Developing
Consciousness
“The
future of civilization depends upon the freedom of the individual to
develop his personal consciousness: to find and to fulfill that
essential self, which is unique to each of us. It can be done by
gradually stripping away the impurities, the false ideas and
conceptions we have of ourselves. These are a kind of dirt on the
inner glass of our outlook.”
Cecil
Collins (A Vision of the Fool and Other Writings, p. 55)
There is a wonderful
article written by Barbara Sargent of the Kalliopeia Foundation, on
the Working With Oneness website. It is the transcript of a speech
she gave to the Global Peace Initiative of Women Religious and
Spiritual Leaders in Geneva, Switzerland in 2002. The title of the
article is “The Role of Spirituality in the Healing of the World
Community.” In it she writes that finding the essential self of
which Cecil Collins spoke is done by developing a true spiritual
discipline. It could be meditation, contemplation, prayer, nature,
yoga, or simply spending regular time in solitude. Sargent recommends
recording one's dreams over time, and following the thread of their
leading. Whatever discipline comes most naturally to us, and provides
an atmosphere free of fear, is most important.
The reason this kind of
consciousness is important right now is because we are witnessing the
rise of authoritarianism such as we have not seen since the last
world war. It seems to be a movement that is manifesting all across
the planet at the same time, and is the dark side of the patriarchy.
I want to say here that I believe the masculine principle is both
good and necessary. It has led us to breakthroughs in science and
medicine, in space exploration and understanding of our own planet
that would not have happened otherwise. But there is a dark side to
it, a shadow, as there is to every principle, and that is
authoritarianism, dictatorship, fascism, and autocratic demagoguery.
We have seen it before, and we are seeing it now.
The feminine principle is
the antidote. It is relational, communal, connected and nurturing. It
is caring for the whole and all of the parts equally. Developing the
consciousness that we are one people, that we each have
responsibility for ourselves and for the role we play in the world is
critical to countering this rising authoritarianism. That requires us
to do our personal work, which Cecil Collins refers to as “stripping
away the impurities.” I don't mean this in a punitive religious
context—repent and heap ashes of guilt and despair on your head—but
in a heart context. We take a clear look at all that we are—our
gifts, our strengths, as well as our weaknesses and faults, and
determine how we might be of service in healing the world community.
This is not an either/or world; it is a both/and one—both masculine
and feminine principles are needed. We must each do our part in
raising consciousness. Having a spiritual discipline that requires us
to listen rather than opine is the path.
In the Spirit,
Jane
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