Conscious Cooperation with Nature AKA Subtle Activism

“Problems cannot be solved with the same mind set that created them.”

— Albert Einstein

We are all unconscious from time to time - from believing that our perspective is the only one that matters to not having a point of view at all. Many have the unconscious bias that as humans we are better than - even separate from - the rest of the natural world. This sense of superiority and self imposed isolation devolves into ways of thinking that weaken our connections of all kinds – to family and friends, to those who are human but different from us, to the wider world outside ourselves and finally to a sense of alienation to our own inner ecology and balance.

As I read and listen to mainstream news, observe the world around me and attend to many of my clients, I notice that more and more, numbness and indifference are the result of this sense of separation.

Every day in our thoughts and feelings are examples of the power of this shadow world that clouds our mind and lead to beliefs like:

• I’m only one person how can what I think matter; how do I count?
• Money and power speak louder than integrity and collaboration.
• Society – and my lifestyle in particular - depends on those corporations that are too big to fail.
• The world is too complex – and screwed up - to be understood by the average person.
• Young people are ill informed, self-absorbed and inarticulate.

It’s almost impossible to face this contorted thinking and heaviness alone. Sometimes I feel that I’m being sucked inevitably into vortex of some black hole.

Here in Central Virginia where I live, one struggle against shadow power takes the form of the Atlantic Coast pipeline – a monument to unnecessary construction and destruction of the environment in service of corporate profit.

Not only will this pipeline spoil some of the last natural forested area on the eastern seaboard – the George Washington National Forest - but also has the potential to endanger the headwaters of nearby rivers.

The tree cutting began several months ago and recently the pipeline builders – Dominion Energy LLC – requested even more time to extend their tree cutting operations. While losing these trees has already been a blow to the environment, extending the cutting time would interfere with the migratory birds nesting season as well as the habitat of certain bat species.

It seems like a predictable grind…first appropriation of land and homes in the pipeline’s path; next trees are cut down, now the birds and bats are further endangered…what next?

For a small group of us this was just the opening we needed to spark another “outbreak” of conscious cooperation with Nature. What this means is that we gathered together with the intention of opening to the power and interconnection with the natural world.

Imagine linking to the web of mycelium in the earth, the unseen communication system between jellyfish or the interstitial layer of our own bodies to approach the natural world as an equal partner in achieving balance. It’s like saying: “We humans bring certain skills and talents, you oh trees, birds, mountains and nature spirits also have great power and experience. Could we sit, think and share together then combine them into some new spiraling, fractal and unfolding of infinite possibility?”

So for an hour we did. Sharing our individual perceptions of nature’s concerns, experience and advice with our own and then consciously weaving these individual strands into a shining and colorful tapestry of intention, which we then grounded into the core energetics of the planet.

It felt wonderful - a graceful kinship and dance of right relationship.

Caroline Casey, one of my favorite, wise teachers says that synchronicity only happens on a stage calibrated for equal and conscious collaborative endeavors.  That popped into my mind when three days after our subtle action with Nature we heard that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) ruled against Dominion Energy’s request to extend their tree felling operations, requiring them to stop and honor their original commitment not to interfere with bird migration pattern.

It gives me hope and inspires me/us to do more in partnership with the natural world! Perhaps it will for you too. If it does and you want some advice, you can be in touch with me for some basic instructions on entering into conscious cooperation with Nature.

Frequency Adjustments

Boy is it frequency adjustment time for me. And, no, I don't just mean adding more punches on my coffee loyalty card, though that is happening too.

What I'm talking about are the "frequency adjustments" that happen when I'm going through a personal shift and/or when the environment around me is shifting and I need to adjust. What's happening for me in the moment is a potent brew of personal inner movement, Nature's seasonal shifts and the dominant character of the collective environmental field. Sometimes it feels like I'm in a cauldron.

This happens to everyone by the way, nothing special over here, except maybe an increasing awareness that it is happening and finding a way to make room for it. But you too have probably noticed something like:

• the environment at your workplace changes when a new company with a very different portfolio or business philosophy comes in and suddenly you don't feel like you "belong" there anymore.
• someone in your family - perhaps an influential elder - is experiencing a change in their health and suddenly issues around health, well-being or death come popping out everywhere in the family. By the way, this often comes emerges through the youngest or more sensitive family members or through your own body symptoms.
• suddenly it seems like you want to "fight" with everyone. The stupid driver in front of you sets you off, your partner is once again a clueless dolt, or you notice your least favorite political figure in everyone you meet.

