Subtle Activism

In my last post I talked about an important role for certain human beings to especially find it in themselves to fulfill in service of the Great Turning, a role some have described as a “non-anxious presence” or “frequency holder.” I have since discovered another term: that of “subtle activist.” The following is from the GaiaField Project – a project of the California Institute of Integral Studies. This really describes the essence of the role I was envisioning:

Subtle activists are people from any faith, spiritual or consciousness tradition who apply their practice for the benefit of the collective public realm. A subtle activism practice influences social change through the inner or subtle planes, rather than through conventional exterior means. We seek to support change through our focused collective intention and the depth and quality of our being, rather than our outer actions. However we do not believe that subtle activism, on its own, can solve all the world’s problems, any more than a meditation practice, on its own, is sufficient to solve all our personal problems. Action in the world is of course also necessary. Subtle activism simply expands the range of options open to an awakened activist. Subtle activism practices can be:

• religious or spiritual – e.g., meditation, prayer, chanting, and so on;
• indigenous ceremonies and ritual;
• science-based consciousness programs – e.g., Heartmath’s heart appreciation exercises;
• expressive arts – e.g., conscious media, ecstatic dance (like Earthdance), contemplative music, etc; and
• relational/process-oriented – e.g., healing aspects of our collective shadow, such as gender or racial reconciliation workshops.
  

Subtle activists focus on collective healing, which includes and transcends personal healing.

I feel this coincides well with Joanna Macy's third dimension of the Great Turning - the shift in consciousness. (See my previous post.)  Some of the points worth noting are:

Some people are particularly called to this form of activism;
Focused intention and presence are as powerful and empowering as outer actions;
Focused intention and presence and action are not mutually exclusive;
The breadth of the practices of subtle activism are rich in diversity, possibility, and creativity;
Subtle activism includes both personal and collective healing and transformation;
Subtle activism is especially powerful when practiced with others, forming a field of intention around whatever we want to create: peace, compassion, healing, conscious evolution...

I invite you to take some time to meditate on the concept of subtle activism. How does it resonate with you? Where do you practice it in you own life? How do you balance it with outer actions? Here are a couple more links for you to explore. Please leave us your comments.

WiserEarth
Common Passion
Four Years, Go
International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers
Arts & Healing Network

The Third Dimension

Joanna Macy, one of the great elders of our time, talks about the “3 dimensions of the Great Turning.” They are:

Actions to slow the damage to Earth and its beings ;

Analysis of structural causes and the creation of structural alternatives;

A shift(s) in consciousness

I'm most interested in, and BeingChange is most about, the dimension of shifts in consciousness. I'm voraciously absorbing anything I can find that speaks to this - everything from the ancient to the modern to the futuristic, from the indigenous to the esoteric to the scientific. There's a lot of good stuff I'll be sharing over time.

Even though all three dimensions are important and necessary, I'm of a mind that the consciousness shift must lead the way. The paradox is that I believe this shift must be huge and it must be fast. At the same time it requires time, depth, vision, reflection and presence. Slowness. Spaciousness. Deep listening.

I'm wanting to find ways to balance this paradox in my life and it's a challenge. Especially with all the fear generating, hate mongering background buzz that is so intense right now. Am I capable of witnessing to that with compassion while rigorously, slowly, spaciously, deeply plugging into the undercurrent of other alternatives? I feel that I must be.

While there is so much to DO in this world to midwife a new future into being, I believe there is an equally important role for certain human beings to especially find it in themselves to fulfill - as counter-intuitive, and even counter-productive, as it may feel. It's a role that is similar to that of the mystics – one of witness, wonder, contemplation, non-anxious presence. I've heard it described as “frequency holder” or someone who simply holds the space for the impulse of evolution to flow through them. This is important. This is worthy.

And, this seems to be all I want to do: I want to be awake, aware, I want to be outdoors, close to Mother Earth, I want to garden, I want to do ritual and ceremony, I want to gather in circle, I want to create beauty. I want to serve my community. I don't want to work a nine-to-five, I don't want that PhD, I don't want to engage in the viciousness of our political process, I don't want to do so many of the things deemed “normal” in this world. My ego wants me to believe I'm lazy, confused, lost, a failure, a misfit, hopelessly immature. My soul knows otherwise.

So what are the ingredients in this rambling reflection: find a way to be engaged AND slow down, be present. Stand as witness to the fear and rage but don't let it become me; don't feed into it. Trust my intuition; live with integrity and simplicity. Be brave, break out of the status quo....

I'm going to end with a short video of Joanna Macy talking about the 3 dimensions of the Great Turning. I hope you enjoy it:

The Sacred Mucky-Muck

I often feel like anything coming out of my mouth will sound crazy. There are so many thoughts going around in my head, so any big, HUGE thoughts that I'm at a loss to how to express them, or they feel overwhelming. Not just thoughts but feelings, sensations, intuitions, stories, longings, questions.... Sometimes I feel I don't belong in this world; sometimes it's hard to find people to talk to who “get where I'm at.” I have felt this way for most of my LIFE.

Still, I know I'm not crazy, I know I'm not alone, and I know I very much belong – in this body, on this planet, in this cosmos.

“In this world” gets a little trickier.

By “this world” I mean the world the Great Turning is leaving behind, the world from which it is moving on. And it IS moving on, no matter how hard one tries to hold on. I don't want to hold on. I'm ready. Could I have sensed this even from a very early age? Could I have, perhaps, been born for this?

