14 January 2017

Deep winter pre-inaugural...

In 6 days, barring unforeseen events, Donald Trump will become president of the United States.

Fear is not a big thing for me, I tend not to be afraid of much, and when I am I face it and move through it.  Trump terrifies me.  I envision night time raids, and gangs of violent nazis on the streets.  Some of it has already happened, with gangs of Trump supporters, in cities, brutalizing gay people, women, and people of color. Whether it's my own Jewish heritage, or past life stuff...whatever...this hateful violent groupthink is scary and appalling.

A few nights ago I dreamt an amazing dream.  In the dream I was presented with scenarios of human emotion and drama, and each time a scenario was presented for me to react to or engage with, I remembered that I was dreaming, and that I didn't have to do anything I didn't choose, so I didn't.  "Next!"  Scenario after scenario came and went. I woke up a few times during the night, remembering the dream and feeling elated, and then went back to the dream again, to more scenarios and choices.

The current situation, with an avowed fascist about to ascend to the presidency (we've had fascist presidents before but none as blatantly so as this one), is certainly a human scenario with enormous potential for drama.  Since the election we have already seen both an increase in hate crimes by Trump supporters, and an increase in response to hate crimes.  Towns across the country are proclaiming "Not in our town!" with regards to prejudice, hatefulness, bigotry and violence.  As the Republicans in Congress proceed with their agenda to deny rights and resources to the people while enriching themselves, communities are rallying in support of Planned Parenthood, Black Lives Matter, LGBT causes, and more.  It's encouraging to see that the majority of people in this country are NOT fascists, do NOT support Trump and the republicans, and more and more people are becoming activated.

It makes sense, actually, that as we are poisoning the biosphere at an ever increasing rate, fear will drive people to more and more extremes, the Trump election being a case in point. Each of us has the opportunity to examine our relationship with our feelings and reactions, and to make the best choices we can.  It seems to me that the more extreme our reactions and responses, the more we will be "fanning the flames" of the human drama. Is that the healthy choice?

It has always seemed to me that my job as a human here and now is to witness and to reflect back what I am seeing.  Through my radio show I have endeavored to reflect back inspiration and compassion, and I think I've succeeded at least to some extent. It's still my job to witness and reflect back, but something has changed, is changing, in that and I am not sure what it is yet.  It will become evident in short order, I think. Stay tuned!

This blog entry is intended to support you, the reader, in seeing your choices and what role you choose to play in this next scene form the human play.  Shakespeare said it well in his play "As You Like It"

      "All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players..."

The thing is, we get to write our own parts.

Paradigms is taking this week off...no episode, but there will be a new episode airing on January 22.