What a super intense month it has been! An image came to me today of the whole earth shaking, as if an inconceivably large force from the cosmos is literally shaking our planet free from the forces of darkness that have gripped it for millennia. We are in the midst of unprecedented shifts on a collective level, and no one is immune from their effects. Are you feeling the intensity, dear Readers?
Here in the United States the most obvious example of shakeup is the presidential impeachment hearings. This week was extremely tense, as the House Judiciary Committee held long, bitter and contentious hearings to present the two articles of impeachment against President Trump. After two days of rancor, they finally voted early on Friday morning along perfect party lines. The vote on both articles was 23 ayes / yes (by all the Democratic members), and 17 no (by all the Republican members). The vote will move to the full House of Representatives next week.
Reflecting on the impeachment process over the course of the past month, a couple of points stand out. One is the degree of seriousness with which lawmakers and aides have treated the procedure, and the sheer amount of hard work that has gone into all the moving parts. It’s been fascinating to watch the spectacle unfold, produced by many people both behind and in front of the cameras and devices. I am struck again and again by the fact that, at its core, our government is made up of ordinary human beings who have chosen the work of governing one of the largest and most unwieldy governments on Earth. Aside from jibes and attacks from certain Republicans who complained repeatedly about the supposed farce of what they called a “waste of time and taxpayer money,” many people, from the House Intelligence Committee, to the Judiciary Committee, to those who read and commented on the news reports, care deeply about American values, its constitution, its democratic ideals, and the Rule of Law. The fight is about the interpretation of those ideals and rules. It’s a good time to be a government lawyer in Washington D.C. these days, as there is no shortage of work!
The other striking thing about this moment in time is, of course, the fact that the United States feels anything but united. In fact, I’d argue that it is as divided as it was before and during the Civil War of the mid-19th century. We seem to have entered into a new era of civil war, only now it is being fought on social media sites rather than physical battlefields in the southern states. The terminology is similar—battlefields, war chests, attacks, scorched earth, weaponization, casualties and so on. Families are divided about where they stand on the issues, and the future of our country and world. It has become so surreal that it appears we are no longer all living in the same reality. And yet, we all ARE living upon the same and only planet we all call Home.
We are in the midst of an impasse. People are moving ever further to the extremes of polarity and dualism. Unity, oneness, harmony, peace, justice and love are being violently overturned at every opportunity as the forces of separation and power-over-others jostle for the front spot on the world stage. This is occurring against a backdrop of the continuing destruction of our environment and unprecedented weather changes which are portending serious loss of life in the very near future. We are hurtling towards the cliff edge. And once we go over that cliff, the question is before us: What will happen next?
Today I walked in the peaceful park near my home. In one area were gathered about a hundred crows, having a large council meeting. Crows are such interesting birds. They are unintimidated by humans or most dogs, and their society appears very orderly and cooperative. Crows understand they are one family, all connected, and they cooperate with each other. Certain ones have particular roles, whether to be the guardian, the messenger, the speakers, perhaps the leaders. They never harm one another, rather they work together for their common good and safety. I have read of crows attacking humans or animals if they feel threatened. We have old stories passed down through history that paints crows in a similar light to wolves and other predators. Yet crows are generally peaceful birds, who have their own kind of society. For a fascinating look at crows, watch this video on Vimeo.
Human beings would do well to take some lessons from crow society. We are the only species on Earth that seeks to destroy itself and does not understand that we are one family, part of one another by virtue of the fact that we are all human. We have mastered amazing feats, learned how to do incredible things with our bodies, minds, and will. Yet, we still do not understand that our hearts are connected to all and each on this beloved planet. This is the underlying malady that is harming our species and our entire ecosystem, while seriously endangering our collective future. What will it take for us to finally awaken to the truth of who and what we are? To end the bitter polarity which divides and destroys us?
It is the end of this last year of this decade. In a couple of weeks, 2020 arrives. The start of a new decade, and an energetic reset button for Earth. It is a new opportunity to change for the better, to embrace our unity as humans on our planet and to bring compassion and empathy into our daily lives. My personal affirmation for the new year and new decade is that we all realize the truth of ourselves—we are One, there is no separation, we are a human family and it is time to end the enmity which has divided us for so long. We must cut the cords of deceit that have determined our destiny for far too long. Justice and truth must prevail now.
interrelated planet 