, overwhelmingly complex world.
Thank you so much for sharing their life as they connected with you. You create waves that go far beyond your awareness. That is a good thing.
Thank you, Eric. Your words truly moved me. I felt your heart in every line, and Bee clearly felt it too. Seph’s presence was luminous, and it continues to ripple outward in ways that are hard to put into words. I’m so grateful you’re taking the time to connect with them through their voice on the Positive Disintegration pod. What a generous way to witness and honor who they were and how they showed up.
That Rilke poem is one of my favorites. It captures so much of what I feel in the aftermath of Seph’s passing: how love, mystery, and grief circle through us and around us. I really appreciate what you said about the fabric of love that runs through all things. It doesn’t need to be known to be felt. You said it so beautifully: that is enough.
Thank you for walking with us. It helps to know the circles are widening. 🙏🏼✨
Eric this comment has me all up in my feels (as the kids say, ahem 😂). I want to relisten to the PD Seph episode again now too. One of my offerings was flower seeds from my garden here in Michigan (I checked to confirm cosmos weren't considered an invasive to Colorado) and I think of Seph as they are now blooming here. Tina and fam planted some on the last garden bed they made (Hugelkultur) and I hope they’ve sprouted by now 🙏🏼✨ I like imagining that cosmic connection and keeping beloveds alive in the garden through this kind of work. Something very calm and peaceful took root in me while I was there, and I'm overwhelmed with a joyous but still tense continuity between these places and spaces that I don't have words for yet. I feel like a follow up conversation/episode isn't too far off…
Thank you bring Seph's beautiful presence to so many. They remind me of others with whom I am close. Listening to your own tears and joyful wonder for them brought the same to me.
As some point, one of you (I think Bee) states that they believe in the inherent goodness of all beings. This feels trite, but it is anything but that... it's essential for the goodness of all things to be recognized and amplified. There is a fabric of love that runs through all things in this universe. A binding force that we may never fully cognitively "know." Yet, that's not necessary... we understand it by other means of awareness. And that is enough.
I'm now listening to their episode on the Positive Disintegration Podcast. It's the least I can do see them a bit more... to honor a soul who touched so many, yet maybe who couldn't see that all the time. I cannot and will not judge. Their path and journey was important and valuable... we needed them to be here and their presence still graces this massively, overwhelmingly complex world.
Thank you so much for sharing their life as they connected with you. You create waves that go far beyond your awareness. That is a good thing.
“Widening Circles”
I live my life in widening circles
that reach out across the world.
I may not complete this last one
but I give myself to it.
I circle around God, around the primordial tower.
I’ve been circling for thousands of years
and I still don’t know: am I a falcon,
a storm, or a great song?
—Rainer Maria Rilke, Book of Hours, I 2
Thank you, Eric. Your words truly moved me. I felt your heart in every line, and Bee clearly felt it too. Seph’s presence was luminous, and it continues to ripple outward in ways that are hard to put into words. I’m so grateful you’re taking the time to connect with them through their voice on the Positive Disintegration pod. What a generous way to witness and honor who they were and how they showed up.
That Rilke poem is one of my favorites. It captures so much of what I feel in the aftermath of Seph’s passing: how love, mystery, and grief circle through us and around us. I really appreciate what you said about the fabric of love that runs through all things. It doesn’t need to be known to be felt. You said it so beautifully: that is enough.
Thank you for walking with us. It helps to know the circles are widening. 🙏🏼✨
Eric this comment has me all up in my feels (as the kids say, ahem 😂). I want to relisten to the PD Seph episode again now too. One of my offerings was flower seeds from my garden here in Michigan (I checked to confirm cosmos weren't considered an invasive to Colorado) and I think of Seph as they are now blooming here. Tina and fam planted some on the last garden bed they made (Hugelkultur) and I hope they’ve sprouted by now 🙏🏼✨ I like imagining that cosmic connection and keeping beloveds alive in the garden through this kind of work. Something very calm and peaceful took root in me while I was there, and I'm overwhelmed with a joyous but still tense continuity between these places and spaces that I don't have words for yet. I feel like a follow up conversation/episode isn't too far off…
This is all so beautiful. A connection to the earth and the life from which is springs forth. And it's what Seph was connected deeply with as well.
This is very touching, thank you for sharing 💓💕
Thank you, Jen. 🙏💕