Dare to Envision a Reality that Extends the Limitations of What We Think We Know
Wednesday January 29th marked the beginning of the lunar new year - so if you haven't quite connected with the January first reset, let this be your opportunity to push the refresh button.
This lunar new year in Chinese astrology ushers in the Year of the Wood Snake. While many characteristics are associated with this sign, the one that resonates most deeply to me is Growth and Transformation - like that of a snake shedding its skin.
How can we grow and transform as a collective?
For our New Moon Ritual this month my children and I explored these two questions: What would we like to shed this month or this coming year, and what do we want to transform into? I extend this invitation to you for contemplation as well.
While I have my aspirtations that come to mind, the vision I want to share is my intention to balance my personal development AND examine my role or “job” as a community member. In my utopian vision of the world everyone weaves this dual perspective into their new beginnings - if it’s not already in practice.
"I ask myself (and you): How can I pursue my highest potential and shine authentically here on Earth, while staying mindful of the collective?"
I know it can feel overwhelming to consider humanity's collective needs when we're often just trying to get through the day. My approach to overcoming this limiting belief is to remember that consistent tiny steps will lead us to the mountain's peak - and by not rushing, we maintain our endurance, health, and strength.
So what do tiny steps look like when we are working for the benefit of all humanity?
First, let's acknowledge that everyone's capacity to take on new commitments is different - like containers of varying sizes. The key is to work within your current capacity, rather than overflowing your container and risking burnout.
Tiny steps may look like:
-taking a moment to wave to your neighbor and genuinely ask about their day, creating ripples of connection in your community
-checking in on an elderly neighbor and sharing a cup of tea
-making intentional eye contact with those you meet, acknowledging their humanity and presence
-contributing to humanitarian causes that align with your values, no matter how modest the amount
-switching your personal care products to non-toxic with the intention to keep our shared waters clean
-reaching out to colleagues and friends who might feel vulnerable in current times, letting them know they have a safe space and an ally in you
-building a community together with people who share a similar vision for the future as you - it could be a book club, cooking club, tea time to share in person connections etc
These types of ‘tiny steps’ can often feel small to us, but can make lasting impressions that plant seeds of hope and connection in others.
In our ‘rush it and crush it’ world that often prioritizes profit over the wellbeing of people and our planet, I believe our path to a better future begins by intentionally fostering connections – both with each other and with the natural world around us.
We have yet to evolve from war against our fellow humans and thus forming small bridges of connection are what I believe will lead us to this ‘better’ place. This is my vision, a world in which we can resolve conflict without violence, and I share it with you in hopes that we can build these bridges together.
It will take work and the work to get there needs to begin within ourselves, -back to the first part of personal development.
Until we acknowledge the hatred and violence that lives within all of us – however uncomfortable this truth may be – we cannot truly know ourselves and grow. By denying these darker aspects, we allow them to manifest in ways we cannot control - war. Only by bringing these shadows into the light, by giving them space within our complex nature, can we begin to transform them. Through this acknowledgment, we can evolve these difficult emotions into love, which has the infinite capacity to hold and transform all aspects of our being.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on how we can work together to create harmony - not just between humans, but with all living beings who share our Earth. What small steps could we take today that would help build that future? What visions do you hold for a world where humans live in balance with nature?
Below are some ideas or mantras I recently wrote down that have brought me a sense of peace in what feels like turbulent times. They are reminders to me that our lives here are precious, temporary, and that we are the creators and observers of our own worlds.
Freedom is recognizing we are light visitors with skin suits on.
Awareness is recognizing our bodies are holy temples while we experience life through them.
Health is balancing our identity as visitors while treating our bodies and the Earth with devoted reverence, reflecting our inner world's love outwardly.
Death is a cyclical process that must happen again and again for us to shed our skins, grow, and evolve.
Surrender is allowing a plan to unfold that is greater than you can imagine.
Courage is Surrender.
Manifestation is the acknowledgement that “thoughts become things”.
Peace is knowing YOU are your home and no one can ever that take away.
Dreams and Ideas are drops of wisdom from the ocean of the Divine asking to be brought forth through you.
These are my dreams and ideas, and I'm grateful you've taken the time to explore them with me. I hope you'll embrace what resonates with your own vision for a better world, and together we can help bring that shared future into being.
A tiny little ad :
I wrote a book called ‘God is Like the Sun’ that talks about some of these ideas if you’d like to read it - click here. It’s family friendly and something that can be referred back to again at different stages of life.
Until the full moon... may you find peace, harmony, love, and light, while honoring the dark soil that lives within us all – that sacred void where all seeds of transformation are planted.
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