Nine-Eleven 2012

Living the Total Self

“We all have a shadow self that is a part of our total reality. The shadow is not here to hurt you but to point out where you are incomplete. When the shadow is embraced, it can be healed. When it is healed, it turns into love. When you can live with all your opposite qualities, you will be living your total self...”

                                 Deepak Chopra (The Way of the Wizard)

Today is the eleventh anniversary of 9/11. All of us remember exactly where we were when we got the news of the attacks. On that day we came face to face with the fact that there are people in the world who hate us enough to kill thousands of innocents to get our attention. We have deemed that an act of terrorism. We have waged two wars because of it. We have killed tens of thousands of people, both innocent and not, including the one who launched the attack. As yet, we have not honestly asked the question, 'why do people hate us that much?'

We think of America as a God-fearing, salt of the earth, white hat wearing nation. We're the 'good guys'. We help people. And, that is true. We are a generous people—when folks are in trouble anywhere in the world, we are the first to help. But there is always a shadow side, one that we prefer to ignore. And this we must look at in order to change the world for everyone who lives on this planet.

We must look at the fact that we gobble up two-thirds of the world's resources every year with less than one-quarter of the world's population. We have the largest military on Earth, and we let everyone feel our strength. We use coercion and sanctions to keep other countries in line with our interests. We interfere in the workings of other governments in order to serve ourselves. I'm not saying that other entities and agencies don't do these things too, but I am saying that we are not simply the 'good guys', and we should stop blinding ourselves to that fact.

On this day of national mourning, let us face ourselves squarely so that we truly honor the fallen innocents—both at home and abroad. Let us see ourselves as others do for one moment. We are a great nation, and if we love America, let us embrace all of who she is, her light and her shadow. In so doing, maybe we will heal from this terrible event. And perhaps the rest of the world will be allowed to heal, too.

                                                  In the spirit,

                                                   Jane