How to go from ‘survival’ to ‘Life’ in times of shock and turmoil
When I went to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, in Columbia, and met with the Mamo’s (shamans), they didn’t stop telling us: “Connect to the Mother Earth”. Only now I start to understand the importance of the message. Especially in our crazy western society which is afraid of the “elements” (draught, water, earthquakes, tsunamis, fires,…): it doesn’t help to love and connect to the planet — as when we are afraid of her… (how can we be afraid of our nourishing mother anyway ?)
They added: “You are lost in a ‘horizontal’ timeframe (Chronos), confused by money. Whereas us, we are constantly in a vertical timeframe (Kairos)”.
Now, in our “developed countries”, we start to recieve shocks — mostly with financial implications. And I see now, with the naked eye, what they wanted to tell us, and why. Everybody is freaking out, on all levels. We were — only for a few decades — used to get fixed incomes, every month. All of a sudden, that starts to disrupt. Oups, we are out of comfortzones, and have to become more agile. That is a huge change, and we hate it. We don’t accept this, fight against it, and… often do stupid things. Those things often makes us end up alone (and thus, even more in danger).
My question is now: “What will we do, of value and purpose, with people who are freaking out ?”
My answer: nothing good. It is useless. A waste of time and energy. We will only be able to go through tornado, turmoil, with people who can stay calm, anchored, ethical, reassuring, creative, even… with humor. Those people are… anchored into their ‘earth’. Stable, strong, aligned.
People in stress, anxious, weak, are unable even to make a proper email, or speech, and even less able to bring projects and solutions. Worse, they become really nasty, bad. That includes a very negative side-effect of ‘burning the bridges’. They end up alone. This is even worse for them, exposes them much more to danger, like wounded animals in the wilderness. Exposed…
We (with our intern Diana) have studied communities who are in war zones and post-cataclysms (earthquakes, floods, etc). Those who do survive are, on the contrary, open and in solidarity, helping each other, stay calm, creatively activating all possible resources around. Those in panic and stress are much more exposed to death.
So now, what does it truly mean to “Connect to Mother Earth” ?
- First, realize that we have one common mother, and that we are not alone and abandoned as their children. We are a family. Sisters and brothers… Hm. Alone we are in danger. Together in solidarity we are stronger than if we are divided.
- See the abundance around: what do we need, where can we find, in creative ways, the resources we need ? They are everywhere if we are curious enough.
- Meditate with Mother Earth: Breathe, close your eyes, imagine the earth underneath, sink and slip into its arms like it were your real mother… Do it long enough till your heart feels good, opens up… (anyway the Mother Earth will NEVER LET YOU GO, because of gravity :-)
- Walk in nature: nature is by design, abundant. When we walk, and truly take time to connect to that diversity, it nourishes a lot. Energetically first, and lateron, we can learn from nature on how to behave, to connect, to cross needs and resources in an economic ecosystem, for real…
- Meet the communities around: walk around and meet your neighbours. Circle around and enjoy the abundance — if you are able to talk, share, in confidence and trust. Rediscover community values… 1+1=3 or more.
- Inspire from ‘connected communities’ close and far away: the best teachers are (1) people who survived shocks, (2) and also, the indigineous communities who live close to, or inside nature.
Tell me also, if you have other ideas !
Remember, stress and anxiety will only accelerate your pathway to your grave, to death. Psychological, emotional, physical. We will — whether we like it or not — HAVE TO deal with turmoil, more and more.
Get used to it. Go for training and workout !
Michel A. de Kemmeter
