Do you ever sit in your chaos stew and wonder WTF am I supposed to be doing?
What is my role? What is my job? What needs to be done in order to save the republic, save the world, save myself?
Besides reading substacks all day.
Speaking of which, I did read a wonderful substack lately, written by the brilliant writer Kathleen Devanney, where a recommendation was made that at this point in the madness one might simply focus on allowing one’s identity (ies) to crumble.
Wait a minute! I’ve spent a lifetime creating those false selves! What’s it going to get me to let them all go?
Well according to Fr. Thomas Keating, who developed Centering Prayer, the benefits are pretty damn great. More on that in a bit, for those who can allow for some schooling on spiritual practice.
Back to how we got here—with our false identities, that is. It’s not really our “fault.” We were born into this world not knowing where we are, who we are, or why we are here. We learn to adapt our identity to the culture for purposes of survival, security and economics.
This does not mean that those identities are “real.” They may be just sock puppets that pop up when an appropriate response is needed in order to flatter the boss, soothe a spouses’ ego, or keep peace with a bully. If you are anywhere near my age, you have spent a good long life perfecting some of these identities so as to ensure, to some degree, a place in society.
It’s not as easy as “That’s the way the cookie crumbles.” It’s more like trying to melt steel with a candle. Still, it could be important to consider that if the culture itself is crumbling, we might just crumble right along with it. In fact, this might be precisely what it will take for the transformation that appears to be taking place.
What would this look like? Crumbling of identity. Will it hurt? I think so. I have some experience here, and yes, it hurts. But, I wonder if it also could be fun? Now, this is actually what I want to explore here. Beginning with…
Wonder if we just “go on strike” as a human in society right about now. I think this has the potential to be fun and subversive.
We know, don’t we, that the “machine” takes every cog in lockstep to make it run? The “machine” being the mechanism of our technocracy-based culture that has been chugging along for the last 100 years or so, fueled primarily by our left brain, with a big long pause on our right brain button. Haven’t we had about enough? Isn’t it time for wholeness?
And we know, don’t we? That much about the way we participate as a cog in the machine is just plain detrimental to our health, happiness and well being. We are not meant to be slaves. And we are humans after all, not machines. With much more in common with the natural world than the mechanical/technical world.
We also know, by now, don’t we? That the “controllers” are definately going for the ultimate power grab of our life, liberty and pursuit of happiness—taking the form of genocide, totalitarianism, trans humanism and general ruination of moral stability, lawfulness and freedom.
How much more is it going to take, fellow humans, to actually let the cookie crumble? Don’t wait till you retire to get out of the rat race, because you still will not be OUT. Don’t wait for everything to crumble around you. Don’t wait for permission, for God’s sake. Get out of the rat race by letting that grinning, obedient rodent CRUMBLE, like the witch in Wizard of Oz, whose scary face simply melts into a puddle.
Yes, I do mean you, Mr./Ms. Rodent. And me.
Take heart. We’ve been in training for this jump off the treadmill now for at least three years in earnest. First, we had to decide whether to vax, or not, risking censure, shunning, and unemployment. This developed some good strong muscles for the leap we will soon need to take.
For those vaxed and now awake. You are of course brave in facing this, so come along!
Next, we had to walk into the cave of unknowing with only our spitey senses reaching out to feel the cold rock walls as they wound deeper and deeper into the very heart of evil. You know I am not exaggerating if you have entered this cave yourself. This courageous act has awakened our bravery. We can now call on it as we see this through.
To face this evil, we have gathered our wits, and our protections in many forms—from wise counsel, to warm comradery in a tribe of our own making. And, we have simultaneously taken steps, meaningful ones, really necessary ones, toward the journey inward.
Defining '‘going inward” involves words like, unknowable, ineffable, unseen, mystery, God, Love, and above all, surrender. It seems almost impossible that entering mystery will result in “finding your way.” But, I think it does.
If you are going to be a human on strike, ready to jump out of the rat race, If you have determined that you do not wish to listen to the authority, to government, or to demigods and puppets, who are you going to listen to?
Who can you trust? Where do you put your faith? How will you persevere?
Centering Prayer is a way to find answers to these questions. It is the practice of going inward. It is a consult with your higher self. With God.
Can you trust this? Can you decide to abandon all for the journey inward?
For me, it is the bread crumb path to leaving the rat race. And, now is the time for it! We will take the mechanism (the power) off of the wheel and when it slows down, any time now, we will take the leap!
Jumping off the hamster wheel (switched rodents, same idea) does not have to be super dramatic. In fact, I believe a little hop will get this going. As long as we hop toward something life giving, fun, interesting, challenging, or comforting.
Here is a sampling of my hops, just to get the juices flowing:
Letting go of the false self who defends positions and ideologies—when the boss, child, spouse, neighbor solicits a response to something that could be divisive or uncomfortable, say, “That’s an interesting; question, idea, thought—Let me get back to you on that, after I consult my true self.” “When will that be?”
“I don’t know. It’s a mystery.” (Enjoy the reaction!)
Make Centering Prayer central to my day. A top priority that nothing can replace.
Make a commitment to a certain number of hours outside in nature each day. I like 6 hrs.
Align with people, places, groups speaking about “heart-centered.”
Spend time making art.
Spend time with people who are dying.
Back to identities—let my extroverted constructed self crumble somewhat…embrace my introverted self. Abandon the need to be “Miss Social.”
Give up something that is not needed.
Consider a whole “new career”even if it means a brand new course of study. Even at my age. One that serves the New Earth
It’s not a huge list. But, it has my interest. And, it sounds fun. (Yes, even the dying people part.)
It is soon June 21, and the summer solstice. Perhaps a good time to consider surrendering to the energies that are here to support our earthly journey and definately our leap off the wheel, and into our sovereighnty.
My short primer to Centering Prayer:
Choose a word. One word, as a focus when your mind wanders. Let this word be your consent to surrender to Love. (Love, God, Spirit may be interchangeable here)
Sit or lay down—(set a 20 min. timer) and relax. Close eyes. Say the word, and as you do, allow that you are consenting to a surrender to Love’s action within you.
If your mind wanders, which likely it will, return gently to the word.
When the timer rings, stay quiet for a few minutes.
The best thing about this practice for me, is that, you don’t have to feel anything to know if you are “doing it right.” It could feel like nothing is happening. Don’t worry about that. Just show up. Everyday if you can. In my experience, something is happening.
The cookie is crumbling.
You're on to something!
That’s fun to hear!