written 10 November, 2024
published 17 November, 2024
Now we know. A majority of the voting public picked Trump.
I believe the world is whole, despite not yet being reflected in our dominant culture. But inexorable social change is happening, and like it or not, we are all in this together. I was optimistic this election would demonstrate a majority of people felt the same way. I was mistaken, thus disappointed, and sad for the missed opportunities and disruption that is coming.
There is a deep anger in America. People feel economically left out, and threatened by the rapidly changing reality of the world. The status quo doesn't address their needs. Trump recognized that rage. But he is a corrupt, greedy, chronic liar, operating on hate, misogyny, and revenge, and can therefore offer no real solutions to the fundamental structural problems. Supported by billionaires and hard right conservative groups, the damage to come, at home and across the world, is mind boggling. But I don't want to add to the litany of doom, so I am casting about for some place to stand, with any kind of hope going forward.
Each day we read some uplifting spiritual material, reminding us of the loving unity that we all arise within. That helps. My view has been a minority opinion most of my life, but it is still relevant. These times seems more dire, but the fundamental issue is the same. Can I live my life, from moment to moment, experiencing the calm joy of unity reality, or do I spiral into a dark pit of despair, believing myself cut off, an isolated individual in an infinite, hostile world?
I have experienced both joy and despair at times in my life, and I prefer joy. I know my personal power lies within the choice of responses I make in each moment, which determines what I experience internally, despite the exterior reality. That is not to say that I am always able to remember that power, but it is there, and I have experienced it enough to give me confidence in the truth.
Another technique for being calm in a storm is meditation. After multiple failed attempts over my life, I now have a strong daily routine. It is an internal refuge, a familiar place I go to practice experiencing a still mind. This capacity is part of my human birthright, accessible to everyone, should they choose.
Unity reality understands we all arise from the same source, which includes not only all of manifested material form, but also contains wisdom and information, which we experience as inspiration and creativity. Our active personality mind, always focused on exterior world events, dominates, so the quiet voice of inspiration is easily overwhelmed, like trying to hear a soft-spoken person during a loud musical concert. Creating an inner calm makes this inner communication more efficient. Anxiety is reduced. With less stress, the physical body is healthier. Life becomes more graceful, even amidst turmoil. From a calm, inspired center, I can examine our situation more clearly, with less knee-jerk patterning.
Our society has problems. The consumer economy keeps people dissatisfied with their life so they will constantly buy the next new thing. Is chronic dissatisfaction healthy? Is infinite consumption sustainable on a finite planet?
America is 4 percent of the global population, but we consume 24 percent of the energy and resources, 6 times our share. Is it any wonder people from other parts of the world want to come here? How long can we keep this imbalance going? At what cost? Even within the US, the benefits are not evenly distributed. Three families control about half the total wealth, and our culture believes greed is good. Is it a surprise there is wide spread anger?
Extreme wealth represents a mental disorder, much like extreme hoarding or extreme obesity. Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, overworks his 170 thousand employees and fight against unions, but squandered $33B turning Twitter into the hate saturated "X". If he had given that same amount to his workers, would his employee moral have improved?
It's profitable to kill the planet. What could possibly go wrong?
Rebuilding our society is essential, but Trump expresses the worst excesses of the present system, so he won't be bothered.
