In recent years, Sound Medicine has been making headlines. Instead of heading out to 
the pub on a Friday night, many people are now choosing sound journeys as a way to relax and unwind. To those who view music as nothing more than entertainment, Sound Medicine may sound like a New Age gimmick, and even those who have experienced the benefits of healing sound may struggle to explain what exactly happens during a session. In light of this, it is helpful to consider the history of sound healing, as well as the science behind its effectiveness.
In western culture, people often assume that Sound Medicine is an emerging field, however cultures around the world have practiced sound healing for millenia. The indigenous people of the Amazon have long used medicine songs called icaros in plant medicine healing. The pre-Hindu Tantric Yogis used potent sound meditations to heal and awaken. Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda use sound for both diagnostic and treatment purposes, and in ancient Greece, Pythagoras cultivated practices based on the Harmony of the Spheres. Indeed, Sound Medicine is hardly an innovation of the New Age.
Sound Medicine is much more than a relaxing concert. With artistic mastery of their chosen tools and instruments guiding the experience, as well as a thorough understanding of the energetics of sound, a good sound healer possesses the presence and knowledge to support clients in engaging with healing in mind, body, and spirit in an intentional way. The underlying goal of any Sound Medicine work is to reset the sympathetic nervous system’s response to ongoing stress. Western medicine now acknowledges that the cumulative effects of stress contribute to nearly every major illness. Living in a culture of busyness, increasing levels of mental and emotional strain escalate into chronic stress, and over time, this can have a serious affect on our health. As the body is continually flooded with stress hormones, heart rate increases, blood pressure elevates, and the digestive system can’t function in an optimal way. Over time, this ongoing state of fight-or-flight can lead to disease, including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, ulcers, and immune suppression.
Many health professionals now encourage patients to engage in simple and effective practices, including meditation, body awareness, and breathing exercises, to interrupt the cycle of chronic stress, and supporting the body’s natural capacity to heal and return to balance. This is where Sound Medicine is key. While all forms of meditation and self-awareness are beneficial, the part of the brain that engages with sound is directly connected to memory and emotion. Sound Medicine embraces this natural interconnectivity. Whether evoking soothing sounds, such as ocean waves or chimes shimmering in the breeze, abstract sounds such as the gong or singing bowls, or the words of a song to guide the exploration of a particular emotional landscape, life experience, or inner inquiry, Sound Medicine engages the parasympathetic nervous system, initiating a deep state of relaxation. In turn, the body is able to come into greater balance, and can result in lower blood pressure, improved digestive function, and nourishment of the body’s tissues and organ systems, not to mention allowing the mind and emotions to enter into calmness and clarity. Ultimately, Sound Medicine is a wonderful tool that can support any healing journey. While it is not a substitute for appropriate medical treatment when facing a serious health condition, as a complimentary modality, it can be very beneficial alongside any allopathic or holistic disciplines.
Angela Blueskies is a visionary musician and medicine woman who carries deep understanding of the healing powers of music and the Earth. A lifelong musician, she has been deeply influenced by the traditions of Nada Yoga and Bhakti Yoga, as well as indigenous and contemporary traditions of healing medicine songs. With a pure vocal quality, lush, beautiful harmonies, and rich instrumentation, Angela’s music brings people into profound meditative and ecstatic states and inspires deep connection to the heart. She is the founder of Sound Medicine Journeys, and offers sound healing sessions, classes, and workshops that are both experiential and grounded in the principles of holistic healing. A shamanic practitioner rooted in the traditions of the Peruvian Andes, Angela is also the Creative Director of Heart of the Mother Retreats, and leads journeys and pilgrimages to powerful healing destinations around the world. For more information, please visit angelablueskies.com and heartofthemotherretreats.com.
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First published in Natural Awakenings DC, June 2017
Photo courtesy of Yulia Mikalchuk
In a recent conversation, I was surprised to hear a woman who considers herself a new-age spiritual teacher say something like, “with enlightenment, we don’t have to care about the worldly stuff anymore.” I noted a distinct air of superiority in her tone, as if she had finally risen above the need to get involved in the mundane affairs of living as a human being here on Earth at this time. Taken aback by her declaration, I pointed out the ancient vow of the Bodhisattva, who continues to reincarnate into this world to serve the awakening of all beings.