So what can you do so you don't go crazy with nasty body symptoms (for me it has always been headaches), a sense of hopelessness or the feeling that some maniacal dream figure is stirring the pot too fast?

First, take a breath - or take a sniff as my Uncle used to say but maybe he was talking about something else. Just stop. Breathe. Come back into the present moment. You don't have to have a formal meditation or movement practice to do this but if you have some experience with one of those, dip back into it.

Second, reinforce your sense of presence. Continue your breathing practice or connect with a source of unconditional acceptance, like maybe your pet. My cat joined me in meditating outside today and it was awesome. But you can also take a sniff of a beloved fragrance, look at and get lost in the vision of something beautiful, or revel in the touch of someone you love or a texture that relaxes and refreshes you.

Third (sorry for being so linear!): once you're reconnected with yourself and feel more embodied, explore the deeper layers of the energies. Bring to mind the sense of what's bothering you about the "other one" or the environment.

That energy of the new company or the political figure for instance. How does it look to you? How does it move?, If it could make a sound what would it be? Become that energy so that you can experience it from the inside out. In Shamanic terms this is called "shapeshifting" or seeing with your peripheral vision or "soft eyes" because you can sense more that way.

Spend some time with this "other" and ascertain its essential nature. This will be a feeling of something non-dualistic that contains no judgement. Sometimes it will be beyond words. If so, bring the movement, vision, sound or feeling tone back with you from your inner imaginarium.

Maybe you need some of this energy to complete your frequency adjustment or just be with change. But it could also be something that you are evolving away from and are ready to let go of. And, this is what is going on with me...

I'm letting go of putting limits on myself, of being under the radar so I won't be noticed... and it's SCARY!!!! But so is keeping myself in the same old box because I'm starting to suffocate. So, when I explore the headache energy and allow it to try and push me back into my own head, there is a very strong "NO!" and a sense of wanting to push back against it.

Inside my imaginarium I'm saying "Nooooooo!!! I'm ready to "go big" even if "you" out there (or a part of me in here!) don't share my point of view. No more pushing me down because when I'm in tune with my own evolving frequency, resonating with my own experience, that feels right and I want to keep going."

It felt good to write this down and share it. To speak out if you will. Oh, and my headache is gone. But maybe that was just the coffee...or maybe not only! 

Clearing the Air

My colleague and friend Valerie makes custom essential oil sprays designed to support whatever changes you are going through. Today I ordered one (talk about good service - Valerie made and delivered it the same day) and I'm so glad that I did!

I've been circling the cusp of a big change for a few weeks now and feeling a little stuck. Since moving things along quickly is part of my primary identity, I've been practicing being "not me" which translates into taking a break from self criticism, taking things a little slower and being kinder to myself. 

And while I can feel things are getting ready to change for the better, today I had a tough early morning meeting. As the newest member of an established international research group, I'm trying to find my spot in the group by not rocking the boat too much but also standing for my point of view. During our discussion one of the  members was being very pointed and "strict" about boundaries around her project and not wanting my study to interfere with hers. She also wanted me to adopt certain conventions that I didn't feel applied to my work. I understood but I was also getting pissed off and feeling marginalized.

So I picked up I felt was the essence of her strictness and applied this seed of clarity to further discussions and decisions needing to be made. That helped me listen to the group's helpful suggestions with an open mind and still retain the integrity of my work. But my sense of marginalization lingered.

Considering the situation with an open mind and a kind heart, I was able to connect the feelings I experienced during the meeting to the bigger changes that are happening to me internally. Then I wrote to Valerie, gave her an overview of my process and ordered the spray. This custom elixir combines Helichrysum, Myrrh, Roman Chamomile and Rose Absolute in an mixture intuitively designed just for me. It also came with a personal message from the deep wisdom field.

After picking it up I went up to my office, got comfortable, sprayed the elixir into my energy field and dropped into meditation. Right away, I could feel my luminous field begin to clear and shift. Then I fell asleep. When I awoke about an hour later, I felt renewed, almost as if layers of old scar tissue had healed all at once. 

Now that's magic!