D  e  s  e  r  t     E  x  p  o  s  u  r  e    September 2005

Accept, Know and Act

Or: What the heck are we suppose to do when the world is going to hell in a hand basket?

My angst over the state of our world brings me to three conclusions:

1. There is no escape.

We must face life head-on and with open eyes—fearlessly. We must use all our senses to understand what's going on and we mustn't run away. There is no more time for semi-conscious escapes into fantasy land. And until each of us deals with our own individual "shit and shinola," we won't have the world we might long for: a world of peace, harmony and true democracy.

There's no need for me to list the global and local problems we have created that are now biting us in the butt. Here in the First World, we've ignored and denied the effects of our actions by designing an entire culture filled with escape hatches, all based on the concept of finding satisfaction outside our own personal realities—the reality we've created by our conscious or unconscious thoughts and actions.

On this planet, like it or not, we are interconnected and interdependent. All of us decide on, and participate in, at a collective unconscious level, the "state of the world." Which means we have agreed that wars, famine, rape, torture, etc. are still "acceptable" modes of behavior. And if you say, "oh not me," then please think again. We are all playing the "Earth game" together and it's past time to accept the responsibility that implies. Until we accept the deepest, darkest, shadow parts of ourselves, it is virtually impossible to heal from the wounds we perceive we have suffered.

So, although there is no escape, there are solutions.

2. All knowing and all healing lies within.

Our cellular structure is encoded with the wisdom of the ages. All our memories of this life and past ones are also embedded in those cells. The key is not that you have to know all the knowing—the key is accepting that it is there, feeling that your access to the Source of All That Is lies within your reach. Then no one can hold power over you ever again.

The answers start and end with you, your desire to be a whole and healthy being, and the clear intention and willingness to do the work required. Because "there is no freedom which is free," your job is to clean out the accumulated internal garbage and repair any damage as best you can.

Until we scrutinize ourselves we won't change squat. But one thing holding us back is fear—specifically, fear of our darker sides. Acceptance of those parts of our natures that hold the murderer, the thief, the rapist, the terrorist is essential. Working on ourselves consciously is the way we become whole and take our power back.

For example, those who think they rule the world are depending on our fear to keep the terrorist paradigm alive and kicking. It is your job to not buy into the constant, fear-feeding frenzy—the lie that behind every stranger lurks a terrorist out to destroy your way of life. That fear is the reason we think we are powerless. We are not.

The way to conquer fear is through knowledge and action.

3.Think globally—act locally.

Well, if there is no escape, and you've worked on mending yourself, what's next? As you work on yourself, fresh perspectives and possibilities open up. You are energized with self-empowerment. You can imprint your world with the beauty of your soul signature. Your energy is not all spent coping with, or escaping from, life.

The continuation of life as we know it is threatened severely on many sides. We are lazy and late in building a truly sustainable world as the American Dream and its current "hegemony of democratization" theme shatters.

If healing and growth start with the individual, the next logical place to put your re-energized self is into the community—the first level in "We, the people."

A simple smile has a lot of good energy in it. But the times demand that we put out more. What are you passionate about that you can offer your community? What skills can you barter/exchange with someone else's skills? How can you, every single day, live more consciously with your environment?

A quick look around at your neighborhood will give you plenty of ideas of what needs attention—recycling, meth labs, toxic landfills, potholes? Volunteer here, or commit to a project there.

And if you feel like you have none of that "good" feeling to offer, the ancients say, "Do a good deed and feel good." Good feelings will find you when you give of yourself (in healthy ways!) to others.

Here in my beautiful home of Silver City, there are many fine people filled with desire to Do Some Thing. It doesn't take much research to see we need to: clear out the corruption in local politics, investigate what planning and development is going on behind closed doors, build alternate sources of energy as cheap oil dies a violent death, and, possibly most important, guarantee our water sources are managed effectively.

Pick your issue and commit to being part of the solution. There are all kinds of ways to help build a viable, sustainable, locally owned and operated community. This country was built on the principle of activism. It's time for activism to save this country.

Thinking globally—spreading Light and prayers into dark corners of devastation, understanding the global marketplace and your participation in it—while acting locally— volunteering, organizing, sharing of ourselves in practical ways—these are the ways we can effectively deal with the energy crises we've created, the drugs killing our children, the genocide in Africa, the wars we have silently accepted.

Agree or disagree with her, Cindy Sheehan is a vivid example of what one American can do. It's time for each of us to step up to the plate for the game of our lives.

Accept, Heal and Act—Aha!

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