In shamanic cultures, soul loss is a condition that occurs when a person has a traumatic experience, leaving one feeling disconnected, fragmented, and lost. Though ultimately seeking a part of oneself that is missing, those who undergo soul loss often seek external experiences that help them feel whole once more. Others withdraw, unable to find a sense of inner strength and centeredness. While the path of resolving trauma is complex, shamanic healing addresses the situation at an energetic level, which in turn supports the process of healing mind and body. Through the process of soul retrieval, it is possible to recover lost and fragmented parts of oneself, restoring a sense of wholeness.
by stone rubble and fuchsia foxgloves growing wild. Some of the houses are nothing more than piles of stone. Others are partially standing structures with wood frameworks that appear ready to give way in the next strong gust of wind. One house even had a window frame moderately intact, however, it was misshapen from the stones settling over the years and looked more like a fun house window than one from an ancient village. The few modern houses seemed oddly out-of-place in this pseudo-gravesite, but the smell of wood fires in July was remarkably comforting as the surprisingly chilly evening breeze settled in with the night.
there is simply one thing, then another, then another. To be cornered by the open sky, to be trapped beneath the bright summer sun, and to be unable to escape was the greatest suffering I’ve ever known. In the midst of such intensity and exhaustion, even my mind was no longer available as a playground of escape. My mind abandoned me on the Camino. I was left holding nothing but another step, another breath. The horizon wasn’t a goal, but a frozen moment of now. I was always safe, the ground was always there to comfort me, and occasionally there were trees to shade the way and fellow pilgrims to remind me that I was indeed absorbed in the flow of life.
stone houses that I had spent so much time wandering amongst the day before. The foxgloves turned their bright fuchsia faces to greet the sun, and I nodded my greeting to them as I passed. A trickle of pilgrims wandered past the church, past the modern houses and up into the mountains. On the outskirts of Foncebadon, I paused between two small ponds teeming with frogs and other wildlife. Delicate grasses grew on their shores, softening the edges and partially hiding smooth stones that were scattered here and there. Before continuing, I turned around to glance at Foncebadon. From that vantage point, it was hard to believe that a village existed there at all. I felt deeply glad that it was there, though, offering pilgrims a peaceful place to rest and contemplate their journey to the Iron Cross. I honored Foncebadon in my heart, and after a few moments I turned and continued walking.
represent for me? What part of my life am I ready to release? What are my prayers? I whispered these questions to my stone as I walked. That morning, I encountered many familiar faces, and while I greeted fellow pilgrims, my attention never left my contemplation. The path wound higher and higher through the sparse trees along the stone-strewn trail.
every day. Bigger stones tended to be further down on the mound, toward the bottom, and small stones and personal objects of every kind were offered at the base of the cross. The colorful array was deeply moving.
forth at any moment. There were three or four other pilgrims there, but I didn’t make eye contact with any of them. I breathed deeply, searching for the best place for my two little stones. I selected a spot on top of a large, flat stone right at the base of the pole and offered a final wave of emotion as I regarded the two little stones. They’re just rocks, I thought. Or are they? I drew in a quick breath and brought the stones to my lips, kissing them quickly. Then, I kneeled down to my chosen spot and placed the two stones there. I arranged them so that they were aesthetically pleasing, making sure that they wouldn’t easily be knocked aside. I nodded my head, and without a second glance I walked back down the way I came. I could barely see through the tears as I found my way to level ground. I walked quickly into the edge of the pine forest and immediately burst into gut-wrenching sobs. I sat down on the ground and cried and cried. The feeling was not merely of letting go of the past, but also of creating a new intention for my way of life. It was a formal dedication. I felt light and serene.
was the refugio, a tiny, dark building with mattresses scattered about, all covered with heavy woolen blankets. There was no electricity, and in the center of the room there was a wood stove, the only source of heat. I wandered toward the main building, which was bustling with pilgrims. Again, the loud bell rang out. Next to it stood a wiry-haired, wild-eyed older man, dressed in a t-shirt and flowing pants. He spoke quickly and loudly in Spanish, guiding several young men in various tasks. I inquired about the bathroom, and I was directed to the fields next to the refuge. No electricity and no bathroom.
