07.05.06

On Being Spiritually and Politically Active

Posted in Hero's Journey at 4:49 pm by Administrator

As July 4th came and went I pondered the question, “What does it mean to be spiritually and politically active?”

A well-known saying states that “the personal is political and the political is personal.”  How we live our lives, whether we are aware of it or not, is a political as well as a spiritual choice.   Every choice we make, every action we take reverberates across the cosmos.  Nonaction is also a choice.  Every time we act we pluck the cosmic web. Our life’s song is played out on the choices we make or choose not to make.  I believe as people following a spiritual path we need to strive to walk lightly on this earth.  And that we also need to be politically active so that we can influence our political leaders to do the same.

As a person striving to walk their talk, I have made conscious choices in my life to reflect my values.  For example choosing:

*  To buy organic produce whenever possible.
*  To support small businesses and artists by purchasing products through them or from them.
*  A career as a librarian.
*  To monetarily supporting organizations like Truthout.org and Common Ground.
*  To foster homeless cats.
*  Not to have children.
*  To work in the town where I live.
*  To replace conventional light bulbs with energy saving light bulbs.

These choices both big and small are political.  Together they add up to be significant.  The way I live my life does makes a difference in the world.  

But the difficult part comes as being a citizen of the Empire. If you are like me, you probably feel like you are not doing enough, because the strength and the influence of the False Gods in the world are so dominate, and the light we shine into the world is so small.  We are like butterflies beating our wings against the bulldozers of the Market Place, Reckless Science, Greed and Power Lust.

“Am I doing enough?” is a question I ask myself from time after time.  And the answer is always, “No.”  This is a depressing observation, but again in order to change and grow first one must become aware; aware of both the positive and the negative factors.

As a spiritual person and a priestess of the Mother Goddess, I believe the response to overcoming the feelings of hopelessness is to stay in contact with the Divine Source.  Again it is important to listen to her voice.  She will let us know how to act, how to grow, and how to change. We need to keep doing our best and be aware that there is always more we can do.

For example, cars are one the most destructive forces in the world for our climate and the planet.  That being the case, I posed the question to myself, “Can I give up my car?”  And to be honest I am not ready to make that commitment.  I think I am ready to start walking to work one day a week. This smaller step takes me forward on my path, but there is always more that I can do.  And one day I believe I will be able to give up my car.

As another step forward on my path, I am trying to learn how to garden.  My efforts currently won’t sustain me, but each time I plant my garden I learn a little more and I get a little better.  This year I was able to start and transfer some wonderful organic yellow pear tomatoes.  I also learned that growing a garden plot at the edge of a shade tree’s canopy can protect the plot from being burned up by the sun. 

Everything we do if we live consciously can be spiritual. And everything we do is also political.  We can live as if each day really mattered.  Or we can escape into fantasy.  We can zone out on television, sports, mood altering drugs, the internet, sex, shopping, and over-eating, to name just a few of America’s favorite activities.

Open your eyes to the moment.  Live as if each step you take today brings you one step closer to the God(dess).  What would your life look like?  How would your life make you feel?

Walking towards the Goddess makes me feel alive.

Blessings on your path,
Swan

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