I don't know the answer to this question. I watched the film Darkest Hour and felt the parallels with Trump and Mussolini. Churchill's rhetorical power stood up to Hitler in a way no one else had at the time. Is that what we need?
Devin Nunes is now saying that comedian Stephen Colbert is dangerous. Nunes is crossing a line into authoritarianism that gives a rationale for cutting down comedians. The next step is to cut down protesters.
I feel like a groundswell is building with the Parkland teens's speeches. The anger those kids expressed was the kind of outrage that heart warriors need. It's not dark. It's no darker than Jesus's rage at the money lenders in the temple.
I struggle with this too. When I make my calls to my Reps or send my letters about why I am upset with certain actions or rollbacks etc, I am so angry...I am having a hard time disagreeing and staying centered. I feel so much is at stake and so many people being hurt- it’s hard for me to disagree strongly & not be angry. I am trying to realize these people are misguided, duped, and very wounded...sometimes I am more successful than others. Lately, my empathic self has been so anxious & restless. There is a heaviness I am having trouble shaking. Yoga helps, meditation helps, prayers help, and reading uplifting spiritual literature- but boy I can’t skip any of it, because then it gets worse. I know I am not the only one & when I hear the feelings & encouragement of others here & other likeminded places - it helps too. We are not alone- many of us are holding the light.
I just got this email from a reader named Christine. It fits the journey many of us have been on this past year with the prediction process. (She compliments me in a way that is nice although not sure is true because I struggle with the issue, but her main point is the process she describes.) She called it:
A Fairytale for Wisdom Warriors
Once upon a time there was a group of talented light warriors who predicted the future with profound accuracy.
They predicted a time of darkness and chaos for the US and to lesser degree, the world.
Their gifted leader, Jeanne, deftly managed the group. She kept the ever expanding website updated, facilitated classes and Read the Future meetings, and led one-on-one sessions with clients. It was a huge job. To all tasks Jeanne brought compassion and a deep, loving conviction that despite the present turmoil, a positive future was possible for the US.
But over time, this work took a personal toll on its members.
Due to their sensitivity, they experienced the negative events of the day multiple times. Once when the event was predicted, again when the event was posted to the website, and finally when the event happened.
These luminous beings felt their light diminish and found it hard to maintain equilibrium.
Then the most extraordinary thing happened.
Each member of the group was visited by huge numbers of angels; Jeanne herself had over ten thousand angels supporting her. When the light workers were weary or discouraged, the angels gleefully showered them with limitless love.
As the political and social stress increased, so did angel participation.
The light workers were raised up to a higher level of consciousness; by association the consciousness of their friends, family, and co-workers also increased and so it went.
There was no prediction for what happened next, the Earth’s vibration up-leveled to the point where the perpetrators of darkness transformed or disappeared.
And, believe it or not, the light workers lived happily ever after.
Note from Jeanne: Funny she used the number ten thousand angels. That's how many page views we get per day when the news is up.
Thank-you, dear Christine.
I would like to know the answer to this question as well. Although I never thought of the Parkland teens, or their parents, or the public response, as being "dark" or "angry". Is it really anger or is it just a passionate, proactive reaction to what happened? Being loud, passionate, intense, and demanding answers is interpreted as being "angry". Even if there is real anger, is it really all that bad? Someone once said (forgot who) that anger is a catalyst for change. As long as the anger is manifested into something positive, how can it be considered dark? If anger manifests into hate and fear, then that's something else, darkness.
I feel sorry for the word "anger" because has a negative stigma to it. Anger is considered a "fault", as if this legitimate feeling is irrational and unwarranted, as if we shouldn't be feeling it. Anger has a meaningful purpose. Like they say it's what we choose what to do with the anger that is more important. We manifest anger into something good or bad, or even both. When the Parkland kids focus on taking action, attending town halls, speaking out, going to marches, inspiring people -- instead of living in fear, passively complaining, tweeting hateful comments -- we know that this "anger" has served its higher, rightful purpose.
I do worry about our right to protest and the First Amendment, especially when comedians are being called "dangerous". Maybe we need draft up a new amendment called "the right to ignore" so that we can refer Devin Nunes to it whenever people say things he doesn't approve of. He can exercise this right whenever his authoritarian feelings take hold.
I felt that the anger of the Parkland teens and their parents was quite beautiful and refreshing. As I recall from Bible study days, Jesus flew into a rage when he saw money lending going on in the temple.
And I would like to send Nunes a copy of The Right to Ignore amendment.
This author Ann Bauer, may be onto some of the best advice I've heard on how not to become dark during these times.
Her article just came out of the WAPO on Sunday: Our anger is poisoning us. Here’s what I learned after my son died.
Her 28 year old son died mysteriously on Nov 4, 2016. They never found out the cause. They went into deep grief and traveled and followed the sun for many months. Meanwhile Trump became president, but they didn't notice because they were grieving so deeply. When they returned they were shocked at what had happened to our world. "How dark, brutal and dystopian it was." There was so much anger, she said.
She said two helpful things to my question.
(1) We need to turn our anger into something positive. That’s where the Parkland, Florida teens got it right. They are angry, but rather than simply raging and accusing, they are channeling their anger into purpose.
(2) Then she said, we need to treat ourselves and each other like her friends treated her and her husband – with kindness, tenderness, and care.
Isn't behind anger the grief for a just world that doesn't exist? A world in which everyone can thrive, and where we treat each other with kindness, compassion, tenderness and care...
I think anger is fine and I don't agree with the idea that spiritual progress means that anger is left behind. The question is, are you holding the anger or is the anger holding you? With what are you infusing your anger? With hope, a vision of a better world. Or are you infusing is with bitterness, a hurt ego in fear of the future.
Loved the article you spoke of Jeanne. I agree with you and Tee. Anger is useful but only if it is channeled into something positive. My practice is to do my best to channel anger into determination and be a warrior of compassion working to change myself to be more balanced and help in whatever small way I can to effect positive change in the world around me. I love that the Parkland kids and youth across this country are determined and resolute in bringing about positive change. Such a bright spot in a dark time. I keep watching for and holding onto moments of light like this.
Anger...a strong feeling of displeasure! How can you not feel this today! When my sister is knocked down I feel her pain. When my brother is scared I feel his worry. Anger motivates us and provides us the energy we need to push forward the change. As Jesus knocks over the merchant tables, we are feeling the same outrage of greed, that of taking more than we need, and leaving others without. A scarcity model that has been set in place for a very long time! But this is changing! A crashing down is occurring. In our lifetime. We are moving out of the current worldview of capital dominance, of corporate greed, of getting all that you can, and into a new worldview of compassion and care. A worldview that knows the importance of community, of family, of happiness, of love and support. It is not far off in the distance. For some of us it is now. The young people have come into this world already knowing this is the new way. They will lead us. They have an army of support! We old folk are here to encourage and support them. Enough is Enough! And...there is Enough...there is Enough for All...we just need to fix our distribution problem. Our Family will do just that!