Things Work

The sky is clear and the light is rising. It is 55 degrees fahrenheit and today is Sunday.

Have you noticed how there are times when the chaos stops for a minute, and you notice that things actually re-set and get back into balance? Think about when you get sick - it's miserable to have a cold or flu in the summer time. But after some tender care and rest - you recover. Mostly.

We are in the middle of a collective crusty moment. It feels like everything in our world is aching and a fever is making thousands of people mobilize to resist, rebel, recoil at what is going on today. You can see it in the faces of the ones who are out in the streets to show they are in solidarity with broader definition of humanity. There are others who are holding space for the ones who need a place to land in the midst of it all, due to exhaustion from leading the organizing, strategy sessions, and delivery of essential supplies to keep the energy up. Others are hard at work, focusing on making sure that when balance returns, there will be a place to land that will provide the kind of "after care" that is always needed when a patient recovers from a major trauma or illness.

These are signs that so far, things still work. The turmoil is creating an opening of sorts.

In this moment, the stories of what is happening in every sector of public (and private) life are unrecognizable events for what is supposed to be a free society. This is a time when divisiveness has been put into service of creativity for those who believe it is a moment of emergence. Things are going to be different and the expression of what that difference will be is playing out in the movements using power and control versus empowerment and community action.

Each side sees the ultimate duality of life/death playing out with themes of good/evil, right/wrong, insider/outsider, white/black (brown, yellow, red, and a mix of them all).

Breaking out of duality uplifts community, harmony, care, creativity. It has been said that duality requires a breakthrough. The failure to be able to achieve the breakthrough always leads to the same end: conflict and violence. We are witnessing it now. And sadly, this fact of conflict is even seeping into our individual lives, as family members find themselves divided and friendships fall apart. If there can be a recognition of another way - we could all have a chance at survival.

So what are the options at this point? It depends on your ability to notice when you are in that dualistic mind and whether you have a way to move out of it - even in the most challenging of times. Mostly it starts with quieting yourself. Truly quieting - not to reflect, not to understand, not to get anywhere, but just practice going to zero. Then you will see the opening.

It works.