Subtle activists are people from any faith, spiritual or consciousness tradition who apply their practice for the benefit of the collective public realm. A subtle activism practice influences social change through the inner or subtle planes, rather than through conventional exterior means. We seek to support change through our focused collective intention and the depth and quality of our being, rather than our outer actions. However we do not believe that subtle activism, on its own, can solve all the world’s problems, any more than a meditation practice, on its own, is sufficient to solve all our personal problems. Action in the world is of course also necessary. Subtle activism simply expands the range of options open to an awakened activist. Subtle activism practices can be:

• religious or spiritual – e.g., meditation, prayer, chanting, and so on;

• indigenous ceremonies and ritual;

• science-based consciousness programs – e.g., Heartmath’s heart appreciation exercises;

• expressive arts – e.g., conscious media, ecstatic dance (like Earthdance), contemplative music, etc; and

• relational/process-oriented – e.g., healing aspects of our collective shadow, such as gender or racial reconciliation workshops.

Subtle activists focus on collective healing, which includes and transcends personal healing.

I feel this coincides well with Joanna Macy’s third dimension of the Great Turning – the shift in consciousness. (See my previous post.)  Some of the points worth noting are:

Some people are particularly called to this form of activism;

Focused intention and presence are as powerful and empowering as outer actions;

Focused intention and presence and action are not mutually exclusive;

The breadth of the practices of subtle activism are rich in diversity, possibility, and creativity;

Subtle activism includes both personal and collective healing and transformation;

Subtle activism is especially powerful when practiced with others, forming a field of intention around whatever we want to create: peace, compassion, healing, conscious evolution…

I invite you to take some time to meditate on the concept of subtle activism. How does it resonate with you? Where do you practice it in you own life? How do you balance it with outer actions?

         enter and 

         emerge.

This is the question that imbues my days with what often feels like restlessness and anxiety. I struggle with angst and fear and downright despair. I search for hope and possibilities and signs of awakening. I find myself cocking an ear, listening, or gazing out the window, scanning the horizon. I want to sit, a lot, on the ground or amongst trees. I pay attention to my dreams. I have no patience for the status quo. I have an urge to wander, both inwardly and outwardly….  I know what I am experiencing is that in-between place of “what was” and “what is becoming.” While it can feel overwhelming or frightening at times, I’m learning to relax into it and listen to what it has to teach me.

I believe this is one of the necessary skills of our time – to hold that sacred space of pure presence to what is unfolding in our universe. Not in a passive, wait-and-see way. For me it’s relational and co-creative. What evolutionary forces are at work? What is wanting to be born? How can I help? What can I contribute? How does it make sense to be? What is “out there” beyond the narrow confines of our sadly myopic worldview?

Duane Elgin wrote a wonderful book called “The Living Universe” which he describes in the video that follows. He starts with a fundamental premise that I share – that the Universe is a living system and embodying ourselves in that system makes all the difference in how we see, and behave in, our world. Let’s begin here.

… reflecting some simple shifts in focus and intention.

First, Being Change will foremost be a container for my personal story of navigating the Great Turning. I will share my experiences, hopes, fears, dreams – as well as resources and ways to engage in your own way. I strongly believe in the power of story and I’m passionate about exploring the possibilities for a transition into a future with a regenerated Earth and whole human beings. This is what I live and breathe. I’ve learned much along the way and it is my hope that my attempts to “be the change” will support you on your own journey of healing,  transformation, and conscious evolution.

This shift  also honors my need to find and express my own voice – as a person, as a writer, and as a spiritual activist. I don’t see my role as “teacher” but as facilitator and co-creator. Which brings me to the next shift…

Second, there will be much more emphasis in BeingChange as a community, with every effort made to build a thriving following with much sharing of stories, resources, and support. Bear with me as I continue to learn the technology to accomplish this in cyberspace and as I continue developing circles, courses, events, and other ways to get involved – both in real life and through this site. 

I hope you’ll visit often. I look forward to journeying with you.

 

 

You’ve succeeded this long in hoping, and

you’re not stupid or selfish or imagine

you’ll be one of the chosen few.

You’re not holding out for a miracle of

divine or human intervention, a grand

fix from a savior, scientist, senator, or CEO.

You’re courageous in your efforts to stay

awake, to engage, even to dream, though days go by and

you wonder what for; is it

not already too late?

Your heart is no fool; each beat a wondering

why why, why why, why would we

come to this?  This is not who we are.

We have forgotten who we are.

