Entropy Vortex

It is becoming painfully clear that there is a dynamic and influential cadre of people in the world that cannot help but destroy all order and sanity around themselves. They destroy infrastructure, or just build it so poorly that it self destructs. They find ways of passing their time that hinder their own progress as well as that of others and they have debilitating attachment to "the way things always were", but that imaginary concept in their own mind is so peculiar and provincial that even believing it ruins any chance of creative action or intelligent thought which is necessary if we are to meet an insurmountable wall of delusion that strangles all life from new approaches to the world around them. This orientation has crippled our understanding about elementary facts and seeks to undermine foundational ideas that could lead to positive change, public support for investing in quality rather than quantity and, in turn leads to myriad abuses of basic physics. The tragedy of the commons was terrible and debilitating when people grazed livestock on communal pastures, but in the modern world the costs are perhaps even more deadly for nature. Effects in our current milieu are just shifted further away in space and time. Instead of leading to eventual starvation and death of a community food supply, our entire culture lies in the balance.

A multimillion dollar upgrade is being undertaken along a section of highway near my home. Traffic has been slowed through the area for several years. One of the biggest overpasses that just recently got finished got run into by an oversize load and is now being dismantled so that it can be rebuilt. After less than a year, the edifice is junk. Even though many extra dollars got spent making the concrete and steel structure pretty, I guess, no one thought it prudent to label the height restriction that it imposed along one of the busiest traffic corridors in the state. Oddly enough, even when the height restrictions are clearly posted, as they used to be on the old overpasses, that were not as pretty, some folks disregard them or do not realize how tall the vehicle they are driving is. I have seen many damaged overpasses in the past, but a new one that has just been built seems particularly expensive to replace. The spiraling out of control that we experience daily seems to be one of the most serious and powerful forces working against change in our culture.

It seems that the shit storm that is preparing to fly is in a swirling chamber, like turds circling the drain. We frequently get glimpses of the other side of the vortex, but the vast majority of the jumble of activity that we brush up against constantly and swirl amongst is obscured by the most proximal or biggest perceived threats in out immediate vicinity. I frequently research and try to understand discreet problems or issues common to many, but spoken of by few. It is my belief that the answers to most of our problems lie in the same course of action. Whether it is the commodification of the water resource or the mushrooming cancer rate, the solutions are the same. I have worked as a Bradley Method Childbirth Educator, a teacher, sign painter, counselor, community educator, silk screen artist, shaman, tree planter, guide and stagehand, however none of those things defined me. I was first a student. Looking for information that may prove useful is my nature and this forum is where I polish the ideas that I have dug up after five decades of paying attention.

I have seen, and occasionally participated in a bit of self-destructive behavior. I'm not proud of it, but I do not regret it either. How else can someone learn about one of the most popular ways that people try to  escape the veil of tears that shrouds much of human experience. Rather than trying to be all gloom and doomy, I just want to state a fact. Especially at this time of year, when many infuse themselves with cookies and candies, give thanks and gifts, pig out on rich foods and make their resolutions, someone needs to be stating the obvious. Our species seems to be the only one on the planet that preoccupies itself with "holy books" and the question of why we are here. Personally, that is why I'm acutely aware of what other organisms tell me by their actions and states of being. Humans seem to have been trained to attempt to get something for nothing, even when they know that the best things in life cannot be extracted, they must be given away to exist at all. The shit that we all hold onto so desperately will always obscure anything that lies beyond it.

Perhaps it is not one bit odd that our culture is so enamored with Biblical "truth", religious thought, or fundamentalist ideals. Who would not want some guidance when the entire planet seems to be filled with threats and dangers, hopelessness and grief and dissolution and regret? The ego is so adept at creating defense mechanisms that we forget to question why. Many do not even realize when they are being part of the problem, it would sting too much and allow doubt to creep into their world view. Just in case you know people who believe in Yahweh god, urge them to get out their Bibles, check our Genesis and give it a close read. Not only will they6 see that the word Elohim is used to describe the gods. Yes, both male and female ones, who created the "other people". Outside the Garden of Eden, there was a whole and intact civilization completely apart from Adam and Eve. When this Yahweh god told Adam that he would surely die as a result of eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge, he outright lied. Adam lived to the ripe old age of 900 years. When even your God is a liar, it must make accepting the entire litany of lies that we are spoon fed the rest of our days just a little bit easier.