steeply plunged into a small village. My heart kept trying to jump-start feelings of joy and happiness, but my head throbbed. I wandered into town and spotted a row of familiar backpacks outside a bar. I heaved mine onto the ground with the others and entered.
below, people were laughing and splashing in the water as they swam. A shout rang out from below, and Claire and Gemma waved to me as they waded into the river. The others were sitting in the grass nearby. My mind wandered to the sparkling stream, dreaming of the delight of immersing myself in ice-cold water after a hot day of walking. I met the others on the far side of the bridge. The refuge was full in Molinaseca. Even the porches and tents had been filled. The next refuge was in Ponferrada, over an hour’s walk away. I glanced down at my watch. It was already late in the afternoon, and the sun was roasting the dry earth, everywhere except on the banks of that cool river.
them in Najera three weeks before. Day after day, we has shared each other’s stories, often over a hearty dinner in a bar or town park. We had embraced each other’s joys and sorrows. We had nurtured and supported each other physically, emotionally, spiritually. The bond that formed between us is difficult to describe. We were bound by our common journey, by walking, by suffering, by laughter, by sweat, by tears, by moments in time that might appear rather ordinary under everyday circumstances. Like gazing at the sunrise. Or placing a stone at the base of an old shrine. With the trappings of modern life set aside, all of life became infinitely precious. Indeed, standing silently beside another human being, simply alive in the light of day was the greatest blessing. To walk in the company of others while becoming more and more deeply aware of this was profound and experiencing this depth of community for weeks along the Camino was a beautiful experience.
the flow, to luxuriate in the beauty of the moment. The second asked me to complete the task I’d set out to complete, to push on at any cost. I hardly noticed the deeper question that was presented to me in Molinaseca: will I choose now or will I choose then? Will I live in the moment or am I bound to the goal? My mind was reeling with heat and exhaustion and a lingering headache. I felt a deep connection with Claire and Gemma and I didn’t want to fall behind, succumbing to my feared role as The Slowest Pilgrim. I listened to my mind, not my heart. Then, I heaved my pack onto my sunburned shoulders and began walking toward Ponferrada.
gatherer way of life requires strength, stamina, agility, sharp senses, and perseverance, the likes of which most of us living in western society cannot even imagine. A way of life is a way of life until a revolutionary idea is introduced, one that changes not only the daily experience of living in terms of what we do, but also how we think, what we believe, and who we are.
idea of making life a little easier by any means possible was likely as strong then as it is now. The strong movement toward settlement and agriculture certainly bumped up against the dominant culture of the time, and over time, the agricultural movement won out. It’s easy in our post-industrial age of technology to assume that movement away from a nomadic lifestyle and toward civilization was an improvement. Yet, I invite you to stay open and consider that all change comes with both positive and negative effects, depending on who you ask.
spirit continued to seek ways to make existence easier, and the brightest minds began to create ways to do more than ever possible with our bodies and minds alone. Machines, from simple to complex, began to appear, and the movement toward making life easier blossomed. Machines to help with agriculture, to communicate, to travel ~ and machines to entertain and amuse us, too. Along with this shift toward machines and automation came immense changes in lifestyle, and the busyness of the human mind was stirred in new ways. With machines came the speeding up of life, and we are still living within the scope of this today.
know that we must change many things: our unsustainable choices through the use of destructive technologies; the damaging belief systems that oppress and harm so many people; the attachment to a way of life that favors some living beings over others, and stacks the cultural systems in favor of that. What is true as we stand here on this evolutionary battle ground is that change is coming, and the battle is raging because those changes are coming fast, and there is much to defend, and much to lose.
eas about social justice, equality, and human rights are a threat to the traditional values that they cannot understand, and often have no desire to understand. I truly want my culture to dismantle nearly everything in the minds and lifeways of these people, and they are committed to defending that with all their power. To feel like everything that you have known and trusted is on the chopping block, pushed toward extinction – I imagine that is a terrifying proposition, and no one will go quietly into the night of history without a good fight for what they believe in.
a place of understanding and compassion for those who do not agree or wish for this process to unfold. The way we approach this revolution will certainly affect the outcome, as well as modeling a new way of being that is more in alignment with the greater good. This time, the revolution must become conscious.
