Sensing a Shift Towards a New Paradigm
Sensing Movement in New Directions
The hairs on the nape of my neck were tingling this past week as a breeze of fresh ideas swept across the nation. The pit in my stomach has gone away, although I know enough not to be complacent. Things do seem to be shifting though, and there is a new energy emerging in the zeitgeist.
Interdependence in a Mica Laden River
I began feeling more optimistic while at a watercolour painting workshop in Penland the week before with the amazing Vessna Scheff. We explored fluidity and the joy of creative expression (stay tuned for mixed media experiments with photography and watercolor). One evening, I took a break and went down to the North Toe River. I discovered that the mica I’d seen walking in the area filled the stream too. The minerals shimmering qualities were amplified by the clear water and I immediately thought of Indra’s net, the central metaphor that illustrates the Buddhist cosmology. Each vertex of the net is believed to have a multifaceted jewel that reflects all the other jewels. Symbolically, Indra’s net represents how every living thing is dependent upon everything else that exists for its existence and identity. No one thing is more important than anything else, and all of our thoughts and actions ripple out to affect everyone around us and all of life. When I think of Indra’s net, I experience both the magic of being alive and the potential beauty of all living beings when we live in right relation to each other and the planet. This week, I felt a shift in the tenor of our country as people came together to celebrate the joy we can experience when we lift each other up.
Mica is a truly inspirational mineral. It’s reflective properties always inspire me to ponder my own path. Some consider it to be a crystal that helps achieve emotional balance and stability. Hindus believed that these crystals are preserved “flashes of lightning,”evoking the power of intuitive understanding. The Cherokee people used it for ornamentation at gravesites , and both these uses connect different states of being or bind us to each other. Certain spiritual practitioners believe it promotes harmony, balance, peace, happiness, hope and optimism, all of which this country and the planet have been deeply in need of for some time. Some also say this stone helps awaken the inner fighter. Personally, I have often felt it best to take the high road and be the best person I can be and hope that is sufficient to counter the darkness that frequently impinges upon our lives. Lately, I have come to understand that sometimes, for the greater good, it is critical that we take a stand and call out what is wrong or hypocritical and promote more ethical courses of action.
When I see the earth below my feet or rivers filled with mica, life seems so miraculous that I want to celebrate the elements and thank the Earth for allowing me to call this planet home. All too often, we fail to recognize the beauty and energy of the life force that animates our being and we take our existences for granted or we wonder if the struggles of living are worth it. We forget to appreciate what lies under our feet or before us, or even fail to value our own lives, and only see the most superficial facets of our beings instead of all that supports us when we open our eyes to the invisible threads that bind us.
The Invisible Threads that Bind Us
Mycelium, the tiny threads that wrap around or bore into roots and travel underground to bring nutrients to trees as they thread through soil and breaks down organic matter, are the perfect metaphor for our interdependence. If we follow their example, we have a shot at discovering how to work and live together in the healthiest, most supportive ways. How we are interconnected isn’t often visible to the naked eye. These threads are typically buried underground or in our unconscious. But if we remember that if one of us is sick, all of us suffer, it may motivate us to try harder to work for the common good. This is actually a tenet expressed in 1 Corinthians 12:26 but all too often overlooked by those who seek to judge or ostracise others for being different or not sharing the same spiritual beliefs. Besides their important symbolic meaning, I hold out hope that fungi may provide many answers for how to solve some of the environmental crises we face. Fungi not only improve the quality of the soil, they help forests absorb carbon dioxide and play a role in a stemming the effects of global warming, but we need to preserve our forests so enough of these important climate change warriors can continue to survive and thrive.
White Coral Fungus
White coral fungi are believed by some to be able to protect us from negative energy while boosting our courage. High in fibre and polysaccharides, or chains of carbohydrates, these fungi are believed to improve brain, heart, skin and immune health in Chinese medicine. In the forests, they are decomposers. Sometimes, it is important to break down old belief systems, so new pathways towards more optimal ways of living will emerge.
Emphemeral Webs of Life
Whenever I walk in the forest, I always look for lessons about how we can live more harmoniously with each other and more sustainably on the Earth. I believe, as did Hildegard of Bingen, the 12th Century German mystic, that our interconnectivity is achieved through our relationship with nature. She believed in the concept of “greenness,” the cosmic life force infusing the natural world that connects us all. When I saw these two beautiful spider webs illuminated in the morning light, I was struck by the interconnected worlds they were creating, but at the same time I recognised their ephemeral nature. Some of the strands were already broken, but they still shimmered and appeared perfect in their imperfection. I ran home to get my camera and made this image to remember how hopeful I felt. A few hours later they were gone, but my memory of them endures.
Light Moving in as Dark Clouds are Blown Away
One thing is always certain, and that is change. The other day, I took a friend up to Craggy Pinnacle on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The ranger was at the summit and he told us it had been the most amazing morning. He said the clouds were constantly shifting, putting on a riveting show. Many of the mountains in the distance were obscured, but we could see the light finding a way in as the dark clouds began to blow away. I could understand why it had been such a rewarding morning for him. All week, I’ve felt the same way. When light pierces through darkness, we feel a sense of relief. Our muscles relax and we feel less anxious. It becomes easier to go with the flow, because we are following a positive feeling and not being consumed by dread. When we feel overwhelmed by apprehension, we hold on with all our might to the present, despite the impossibility of this task, because we are afraid of what the future will bring. I am still in a place of wondering how things will unfold, but now that I have sensed these positive shifts I am ready to get out there and work to bring about the change I want to see and hope to inspire others to do the same.
Clouds, like water, the forests, and the soil, are always in a state of transformation and movement. Sometimes, they seem to converge together, while other times they show us the cracks where the light gets in. I have always loved the lyrics to Leonard Cohen’s song Anthem–especially the chorus. We would do well to remember his advice to ring the bells that still can ring and forget our perfect offerings. When we understand cracks exist in everything and that they are how the light gets in, we can believe positive outcomes are possible, even in troubled times, and breathe easier again. We can also be more accepting of others in their struggles, and judge less.
The Cliff of a New Day is Brings a Bright Light
I feel, and I pray I am right, that we are awakening to the cliff of a new day. If we heed the lessons of nature and mystics and indigenous people and all who understand our interconnectedness with each other and all of life, we will be able to embark upon a new path that celebrates both diversity and unity. If we keep the flame of hope burning inside of us, we can move from fear to a brighter state of being that can be achieved when we light the way by looking joyfully into each other’s eyes. When we are able to see the light in other people’s eyes, our own light is reflected back. The whole world seems brighter and right action flows effortlessly.