I'm sitting with anger and frustration today, these are welcome emotions as I wade through collective grief. Mainstream spirituality will try to sell you on the idea that the less you are affected by collective pain, the more spiritual you are. This line of thinking keeps you powerless, numb and ineffective when it comes to creating a culture that nurtures the sacredness of all life. We aren't meant to marinade forever in these emotions that we collectively resist, but it's important to learn how to make space for the energy contained within to flow.
As most of you reading this know, I live on Moku o Keawe, The Big Island. We are neighbors to Maui in the archipelago that makes up The Kingdom of Hawai'i. If you've had the capacity to follow what is unfolding in the greater world around you, you've heard of the destruction, confusion, collective resilience and community care that is taking place in the middle of the Pacific. There's also a lot of chaos, division, conspiracy and fear too. Do you remember when I wrote about the US having it's Pluto Return? I shared back then that this is a time for us to pay attention and take action on what is revealed. We don't need outrageous conspiracy theories to see that we've collectively normalized extractive, abusive power dynamics; environmental degradation, wealth inequality, human rights violations, manipulative behavior and weaponized politics. I get annoyed with the conspiracy theories because most of the time they distract us from getting curious about what we believe is normal.
As I write this I can feel the energy of my anger rising in my body again. I notice the fight/flight, rajasic energy activating my arms and my legs. My breathing has changed and I notice my awareness is focused mostly in my head, its like a slight pressure in my sense organs. It could be the extra cup of earl grey I drank this morning, but it's more likely my nervous system responding to the reality we're living and my feelings, signaling the emotions about what is happening in this world, are a sign of my true humanity. Humans are pack animals and just because we've been domesticated, it doesn't mean that we aren't still instinctually wired to protect our species and home planet at all costs. It takes a lot of dissociation to convince our animal body otherwise. Paradoxically, colonized, cultural conditioning tells us that humans are above the natural world, that we have the divine right to extract endless resources and control whatever we set our minds to. Wherever you fall on the spectrum of experience and belief, this fractured way of living is something we can't fully escape within the current economic, social, political systems. It's the proverbial water we are swimming in. Our bodies and nervous systems know what is happening, even if our mind tries to logic a way out.
It's not an easy or fully mapped out path, but we can choose to reject our domestication. We can rewild and remember we aren't separate from each other or the land.
A Hopi prophecy said, "when the Earth is ravaged and the animals are dying, a new tribe of people shall come unto the Earth from many colors, classes, creeds and who by their actions and deeds shall make the Earth green again.”
We are those people. We are the ones we've been waiting for and it begins in our own communities. Your energy is best used creating systems of support rather than getting caught up in the chaos, noise and fights happening in the greater world around you right now. This doesn't mean check out and ignore the news, but don't spend more time than is necessary to be aware of what's important. You only have a limited amount of fucks to give each day; manage those fucks wisely.
Pay attention to the weather in your area, have a weather/heat/fire plan, enough fresh water and ways to feed yourself if power is out or travel is limited for extended periods of time. Make plans with neighbors, find out about warning systems in your area and ask local leaders what their plans are for adapting to present and future needs. Local elections are another place to pay attention. It can feel hopeless voting in a two party system that has felt rigged your entire adult life 🙋🏻♀️ but, it is essential to pay attention to who's leading your community. We do actually have power there. We also hold real power in our labor. There's so much $$$ spent on promoting anti-union propaganda for a reason. This is why building relationships and nurturing community is so important. We don't have government provided social safety nets that allow us to protest like France, and if you're like most Americans, you can't afford to not work for long periods of time. It's our job to see where the weak spots are and weave those nets in our communities ourselves.
Where do you see weak spots in your immediate community? It's easy to talk about what's wrong with the world as a whole, but it's more fruitful to zone-in on where you have influence. What would happen in your neighborhood if the power went out for an extended period of time? What if there was a fire, flood, tornado or hurricane? Where can you start weaving threads of support?
It starts with gaining courage to have curious conversations centered around shared needs and fears rather than political ideologies. It requires vulnerability and a disarming of the ego. After that, from what I've seen, it unfolds organically. Needs will arise and you can meet them as a group. How do you find the time amidst work, chores, kids, bills and life? You make it. You prioritize. Community time is part of my self care, if yours isn't then there's something wrong. Community includes you, so if you're spending time nurturing community it should feel nurturing to you too. If it's not, that's something to get curious about.
Don't lose sight, we're here for the long game. Many came before us and many will come after. What matters is that you are living in alignment with who you are at your truest nature. But don't be so serious that you forget to have some fun while you're at it. We're tiny players in an epic battle that will be told like myth to someone some day. 😊
"The wise find their joy, their rest, and their light completely within themselves." The Bhagavad Gita
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