Connection is the cure
Charles Eisenstein talks about the ‘origins of the wrongness’. It’s something I’ve anguished over for years, as I’m sure you have too. Why are we doing this to the world? Why are we killing each other, why are we polluting the water sources, why are we destroying the rainforests and cutting down ancient woodlands and 2000 year old trees? Why?
He talks brilliantly about the destructive myth of ’separation’.
We can only hurt others if we believe we are separate from them.
This system we’re living in is not broken. It was never ‘whole’. It’s always been totally corrupt and at odds with the human spirit. Placing economic growth on a pedestal as the way to measure success is absolutely insane. This insanity is entrenched in modern Western society. The GDP is an example of this. Countries are literally ranked on how much they can consume. And this consumption doesn’t just cause great damage to the Earth (whole islands of plastic, ecological breakdown, extinction of millions of species), it actually damages us. The more we consume, the unhappier we are. For some reason, in the political realm, no one seems to be talking about this. All we see if people fighting over how to address the symptoms. No one is talking about the cause.
It’s hard to imagine what life was like 10,000 years ago. It’s hard to even imagine life without the internet, even though I do remember a childhood without it. Our world has changed so drastically in the last 100 years, even in the last 20 years. It makes sense to me to consider, what have our ancestors been doing for 80,000 years or more? As far as I’m aware, our physiology hasn’t changed so much in this time, but now the world we are living in seems completely at odds with human happiness. We’ve disconnected ourselves from nature, called it progress and ripped out our own hearts in the process.
I believe we ALL need these things to feel content and healthy: love and connection with others, whether biological family or local community/friends, sunlight, physical connection with the earth through bare feet or any bare body part, fresh air, going to sleep and rising with the sun, majority of time in the day spent outside, majority of the day spent moving (not sitting in chairs), fresh food as close to the source as possible, a sense of purpose. The typical modern lifestyle of 9 hours in an office, long commutes and the definition of success as economic gain is the complete opposite of this.
Of course, some communities still live in tune with the natural world. I’ve been fortunate enough to spend time with communities in the Peruvian Amazon, rural Gambia & Senegal. From a GBP perspective, these communities are ‘poor’. As you’ll know if you’ve ever been to any of these places, the people are generally happy. They are really alive! So isn’t it a confusing paradox, the more we have the less we seem to connect. What I noticed in Peru, is there an abundance of joy. Dancing, food, movement, time outside, time with each other is an everyday reality, rather than a special occasion like a yoga retreat or holiday. There is a real connection to place. People know the names of the trees around them, which plants to eat and which to avoid. The modern Western world is built on separation, and the more money we have, the worse it seems to get
When we outsource everything, we no longer have that connection with the product. If you’ve ever grown your own vegetables you’ll know the deep satisfaction and happiness that is felt when you pick a ripe tomato, or harvest pumpkins and turn them into a beautiful meal. Compare that to how you feel ordering Uber Eats with a few swipes of your finger.
Separation is the problem. It’s not enough to say ‘we’re all one’ because our society is constantly telling us that’s not true. Especially now we are being encouraged to keep away from each other and do everything online, from shopping to weddings, to education. No wonder we are in the midst of a mental health crisis.
I don’t know the solution. I have absolutely no idea how to bring us back from the brink. I don’t know how to lift the illusion of separateness. However, I’m open to finding out. I’m open to the possibility that there is a different way. I wholeheartedly believe that our humanity, our innate compassion will prevail. Beneath all the division, the politics, and the arguing over masks, I know that humanity is good, loving, generous, and kind. I see it every single day. In fact, it’s all I see. Every single person I meet at the studio is full of love. So I absolutely believe we can overcome this myth of separation.
My biological family are 15,000 kms away, and at the moment, like so many others, I’m separated from them. I’m extremely grateful for my freedom to make these choices, the privilege I have to live anywhere in the world, however, I also understand the importance of belonging. As the world becomes more separated, we need our communities more than ever.
Soul Tribe is a family for me. Every day when I come into the studio I see your faces. We talk, sometimes we share tea, exchange gifts, trade, move together, dance together, sing and breathe together. This is what my spirit needs. Without this I don’t know where I’d be. So find your community. Talk to your neighbours. Whatever you love to do, whether its bake or paint or sculpt, do that. Gift your time, share your resources. We need each other, now more than ever.
Separation is the disease. Connection is the cure.