# Looking After Your Rebels
As events of an action or series of actions settle, we normally make
time to come together for celebration, sharing appreciation for
what we did, what we saw each other do, and what we’d like to
honour. In post-rebellion regenerative care, our purpose is to ask
ourselves: ‘What happened?’ ‘What am I learning?’ ‘What is that
teaching me?’ We explore how this helps us and others.
On an organisational level, this helps us learn as much as we can
from our actions so that we can do better next time. It is a space
for us to collectively reflect on our expectations and whether they
were met or not.
On an individual level we need to allow ourselves and others to
move through emotions of rage, grief, trauma, sadness and anger
that have arisen so that we do not carry them and so they do not
solidify and lodge as discomfort in our bodies.
[](https://rebeltoolkit.extinctionrebellion.uk/uploads/images/gallery/2020-08/Regenerative-Action-Cycle.png)
### Self Care
People who engage with the climate crisis need to recognise
that they are susceptible to a certain kind of stress due to the
overwhelming nature of the problem. Looking after our
own needs, personal care and recovery is vital to build the
resilience we need.
If you are looking to take time away from the city or your
environment check out our Open Home scheme. If you are feeling vulnerable and need support, look into our Trained
Emotional Support Network (TESN).
If you are experiencing grief in the forms of anger, numbness or
sadness, look into our grief tenders. You can also find videos on
our YouTube to help guide you through meditations, breakwork
and other techniques to help ground you.
### Group Care
It is important to welcome emotions into your group. Reaching
out to people in your communities and focusing energy on
connecting with them is difficult work and requires ongoing
attention, so it is important to create space and time for the group
to share how each rebel is feeling.
### Celebration
Celebrations offer moments of deep appreciation and genuine
excitement. They help us arrive back home to ourselves, and
land safely back in the arms of our families and communities.
When we gather together in celebration, we acknowledge
the contribution made by each of us and this act of reflecting
together helps us understand the gifts we bring to our community.
There is an emphasis on sharing: we tell stories, we eat together,
we nourish each other. We strengthen our connection and in
this coming together we foster resilience in ourselves and our
communities.
After the excitement of an action, rebels come home and must
slowly adapt to normal life and the responsibilities that that
entails. A celebration provides a bridge between these points
and the affirmations that take place within it provide the
strength needed in order to regenerate.
**Resources (Self)**
[Active Resilience Guide](https://xrb.link/u1H5bwd0hVQ)
[Self Care and Avoiding Burnout](https://xrb.link/kE4uWB1XE)
[Trained Emotional Support Network](https://xrb.link/h6uqa86yK)
[XR Open Homes Scheme](https://xrb.link/b8mGN89hDR0)
[Regenerative Cultures YouTube](https://xrb.link/b8mGN89hDR00)
**Resources (Group)**
[Simple Emotional Debrief](https://xrb.link/d3569wR)
[Deepening Your Check In](https://xrb.link/lP3QSp6wj)
[Active Listening Guide](https://xrb.link/b51MUZ45h)
[Active Listening Guide](https://xrb.link/RV8QP6X6)
[Building Empathy Circles](https://xrb.link/W4B576u5Icz)
[Talking Circle Guidelines](https://xrb.link/W4B576u5Icz)
[Regenerative Techniques](https://xrb.link/X92318qZ)
### Grief Tending
Grief and gratitude are linked - we grieve that which we are grateful for or love.
As well as people that we love, there are many other losses in our life: children moving away, loss of a job or home, nature, habitat or species loss.
Grief shows up in different ways as sadness, anger or sometimes numbness. So grief is soul work, which requires us to face the losses that we have as part of life, when we allow ourselves to face our grief instead of turning away it deepens our connection. It can take us into territory where we allow ourselves to be vulnerable and exposes the truth of our need for others in times of need and suffering.
Grieving together is a way of witnessing our connection and interdependence, so being in community, part of a village where what we feel matters and is heard.
For more information on Grief Tending contact [XRGrief@protonmail.com](XRGrief@protonmail.com)
### Legal and Arrestee Support
We have a collective and personal responsibility to support
our arrestees. In doing so we are both extending care and
compassion to each other, and sustaining our movement.
Post Arrest Liaisons (PALs) can provide signposting to the
Arrestee Support resources and also offers a sympathetic ear
through telephone contact. Let all rebels know that they can
request a PAL by writing to [xr-arrestwelfare@protonmail.com](xr-arrestwelfare@protonmail.com)
with ‘PAL Request’ in the subject heading.
Court Supporters attend any hearing and/or court appointment
wit arrestees to provide moral support to arrestees/defendants
on the day of a plea hearing and/or trial.
If you or someone in your team are interested in being trained for
either of these roles, email xr-arrestwelfare@protonmail.com.
For legal-related questions email xr-legal@riseup.net. Also go to
informeddissent.info for collectively sourced materials to support
you from XR and others who have been arrested.
Resources
[Arrestee Support Resources](https://xrb.link/D8nDn5c5)
[Legal and Arrestee Support Training Timetable](https://xrb.link/p4794A1UJ)
[Legal Resources](http://informeddissent.info/)