same expectations that I found as I entered school, for the reality is that nice children are polite to others, treat their teachers with respect and deference, do what they’re told, raise their hands, and work very, very hard to get everything right. From grades to behavior to social roles, from a very early age we are indoctrinated into a way of being that is the one preferred by those around us – parents, communities, schools, religions.
ultimately treat others the way we treat ourselves. But there is a real difference between respect and nice. Respect says, I know you are being a total asshole right now, and I’m not going to go there with you because I respect myself too much to follow you down that low. Nice says, Oh, I better keep smiling here and nodding my head and agreeing with whatever you say, otherwise you might somehow reject me, and even though you’re being an asshole right now, I need to stay on your good side because I can’t bear the thought of having people dislike me, or even worse, consider me their opponent. 
women’s lives were relegated to mothering and house making, looking pretty and keeping it all together so that their husbands always come home to a place that met every one of their needs for comfort and care. After centuries of oppression, the 1950s were indeed the swan song of “nice.”
merely playing “nice” to their backers, trying not to rock the boat so that the playing field at least appears “nice” to the vast majority of supporters? Are they trying to maintain some stiff upper lip sense of decorum, not wanting to be too subversive or progressive, fearing that the more moderate among their supporters will flip sides, choosing a more moderate Republican party? What’s clear right now is that we have one party who has fully abandoned any attempt at playing “nice,” and the other seems to be standing in the wings, still holding on to their passionless, accommodating agreeableness, with a hope and a prayer that something can be done about it.
stand for what is right, and be the hands, feet, mouths, minds, and hearts of a total revolution. Revolution does not come from fearing who might be offended by the changes that are needed. For real, who in the current administration is holding on to the tiniest bit of fear that their actions or values might offend anyone? Voldemort himself sits there, posing for the camera with his puckered, boastful grin, proud of the atrocities he stands for, and hungry for the next, giving little consideration of the vast needs and perspectives of Americans. It’s his way, his agenda, his values, and his preferences alone that guide him. My Democratic friends, my progressive friends, it’s time that we embrace the very same unapologetic, bold, fearless, and righteous stance, adding a degree of grace and dignity, and take a stand for what we value, what is right and just, and what is in the best interest of ALL people.
compassion is filled with heart and a desire to act from kindness. While we’re in the middle of this crazy, chaotic revolution, it only behooves us to embrace the way of being we want to bring into the world, modeling it as we go. “Nice” tells us to walk on eggshells, and to continue trying to convince our opponents with logic and reason why things are going to hell in a handbasket right now. Compassion sees all sides of the situation, understands the challenges we humans face when we must change, and wisely holds the mutual suffering we all share… and then stands up courageously and creates the pathway forward that is in the name of truth and justice for all, and especially for the disenfranchised. “Nice” wants us to be all things to all people, obedient like good puppies, and smiling as the house is burning to the ground. Compassion wants us to be true to our own deepest wisdom, persistent and strong in the face of any challenges, and always anchored in the heart.
misguided child, we must model a new paradigm, continuing to point out the errors, and insisting upon broader understanding and greater wisdom in the shaping of our country.
the federal government. These things, together with an ongoing barrage of similarly maddening attempts to roll the US right back into the dark ages, bring us swiftly back into the consideration began last week. It seems that our adolescent conservative faction of Americans are passionately ready to cut off their own foot and pave the way for their own demise in the name of self-righteous beliefs that express their ultimate assumption of entitlement to not only live their own lives according to their values, but to also force others into their small vision of the one and only right way to live.
less to affect meaningful change in their own lives. The idea that people can hold a big vision of a better way and make that happen indeed may sound absurd. And the elimination of “poverty, hunger, war, disease, injustice, unemployment, and prejudice” may sound like an idealistic fantasy to those who are entrenched in lives that include those very things, and who have had no success in finding a way out of suffering from the effects, but again, I believe that the inability to imagine and subsequently create a situation where these things were fully resolved is ultimately the result of being deeply stuck in an oppressive way of life, and holding a lot of anger and hostility toward anyone who imagines they can transform it. I also see that for people who are living in oppression, there could be a major injury to one’s pride in suggesting that someone else can figure out and remedy these things, while those who are stuck couldn’t find a way out themselves. And pride is foolish and stubborn. Many times, we humans would rather be prideful and uphold our rightness, even to our own detriment, than humble ourselves and receive support and make changes.
