I took a break from blogging for most of May for a number of reasons. Now that June has arrived and my creative mojo is escalating and I have lots I want to talk about and share, I find myself literally at a loss. This is my platform, my blog, and I can use it (or not) in any way I choose. And mostly I choose to emphasize the positive, the joyful, the things I’m curious about, what intrigues me, what brings delight. It is always my hope I can spark a bit of delight for you, or lead you to your own rabbit hole, or simply offer a moment of feel-good energy for you to bask in.
But the truth is, I also can’t let this moment in our collective history go without comment. The pandemic and the challenges and invitations it has brought is enough to give all of us a full agenda to work on, and there is no doubt there is much to do as we both figure out what comes next, what visions we wish to support, and we find our ways to creation.
I have felt this collective global pause and clear restructuring of our lives/days/priorities/patterned responses was an unprecedented opportunity and each one of us would address it individually AND hopefully in a collective way as well. We know long-standing structures that have supported service-to-self, inequity, injustice, and profit-over-simple basic morality and compassionate loving kindness must fall and be replaced. The time is long long overdue, and most of us have long been preparing to show up as the best versions of ourselves we are to contribute to creating something better.
I am heart-broken and deeply disappointed we are seeing such massive displays of never-ending and increasing institutionalized racism, hatred, and separation consciousness expressed in countless different ways. Currently my city is on ordered curfew and National Guard troops have been activated. We are clearly far from where we ought to be by any standard of measure you care to use. I am discouraged. I am grieving. I’m at a loss. I have no doubt that the majority of my dear readers are experiencing emotional overwhelm as well.
It is impossible to ignore the ripples of energy of these times. And we shouldn’t ignore them. They are part of the wake up call and the command to step into our work more deeply.
I’m inspired by the worlds of Carlos Santana, who said:
“The most valuable possession you can own is an open heart. The most powerful weapon you can be is an instrument of peace.”
I want to be encouraged, I want to be inspired, I want to see the ideals of peace strengthened, I want to encourage you as well.
None of us is exempt. And although I honor our own individual paths of grief and anger and disbelief, our work is still the same. We all have contributions to make, causes to support, action to take based on our own individual wisdom.
But I also want to call us unity. Our powers of healing, our powers of love, our powers of light are needed now more than ever.
While I don’t expect everyone to share my beliefs, I see the energy threads of empowerment all around us. What world are we going to create? The world each one of us wants to live in exists as a potential within each and every one of us. We have to step into that knowing. We have to step into the power of wayshowers leading the way of merging heart and mind. Of choosing love over fear. Of anchoring the vibrations that lead to unity rather than more separation.
I am absolutely embracing my role as an Ambassador of Pronoia – I believe the world is filled with goodness and we can encourage the growth and unfolding of it. We can nurture our hearts, we can love one another, we can help those in need. We can be agents of positive change, of transformation, of anchored light.
Rob Brezsny, who authored the book Pronoia, offers this rallying cry, and I am devoting myself to whole-heartedly practicing it.
“We are dissident bodhisattvas rebelling against all those forces that feed fear and ignore love.”
Join me. We are needed. Now is the time.
With you on this one Deborah. I grieve for the US, SA, and anywhere where structures against the marginalised are deeply embedded. We each have a voice and we can use it to speak out. Be safe –
Our voices are indeed needed Susan.
We are definitely at a turning point due to the pandemic and the riots. Which way will we go and who will lead? Unity seems very far off at the moment, but I have hopes that positive forces will step into our federal vacuum of leadership.
I have hopes we find our way to unity whether or not we have federal leadership.
It seems never ending, doesn’t it? Hugs to you in your corner of the world.
Sending hugs back to you Janet.
Hari OM
I hear your rallying cry and echo it fully! COVID is a virus, plain and simple. The effect it has had socially and politically is the greater illness; not that anything is new. Rather, it seems the veils have dropped. Everything is naked now. As hard and as awful as that seems right now, this IS what’s required in order to face up to things and for changes to be prompted. We can only be complete human beings when we understand the full extent of our nature – than make choices about rising above that nature.
Sending vibrations of Love with the capital ‘ell’
YAM xx
There is a blessing in the dropping of the veils and the complicit illusions we’ve so long perpetrated. May we now all step into our best selves.
Hear hear! Thank you for your words, Deborah. Let me share a favorite quote of mine:
“The pure righteous do not complain of the dark, but increase the light;
they do not complain of evil, but increase justice;
they do not complain of heresy, but increase faith;
they do not complain of ignorance, but increase wisdom.”
~ Rav Abraham Isaac Kook
That’s a beautiful sentiment Naomi – thank you for sharing it.
I am feeling with you Deborah and thank you for sharing this pain , And yes you do inspire bringing great delight to this heart . One thing I learnt in this fire and we are still reeling in its wake is that it is Time to allow all these feelings to sit with us even when they are uncomfortable and we wish so passionately for goodness to shine.
I am reminded that as the goodness arises other forces also rise to slap it down and we are pushed to embrace and absorb and heal and stand firm as bodhisattvas …
I am equally dismayed ( by all that is happening) and energised by the subtle changes as people kind people plant their seeds claim their childrens future having been given a glimpse of another reality they are living the small treasures found deep with themselves.
Also time to feel/know that solid tangible connection we have each to the other as light beings .
in grace
sandra
Yours is a wise and inspiring perspective Sandra. Thank you.
Hi Deborah – excellent post … so well expressed and – as Santana said “The most valuable possession you can own is an open heart. The most powerful weapon you can be is an instrument of peace.” … I am with you. Here’s to hope and peace – Hilary
Indeed Hilary – here’s to hope and peace.
Hello Deborah, with all your lively curiosity and zest for the beautiful, the arcane, the mysterious, the unusual… you know, I think, that I am a happy but mainly silent follower of your blog, which is so rich and has indeed made my life richer and provoked my own curiosity to go out and explore more of this extraordinary world.
“I believe the world is filled with goodness and we can encourage the growth and unfolding of it. We can nurture our hearts, we can love one another, we can help those in need. We can be agents of positive change, of transformation, of anchored light.” I so needed to read this, even in my own peaceful corner of Canada, and it brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for your words and clear intent.
I’m truly grateful for your kind words Lesley, and I certainly appreciate your presence here, whether mostly silent or not. Be well, be happy, be safe!
Dear Deborah,
It’s so good to read your words again. Despite the turmoil, your post ‘open hearts’ and instils hope that we can all be ‘instruments of peace’ in our own little and big ways.
This is the churning that we are witnessing. Results of deep rooted unfair systems of society and mankind will keep rearing their ugly heads till such demons are first seen –really seen for the damage they can do and then uprooted–once and for all. How long it will take will depend on how open our hearts really are.
In the meantime, sending you hugs and keeping the ones who suffer through these times in my prayers.
Stay safe and well.
Arti xx
Thank you for your kind words and wishes Arti. May we keep our hearts open always, and may we all help usher in the new world we wish to see.