These days it seems the whole planet is on a vision quest together. Some more aware of this than others—that we cannot, will not be able to go back to the “way things are”. When things were spinning so fast, we couldn’t jump off if we wanted to. Now we’ve all debarked. Together. For those who aren’t on the front lines, our hands have been forced.

I read recently that geologists note the earth is “standing still” . There is less vibration from human activity. Perhaps Mother Earth is finally able to be quiet. How beautiful is that?

We’re sitting, waiting with the earth. Some are listening for the sound of the new world we must create. Some are spending beautiful time with their families. Some are struggling to survive, still working, still in danger. Some are twiddling their thumbs, hoping for business as usual. Some have taken to the street with guns, signs, threats, demanding that their “way of life” be returned.

But for those who have ears to hear, a new world is starting to buzz, quietly. A world where humans are no longer the destroyers, but the healers, the co-creators, the hive mind. Working together. Creating a place where every being belongs. Everyone has enough. Every living thing is shown dignity.

Recently, while I wasn’t paying attention, our city was plunged into freezing temperatures overnight. After days and days of sunshine and warming temperatures, one night the rains came and the world plunged into a world of ice and snow on the mountain top, frost on all living things on this high desert floor.

I woke up one morning to find all my budding fruit, apricots, cherries, blackened by the cold. I grieved the loss, along with everything else I’ve lost these days—community music, employment, social gatherings, restaurants, face time in real time, hugs, the ease of going to the grocery, or meeting a friend for tea without a mask.

Oddly, I noticed up the street, my neighbor’s 50+ year old mature apricot tree which I admire every year (actually, I confess I sneak a few of those round orange globes every summer)had no frost damage. I noted the way all the fruits is clustered near the ground level, how full of leaves and mature this elder tree is. So protective and fully grown.

The apricot tree reminded me that our culture has some growing up to do. This mature, seasoned, adaptive, and resilient tree knows how to navigate a deep freeze, unexpectedly. Most creatures that live outdoors continuously do not expect a life of “easy street”. They have everything they need in their environmentally adapted genetics. I note that a few of my beehives have also weathered seasons, making them my “resilient” stock— adaptive to New Mexico’s unpredictable and harsh climate changes and yes, mites. As much as I also grieved the loss of all but 2 of my hives this past year, I am learning from the ones that survived.

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Those who, with modest means, have survived intact through adversity, pandemics, weather catastrophes, Economic depressions and recessions have some wisdom for these times—both human and creaturely.

I see people offering neighborly kindnesses and support in many large and small ways to buoy each other up these days. The following poem was sent by someone who offers a free on-line yoga studio each week for anyone who tunes in. Thank you Meta. You are keeping me balanced. It was one more reminder that we are not alone in the Universal memory or story. This has happened before…for instance the pandemics of 1869 and 1918. We know what to do. Take care of one another.

This reminds us that we can reimagine this time.

By Kitty O’Meara (2020)
And the people stayed home.
And read books, and listened, and rested,
and exercised, and made art, and played games,
and learned new ways of being, and were still.
And listened more deeply.
Some meditated, some prayed, some danced.
Some met their shadows.
And the people began to think differently.
And the people healed.
And, in the absence of people living in ignorant,
dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways,
the earth began to heal.
And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again,
they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images,
and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully,
as they had been healed.

#hivemind #collaborativewisdom #Growinguptogether#slowdown#bestill