capitalism – people must keep wanting and buying more things, and in order to continue providing more things, resources must be procured for the creation of the things. The American way has become synonymous with more-faster-cheaper, and this is how our current system has come to define competitiveness. In order for America to continue being the world’s best everything, we must win at the more-faster-cheaper game, and lead the world in… what exactly? This is where our laws, treaties, and tax regulations have come in. By seeking to limit the more-faster-better capitalistic drive just a tiny, tiny bit, there has been some hope that we might not destroy the entire natural world for the sake of our little consumer game. And there is also the tiniest bit of integrity that has attempted to find its way into the system, asking those who are the most successful at the more-faster-better game to do their civic duty and contribute to the wellbeing of the entire nation because it’s the right thing to do. But just like children with their Monopoly game, many of the ones in charge right now simply don’t want any part in this. They want their win, they want it now, and they want it all for themselves, and to hell with everyone else. 
adolescent conservatives to come into agreement with certain rules of integrity and justice. What they call “micromanagement,” many others would call accountability and responsibility. In fact, those regulations are in place for exactly that reason. As much as I personally would like to believe that all humans act from a place of awareness, compassion, and consideration of the whole, the reality is that many, many people who come into power and wealth have the emotional and psychological makeup of children, and don’t have the wisdom to understand that we are all in this world, and this life, together. Like the little child that can’t understand why mama won’t allow him to eat nothing but chocolate bars for dinner, these unwise and greedy business people want to have no accountability for their actions and the results of their actions, and that is dangerous. 
tyranny coming from minority communities, most of whom are simply fighting for their right to even have a place at the table for the conversation about what is fair and just. But for those adolescent conservatives who are threatened by the very idea that they would be asked to share the world, the country, and the neighborhood with people who live, look, and believe differently, even the existence of those who are minorities triggers an unreasonable and extreme avalanche of ideas and fears that have no basis in reality. Indeed, if any tyranny exists, it is in the hands of the very ones that espouse the fear in the first place. Fearing tyranny, they embrace tyranny as their strategy.
for engaging in illegal activities ~ to the adolescent conservative mind, these things are a bother, a nuisance, and the very essence of un-American, as they attempt to stifle the great American dream of liberty and freedom. Corporations are being increasingly valued as equal to actual human beings, and those at the very top of the ladder in overseeing – and having their bank accounts stuffed by – these entities have become so drunk on the almighty dollar, they have lost any capacity to consider the bigger picture of what they are doing, and the greater impact of those actions. In the end, even when these super-corporations lose lawsuits and must pay millions or billions of dollars in retribution, it is likely to be far less than what would truly be necessary to begin making up for the damage done.
and science, they will balk. Or perhaps the bigger picture is that if you allow children – and adults – to learn about the past, they will learn about the horrific errors that humans have made, and want to change that. And if you allow children – and adults – to learn the principles of science, and educate them to understand the whole picture of what is known, and the impacts of that upon our world, they will want to change the things that are causing harm, and do better. If you liberate the people’s minds by teaching them to read and to think critically, they will not be as controllable as those who have no capacity to think for themselves, simply believing what they are told. Indeed, school is *bad* if you want to keep people in the dark. Those who are uneducated certainly don’t have the capacity and resources to fight against things that are undeniably wrong and damaging, or to find innovative and creative new ways of living, as they have a limited understanding of the bigger picture. 
even information that is verifiable by countless sources is of no value to those who don’t value the application of cultivated intelligence. I am always amused at the addition of the word “agenda” to anything connected to LGBTQ matters, as I have yet to see anything on the agenda for these people beyond their right to exist as equals in society, with the right to love who they want, marry who they want, and not be attacked or killed for simply living their lives. In fact, evidence points to an 
ss is such good business. I am baffled by adolescent conservatives who have major health issues, and who would be utterly hopeless in their capacity to deal with those issues should their employer change, or should they lose their job altogether, who would never be able to afford medical insurance on their own. Or who would be potentially excluded from treatment because of pre-existing conditions. Or who would be left in permanent poverty if left with no coverage whatsoever. Or who would simply die because of being unable to pay for treatment. And yet it seems so much more important to the fearful conservatives to dump ever more money into war and military might, leaving our own people – including veterans – to suffer and die when we have the capacity to do far, far more? I simply cannot accept how this is still an issue for the adolescent conservatives. What is the ultimate harm in making sure that everyone can receive medical care when needed?
