Whatever part of the world you go to, there are changes. This time in the Northern Hemisphere, throughout the temperate region, fall colors are treating us to one of the most brilliant natural backgrounds of the year. Even more than in the full flush of summer, where the greens dominate, autumn brings forth the stylish death that we all wish could be our own. It is not by coincidence that cultures around the world near the mid-latitudes track the fall color intensity, write of it in song and poetry, and reflect on the death of us all, because in our way we are engaged in a complex mimicry of nature and the process of letting go of things that no longer serve us. Perhaps we will never be able to achieve the sublime vibrancy of the natural world when it is in the throes of death, however we do not have to. Ours is to reflect the process of dying in the most elegant way we know how.
It is with a certain level of trepidation that we enter the period that is referred to as, Day of the Dead, All Souls, Night of the Dead, Hallows Eve, or Samhain. After all, it harkens us to accept our own mortality. with a foot firmly in the land of the living, we annually confront the quicksand of death and the overwhelming disembodied power of all who have passed the veil before us. This is the time we honor those who have given their lives to keep the current cadre of oligarchs firmly in their place. We also honor the trade unionists who were killed trying to take back a shred of dignity from their slave-masters. This is the time we (hopefully) forgive the limited vision of the prior generations and forgive ourselves for believing their fantasies. As the sun shifts lower in the sky, we must learn to forge new alliances closer to home that will keep us alive through the coming cold dark nights. One foot in the grave is a shockingly real concept at this time of the year and how we handle it in the next few days and weeks will make all the difference over the coming years.
On our voyage of discovery, each one of us is far more limited than we typically understand. When I glance out at the world, especially if I try to get the big picture, I have to turn down the visual volume of everything between me and either the horizon or whatever backstop there is for my line of sight. Many urban dwellers are far more familiar with the backstop than the horizon. Spending our lives indoors, or in cities makes sure that we rarely see to the horizon. Just this one element of our experience points to the virtual lack of understanding of the world around us. A friend studies the dismal science, economics, and though he may know more than anyone about Boolean algebra and economic opportunity costs, he cannot fathom why a dozen eggs are worth five dollars. The further down any rabbit hole you go, or going down the largest number of them only gets you so far. In addition, wherever these threads take you, there you are, isolated in your introspection. Like dying while still in and of this Earth, however discreet your awareness, you are out there beyond the body, one your own path as it were and all others are dead to you. The occult (in medical parlance it just means hidden) nature of every single thing that we do not direct our attention to necessarily condemns us to a relatively dark and isolated place. Realization that the sum total of all the experiences of all of our relations, from the beasts of the forests as well as those of the air, from the bacteriologic community to the giant sea squid, make up the sum total of all that is 'known".
We might not develop new ways of understanding the bigger picture until we find data streams that have not yet been testable by any known means. Some time after we design ways to "see" into other realms, we will need to calibrate our devices. However, if we let that part of us die that needs to know, to exert power and control over our surroundings, we could begin to experience a whole new paradigm. The irony is not lost on many of us, that at this time, the 1% will try to select the next slate of characters, that will carry out their will through my House of Representatives and the Senate. what our nation truly needs is to allow their influence to become dead to us, to open our horizons to accept a bigger view of the world around us. There will be people who, after the elections will smugly cross their arms and nod forcefully and say "We Voted." as if to imply that things have been decided, but the true work of birthing a new way requires years of dedication, personal sacrifice and the will to improve the lot of all beings, honoring those who came before but allowing what has not worked in the past to fade into obscurity.
It is with a certain level of trepidation that we enter the period that is referred to as, Day of the Dead, All Souls, Night of the Dead, Hallows Eve, or Samhain. After all, it harkens us to accept our own mortality. with a foot firmly in the land of the living, we annually confront the quicksand of death and the overwhelming disembodied power of all who have passed the veil before us. This is the time we honor those who have given their lives to keep the current cadre of oligarchs firmly in their place. We also honor the trade unionists who were killed trying to take back a shred of dignity from their slave-masters. This is the time we (hopefully) forgive the limited vision of the prior generations and forgive ourselves for believing their fantasies. As the sun shifts lower in the sky, we must learn to forge new alliances closer to home that will keep us alive through the coming cold dark nights. One foot in the grave is a shockingly real concept at this time of the year and how we handle it in the next few days and weeks will make all the difference over the coming years.
On our voyage of discovery, each one of us is far more limited than we typically understand. When I glance out at the world, especially if I try to get the big picture, I have to turn down the visual volume of everything between me and either the horizon or whatever backstop there is for my line of sight. Many urban dwellers are far more familiar with the backstop than the horizon. Spending our lives indoors, or in cities makes sure that we rarely see to the horizon. Just this one element of our experience points to the virtual lack of understanding of the world around us. A friend studies the dismal science, economics, and though he may know more than anyone about Boolean algebra and economic opportunity costs, he cannot fathom why a dozen eggs are worth five dollars. The further down any rabbit hole you go, or going down the largest number of them only gets you so far. In addition, wherever these threads take you, there you are, isolated in your introspection. Like dying while still in and of this Earth, however discreet your awareness, you are out there beyond the body, one your own path as it were and all others are dead to you. The occult (in medical parlance it just means hidden) nature of every single thing that we do not direct our attention to necessarily condemns us to a relatively dark and isolated place. Realization that the sum total of all the experiences of all of our relations, from the beasts of the forests as well as those of the air, from the bacteriologic community to the giant sea squid, make up the sum total of all that is 'known".
We might not develop new ways of understanding the bigger picture until we find data streams that have not yet been testable by any known means. Some time after we design ways to "see" into other realms, we will need to calibrate our devices. However, if we let that part of us die that needs to know, to exert power and control over our surroundings, we could begin to experience a whole new paradigm. The irony is not lost on many of us, that at this time, the 1% will try to select the next slate of characters, that will carry out their will through my House of Representatives and the Senate. what our nation truly needs is to allow their influence to become dead to us, to open our horizons to accept a bigger view of the world around us. There will be people who, after the elections will smugly cross their arms and nod forcefully and say "We Voted." as if to imply that things have been decided, but the true work of birthing a new way requires years of dedication, personal sacrifice and the will to improve the lot of all beings, honoring those who came before but allowing what has not worked in the past to fade into obscurity.
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