This is the forty-third issue of my free newsletter. Your feedback is most welcome!
EARTH & US: Listening to the Elders
Here we are in the season of red and yellow falling leaves, cool nights, and preparing for winter. Autumn is the season of Bear, a time for reflection and introspection; a time for letting go of what no longer serves us (as I pack up old clothing to take to Goodwill, feeling a little like a tree shedding some leaves). We humans are no longer tuned to the natural cycles, no longer take the necessary time for slowing down and introspection in the fall, but instead seem to rush headlong into frenzied activities, working more so we can buy more, culminating in holiday celebrations. Instead, let’s make sure to get outdoors and take some long, slow walks, enjoy the autumn sunlight and the rich plant life around us.
Here are a couple of messages from our elders about how to re-inhabit our world.
Bioregional elder speaks
At this summer’s 9th Continental Regional Congress, Gene Marshall, a bioregionalist for 21 years, listed six key aspects of Bioregionalism.
1) Re-inhabitation: Developing a new sense of home. Imagine jumping in the air and coming down in the same place, but changed—so that we would see beyond zip codes, city, and state, to notice trees, grasses, flowers, animals, birds, weather and seasons, and other humans who revere them.
2) Legitimate governance: Current nation-states are illegitimate because they don't obey the natural law (limits of Earth). Earth's own rules are built in, yet industrial civilization operates on the premise that we can ignore these laws and only attend to economic growth, the wellbeing of large corporations, and cheap consumer goods. This narrow focus is driving us off the ecological cliff. Most tribal societies had legitimate governments which honored their surroundings. But 6,000 years ago, civilization brought hierarchies of kings, peasants, slaves, over nature. Some religions asked humans to obey a higher law. Democratic governments were slightly better than kings, but civilization has been characterized by all-out exploitation of earth, and war as a way of life. A true ecological revolution means doing away with “civilization”! We need governance, not anarchy; but it must be a legitimate government that obeys the limits and possibilities of Earth.
3) Human scale: E.F. Schumacher said, “Small is beautiful.” Decentralization means not just small, but appropriate in scale. Growth isn't always a good thing! It can be like becoming overweight. Economic "endless growth" is "bad medicine from a malpracticing social doctor!" There are limits to growth in any natural system. Decentralization is not ignoring a wider scope, but making local decisions a priority, then regional decisions, and so forth.
4) Consensus processing: It involves true listening, conflict resolution. How can we apply it in a whole bioregion, or continent? A more formalized process in needed, such as Jim Rough's Wisdom Councils, described in his book Society's Breakthrough: 24 citizens of each region are randomly selected, paid to meet for 1 month and create a published document.
5) Eco-feminism: In patriarchy, we see that the same patterns which oppress women also oppress the planet. Eco-feminism helps us also develop the awareness to combat racism and homophobia.
6) Ceremonial companionship: Poetry, pageantry, drums, cultural sharing, spiral dances, pipe ceremonies, singing, theater, talking circles, rituals, costume, sweat-lodges, Native American lore are all part. This movement is first a cultural one, secondarily economic/political. "There is more mystery in a spoonful of soil than the wisdom in all human libraries.” Good science explores sheer mystery. Bioregionalism is not religion, but an umbrella for many religious practices. Deep ecology and permaculture are spiritual practices for some. Some people even make bioregionalism itself their religion. There is a vast variety of eco-philosophies. Nevertheless, we can talk with one another about Spirit matters and seek to work together to make the culture of bioregionalism a rich Sprit experience.
Hopi Elders' Prophecy
Oraibi, Arizona, June 8, 2000
You have been telling people that this is the Eleventh Hour, now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour. And there are things to be considered. . . .
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Where is your water?
Know your garden.
It is time to speak your truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for your leader.
To my fellow swimmers:
Here is a river flowing now very fast.It is so great and swift,that there are those who will be afraid,who will try to hold on to the shore.They are being torn apart and will suffer greatly.Know that the river has its destination.The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river,and keep our heads above water.And I say, see who is there with you and celebrate.At this time in history we are to take nothing personally,least of all ourselves, for the moment we do,our spiritual growth and journey come to a halt.The time of the lone wolf is over.Gather yourselves.Banish the word “struggle” from your attitude and vocabulary.All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.
For we are the ones we have been waiting for.
Cathy Holt
"Kindness is the light that dissolves all walls between souls, families, and nations." - Paramahansa Yogananda
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