Lion's Roar, January 31 2024, had a series of articles I liked.
Affinity Sanghas and the Practice of Refuge: having been partnered with a black woman for the last 15 years, I found these remarks by a black queer dharma teacher enlightening.
Loving-Kindness for All Beings & All Bodies: "In these troubled and troubling times, metta (loving-kindness) is my foundational practice. I am truly grateful for metta meditation, and I practice when I’m afraid, uncertain, or despairing. Metta helps me stay grounded and keeps my heart open to others. I use it to send affirmations of unconditional love to friends and benefactors, and to affirm the well-being and safety of survivors of climate catastrophe, war, and social injustice."
Silent Illumination: The Method of No-Method: "A student on a retreat once told me that she was trying very hard to relax, but the harder she tried, the tenser she became. I told her, “No need to try. Just let the body relax.” She then tried not to try, but this generated even more tension and frustration. This “trying” is a good example of our entrenched habit of self-centered attachment; habitually, we insist on controlling the process of relaxation instead of trusting the body to relax. When the student finally stopped trying, she was amazed that the body and mind could relax without her directing it. She clearly saw how she generated suffering for herself, and her confidence in the dharma and her ability to practice strengthened as a result."