business. War sells weapons. War provides the opportunity for modern-day colonialism. War pits nations against nations, and creates a strong sense of patriotism and willingness to bravely stand for what is right. But do those who stand bravely in the front lines of battle do it in the name of economic growth? Do those who are injured and die for their country accept that they are pawns in wars that are deliberately inflamed and fueled in the name of those sitting in positions in the government who are poised to make billions of dollars in the weapons sales, in the oil procurement, in new alliances that will deliver greater and greater economic advancement? But if we aren’t at war, what to do with all those combat military jobs? Won’t they be unemployed? And employment is good for business… 
into silence, or simply removed themselves from my circles altogether. The latter has, on occasion, been disappointing. One particular situation comes to mind in which a man who shared many of my own real-world social connections had begun to engage in dissenting conversation with me regarding my opposing viewpoint. While we clearly had very different values and views in regard to political and social systems, for me, the conversation had a lot of potential for mutual growth and understanding. Our exchanges were civil, mostly respectful, and somewhat informative – though my very open nature was met with his own unwillingness to lay his beliefs on the table, as he feared a backlash from the community as a whole, I believe. Just as I was preparing to reach out to him and invite him to a larger, and more formal conversation about the issues we are facing as a nation, I discovered that he had severed our social media connection.
What continues to surprise me is that there are still many people in the conservative world who seem simply unwilling to consider the bigger picture of what is arising in this time of dissent. They seem hell bent on simply upholding their values, speaking louder and louder, and doing what they can to force their ways on a majority that is simply not in agreement. The very idea of a mutually respectful conversation where true listening and sharing of values and ideas can occur is apparently quite threatening. Instead of the willingness to enter dialogue, the defensiveness of some conservatives seems to be digressing more and more into a mockery of the values of other people, carrying the maturity and humor of the average 13 year old boy.
meme, and I’m sure that all who see it are laughing as loudly as they would after an especially colorful round of “pull my finger.” Curious, and ultimately hoping to gain some insight into the perspective of these people, I googled “libtard,” and found a great wealth of information on 
Americans to harvest and decimate based on personal whim. Other humans, other nations, and other life forms are equally and fundamentally interconnected in this world, and each part is undeniably impacted by the actions of every other part. Ultimately, the American economy is simply an idea within which we are all living in various states of participation, and LIFE did in fact exist far before the nation we call America was even imagined. For humans to continue to exist here, we must wake the fuck up to the reality of cause and effect, and face the results of the past century of ignorant, self-interested, and destructive choices we have made. If we don’t, the effect will be the ejection of humanity from this beautiful, diverse planet. Species extinction doesn’t exclude us, though the horrific ways that we might initiate that are certain to cause our exit to be rife with unprecedented ugliness and suffering.
before in my lifetime. And at the same time, personal, individual freedoms of pretty much *everyone else* is on the chopping block. Person of color? LGBTQ? Non-Christian? Woman? Poor? Differently abled? Somehow, in the adolescent conservative mind, protecting the rights of these people is felt as a theft of rights from the wealthy white Christian faction, and often the poor white Christian faction as well. So many of these people believe that their own freedom has been violated when they are barred from hateful speech and actions that are threatening to these other target groups. Ultimately, the adolescent conservatives hold fast to a fundamental sense of superiority and entitlement that has allowed them to believe that when those who are different from them are allowed to exist freely according to their own values and principles, it is a threat to their own freedom.
possibly be imagined into a doctrine of hatred toward those who are being outed as the abusers, discriminators, and oppressors. There is ultimately either a lot of shame, or a lot of denial in this kind of thinking. Ultimately, bringing these conversations out of the closet and into the mainstream, and into academia, certainly initiates a powerful movement toward learning from our collective mistakes, and rewriting our current reality in a new way. But when these trends of abuse, discrimination, and oppression are ultimately still being upheld by those who believe in their own moral or ethnic superiority over those they prefer to dominate, the rage and shadow emerges. The haters project their hatred onto those who are merely stepping into their rightful place in the conversation and in the culture. As our collective tolerance for racism, xenophobia, sexism, and other forms of discrimination is dismantled more and more, these people are called on their shit, and are forced to change. That’s probably very uncomfortable.
