Rigorous published three new poems, which (among others) contain themes of decomposition/decomposers and their work of breaking down or transforming that which does not serve us so that there can be regeneration/healing. Since tonight is Shivratri, it seems timely to post this content, which includes the story of the churning of the ocean. Soon after the gods and demons began churning, a poison emerged and began to spread through the world; Shiva swallowed the poison and contained it in his throat. As we face the recent oil spill in San Francisco Bay as well as other poisons that we create as a species that nature’s decomposers are ill equipped to handle–and as we face figurative poisons within ourselves or our communities–I wonder what insights and actions can help us put an end to toxic practices or cylces and choose balanced/sustainable practices instead.