Yet you must know that your knowing, and

my knowing too, and their knowing, and theirs

will perhaps open a Way.  Make that Way

the new wondering of your heart.

Phebe Allen Gustafson
Use with permission only.

The next four Being Change circles will be a series exploring Margaret Wheatley’s “Eight Fearless Questions.” To begin to truly honor the intention of gathering art and stories for the Being Change work, I’ve asked that participants take some time to reflect on these questions and create a response that they can share in the form of a journal entry, a story, a collage, a poem, or whatever they like.

I’ve been working on my own project to share in the form of a collage – a medium I’ve always wanted to seriously play with. Half the fun is cutting out all the pictures. I find it a practice in meditation. But the real joy in it, for me, is to see what emerges. It’s much like my poetry; the end result is often more than the sum of whatever “parts” I contribute. It can be mysterious and magical.

This is a very important dimension of the Being Change work – getting out of our heads and making room for the Source, the Great Mystery, the God Consciousness, or whatever you want to call it, to flow through us – to speak, to create, to evolve through us. When I look at my finished collage I wonder, wow, where did that come from? What is it saying to me? What does it touch in the depth of my being, my knowing? How does it open me up to new perspectives, possibilities?

This is what I want to bring forth, and empower in others to do the same, whenever I can. I have a great quote, source unknown, that streams across my computer screen: “We can’t think our way out of this. Navigating in a global crisis is a spiritual adventure.” I’m always exploring ways to get out of my own head and step into the adventure AND in our thinking-dominant culture it’s not always easy. I’d love to hear your stories of when you’ve experienced the connection with the Flow – or as Agnes Pilgrim, one of the 13 Indigenous Grandmothers said (and I paraphrase) – when you’ve made that 18 inch pilgrimage from your head to your heart.

 

I’ve begun to keep what I’m calling my “pilgrimage catalog.” In it I have a page for everyone I want to visit, with their contact information and information about who they are and what they do. It keeps me inspired and motivated and excited. It makes it more real. For example, here is one possibility:

Joyce Kendall is Founder of Earth Heart Farm, a sanctuary for spiritual teachings where people can come together in community to learn, share and support each other in our spiritual walk. She is a Certified Yoga Instructor, Registered Polarity Practitioner, and Practicing Herbalist. She was inducted as an Andean Yachak Shaman after years of study with Ecuadorian Yachaks. During her studies, Joyce formed a deep bond with the indigenous people of Ecuador, learning their many traditions. She has observed how visiting with and learning directly from indigenous cultures has changed many peoples’ abilities to see themselves as part of a new vision. To this end she formed Earth Heart Expeditions, offering shamanic journeys to visit with the elders in South America. These trips are designed to encourage deep healing, personal transformation and an awakening of spirit consciousness.

How wonderful it would be to sit with this woman, and perhaps her friends, sharing stories, experiences, wisdom, and visions. And did I mention that I already have thirty pages of these extraordinary, ordinary people – as I like to call them?

If you know anyone you think I should meet, or if you have stories of when you decided to reach for a dream with all the trials and triumphs, please share them.

P.S. Well, I didn’t answer the “how” but I got a good start in naming what I’m up against!

Last night we had a lovely circle where we did music, ritual, and sharing around letting go of the old and embracing the new. Guest facilitated by musician and interfaith minister Jody Kessler, we shared appreciations, released limitations, and gave voice to ways we can move forward in the coming year towards our greatest potential and service.

“I’m going to make dreams come true,” I heard my Self say as I chose a stone from the altar to keep as a reminder of my intention. As I write, I have it in my pocket, and I take it out from time to time to look at its beauty and feel its smoothness. I think about “the thing I need to do” that I talked about in the previous post, and I hold those thoughts like I hold that precious stone. Like that stone, they have weight and substance, texture and beauty.

And what do I feel I need to release in order to move forward?

…fear, limiting beliefs, addictive behaviors, self-doubt, ingrained habits, and more…

If only they could disappear as effortlessly in real life as they did having been written on dissolve-able paper and tossed in a bowl of water.

But if it is true, as Bill Plotkin and others have observed, that we live in a culture dominated by adolescent habits and desires, then the enduring societal changes we so desperately need won’t happen until we individually and collectively evolve into an engaged, authentic adulthood. Follow the link to see his excellent book on what such an evolution would require.

I certainly can begin by leaving some of my sillier human foibles behind! It’s ALL a part of this amazing journey, one day at a time. Still, there’s the “how” to do the thing I need to do. Stay tuned.