Many of the millions of people around the world currently being enthralled by football’s World Cup are probably barely aware of the catastrophic man-made disaster that is unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico, due to the explosion on BP’s Deepwater Horizon rig on 20th April. A clampdown on open reporting of the situation, and the belief that it is happening far away from us, cannot compete with debates on the performances of Ronaldo and Messi; questionable refereeing decisions and the arrest of Paris Hilton.
Some of the Oxford Dictionary’s definitions of “crude” are - “rude; blunt and indecent”, and these adjectives could well describe some of the crude men who’s insatiable thirsts for wealth pay scant regard for the planet and her many species – including us. Scientists estimate the release of oil from under the Earth's crust at up to 100,000 barrels a day - that is nearly 16 million liters pouring into our seas – every day since 20 April! This is a disaster which is likely to have profound and far-reaching negative affects for decades to come.
Some of the Oxford Dictionary’s definitions of “crude” are - “rude; blunt and indecent”, and these adjectives could well describe some of the crude men who’s insatiable thirsts for wealth pay scant regard for the planet and her many species – including us. Scientists estimate the release of oil from under the Earth's crust at up to 100,000 barrels a day - that is nearly 16 million liters pouring into our seas – every day since 20 April! This is a disaster which is likely to have profound and far-reaching negative affects for decades to come.
As many of you know, I keep abreast of what is reported in the alternative press as most of the mainstream media does little more that spew out the official lines of the controlling power brokers in politics, banking, the military, big pharmaceuticals and big industry. But I have learnt that most people get defensive when you discuss things that are considered Con. Ts. (I won’t use the term because there is nothing “theoretical” about many of them, and spam filters love seeking out the term – but I’m sure you can figure it out!) For those seeking to look into it there is plenty of information available, here is one article you might like to read:
http://www.realitysandwich.com/gulf_oil_spill_unfolding_prophecy
I would like to share a different perspective with you.
The other day Ronnie watched a video on what was happening in the Gulf and was tremendously upset, angry and tearful in the days following. This highlighted for me the sense of helplessness we may experience when a crisis of this magnitude takes place. It seems so big and we feel so small! This had me pondering what we, as individuals, can do when confronted with such a situation, so as not to feel completely helpless.
I emphasized repeatedly on my Mayan Calendar talks that the first thing we must try and avoid is slipping into fear. I believe there are going to be many more frightening events happening, before we move through the Mayan Calendar end date and into a new paradigm, so many of us are bound to become fearful at some stage. Fear can arrive by itself in frightening scenarios, despite our best efforts to not be afraid. So what is the alternative?
In the therapies I use, the most powerful techniques are those which invite us to explore the feelings behind the emotions that present on the surface of our lives. Through gentle inquiry we are able to “drop down” to deeper levels of our experiencing and find a more real, more lasting truth: We are absolute consciousness and we never die! The realization – the “knowing” - of that truth, dissolves the fears created by the shenanigans of our three dimensional world.
So too we can investigate the emotions that arise in response to our feelings about what is happening in the Gulf of Mexico. Does the situation make me feel angry? Do I want to do harm to those who are responsible? Do I feel helpless or sad? Put to inquiry we can ask: Where is the anger; need for revenge; helplessness or sadness within me? To what degree am I partly responsible for what is happening in my world?
You may object to this last question, but put it to inquiry and you might find some interesting answers! Yes, you and I are not as culpable as those who are directly responsible for the Gulf disaster, but to what degree do we all share responsibility? We are co-creators of everything “out there” and recognition of our role – however small – can be immensely liberating and healing. I am absolutely sure of this from what we witness in Family Constellations.
A good example of shared responsibility comes from my work with couples when there has been infidelity in the relationship. Let’s say, for example, that I am working with a married woman who has had an affair with an ex-boyfriend, and her husband has discovered her indiscretion. The victim of the infidelity may take a self-righteous stance and present with anger, the need for revenge or a strong sense of self-pity – or all three! It can be quite tempting to hold the woman 100% responsible for what has transpired, and to sympathize with her husband. But work in the “Field” very often reveals a different picture. Maybe the husband has been too involved in his work, and hasn’t shown his wife the appropriate attention and affection. Maybe he also had an affair some years ago and has never acknowledged his part. My experience has been that - however large or small – there is always shared responsibility in this type of scenario. When each party acknowledges - and most importantly - takes responsibility for their part in what has happened, healing can begin.
We can apply this insight onto a larger canvas and inquire as to our individual responsibilities for what is happening on our earth. Do I suffer from “Ostrich Syndrome” when it comes to what is actually happening on my planet? Is there some way in which I can make a difference, no matter how small?
We do not have to be a Gandhi or a Mandela to make a difference – any of us can.
I emphasized repeatedly on my Mayan Calendar talks that the first thing we must try and avoid is slipping into fear. I believe there are going to be many more frightening events happening, before we move through the Mayan Calendar end date and into a new paradigm, so many of us are bound to become fearful at some stage. Fear can arrive by itself in frightening scenarios, despite our best efforts to not be afraid. So what is the alternative?
In the therapies I use, the most powerful techniques are those which invite us to explore the feelings behind the emotions that present on the surface of our lives. Through gentle inquiry we are able to “drop down” to deeper levels of our experiencing and find a more real, more lasting truth: We are absolute consciousness and we never die! The realization – the “knowing” - of that truth, dissolves the fears created by the shenanigans of our three dimensional world.
So too we can investigate the emotions that arise in response to our feelings about what is happening in the Gulf of Mexico. Does the situation make me feel angry? Do I want to do harm to those who are responsible? Do I feel helpless or sad? Put to inquiry we can ask: Where is the anger; need for revenge; helplessness or sadness within me? To what degree am I partly responsible for what is happening in my world?