11th century. If the increasing number of agnostics, atheists, and undefined spiritual people are any indicator, it is true that more and more people are leaving traditional religions, either with a profound disinterest in systems of belief that are rooted in punishment, guilt, and shame (though they may profess to be built upon love and truth), an unwillingness to blindly believe mythical stories that require the abandonment of human intelligence, or the desire to embrace the sacredness in everything without all the dogma and pomp. That movement, however, has little to do with the “liberal agenda” and more to do with people who have had enough of the bullshit of religion, and exists across the political spectrum for sure. It takes only one minute of serious inquiry into the current administration to see that adherence to Christian faith is utterly absent from all those in positions of authority, if one is to consider the actual Bible and teachings of Jesus as a determinant.
percentage of taxes as well. This is a basic civic duty. And yet, the name of the game ~ especially in the Republican Party ~ is to do everything possible to dismantle taxation altogether. The reality is that we all share some basic amenities that are currently an indispensable part of our culture, and which we all benefit from directly or indirectly. While it is noble to assume that people would *want* to support these basic amenities, the truth is that the wealthiest people and corporations are constantly looking for a way out through tax breaks and loopholes. They take far more than their fair share, and they are undeniably benefitted by the systems that taxation supports, but they somehow believe they should be excused from their role in supporting these things. Ultimately, it comes down to greed, and 
the desire to stockpile money, invest in lavish and extravagant things, and live in luxury on the backs of the working class. As many of these adolescent conservatives align with Christianity in identity, if not in practice, I offer two excerpts from the gospel of Proverbs: Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—when you already have it with you. — Proverbs 3:27-28 A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. — Proverbs 11:25 If the Bible declares it, and Christianity is the dominant religion of the land, doesn’t it make sense that the people who hold fast to that doctrine would follow it?
receive support in the form of public education and healthcare. Now, as most of us have already observed, the adolescent conservatives were the ones cheering when a 
nvestment in this idea. Could this come from the idea that the government has the right to regulate certain things for the safety and well being of all citizens? Is this ultimately about gun ownership and the belief that certain things that are used *only* to cause harm should be regulated to make sure that insane people aren’t stockpiling weapons? Given the number of mass shootings executed by white males in the US, as opposed to foreigners and immigrants, only the most stubborn and fearful conservatives could continue to believe that guns should not be regulated at all, living in utter denial of the reality of gun violence in this country. Beyond the gun ownership situation, though, I have no idea what this could refer to.
o create a Socialist utopia. Having people who are educated and can contribute in a meaningful way to society is good for EVERYONE. Having people who have good jobs and can support their families is good for EVERYONE. Having children who are well fed, safe, and supported in learning is good for EVERYONE. Having a society that is taken care of during times of sickness and injury is good for EVERYONE. Realigning basic human needs as social wellness issues instead of business issues is ultimately based in moral integrity. What continues to baffle me is the number of poor, struggling, white Christian families who oppose these things, calling them “handouts,” and preferring to continue trudging on in their misery than stepping 
into the re-imagining of our culture as a place that is morally invested in making sure that ALL people are well taken care of simply because we DO have the capacity to do it, both financially and logistically. The only argument that opposes this seems to be the one that believes that other people are “not my problem” and that it’s just too expensive to care for each other. Oh, but the bazillions of dollars that we spend on war, war that leads nowhere… And of course, there is full denial of the numerous countries in our world that provide these things for their people – many of the most highly developed and wealthy countries in the world – and the ways that thi
s has allowed people to thrive mentally, emotionally, physically, and economically.
their best to twist the truth not only to continue filling their own pockets and serving their own interests, but they are masterfully doing so at the expense of the very ones they have tricked into supporting them in the strongest way. There are so many conservatives who are so die-hard supportive of their own demise, it truly baffles me. But second, I am equally infuriated at the very lack of decency and integrity that is being espoused by these people who have railroaded the government. If I could suspend my utter shock that there are people who are so heartless and self-interested that they would dare say such things, and follow through with fiercely harmful actions, I would not be surprised at their tactics – they are indeed sharp in this game of human chess. But that’s where I get stuck… I am still barely able to believe that there are humans alive and existing among us that can be so callous, heartless, indecent, greedy, and cruel.
