{"id":6301,"date":"2026-03-24T13:10:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T13:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/2026\/03\/24\/write-of-passage-vibing-to-peace\/"},"modified":"2026-03-24T13:10:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T13:10:00","slug":"write-of-passage-vibing-to-peace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/2026\/03\/24\/write-of-passage-vibing-to-peace\/","title":{"rendered":"Write of Passage: Vibing to Peace"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--[if lt IE 9]><script>document.createElement('audio');<\/script><![endif]-->\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-6301-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/api.substack.com\/feed\/podcast\/191962408\/9c592727064ee0eca8bed6fb7c8a9930.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/api.substack.com\/feed\/podcast\/191962408\/9c592727064ee0eca8bed6fb7c8a9930.mp3\">https:\/\/api.substack.com\/feed\/podcast\/191962408\/9c592727064ee0eca8bed6fb7c8a9930.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<p><strong>journal they could find.<\/strong><\/p><div id=\"vanes-3600951671\" class=\"vanes-content vanes-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 2px;margin-right: 2px;margin-bottom: 2px;margin-left: 2px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/fireswordandsea.htm\" aria-label=\"Fire Sword &amp; Sea\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?fit=1706%2C2560&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Fire Sword &amp; Sea\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?w=1706&ssl=1 1706w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=1365%2C2048&ssl=1 1365w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?w=1280&ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" width=\"569\" height=\"853\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p><strong>Vanessa, that sounds odd.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Hear me out.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do for yourself is something small that will nurture your soul.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Give yourself something beautiful to focus on. In a world that feels chaotic, overwhelming, even war-torn\u2014surviving is learning how to vibe.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>And you vibe by writing or singing or thinking or journaling.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Let me have a few minutes. Let\u2019s vibe together.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>We are on the verge of something\u2014call it <\/strong><strong><em>world war three<\/em><\/strong><strong>, call it chaos, call it the moment before everything shifts.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>In the middle of it all\u2014TSA lines wrap around terminals, travel anxiety hums the background, people are forced to work with no pay. I could go on about how every headline is filled with hostilities. They escalate hourly.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>I\u2019ve made the practical decision to vibe, to be above the moment rather than in it.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Vanessa, what does that mean?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>I\u2019m stocking up on the essentials:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Water.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Toiletries.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>And goodwill.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Since the world feels unstable, the least I can do is stabilize my corner of it.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>But how do you reset when gas prices feel like they\u2019re climbing without end? When groceries\u2014something as basic as beef\u2014begins being priced like silver?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>When the weather can\u2019t decide what season it belongs to, and you\u2019re running both the heat <\/strong><strong><em>and<\/em><\/strong><strong> the air conditioning in the same week? You give up. Nothing, absolutely nothing is under our control.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>I\u2019m not telling you anything new. But I <\/strong><strong><em>am<\/em><\/strong><strong> sharing with you my survival rules 101:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>First, protect your peace. The crazy train\u2019s not stopping. There\u2019s no switch we can flip to slow things down. It has to run it\u2019s course and teach hard, painful lessons.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>And it\u2019s so difficult when the people we love\u2014especially those in uniform\u2014will be called into harm\u2019s way.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>So what do we do?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>This weekend, I found part of the answer.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>I joined the Tanya Time Book Club and met a room filled with readers and vibed with food, fashion, friendships and books.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>These readers were engaged, joyful, present.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Beautiful women. Supportive, diligent men.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>These were people who chose, intentionally, to gather.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>This was nourishment, to be with bookish people.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>I saw laughter, felt the collective breath release and reveled in this moment: <\/strong><strong><em>we are safe. We are together.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>The vibe struck me:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>We need this. All of us.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>I\u2019m tired of watching chaos. Tired of those who thrive on fear winning. I\u2019m deeply disappointed in those who profit from division.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>But as I said, there\u2019s no stopping the crazy train. Our leadership has lied and failed us.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>So yes\u2014we have to buckle up.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Crazy has the keys and we\u2019re in the back of station wagon.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Back to those practical steps:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Stay hydrated.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Stock up\u2014little by little on essentials:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Water. Staples. Medicines. These things disappear first when systems get strained.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>And then\u2014just as importantly\u2014feed your mind.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Escape, escape into a book.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Because stories are more than entertainment.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>They are a refuge. They are resistance. They are hope.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>If you crave manageable chaos with a side of humor\u2014let me offer you <\/strong><strong><em>A Deal at Dawn<\/em><\/strong><strong>, releasing June 30, 2026.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>This is Katherine Wilcox, Lady Hampton\u2019s story.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>This stubborn woman has spent her life believing that secrecy equals safety.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>It\u2019s not. It\u2019s betrayal.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>This story is packed with a secret baby, hurt-comfort, and herbs.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>And my dear girl is ready to walk over hot coals to make things right.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>And opposite her\u2014Jahleel Charles, the Duke of Torrance.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>The master chess player is a man shaped by legacy\u2014a Black Russian princess for a mother, an English duke for a father\u2014and now faces a crisis that could take everything from him.