Perhaps a story about an interaction that I had with my father-in-law will help to illustrate my point. For nearly a decade we had a running argument about buying quality and investing in things that last. He claimed that without planned obsolescence, the economy would crash. The way he put it, if consumer goods lasted twice as long, businesses would fail because they would have nothing (technically half as much) to do. Sales, in the scenario that he envisioned would slowly fall off and at some point would not make further production lucrative. My argument was that if indeed we were able to flood the market with products that would last a lifetime, and demand fell off because of it, we could turn our creativity and productive capacity to other much-needed products. Our discussions along these lines came to a head one week when his car, a luxury one that he claimed to be extremely well-built, the microwave, refrigerator, vacume cleaner and humidifier all went bunk. During our discussions about this issue, I frequently spoke of planned obsolescence as a sort of reverse lottery, one which participants could only lose. After pointing out the fact that the week of break-downs was the result of consumer goods being designed to wear out and fail to work, he began to understand the value of buying quality rather than nearly always buying based on price.

It is funny how one can hold such strong opinions, but act contrary to them in some cases. His luxury car for instance was consciously purchased as a way to show off his wealth and status. Lots of people would see it and he wanted the peace of mind that can come from buying quality. He delighted in placing notes under my windshield wipers that looked as if a passerby thought my car was junk and needed to be towed away for scrap. He always wanted to buy new cars, or ones that were just a few years old, that would show off his success. Mine, on the other hand, were frequently over a decade old and both fuel efficient and rarely, if ever in the shop. My current vehicle is sporting a few rust spots, it would never be mistaken for a luxury car and has been scratched and dented by hundreds of trips to the wilderness. One night a thirty foot long piece of tree fell on the fender, dimpling it and the roof has been scratched by countless canoe scrapes, but it still gets fifty miles to the gallon (saving more than two thirds of the fuel bill per mile that Dad paid) and gets me where I need to go. If I had to show off, there would be many more cost-effective ways to do it. Of course, no car will last forever, but mine is over 260K and going strong. It also cost less than half of what each of Dad's last three did.

If we can learn to ask better questions, like what is right, what is best and what is good, we may find that we can see through the lies that have been foisted upon us by powerful economic interests, religious leaders and the educational system. I strongly believe that surviving the coming shit storm requires cutting through the swirling crap that surrounds us daily, caring for our selves and our loved-ones in ways that do not require mindless consumerism and getting tot he bottom oft he question, Does this make sense?

Saturnalia Wishes

This Holy Day Season, it is well to reflect on our past and renew our commitment to the future. In times past, prior to the injection of Christ into the season, (Whose Birthday, by the way, was nowhere near the solstice) these were times of great festivities, gift giving and rather than being a commercial extravaganza, it was a time of rest for business. No commercial business was allowed. A jar of preserved plums, candles or other small token was the rule for gift giving. Useful items that showed your friends that you were thinking about them were given. Re-gifting carried no stigma. (This was like, two thousand years before Seinfeld) Slaves were allowed to wear the best clothes of their masters, and slave owners were obliged to serve their charges if only for a few short days. It was the topsy-turvey time of year when children were allowed sweets, to stay up late, and to make the rules. The period of time between the seventeenth and the twenty-third of December was set aside for rest and relaxation, renewing personal ties to friends and family, letting by-gones be by-gones and Partying.

