So much war energy everywhere now—not just in countries with long histories of conflict, but also wars on virtually every front: about our relationship with the earth; about how, and whose responsibility it is, to feed, house and care for each other; about who has value and a voice in society; about the truth of our country’s (and other countries’) history; about the role of government and democracy; about what values we are willing to commit to with action; and even about truth itself.
There will likely always be differences of opinion on these issues, but because disagreements now have become fights for dominance and control, any bit of conflict becomes a war.
I have read that the energy window around new moons and solar eclipses encourages new beginnings; that solar eclipses tend to mark turning points; and that today’s eclipse in Libra supports shoring up imbalances by creating new responses to old patterns. I hope that somewhere some of that comes to pass, because today on the new moon/annular solar eclipse I am most aware of “eclipse” as an obscuring of light.
Though I guess that means underneath the shadow there is indeed light.
I do believe there is, and that without the disturbing revelations and cultural disintegration of the past few years we would not make the changes that are long overdue.
But it is still heartbreaking how long this kind of massive transformation takes and how much suffering it causes. Hard not to feel weary watching the same outworn formulas reached for again and again. And unsure some days about my role in moving things forward.
Following are a few quotes that were helpful to me today. I hope they are for you too. I’d love to read any that you have found helpful; feel free to add to the comments.
When something’s going on,
something else is going on.
Notice the something else, too.
William Stafford
As human beings, not only do we seek resolution, but we also feel that we deserve resolution. However, not only do we not deserve resolution, we suffer from resolution. We don’t deserve resolution; we deserve something better than that. We deserve our birthright, which is the middle way, an open state of mind that can relax with paradox and ambiguity.
Pema Chodron
People have always been good at imagining the end of the world, which is much easier to picture than the strange sidelong paths of change in a world without end…Despair demands less of us, it’s more predictable, and in a sad way safer. Authentic hope requires clarity—seeing the troubles in this world—and imagination, seeing what might lie beyond these situations that are perhaps not inevitable and immutable.
Rebecca Solnit
History is not just facts and events. History is also a pain in the heart and we repeat history until we are able to make another’s pain in the heart our own.
Julius Lester
Anne
Everything in your post resonates so deeply with where I’ve been for the past week. I’d love to find a quote that offers encouragement but all I keep on returning to is Jack Gilbert’s poem “A Brief for the Defense” which begins with “Sorrow everywhere. Slaughter everywhere.” and eventually ends with “We must admit there will be music despite everything.” And so I continue to look for “music” everywhere to balance out the sorrow I see and experience daily.
laura
Yes, thanks Laura. Remembering that life is–and always will be–a mixture of dark and light helps us perhaps to seek balance in whatever ways we can.
My heart has been so heavy and sad for Israel – thank you for this quote about “noticing the something else, too”.
Yes, it seems to me that to be able to feel at the same time the heavy sadness as well as what is life-giving is our challenge in these times.
“Those strange sidelong paths of change.” I will remember those words, and others from your post, to keep and reread often. Your words and artwork chosen are so inspiring, as I traverse this time of my(our )life. Many conversations with people are consumed with the latest news served up to us all around. And how to deal with it personally. All people suffer. And seeking “sidelong paths” is a thought to explore for the good of all.
THANK YOU!
Thank you for your comment Diane. I am glad the post was inspiring. We need inspiration in these wild times.
Thank you Anne for this reflection- we just received a plea from family to help out a member of their family who has been fleeced by a lawyer in FL over the damage done to her home by hurricane Ian- this 82 year old woman is now homeless and so we are doing our part to help out….the pain in her heart is terrible, but the love of others will help her get through…..and remind us of the responsibility for others safety and well-being.
Yes, thank you Mary for showing us one way we can “make another’s pain in the heart our own.”