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>His health.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>His independence.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>His future. His one chance to be a father.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>So the question becomes:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>What does forgiveness look like when trust has been shattered?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>What does redemption cost?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>And what happens when the child\u2014once hidden\u2014has grown old enough to understand that she\u2019s been lied to all her life?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Will Katherine make amends?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Or will she give up? Or will time run out?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Yes, we need more escape. I still do suggest to picking up <\/strong><strong><em>Fire, Sword, and Sea.<\/em><\/strong><strong> These pirates fight back. We can learn something.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>So let me leave you with this.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Please take time to care for yourself.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>If you need to disconnect from the noise\u2014do it.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>If the news feels like too much\u2014step away.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Find voices you trust. Platforms that inform without overwhelming.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Guard your home front.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Prepare wisely.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>And don\u2019t underestimate the power of small joys.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Watch something that makes you laugh.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Call someone who reminds you who you are.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Go hang with a book club.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>And above everything, read.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Let a story carry you somewhere safe and full of laughs even if it\u2019s just for a while.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>And be prayerful.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Pray for leadership with backbone.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Pray for those called into service.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Pray for wisdom and mercy and endurance.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Pray for creators.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Creators keep creating.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>We need you.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>We need the stories written.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Art painted.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Words spoken, rhymed, sung, or acted.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>In times like these, art is not a luxury.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>It\u2019s vibe to survival.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>This week\u2019s book list includes:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/20190\/9781534441613\"><strong>Legendborn<\/strong><\/a><strong> by Tracy Deonn<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Secret societies, grief, legacy, power. Feels like stepping into a world where <em>truth fights back<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/20190\/9780593546437\"><strong>The Neighbor Favor<\/strong><\/a><strong> by Kristina Forest<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Soft, warm, affirming Black love story. A <em>gentle reset<\/em> kind of read.<\/p>\n<p>And a little nonfiction vibe:<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/20190\/9780316365215\"><strong>Rest Is Resistance<\/strong><\/a><strong> by Tricia Hersey<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Think of rest as rebellion.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Consider purchasing these books plus <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/20190\/9780063271043\"><strong>Fire Sword and Sea<\/strong><\/a><strong> or preorder <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/20190\/9781420154870\"><strong>A Deal at Dawn<\/strong><\/a><strong> from Baldwin Books or from one of my partners in the fight<\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/fireswordandsea.htm\"><strong>, bookstores<\/strong><\/a><strong> large and small, who are hanging with me.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Please keep spreading the word. Fire Sword and Sea is the vicarious adventure you didn\u2019t know you needed and a guide to resistance, not exactly rest.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>You can find my notes on Substack or on my website, <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vanessariley.com\/\"><strong>VanessaRiley.com<\/strong><\/a><strong>, under the podcast link in the About tab.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Enjoying these essays? Go ahead and like this episode, share, and subscribe to <\/strong><strong><em>Write of Passage<\/em><\/strong><strong> so you never miss a moment.\u201d It\u2019s time to getting ready to write the next book, I\u2019d love to take you behind the scenes and maybe you\u2019ll write one too. Keep listening.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Thank you for listening. I want you to come again. This is Vanessa Riley.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Conyers, GA and Detroit, Michigan &#8211; Both Cities are on my April tour schedule. If you live near, I want to see you. Check my website for updates.<\/p>\n<p>This is a public episode. If you&#8217;d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/vanessariley.substack.com\/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=CTA_2\">vanessariley.substack.com\/subscribe<\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"vanes-419203253\" class=\"vanes-after-content vanes-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 3px;margin-right: 3px;margin-bottom: 3px;margin-left: 3px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?fit=1080%2C1350&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Listen to the Write of Passage Weekly Podcast\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?w=1080&ssl=1 1080w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?resize=240%2C300&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?resize=819%2C1024&ssl=1 819w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?resize=768%2C960&ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" width=\"540\" height=\"675\"   \/><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>journal they could find. Vanessa, that sounds odd. Hear me out. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do for yourself is something small that will nurture your soul. Give yourself something beautiful to focus on. In a world that feels chaotic, overwhelming, even war-torn\u2014surviving is learning how to vibe. And you vibe by writing [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6302,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[81,793,9,620,756,694],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6301","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-personal-stories","category-politics","category-recommended-reading","category-syndication","category-technology","category-tv-and-film"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/63a1885d9d8b56952dc62442714f22f2.jpg?fit=1280%2C720&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6301","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6301"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6301\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6302"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6301"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6301"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}