The Roman Saturnalia was timed to reward the mostly agrarian population after fall planting, and after harvest, with a grand celebration, honoring the God of Growth & Abundance. In times of old, the chance to revel and relax was no less necessary than it is today. Sadly, it seems, the push in modern times is toward making everything perfect. Norman Rockwell may not have created the unreasonable expectation of universal bliss and the perfect family but he definitely codified it in the psyche of most Americans. This in turn has led to tremendous feelings of lack, isolation, ambivalence, and for many, depression. We hear about commercial interests during this season ad infinitum, yet the things that matter most, the needs of people we care about, are glossed over or ignored. I would hazard a guess that in the days of honoring all men, the eternally giving nature of each of us was rejoiced in, and no one felt that they were "from another planet." Feeling part of a larger community, especially one that was whole and aligned with the Gods and Goddesses must have been resplendent. Military exploits were suspended, war could not be declared during this time, "normal" behavior was frowned upon, and all were able to abide by relaxed rules regarding social class, etiquette and decorum.

It seems that we have reached a time where if one has significant resources, these rules are relaxed at all times. The slaves never get to wear the master's clothes, not even for a week, and the idea of suspending our expectations never occurs to us. Week-long revelry is suspect, frowned upon, and considered a little too hedonistic. The idea of encouraging everyone to do it on a specific week seems to us to be over the top. Maybe if we could associate it with football, or perhaps basketball, it could be placed in context, but to get things right between the individual and a community, or to get things right between humans and the Gods, now that's nearly treasonous! It is at least anti-capitalist, and that is who happens to be ruling the day. The "Keep Christ in Christmas" people are to be commended, but capitalism has subverted and co-opted the holiday beyond what yard signs can undo. Unbridled greed and consumerism have taken the last vestiges of sanctity from the Christmas Story and are morphing to increase revenues by appealing to other faiths as well. I believe that it is high time that we put our attention back on the solar cycle, the ancient reality of restful reflection, and honoring friends and family in ways that do not encourage depletion of resources, frustrate the primal urge to have fun with the people we love or cause us to flit about in search of "deals" on the very things we hope will create an accord with folks we are obliged to recognize.

The perverse twists and turns of logic, the convoluted rhetoric and the ultra-hype of the Christmas Spirit today have taken on a new hue. Many would welcome the return of gifts like a candle, or preserved plums over Mp3 players, digi-cams, or Best Buy gift cards, but how do you fight the urge to "prove your love" when the daily fare in advertising is to give diamonds or a car? This is where we need to get creative. Recognize where the urge to make gifts bigger and bigger each year comes from. Realize that through re-aligning ourselves to things that are eternal and that really matter, may put us at odds with the current culture of "have more for less". Many may not understand at first. We must be willing to stand up for what is right, even if we stand alone at first. It may take years, but if one spends their holy days stressed out and exhausted, trying to be all things to all people, nothing is going to change. People who love you will get more and more disillusioned, and feel ever more isolated. Have fun, unbridled joy at visiting with friends and bring a tiny gift rather than a huge one. Your unrestrained joy may turn some heads at first, but it may change minds as well.
I am going to do my part by buying a few dozen candles, perhaps some figs, or walnuts to share, and invite over a small number of friends to drink a toast to life, perhaps play a little cards, or dice, and nosh on some snick-snacks. I urge everyone to take a break from the elaborate rituals of modern Christmas, and return to something you can believe in, a well deserved break from keeping up with the Jones'. Take a break from work, at least a week, from bills, they can wait, from your senses if you prefer, but most of all from expectations, for that is the most sublime. When you come back to the life you knew before the holy days, you will see it with fresh eyes. Things you liked about yourself, and your life, you are welcome to pick up again. Those you do not, will be easier to let pass. New Year's Resolutions anyone?
It has been said: "You have to be out of your head to be in your right mind." What better time to do it than just before a long winter's night? Or during one for that matter. It is time to start realizing the dreams that have carried us through the dark oppression of Capitalism. It is time to honor or neighbor and friends. It is time to take our place in Nature's chain. Instead of continuing to suck resources from the planet, repeatedly buying gifts, no matter how useless, extravagant or inappropriate, let's get down to basics. We love one another and appreciate spending time with the folks we care about. From this foundation of love, all things will grow. Economic factors have no place in holy days. Give them no quarter and they will find their rightful place among banality and vulgarity. Blessed Saturn, thank-you for our continued wealth, our overflowing cornucopia, our fertile soils, our sustenance and the opportunity to serve the planet for another year!