The Medusa that we confront in the early twenty-first century had its earliest beginnings many hundreds of years ago. The root-like tendrils that once made their way into our world view grew and grew into the serpents of today. How can we even dare look at the hideous beast, knowing full well that to do so would turn us to stone? We all know the apoplectic stare and extreme heaviness and immobility that can overwhelm us if we do look at the complex of issues confronting the human race today. Perhaps my writing can be a vehicle for reflecting images of the demons that are more easily slain. The words that I choose are intended to reflect the hideous beast and the concepts that I try to convey here, although many are too painful to take in all at once, need to be slain if we are to regain our humanity. Although my message is clearly, that we have work together to solve many of our greatest challenges, it is through individual action that things change. The millions that have protested in the streets in recent years are a living testament to the people's will, but unless we change forever the nature and types of actions in which we engage on an individual level, the money, and the power that flows with it will only fortify the Medusa. If we, by chance, lop off a single serpent, it will only grow back as we are mesmerized by the others.
The sword of truth has been passed down through the ages and the reflective shield of the arts and community serve to reflect the harsh images that could otherwise paralyze us. Striking a mortal blow when looking backward at a reflection can be difficult, but for the sake of future generations, it is exactly what must be done. Polishing the surface of our shield requires time and meditative release of both want and desire. The time we put into honing our sword as well has nothing to do with past or future, it is about existing at the point of contact between blade and whetstone.
It takes courage to speak truth to power and it takes decisive action to cleave our perceptions into meaningful chunks. So too it requires courage to step out into new territory or to look into a reflection of what lies ahead instead of the future itself. Eerily, we have virtually no other choice. By design or duplicity, we are often tugged in one direction or another by competing forces, writhing in a mass of dis-ease, of turmoil and of injustice. Who would not lose heart when confronted with so many challenges? I applaud those who have committed their lives to a single issue, without them, many more would lose hope or lack inspiration. please do not misunderstand my meaning here, because it is crucial to making the next move. The dice have already been thrown, we know, each in our own way, what the odds are of beating the house. What we fail to realize is that the infinite variety of possibility awaits us with open arms and there are enough of us wanting to change the planet for the better that no amount of distraction, deception, fear and vehemence can stand in our way.
My own choices began when I was but a child. I rode my bike like a dervish, churning my own energies into a cohesive thread which guided me through the darkest times. When I was unable to look into the eyes of the beast, I could close my eyes and touch the golden thread, stretched between what touchstones I had found before and my desired future. In times of utter darkness and turmoil, just walking in the woods or riding my bike allowed me to feel the Earth and hear her gentle symphony. Guided by the sounds of nature, I learned to nurture. When I made the decision to have children, my perspective changed. I learned how to do the best for them and transformed my own life to accommodate them. Midwifery, herbal "medicine", home-schooling and raising as much of our own food as possible were part of that journey. In fits and starts, I began to change the world one life at a time. First, I grew into a person that I was proud of, then I reached out to help validate and inform a larger community. Again, through loving myself, I was able to give more fully to my own children, their mother and other family and friends.This too expanded my sense of community and nation. I had heard of the idea that we are all crew on Starship Earth, but until the past few years, I didn't have a sense of what that meant.
Together we can achieve far more than individuals alone ever could. Whatever we choose to do, let us not hesitate. The Iron is hot. If we each strike a blow, now, we can forge a new civilization. I have every reason to believe that we will be taking Medusa's head home in a sack. Let the spirit of love for humankind guide our sabre. Let our combined polished shields allow us to see the whole clearly while avoiding the catastrophic paralysis that results from gazing into the eyes of the beast. The rest will take care of itself.
The sword of truth has been passed down through the ages and the reflective shield of the arts and community serve to reflect the harsh images that could otherwise paralyze us. Striking a mortal blow when looking backward at a reflection can be difficult, but for the sake of future generations, it is exactly what must be done. Polishing the surface of our shield requires time and meditative release of both want and desire. The time we put into honing our sword as well has nothing to do with past or future, it is about existing at the point of contact between blade and whetstone.
It takes courage to speak truth to power and it takes decisive action to cleave our perceptions into meaningful chunks. So too it requires courage to step out into new territory or to look into a reflection of what lies ahead instead of the future itself. Eerily, we have virtually no other choice. By design or duplicity, we are often tugged in one direction or another by competing forces, writhing in a mass of dis-ease, of turmoil and of injustice. Who would not lose heart when confronted with so many challenges? I applaud those who have committed their lives to a single issue, without them, many more would lose hope or lack inspiration. please do not misunderstand my meaning here, because it is crucial to making the next move. The dice have already been thrown, we know, each in our own way, what the odds are of beating the house. What we fail to realize is that the infinite variety of possibility awaits us with open arms and there are enough of us wanting to change the planet for the better that no amount of distraction, deception, fear and vehemence can stand in our way.
My own choices began when I was but a child. I rode my bike like a dervish, churning my own energies into a cohesive thread which guided me through the darkest times. When I was unable to look into the eyes of the beast, I could close my eyes and touch the golden thread, stretched between what touchstones I had found before and my desired future. In times of utter darkness and turmoil, just walking in the woods or riding my bike allowed me to feel the Earth and hear her gentle symphony. Guided by the sounds of nature, I learned to nurture. When I made the decision to have children, my perspective changed. I learned how to do the best for them and transformed my own life to accommodate them. Midwifery, herbal "medicine", home-schooling and raising as much of our own food as possible were part of that journey. In fits and starts, I began to change the world one life at a time. First, I grew into a person that I was proud of, then I reached out to help validate and inform a larger community. Again, through loving myself, I was able to give more fully to my own children, their mother and other family and friends.This too expanded my sense of community and nation. I had heard of the idea that we are all crew on Starship Earth, but until the past few years, I didn't have a sense of what that meant.
Together we can achieve far more than individuals alone ever could. Whatever we choose to do, let us not hesitate. The Iron is hot. If we each strike a blow, now, we can forge a new civilization. I have every reason to believe that we will be taking Medusa's head home in a sack. Let the spirit of love for humankind guide our sabre. Let our combined polished shields allow us to see the whole clearly while avoiding the catastrophic paralysis that results from gazing into the eyes of the beast. The rest will take care of itself.
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