I heard an Indigenous elder speak the other day, after the 6 o’clock news had delivered its usual, catastrophic and disturbing events, currently orchestrated by questionable leaders. The elder, a native BC Chief, expressed her concern at the uncertainty within our society—from the fear and chaos perpetrated by a few  unhinged, people in power. It’s been a common term ‘uncertainty’ on  recent podcasts and on CBC Cross Country Checkup, the show before the upcoming spring equinox. The Indigenous elder, like myself, my teachers and wise ones, suggested “not listening to the news too often – if at all”, and especially to exercise extreme vigilance, to not let negativity enter your physical, mental and emotional space. It is possible to choose what and who you consume or/or listen to; choice is our individual and collective power. Our choices can include everything from our emotional containment to what we consume and how we think, feel and conduct ourselves in the world. We likely all agree—we are living in unprecedented times, and yet what precedents will we create from? If we continually choose love over fear and peace over chaos we do not give ‘the negativity’ what it so desperately wants – attention. 

This means drilling down to all of the choices we make, moment to moment and using the utmost discretion, so that we are not contributing to the problem. The Indigenous elder listed the seven principles that they live by: respect, honesty, bravery, love, truth, humility, wisdom; and she emphasized “Take care of what you can control.”

I wholeheartedly agree and will add; discretion comes from living from all of the virtues and qualities that the elder mentioned, and ensures that dignity of all, will trump confusion. (Pardon the lowercase vernacular pun.) 

Speaking of meaning, chaos: “is a state of utter confusion.” Further the Merrian-Webster notes that “chaos is the inherent unpredictability in the behaviour of a complex natural system.” Add to that the deliberate splintering of human relationships and populations into divisive, antagonistic, highly charged opponents and we are witnessing disturbing facts at play from the American White House, that are hard to believe. But believe it we must and acknowledge it we will because it is our only way to resist and stand up to and against, the destructive potential of this misguided power. In fact, on Cross Country Checkup today, Ian Hanomansing and listeners witnessed a multitude of frustrated, angry, confused and upset callers affected by the onslaught of threats and uncertainty. 

One caller in particular, an elderly woman, also experienced disbelief. She had just returned from her yearly Mexico trip where she meets up with her lifelong American friends but found herself more and more infuriated at the conversations about how wonderful and amazing the Trump administration was doing at unravelling the foundations of the constitution and the past few ‘Blue’ presidents. She was appalled at their blatant, shameless ignorance to the facts. Her silence at the dinner party was noticed however, the myriad of other emotions that she felt (hurt, fear, anger) towards those whom she thought were close lifelong friends, paralyzed her—a traumatic response of shock and utter disbelief. She left without a word, refusing their subsequent calls and requests until days later when she channeled her anger, called upon her bravery and confronted all of them and their source, the Republican Administration and Fox News. Now, at the time of this spring equinox where the night and the day are in complete balance, when there is no polarity between the dark and the light, is the time to confront: who, what and how do we shift out of balance?

There are also two eclipses this month enhancing the sense that we are in somewhat of a void between two worlds, the world we knew, and the one we will be creating out of this chaos. That is why it is extremely important to be our own heroes, to be brave and to stay grounded and balanced in the eye of the storm. Traditions and examples through time tell us that we are able to reimagine a better way to be on this planet together. My favourite mystic poet these days, David Whyte, expresses this well.

“There is an ancient human intuition that at every threshold of a human life, there is always, on the other side of that threshold, something waiting to meet us that embodies the next level of our emancipation into a greater freedom and a greater maturity: whatever courageous step we are able to take at each crucial threshold, something equally and incrementally larger will come to meet us and out of that meeting we will be able to forge a more generous and loving life.”

Be brave and strong. Take this time to learn from all of the Indigenous peoples and elders by remembering, we are creating a world for the next seven generations. On that note, I will be offering a weekly yoga, self-care, mindfulness and meditation class for Free on YouTube on Wednesdays at 12 PM, for all to join. From the ancient text the Bhagavad Gita, a quote for our leaders.

Chapter 2, verse 50:

“The person who performs actions based on (sam buddhi) the intellect imbued with the knowledge of Me, the Self, becomes free from the influence of ignorance. Thus, Arjun, you should be established in the knowledge of Yoga (samatwa yog). Maintain purity, or evenness, in your intellect. This is the only skill or technique for attaining freedom from the ignorance that keeps a person bound by the results of his actions.” ~Excerpt from Bhagavad Gita, Swami Shyam

Blessed be, 

Mary-Jo