In the past few days, I’ve been struggling as I expect many of us have, to hold on despite the chaos and fear engendered by the crumbling edifice of our society. This election has been so very difficult to watch unfold as the patriarchy desperately use every tactic they have to hang on to their power. It is discouraging and frankly extremely saddening.
Yet, I have had my heart uplifted by a few of my favorite mystic activists and I wanted to share some of their wisdom that has been a balm for my wounded soul.
First , Matthew Fox and Mirabai Starr shared a webinar speaking about the work of Julian of Norwich who lived through a similarly challenging time and wrote so beautifully of her connection to the Mother God that allowed her to see the light in the darkest of times. Here is a short excerpt from their talk. NOTE: This is from the Shift network, so they are advertising a longer program they’d love you to pay for – feel free to ignore that and enjoy this short (6 minutes) video clip: Mirabai Starr & Matthew Fox on Julian of Norwich
Then, I’ve been enjoying a 6 part seminar from Andrew Harvey in which he is exploring the possible imminent re-birthing of our human culture into something new. Many people have spoken of these times as metaphorically like moving through the birth canal of the Universal Mother. Some indigenous elders have said we stand at a portal which, if we can move through, has the possibility of transforming us into the divine beings we truly are.
Yet, Andrew and many other seers and mystics also acknowledge that many still desperately hold onto the old paradigms and that there still exists the possibility they will drag us all into the abyss of pain and darkness and the end of this beautiful planet that has sustained us so long.
But even within that radical acceptance, Andrew shared a beautiful practice that deeply moved me. That is to recognize that in this darkest of places, we have a choice to not only passively accept that pain and suffering, but to actually embrace, welcome, and even celebrate it! Why would we do such a crazy thing (I thought and you might be thinking!)?
It begins with our being willing and able to truly believe, feel, accept, and hold the reality of opposites. Holding dark and light, yin and yang, sun and moon, earth and sky, sorrow and joy, birth and death, all with a deep sense of calm, peaceful, acceptance.
If we can attain that state, then we move into a place where we can celebrate each new sorrow, chaos, and suffering, as the ultimate evidence and indication of an infusion of light, joy, and healing energy which is actually and truly co-created as the opposing and balancing energetic.
We can not only accept and breathe through these difficulties and challenges but actually revel in them and dedicate any pain and suffering that we are experiencing to the balance of energy in the rest of our human and more than human family.
For me, this has been a beautiful, timely, and inspiring reframing that has allowed me to lift my head up one more time and move back into the work. I hope it helps you as well.