Transformation… Week 04

a Moment for Wisdom…

Transformation

William Irwin Thompson

Personal Wisdom:

Do you believe that you are a “player” in our global transformations?  How?  How not?

Societal Wisdom:

Are the leaders of your society influencing the transformation of human culture?  In what way?

a Moment with Sharif…

Greetings;

At one time, before our modern era, human existence was about struggling to survive, hunting and gathering enough food to exist in a harsh environment.

Now… go back and re-read the above sentence.  IT SIMPLY ISN’T TRUE.

That’s what we were taught in school – that our predecessors had it rough, and we’ve got it much better, now that we’ve got television and washing machines and supermarkets.  It’s our “story” – our justification for living the lives that we have now, using the resources that we use, for ignoring the people that we choose to ignore.

There is abundant evidence, from many different fields, that our Keeper (indigenous) ancestors had a rich life of the Spirit, spent only a few hours a day in food gathering and preparation, spent much time in building community, storytelling, music, arts… All the things that we are “too busy” to pursue in Breaker culture.

So, while the Thompson quote is true, it may also be false.  Or, at least incomplete.  Yes, our lifespans are much longer than those of our ancestors.  Yes, our cultural transformation, around the world, is so rapid it can be difficult to keep up with what’s going on, even when we WANT to stay abreast of our changes. 

The difficult part of the quote is the part about the human mind.  We are so much smarter
about how the world works than our ancestors. Yet, many of us do so little with that intelligence, its as though we are barely out of our caves.  It’s not a matter of whether or
not we waste our minds.  Our biggest challenge is that we fail to engage. 

We’ve got lots of reasons for failing to engage.  We know the usual ones: work-job-money-family…  Some of the more recent ones: television (my era) and the “entertainment” portion of the Internet.  Our minds can feel busy and engaged, from violence to pornography to water-skiing squirrels… but never once engaging in the world of our shared, sensate experiences.  Never once engaging in a reality other than digital.  For those engaged in digital reality, they are indeed “constituent players”… but the games they play are illusions.

So… how do we become real participants in the grand transformation that is sweeping our planet?  How do we engage?

If you’ve been reading this, you know the answer: it’s about paying attention.  Discovering
your values.  Then acting.

For those of us who can think, we will have a disproportionate effect on the direction of our global human society.  You are much bigger than you think you are.

Peace,

Sharif

Transformation Exercises:

This week’s “Transformation” exercise: 

What should be the direction of our global human transformation?  Some want us to colonize Mars, others want us to hug trees.  What do YOU want?

1. Write down 3-5 directions for humanity that you think are positive and uplifting.
   What do you want to see more of?  (Cultural exchanges?  Travel?  Concern for the Earth?)

2. Write down 3-5 directions for humanity that you think are not positive.  What would you like to see less of?

3. Share both lists with your children (or your parents, where appropriate).  Ask them to respond to the same questions and write down their lists.  Compare lists: see where your goals and visions are different.Are the same.

4. Share both lists with your own age group. Ask them to respond to the same questions and write down their lists.  Compare lists: see where your goals and visions are different.Are the same.

5. Share both lists with someone who is “Other” to you.  Ask them to respond to the same questions and write down their lists.  Compare lists: Where are your
   goals and visions different?Where are they the same.?

6. At the end of this exercise, has your list significantly changed from the original?
   Who had the most influence over your vision of the future?

Acknowledgments:

All photos by Sharif Abdullah, unless otherwise noted.

“Earth Hands” via clipart