You may object to this last question, but put it to inquiry and you might find some interesting answers! Yes, you and I are not as culpable as those who are directly responsible for the Gulf disaster, but to what degree do we all share responsibility? We are co-creators of everything “out there” and recognition of our role – however small – can be immensely liberating and healing. I am absolutely sure of this from what we witness in Family Constellations.
A good example of shared responsibility comes from my work with couples when there has been infidelity in the relationship. Let’s say, for example, that I am working with a married woman who has had an affair with an ex-boyfriend, and her husband has discovered her indiscretion. The victim of the infidelity may take a self-righteous stance and present with anger, the need for revenge or a strong sense of self-pity – or all three! It can be quite tempting to hold the woman 100% responsible for what has transpired, and to sympathize with her husband. But work in the “Field” very often reveals a different picture. Maybe the husband has been too involved in his work, and hasn’t shown his wife the appropriate attention and affection. Maybe he also had an affair some years ago and has never acknowledged his part. My experience has been that - however large or small – there is always shared responsibility in this type of scenario. When each party acknowledges - and most importantly - takes responsibility for their part in what has happened, healing can begin.
We can apply this insight onto a larger canvas and inquire as to our individual responsibilities for what is happening on our earth. Do I suffer from “Ostrich Syndrome” when it comes to what is actually happening on my planet? Is there some way in which I can make a difference, no matter how small?
We do not have to be a Gandhi or a Mandela to make a difference – any of us can.
For inspiration, I invite you to take a look at what Annie Leonard has done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GorqroigqM
Another thing we can do to make a difference is to add our names to petitions that circulate on the internet. Some of these are merely devices for validating our email addresses and getting our details for companies that are compiling email lists to sell, so I very seldom complete them. The one group that I have subscribed to, and whose petitions regularly have an impact on major issues is Avaaz. If you have not yet signed up with them, you may like to take a look at http://www.avaaz.org/
We can also take a look at our own lives and see if we can start making more conscious choices about what we purchase. Y es, I know it is not easy with everything coming wrapped in plastic, but let’s try. For example: Should I really still be purchasing water in plastic bottles when there is such overwhelming evidence of the negative impact they are having on the environment? Well done to the little town in Australia that banned the selling of plastic water bottles – you are making a difference!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GorqroigqM
Another thing we can do to make a difference is to add our names to petitions that circulate on the internet. Some of these are merely devices for validating our email addresses and getting our details for companies that are compiling email lists to sell, so I very seldom complete them. The one group that I have subscribed to, and whose petitions regularly have an impact on major issues is Avaaz. If you have not yet signed up with them, you may like to take a look at http://www.avaaz.org/
We can also take a look at our own lives and see if we can start making more conscious choices about what we purchase. Y es, I know it is not easy with everything coming wrapped in plastic, but let’s try. For example: Should I really still be purchasing water in plastic bottles when there is such overwhelming evidence of the negative impact they are having on the environment? Well done to the little town in Australia that banned the selling of plastic water bottles – you are making a difference!
Love & Gratitude - courtesy Masaru Emoto
As those of you who have experienced a workshop with us know, for years we have filtered and programmed our water with “Love and Gratitude” as suggested by the research of Japanese scientist Dr. Masaru Emoto. His research reveals that the physical structure of water responds to emotions, and we can therefore affect water – even large bodies of it – by sincerely, powerfully and humbly praying for it. We need to remind ourselves that Love is the greatest power in the universe, and to make it our “weapon of mass construction”. Here is Dr Emoto’s prayer for the Gulf of Mexico, which you may like to use:
"I send the energy of love and gratitude to the waters and all living creatures in the Gulf of Mexico and its surroundings. To the whales, dolphins, pelicans, fish, shellfish, planktons, corals, and algae ... to ALL living creatures ... I am sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I Love You."
These suggestions may seem small, given the scale of the current assault on our environment, but the accumulative affect can be huge. It is the raising our own individual vibration and consciousness through these endeavors that is important. The whole world doesn’t have to change; we just need a critical mass to create a shift in consciousness, which will make this all look like a bad dream!
I think it can also be helpful to view things from a “meta” view, as I learnt from the dolphins earlier this year. One of the processes we engaged in during our workshop in Mozambique in February was what is called a Nature Constellation. In these constellations we decide on a theme and then members of the group are invited to enter into the “Field” and represent a certain aspect of the natural world - when they intuitively feel the impulse. We had watched the Oscar-winning movie “The Cove” the previous evening, and so decided to set up a constellation for the dolphins. Very quickly participants felt called to represent different groups like the whales; the dolphins; the dolphin killers; the dolphin lovers; the “asleep” on our planet; the more “awake” humans on earth; the trees; the seas; the fish; and even the snails! Very little intervention is needed in these constellations and they move forward with a life of their own. The whales and dolphins were clearly in distress right from the beginning, and the dolphin lovers were deeply concerned. One of the aspects that I immediately found fascinating was how the “dolphin killers” showed no sense of remorse for what they were doing. It is how they make a living in order to support themselves and their families, and they appeared to see no harm in their actions at all.
There were many other interesting insights in the hour-long process, but the one that is relevant to this discussion and which really gave me a whole new insight, was the response of the dolphins. Rather than being angry with us human they expressed something at the end of the constellation that really touched me, and which I leave with you in closing. The representative for the dolphin species said something to the affect of:
“We are prepared to sacrifice ourselves in the hope that our suffering will open up your hearts. And through the doorway of the pain you experience when you see what is being done to us, you may become conscious of what you are doing to the rest of the planet, and to the others of your species.”
