Most of us in 2011 suffer from deep, deep psychic numbing, defined as emotional unresponsiveness to traumatic or potentially traumatic events. We put on blinders and focus only on our own lives. Deep down, we feel helpless, isolated, and hopeless about the future. Psychic numbing leads to cynicism, apathy, inaction in the face of threats. The sense of pleasure and excitement is lost. It can lead to severe depression, a state in which the will to live is weakened, and suicide becomes an option.
To be or not to be, that is the question.
Many ancient prophecies tell of these times, the period in which we are now living. Our species has aggressively used up most habitable space on the planet, and shows no sign of slowing down the greedy exploitation of resources and heedless fouling of the environment. We have lost the wisdom that keeps us in balance. We are not looking out for our children's children, as people have traditionally done.
The ancient prophecies offer hope that strengthen our will to live, as well as advice on how to proceed in these difficult times.
After 1945, the Hopi elders made public their prophecy about the "gourd of ashes", which if dropped from the sky would boil the oceans and burn the land, causing nothing to grow there for many years. http://www.dancingawakethefifthworld.com/hopi_prophecy.php The pictograph containing the prophecy shows two paths that humanity can follow- the outer, materialistic, greedy path or the inner, spiritual path. The first leads to death and destruction, the second to life and prosperity.
The inner path, of self-examination and wisdom, has been followed to some degree. Many humans, especially the scientists who helped develop the ultimate weapon, have knowingly or unknowingly heeded this prophecy, and have worked to contain and control nuclear weapons.
In the 60's, there was an outpouring of Spirit. We followed swamis, took LSD, and studied the examples of peacemakers like Jesus, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr. We called for banning The Bomb. We protested the Vietnam War, registered voters in the South, developed ecological consciousness.
Many people continue in 2011 to tread the inner path, striving for right livelihood, meditating, praying, seeking to know themselves better through psychotherapy, becoming more peaceful through anger management. Improving their character in twelve steps. Many are dedicated to working for world peace. When it became obvious that GW Bush was planning to invade Iraq in 2003, 20 million people around the world marched for peace , the largest peace movement in history.
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