Sometimes the only way I can get at any of this is through poetry or other artistic endeavor. Something that taps into the heart and spirit of the matter. This is, I believe, another essential piece of navigating through the Great Turning: delving into the images, the myths, the archetypes of what is emerging. They hold great clues and possibilities I may never have envisioned through my rational, thinking mind.

Sometimes my poems are mystical, sometimes fanciful, sometimes fierce. This one is saying: Yes, I often feel like a misfit from another planet but I'm ON to something. I WILL listen, I will follow. Even against great tides. Dare I suggest that this is one of the things the Great Turning needs most from us?

 

The Sacred Mucky-Muck

Yes

Call it sacred –

    your confused and anguished

         venturing beyond the known,

         the safe, the fuzzy

         bliss of small, small

         worlds.

Frame it as sacred –

     your out-there insane,

         gut-wrenching inclination to

         renounce, empty, allow,

         enter and 
         emerge.

Frame it as sacred –

     your truly bizarre

         desire for sweet silence and

         deep contemplation, for

         dancing with death and for dreaming

         worlds into

         being.

Please

Call it sacred –

     your shockingly Self centered

         attempts to heal, to

         transform, to deign

         to feel worthy of

         co-Creation.

Frame it as sacred –

     your irritatingly troublesome

         rock the boat

         realness.

Please, know it is sacred.

How does it make sense to be in the world?

This is the question that imbues my days with what often feels like restlessness and anxiety. I struggle with angst and fear and downright despair. I search for hope and possibilities and signs of awakening. I find myself cocking an ear, listening, or gazing out the window, scanning the horizon. I want to sit, a lot, on the ground or amongst trees. I pay attention to my dreams. I have no patience for the status quo. I have an urge to wander, both inwardly and outwardly....  I know what I am experiencing is that in-between place of "what was" and "what is becoming." While it can feel overwhelming or frightening at times, I'm learning to relax into it and listen to what it has to teach me.

I believe this is one of the necessary skills of our time - to hold that sacred space of pure presence to what is unfolding in our universe. Not in a passive, wait-and-see way. For me it's relational and co-creative. What evolutionary forces are at work? What is wanting to be born? How can I help? What can I contribute? How does it make sense to be? What is "out there" beyond the narrow confines of our sadly myopic worldview?

Duane Elgin wrote a wonderful book called "The Living Universe" which he describes in the video that follows. He starts with a fundamental premise that I share - that the Universe is a living system and embodying ourselves in that system makes all the difference in how we see, and behave in, our world. Let's begin here.

WelcomeTo the Latest Evolution of BeingChange ...

... reflecting some simple shifts in focus and intention.

First, BeingChange will foremost be a container for my personal story of navigating the Great Turning. I will share my experiences, hopes, fears, dreams - as well as resources and ways to engage in your own way. I strongly believe in the power of story and I'm passionate about exploring the possibilities for a transition into a future with a regenerated Earth and whole human beings. This is what I live and breathe. I've learned much along the way and it is my hope that my attempts to “be the change” will support you on your own journey of
healing,  transformation, and conscious evolution.

This shift  also honors my need to find and express my own voice - as a person, as a writer, and as a spiritual activist. I don't see my role as "teacher" but as facilitator and co-creator. Which brings me to the next shift...

Second, there will be much more emphasis in BeingChange as a community, with every effort made to build a thriving following with much sharing of stories, resources, and support. Bear with me as I continue to learn the technology to accomplish this in cyberspace and as I continue developing circles, courses, events, and other ways to get involved - both in real life and through this site. AND please do go here (and scroll down to the bottom) to see how you can join our community right now!

While the nature of story is organic and not to be forced into boxes, I'm committed to posting at least once a week, so I hope you'll visit often. I look forward to journeying with you.

Big Bodacious BeingChange Dream

photo by Vera Kratochvil

COME ON IN!

Imagine: a dedicated physical space for BeingChange that has a room for gatherings, events, and circles, and a room for a studio, allowing you to go seamlessly from imagining, evoking, and envisioning to reflection and expression in a variety of genres: drawing, collaging, dancing, writing, for example. Imagine this Center as a hub, in an easily accessible downtown Ithaca area, where you can meet people who are hungry to live their most essential, fiercely compassionate and creative callings on behalf of our planet and all beings. Imagine a safe, beautiful, nurturing, inspiring space where you can explore what's deepest in your heart and what's foremost on your mind. Imagine empowering your Self and others to discover your unique, creative voice and your path of “right action” in the world.

Imagine a rich and diverse menu of offerings: art, story, events, circles, ceremony and ritual, workshops, guests, lunchtime gatherings, book studies, music and dance, drumming...support, encouragement, fun, community, adventure, spirit, challenge, activism, playfulness....

I can imagine all this and more, can you? Want to help make this possible?

Please, please post your ideas here.

It’s Hard To Know the “World May End”

You’ve succeeded this long in hoping, and

you’re not stupid or selfish or imagine

you’ll be one of the chosen few.

You’re not holding out for a miracle of

divine or human intervention, a grand

fix from a savior, scientist, senator, or CEO.

You’re courageous in your efforts to stay

awake, to engage, even to dream, though days go by and

you wonder what for; is it

not already too late?

Your heart is no fool; each beat a wondering

why why, why why, why would we

come to this?  This is not who we are.

We have forgotten who we are.

Yet you must know that your knowing, and

my knowing too, and their knowing, and theirs

will perhaps open a Way.  Make that Way

the new wondering of your heart.

Phebe Allen Gustafson