We have become so docile in our world that the powers-that-be only
need guns to keep us at-bay when we become more and more vocal and
awake about our situation. Awakening is the last thing they want.
At present, they tend to keep us mesmerized through media and fear.
"Don't worry," said George Bush before attacking Iraq, "just go
shopping!" This line says it all. Having our sons and daughters on
both sides blown into bits means nothing to us. The state of
economic prosperity does. And the result is this:
Image from http://veteranstoday.com
Is there a connection between the shop-till-you-drop lady and the
plight of this little girl and the elder that loved her? And what
of the soldiers in the wars that shot that little one? They truly
are not always heartless murderers of little girls.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/iraq_war.jpg&imgrefurl=http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/978/do-american-soldiers-understand-iraq/&h=266&w=458&sz=43&tbnid=8TI6Ho5bQ-UHkM:&tbnh=119&tbnw=205&zoom=1&usg=___UtqIgg6WAxEtDM1uce6ZFwUO84=&docid=36jyUwRl82Xb-M&sa=X&ei=LxV2UtHcCIPjsATAhoCgBA&ved=0CEYQ9QEwBg
Imagine what horrors these soldiers or marines have seen.
Even in a lot of our spiritual organizations, we are taught to sit
on hard benches while a man or woman stands upon a pedestal, or
stage, to dictate to us what we need to know about religion. In
these cases, religion is most often about teaching an idealism and
not a discovery of the relationship of the individual self to the
Cosmic Self. Instead of being Baptist, Catholic, Christian, Muslim,
Buddhist or Taoist, why not be a loving human being? Our alienation
from Nature "out there" is a mirror to our alienation from our
Nature "in here." Through our being alienated from ourselves, we
surrender our power.
Yet, there are spiritualities that are empowering. These
spiritualities reflect the epistemological meaning of religion,
which is "to connect." Religion in this sense is about relationship
more so than following some man or woman standing upon a pedestal.
These spiritualities engage a person into kindling their power by
developing a deep relationship to Nature. Such is the work of don
Oscar Miro-Quesada, a Peruvian Shaman.
Don Oscar's work is grounded in the Pachakuti Mesa Tradition. The
grounding message for this tradition is: awaken to who you are
while embracing a vibrant world. As reflected in the short video
below:
My wife and I had the golden opportunity to speak with Don Oscar
through our on-line radio show, Envision This! Don Oscar carries
the Peruvian Shamanic Tradition to the rest of the world. He
presents a cross-cultural shamanism which reflects a depth of
relationship with the natural world. It is a relationship of loving
and caring. It is responding from that which is sacred within us to
all that is sacred around us. His is a practice that turns us all
into lovers, healers, creators, and sustainers.
Don Oscar's message is not one of "follow me, for I have the
answers." Instead, as stated by Bonnie Glass-Coffin, PhD in the
forward to his book, Lessons in Courage: Peruvian Shamanic
Wisdom for Everyday Life, "We can choose to be a victim
or an evolutionary partner in the unfolding of the great sacred
hoop of life."
It's our choice! It is we that have the power. But we have to take
a good hard look at how we have surrendered our power. The task
ahead of us isn't going to be easy!
To begin, we must ask, "Why does the shop-till-you-drop woman
surrender her power in such a way? Is her shopping akin to a drug,
or liquor, which then makes her zone out from being who she is in
relationship to the world? Is she escaping from freedom to use
Fromm's language? If she goes through a misfortune, will she then
take on the victim role?"
According to Don Oscar, misfortune is understood as a necessary
challenge for the growth and evolution of the Soul. Trusting
Soul means shifting consciousness from being victimized (i.e.,
externalizing our power) by life circumstances to a place of
recognizing how illness or violence or disaster are the necessary
compost that creates fertile ground for Becoming.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
2
1
1