know, she just, uh, she calls me up the other day. She wants to borrow ten dollars for some food! Can you believe that? I said, “Hey! I work for a living!” So I loan her the money. Yesterday, she calls me up and says she can’t pay me back for a while. I said, “Hey! What is this?!” So I worked out a deal with her. I’m having her, uh, work on my transmission. And, uh, move my barbells up to the attic. So that’s pretty good, huh?”
family concerns, and health issues? Seriously, who can think clearly in that situation? And when the politicians swoop in, espousing the “right” social values that align with these people, they can be easily manipulated. They choose the ones speaking to them in their own language, even if the whole picture is full of holes. It may be a lie, but when it sounds good, it wins. Who in his/her right mind would vote in a bazillionaire president, who would fill his cabinet with other bazillionaires, if s/he was a poor farmer, miner, or factory worker, strugging to get by, believing that those bazillionaires truly understand their needs and values? Someone too stressed out to discern the full picture simply wants to be heard and understood and “met” where s/he is. What is clear to me is that the desire to be understood and cared for is so strong that it overrides the full story of what is happening. We can truly only see and hear what we want to see and hear…
It’s certainly not a new idea. The infamous words attributed to Marie Antoinette from the late 1700s share much the same sentiment, as she was told that people under her rule went without bread. “Let them eat cake.” Compassionless. Heartless. Cruel. What drives this kind of thinking? In my research, I discovered a new-to-me label for these folks: 
job has or will soon become obsolete in the changing of our structures. I can’t speak for a poor factory worker whose job has been outsourced. I can’t speak for millions of white, conservative people who have watched the world become increasingly diverse and colorful from a safe and fearful distance. I can’t speak for someone whose “traditional family values” now live alongside other people’s new family values, who now feels threatened by the differences. I can’t speak for anyone at all but myself. What I do know is that when I meet people in their sincerity, truth, and basic human vulnerability, I find that we all want the same things. And I believe that a huge majority of human beings do care about each other, and have compassion for the suffering of others, as for themselves. It’s only when we introduce ideas that intend to induce division based on fear of otherness that we lose our connection. And THAT is exactly what the Machiavellians are attempting to do here. They know that some of us have done our homework to such a degree that we can’t be so readily manipulated, and they have studied long and hard to figure out how they can best manipulate the ones who haven’t done their homework. Divide and conquer, indeed.
Liberal progressive: I care about everyone having food and water and shelter and healthcare and having his/her basic needs met. This is a human right. We must protect all people and all liberties, and make all of our lives better and better. 
ore sickness, there are more and more needs for pharmaceuticals that mask the symptoms, and little interest in approaching an actual cure. Sickness is good business. If we cure sickness once and for all, the wealth will die off. If there is more and more need for conventional energy in fossil fuels, there are more and more ways to profit from it. If we transition away from fossil fuels, and truly launch the green revolution… wait… there are plenty of ways to profit from that, right? And if we don’t face the facts that our current energy needs are causing rapid and undeniable devastation on the planet, we will soon be on the short list toward ejection… this one doesn’t sound like such good business after all…
can take the time to honestly explore the thought systems at play, the chains of cause and effect, and the reasons people are choosing their responses and strategies, we can truly learn about the innerworkings of the human psyche, and understand more fully what it is we are working to transform. Until we can see the big picture without being triggered, we cannot use the full force of our hearts and intelligence to create meaningful and lasting shifts in consciousness and culture.
1) The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz
3) Love, Freedom, Aloneness, by Osho 
7) Earth Prayers, by Elizabeth Roberts and Elias Amidon
biologist, and part philosopher. His words have inspired me over and over again, reminding me of the deep and visceral connection that we humans have to the Earth, and especially to the green growing world of plants. His vision and language are clear and filled with both incredible knowledge and heartfelt love. His words come to me as a reminder of what I have always known, what is buried in our collective human consciousness and DNA.