I think one of the problems is finding words for it, because it's not intellectual, a thing I've been writing about. Even naming it with these words is a problem, but, how can you communicate it to others *without* such words? Words are symbols, you're also adding the real thing behind the symbol.
Yes agreed, it's incredibly difficult to convey. That is why I'm looking forward to running in-person workshops which will allow people to experience this as a combined feeling.
This is the best thing I've read in a long time.I recently watched Bruce Parry 'Amazon' here in the UK.I don't know where you are based but this post reminded me of similar feelings that i felt when watching this show.Bruce has spent a huge amount of time with indigenous communities and is a great guy.Thanks for the post.
Thank you. And yes I’ve watched Bruce Parry over the years. I was in the rainforest in 2001 and so Bruce reminded me of my time. He gave us great glimpses into the lives of Indigenous People. What I’m endeavouring to do is to look at the dynamics going on and begin to embody this for ourselves in a modern setting.
I think I have been unconsciously doing this by taking up a neo-pagan lifestyle.Honouring initiation,ancestors,the seasons together in an accepting community.Also a belief in animism.I can do this in London and I've experienced some of the things you describe with my people in the woods doing rituals.
Yes there are elements there. The key word that you use is ‘unconsciously’. It is the same with Indigenous peoples I have found, they have been doing it for so many generations that is unconscious. I think for where we are in our return back to Eden (the Self) or whatever feels right to call it, we are asked to very conscious. And so for me I’m asking do we feel these 3 things: Connected, Worthy and Loved? Do we really feel connected to the cosmos, do we feel we have an integral place in it? And do we feel seen by the cosmos (for me this was one of the hardest to get to)? Do we feel we deserve all the abundance, the continual gifts of nature, and even when we don’t feel we can love ourselves, do we feel Divine Love that always loves us. These are just some of the questions that underpin a cohesive true culture. At it’s core, for me, it’s about being very conscious now about what it is to live in a cohesive culture, a culture that is not fragmented, that understands the dynamics needed to support it’s members.
Thank you for replying.Yes although my spirituality provides a respite from the isolating, disconnection of the larger culture I am aware that it is a seperate and a minority group amongst many other minority groups all working separately.that said there are a lot of other minorities in Paganism-like Wicca-LGBTQ,trans,animal rights.It seems that it is a place for people who don't fit into the main culture.It would be great if we could work towards a cohesiveness in the main culture rather than setting ourselves apart.Sometimes I feel that I could leave the city and live cooperatively off grid but the same problems of the main culture would be unavoidable intruding-roads,climate crisis,people buying land for money,deforestation and this would still impact on my new community as it does in indigenous communities.It would be great to have a mass cultural movement of consciousness for those 3 things you mention.I need to buy your book!best wishes.
Firstly, thank you saying these things. It’s not easy to have this conversation because it is looking at the fundamentals of what we do. Shamanism took me to the mountains of Peru and the Steppes of Mongolia but I could only get fragments of what it was. It’s hard to be honest and say that whatever we do, we won’t really arrive at anything cohesive unless we build the cultural architecture which then supports everything else. In fact, for me, a true culture provides meaning and identity also and so there is less emphasis on us looking to focus on these aspects also. I’m in Italy but in discussions about running workshops in other locations of which London is one.
After Plato and Confucius I found Aristoteles and Rudolf Steiner. To build the new culture I have to work for it – not just wait for it – outside and inside myself, ... both micro and macro as Gwyn seid. So I would add to worthyness, connectedness and love: self-recognition; inner freedom; responsability for thoughts, feelings and acting.
An interesting read. Much food for thought. "Loved, connected, worthy" reminds me of the important attributes of the bond between mother and child during the child's formative years. A good start can anchor and ground us so that we are less likely to cling onto 'pseudoculture'. We seem to be a function of our genotype, phenotype, ancestors and environment ~ both macro and micro.
Thanks Gwyn. And yes that’s very insightful. I feel there are definitely elements present for the baby and mother. There is some research that does suggest however that during pregnancy any stresses are picked up in the womb and so if the mother wasn’t in a loving environment or the environment was stressful this could be gin the cycle early. It does open up huge positive potential if the culture was one where everyone felt connected, worthy and loved that this could be woven into every situation, as you say rightly ‘micro and macro’.
Appreciate this essay very much. It has really made the edges of my spiderweb of ideas vibrate as it were. The idea that we are the ‘empty self’ and we cannot find what we search for, so we fill ourselves with things that have no depth and meaning. Enlightening. Thank you for staying curious and connecting dots. ❤️
I think one of the problems is finding words for it, because it's not intellectual, a thing I've been writing about. Even naming it with these words is a problem, but, how can you communicate it to others *without* such words? Words are symbols, you're also adding the real thing behind the symbol.
Yes agreed, it's incredibly difficult to convey. That is why I'm looking forward to running in-person workshops which will allow people to experience this as a combined feeling.
