@earthangel Your message really resonated me, especially thanking the Universe and our guides for the ability to have sensitivity to the world and this existence.
And to your point about the challenges you have endured: I was talking with a work colleague whose longtime mentor passed away suddenly last year. It was a shock to all of us, but especially to her, who had worked with him so closely for 20+ years. She said that the shock and grieving of his death prepared her to deal better with the current situation in the world.
It's similar to how I feel witnessing my mother go through the later stages of her incurable neurodegenerative disease.
I don't mean to glorify suffering, but rather to say how it can open us up to a larger view of the world and ourselves.
I don't mean to glorify suffering, but rather to say how it can open us up to a larger view of the world and ourselves.
Exactly. Suffering and grief shape your new "normal".
I only can save my own soul in this battle btw good and evil.
However by "saving" yourself, your energy will help "save" others. It's contagious and inevitable.
What a wonderful post and a great conversation starter. This reminds me of flight attendants who tell you before the start of every trip:
“In the unlikely event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, oxygen masks will drop from the panel above your head. Please be sure to secure your own mask before helping others.”
The unlikely event has happened.
I have the tools to get through the crisis which are the Spiritual gifts, intuition and life experiences. I've been given each throughout out my life. I must secure my own mask FIRST by taking stock of my gifts and using them because if I don't take care of myself, I can't possibly help others, nor can I survive the crisis. When our masks are securely fastened, we can help others with their own masks. BUT, they must be willing to use their tool(s) and breathe in the life saving air themselves. I can't breathe for them but I can help show them a light, it is their choice to step onto the lit path or stay in the dark and well, suffocate.
May we all discover our gifts and embrace them as we travel through these times. May we carry truth, love, hope and enlightenment on our journey forward to the next chapter.
@lynn, Thank you for your open-hearted honesty, and surrounding you with healing light and protection from the disabling effects of anxiety and distress.
@earthangel, thank you for a beautiful post.
I find it stunning that so many in this country don't seem to realize what the machinations of this administration are actually doing. It is so clear to me. In the 1930's the Fascists controlled the media, like Truth Social, Sinclair media etc now. Their leader encouraged formation of the SA, like ICE today, encouraged ppl to be in uniform for a common cause unity of 'belonging', the 'inferiors' were pointed out and the citizens were indoctrinated into hatred of 'the other'. Protestors were imprisoned or eliminated. People were terminated from their jobs as the fist of control tightened. 'The other', be it due to their religion, being a member of the intelligencia or thinking class, or the sick or non-productive inhabitants, were eliminated by removal from the country, being placed in concentration camps, or otherwise being disenfranchised. It is a replay of what we've seen before in history, and yet, as a society, we have not stopped it, and even the Supreme Court is enabling its development. It appears to be a time where Americans have scales over their eyes and cannot see. I pray for Light to banish this darkness.
@classictravelr Believe it or not, here in Germany we discuss exactly this topic extensively, and it is already a typical part of daily lessons in schools everywhere in my country. In English class: “How the US is changing right now”; in politics class: “Is there anywhere in the world a democracy moving toward autocracy or dictatorship right now, how does that work and how could citizens deal with it, what changes might they face?”; in history class: “What was it like here in 1933, what is it like today on the other side of the Atlantic?”; in music class with songs by Bruce Springsteen, etc. I think the topic has not yet reached math class, but who knows, given the issue of tariffs, it may soon be included in percentage calculations 🤔. Well, at least I can report that, according to the general consensus among German teachers, it is definetely not yet like what we faced here in 1933, but there is an obvious example of an ongoing shift from democracy to autocracy somewhere in the world right now. You think no one has realized this? Everyone, everyone, everyone in the whole world with media can see it on a brightly lit stage, and surely all schoolchildren in the Western democratic part of the world are discussing about it every day. I am very sure that this is not only in German schools the case (perhaps a little more here because we had grandparents and parents who witnessed 1933 and we do remember all their stories very very well). Why is it that all the people in the US doesn't seem to realize a change, but every non-US citizen somewhere else in the democtratic Western world does realize and is discussing it a lot, even the school children? Hmm, are people in an autocracy actually still allowed to say really everything out loud? Hold on, let me ask some of the German teachers at school here. It is their top topic of the day, I mean, their top topic of every day, anyway.
Joy, thank you for your comments. First, I believe education is of utmost importance so we can look back with an experienced eye to see commonality with previous events and movements from the past. I have always been interested in history... to find out why things are the way they are in the world, and my travels in Europe decades ago were enlightening. In the US, education is mostly funded locally by property taxes, and due to budget constraints and other priorities, national education is uneven. I may be mistaken, but I'm under the impression that the Northern and Eastern states have given education investment more priority, including history classes. Many people seem to think history is unnecessary and a waste of time in their day-to-day lives, but in fact, history teaches us about the Big World and how things have gone right- or wrong- during different eras, how to see what is likely to happen if we don't change direction, and how to recover. There is a comment in the Old Testament Bible referring to the People being unable to see where they were going wrong, like they had 'scales over their eyes'. I pray the Light can lift off the scales sooner than later, because we are in for a very bad time if people continue to believe social media lies & propaganda, and continue their ignorant march into darkness.
@classictravelr Oh, absolutely! Education is so incredibly important, isn't it? I must admit that your answer did surprise me a little. I had no idea that politics and history aren't part of the regular curriculum in US schools. I hope I understood you correctly, but I'm not sure. Have you answered, that it is not common for sixth graders and older kids in the US to be able to list the differences between democracy, autocracy and dictatorship? And that it is not regular that every 6-grader would be able to explain at least a bit what we as citizens can and need to do to keep democracy alive? And have you answered that it is not normal standard for at least the 8-graders and above to know exactly what destroyed democracy in Germany in 1933? (Except for those very lazy pupils of course). Instead, it depends on the US region and the property taxes there if school kids would be able to answer all this and if they would know? Sorry, I am definetely surprised about this, if this was really part of what you have answered me. It is not in the regular curriculum? You must be kidding......
Joy--I will have to ask my granddaughters about their more recent high school curriculum experience. Even back in the 60's & 70's when I was in school, it seemed there was a fading interest in history classes, with likely one American History class during 2 semesters, and after that, as I recall, it was mostly an elective. Since I've always had an interest and curiosity in European history (my roots are in Dusseldorf & Pommern), and learned a bit of German in the home (grandma would switch to German when she didn't want me to know what she was talking about, LOL) I've always been interested in why things are the way they are. I remember her sending packages to family members near Stettin in the 1950's, as things were still very bad there. So I put my son in German Immersion grade school, and later took him traveling every couple summers in Western Europe, so we probably have a different view than families who don't have that European connection or interest. He actually spent a college semester as exchange student in Germany. There is excellent WWII documentary programming available here if people are interested to pay attention. But it's hard to let the light in when the mind is closed.