It’s all around us. Powerful, undeniable, relentless. It visits us in our dreams, slides between the lines of our rote thought. And in this Truth lies both our damnation, as well as our salvation.
***
Most by now will not deny that we are on the wrong path, collectively. Yet most still refuse to take those necessary steps toward that new Way, that better Way. Yes, I know, it’s frightening to turn your back on everything ingrained as Sacred, to walk into a great unknown. This is exactly what MUST be done! Radically so. Now is not the time for half-measures and vacillation, that time is long passed. Now we must run full-on toward that uncertain future of vastly different ways of being. This is the desperate Truth; time to make your choice.
***
Around us the foundational structures that support this Great Lie we all rely upon are rapidly, dangerously crumbling, crashing, dis-integrating. If you don’t see this yet, I’m sorry. Unfortunately, you will. Likely very soon.
***
I have no “plan” for this, only instinct, intuition, experience. Many years of living lightly, requiring very little, have taught me patience and flexibility, to know what’s important, and what’s frivolous. Even though I’ve surrounded myself with the trappings of modern life (sans car), I know I can walk away at any moment. Can you? Trappings. Interesting how our language reflects our condition. Trapped. Most feel this, don’t know a way out. I don’t have easy answers, only to say, now, less is certainly more. Now. Take a time-out, look around, listen, breathe. It is beyond urgent that we stop this madness.
***
I fear, though, that only ultimate pain will stop us. We’ve squandered every rational opportunity, consuming ourselves into exponentially deeper shit. Now we must pay the piper, as it’s said. Unfortunately, however, we’re broke. Our wealth has been subordinated (voluntarily, I might add) to an elite few; our essential resources used and dirtied as if this is a disposable planet. And now come the panicked questions and disbelieving stares. Yes, it’s true, our civilization is in a state of catastrophic collapse, and unfortunately, there’s very little to be done about it now, it’s a bit late for that.
***
A re-balancing is in motion, and a painful one, at that. So, what to be done, at least on a personal level? Well, it’ll be different for everyone, but I can say that it will involve learning to live with less. Less security, everything you’ve taken for granted up to now is crumbling; less food, millions are already fighting for survival; less. This is the hard one for us westerners (Americans, hellooo!), because we’ve been taught it is our inalienable birthright that we are entitled to the ever exponentially expanding More. Yes, it’s a hard one, but that doesn’t alter the truth of it. The more prepared you are to live with less, the better you’ll deal with the transition.
***
Some may wish that they (we) will be able to continue with business as usual (with a few caveats for “green” energy and such), and it’s true that we may drag it out a bit longer; but I think this would be a terrible mistake of tragic proportions. The longer we continue with this, the harder our fall from imagined grace…
***
Get yourself together, remember the important things in life: water, shelter, food, and Love. That last little bit will bring you through much tribulation. To the one I love: thank you for being in my life. I’m here for you in any way I can be…
***
May we find the light that guides us to Peace.