This is the best thing I've read in a long time.I recently watched Bruce Parry 'Amazon' here in the UK.I don't know where you are based but this post reminded me of similar feelings that i felt when watching this show.Bruce has spent a huge amount of time with indigenous communities and is a great guy.Thanks for the post.
Thank you. And yes I’ve watched Bruce Parry over the years. I was in the rainforest in 2001 and so Bruce reminded me of my time. He gave us great glimpses into the lives of Indigenous People. What I’m endeavouring to do is to look at the dynamics going on and begin to embody this for ourselves in a modern setting.
I think I have been unconsciously doing this by taking up a neo-pagan lifestyle.Honouring initiation,ancestors,the seasons together in an accepting community.Also a belief in animism.I can do this in London and I've experienced some of the things you describe with my people in the woods doing rituals.
Yes there are elements there. The key word that you use is ‘unconsciously’. It is the same with Indigenous peoples I have found, they have been doing it for so many generations that is unconscious. I think for where we are in our return back to Eden (the Self) or whatever feels right to call it, we are asked to very conscious. And so for me I’m asking do we feel these 3 things: Connected, Worthy and Loved? Do we really feel connected to the cosmos, do we feel we have an integral place in it? And do we feel seen by the cosmos (for me this was one of the hardest to get to)? Do we feel we deserve all the abundance, the continual gifts of nature, and even when we don’t feel we can love ourselves, do we feel Divine Love that always loves us. These are just some of the questions that underpin a cohesive true culture. At it’s core, for me, it’s about being very conscious now about what it is to live in a cohesive culture, a culture that is not fragmented, that understands the dynamics needed to support it’s members.
Thank you for replying.Yes although my spirituality provides a respite from the isolating, disconnection of the larger culture I am aware that it is a seperate and a minority group amongst many other minority groups all working separately.that said there are a lot of other minorities in Paganism-like Wicca-LGBTQ,trans,animal rights.It seems that it is a place for people who don't fit into the main culture.It would be great if we could work towards a cohesiveness in the main culture rather than setting ourselves apart.Sometimes I feel that I could leave the city and live cooperatively off grid but the same problems of the main culture would be unavoidable intruding-roads,climate crisis,people buying land for money,deforestation and this would still impact on my new community as it does in indigenous communities.It would be great to have a mass cultural movement of consciousness for those 3 things you mention.I need to buy your book!best wishes.
Firstly, thank you saying these things. It’s not easy to have this conversation because it is looking at the fundamentals of what we do. Shamanism took me to the mountains of Peru and the Steppes of Mongolia but I could only get fragments of what it was. It’s hard to be honest and say that whatever we do, we won’t really arrive at anything cohesive unless we build the cultural architecture which then supports everything else. In fact, for me, a true culture provides meaning and identity also and so there is less emphasis on us looking to focus on these aspects also. I’m in Italy but in discussions about running workshops in other locations of which London is one.
I would be happy to attend if in London.Best wishes.
After Plato and Confucius I found Aristoteles and Rudolf Steiner. To build the new culture I have to work for it – not just wait for it – outside and inside myself, ... both micro and macro as Gwyn seid. So I would add to worthyness, connectedness and love: self-recognition; inner freedom; responsability for thoughts, feelings and acting.
(I hope you understand my english ... ;-)
Bernhard, yes your english is good and more importantly gets across big ideas!
I would posit that we need less of the 'have to work for it’, and more of a ‘soften into it’ way of being.
(ps. I’m wondering if the ‘have to work for it’ could be a cultural phenomenon?)
"have to work for" sounds too hard, I know. I mean rather "not forget to do something for it", and I agree completely with "soften into ...
And of course it is a cultural phenomenon! ;-)
Bernhard, I was being my utmost diplomatic self in the cultural phenomenon point, but I do feel it's true. I'm glad you accepted it ok. 🙏
An interesting read. Much food for thought. "Loved, connected, worthy" reminds me of the important attributes of the bond between mother and child during the child's formative years. A good start can anchor and ground us so that we are less likely to cling onto 'pseudoculture'. We seem to be a function of our genotype, phenotype, ancestors and environment ~ both macro and micro.
Thanks Gwyn. And yes that’s very insightful. I feel there are definitely elements present for the baby and mother. There is some research that does suggest however that during pregnancy any stresses are picked up in the womb and so if the mother wasn’t in a loving environment or the environment was stressful this could be gin the cycle early. It does open up huge positive potential if the culture was one where everyone felt connected, worthy and loved that this could be woven into every situation, as you say rightly ‘micro and macro’.
Appreciate this essay very much. It has really made the edges of my spiderweb of ideas vibrate as it were. The idea that we are the ‘empty self’ and we cannot find what we search for, so we fill ourselves with things that have no depth and meaning. Enlightening. Thank you for staying curious and connecting dots. ❤️
You’re welcome, thank you for reading and commenting. 💚