Tenaciously grasping for solutions serves no other purpose at
this point in human history than distracting us from the myriad layers
of feelings we have regarding the death of planet earth. As Americans
we are more afflicted with "death phobia" than are other cultures
around the world. Most indigenous traditions have some sort of "good
day to die" perspective, but we heroically persevere in our war on
death. It seems this is what Tim Bennett meant earlier this year when
he wrote a blog piece in which he stated that the switch had flipped
and that it is now time to let go of the shore, sailing into the
unknown in the lifeboats we have created. As we do so, we exit the
paradigm of suicide and opt for survival, knowing all the while that
there are no guarantees that we will not succumb.
Whereas many
collapse watchers disparage feeling feelings as extraneous and insist
that we must focus on taking action dispassionately, I argue that
action must be informed by emotion. Otherwise, we will only perpetuate
the paradigm of doing estranged from feeling, that is, living from the
head while disowning the heart-one of the fundamental premises of the
culture of civilization which has brought us to where we are now. Thus,
as one part of us may minimize the importance of our actions being
informed by emotion, the seasoned sage in us must continually ask
ourselves how different we want the new world/community/individual that
we are becoming and shaping to be? If we merely pour new wine into old
bottles, we fundamentally change nothing. If we take action without
feeling the full impact of our fear, grief, and anger, as well as our
gratitude for what resources we do have in our lives, we are likely to
re-create the culture of empire in another form elsewhere.
Lose The Word "Solutions"; Embrace The Notion Of "Options"
At the same time that I'm pleading for the end of "solution obsession",
I'm suggesting re-focusing on options. We cannot "solve" the issues of
climate change, energy depletion, species die-off, global pandemics,
global government, or the rampant proliferation of fascism. For those
awaiting a mass awakening or mass resistance, I fear you wait in vain.
We would be hard-pressed to find any population in the history of the
human race that is as comatose as that of the United States in this
moment. In my opinion, focusing on "mass" anything is the opposite of
where our attention must be, namely, local and community survival.
Notice, I did not say local "solutions" but rather, survival. As I have
stated repeatedly, the issues are: Who do I want to be in the face of
collapse? Who do I love and trust and want to share my life with? Who
do I need to reach out to in order to enhance all of our well being? As
the "I" becomes "we", we all must ask: Do we need to remain where we
are in order to survive, or do we need to go elsewhere? What actions
should we be taking? Have we put in place a structure or process for
practicing and improving our communication skills and resolving
conflict? What is our level of food and water security? What is our
access to alternative or traditional medicine?
These are merely
a few of the plethora of questions that must be addressed, and putting
our attention on "solutions" will only distract us from doing so. In
other words, "What can I do?" is not only not useful, it could actually
get you dead.
More Options
I borrow again from the film makers of "What A Way To Go" when I offer "Five Things You Can Do" from their website:
•1) "Fully acknowledge and internalize that the culture of Empire is
destroying the support systems on which the community of life depends,
and robbing us of our essential humanity."
I suggest mulling the words "internalize" and "humanity." Then ask
yourself how electing presidential or Congressional candidates, not
unlike putting lipstick on a pig, can stop the evisceration of your
essential humanity. Ponder the system that nominates and owns those
candidates and determines their political positions during their terms
in office. Notice that all candidates, in order to be nominated or
elected, must participate in the evisceration of your humanity.
•2) "Talk about your concerns with everyone you know." Notice
their reactions. Notice the incredulity, the apathy, the denial, the
false hopes of "solutions." Then notice how you feel. Notice also the
individuals who hear you and sense that what you are feeling is valid
because they feel it too. Continue to connect with those individuals;
they are inestimably valuable to you.
•3) "Find your work in the world to preserve life, change this culture
and /or create restorative ways for individuals and communities to live
in harmony with each other and the non-human world."
Start asking yourself why you are here. What did you come here to do?
Why did you show up on planet earth at this time and not another?
•4) "Assess what you actually need during this transition in order to
live and do your work. Only buy what you need and buy from local
sources in order to support the creation of local economies." To what
extent are you powering down and simplifying your life? Do you know
your neighbors? Local farmers? Local business people?
•5) "Find or deepen your spiritual connection to that which is greater
than you. Ask and then listen for guidance about how to live joyfully
and creatively in the face of these unprecedented times."
Notice that none of these has anything to do with mass movements or
political candidates. In fact, they are all about you and your internal
and local worlds. Could it be that for some of us it might be easier if
the options were all about the macrocosm instead of the microcosm? Is
it not more comfortable to focus on mass movements and political
candidates instead of the personal responsibility that collapse throws
in our faces?
Options Engender Opportunities
Collapse
is a multi-faceted word which I frequently use in my writing and
speaking. It is important to use the word and not resist it because the
entire construct of civilization is collapsing in front of our eyes.
For example, the U.S. has not "entered a recession" but rather the
first stages of global economic collapse. Our public schools are not
merely turning out undereducated students, the entire educational
system is collapsing. It's not that energy depletion will make it more
difficult to "grow our economy," but rather that in reality, growth is
over! Although we refuse to recognize our limits on planet earth,
planet earth is setting limits whether we like it or not. As James
Howard Kunstler says in "Escape From Suburbia" in response to Dick
Cheney's maxim that "The American way of life is not negotiable," if we
refuse to negotiate our way of life, then energy depletion will make
sure that we get a new negotiating partner called "reality."
When we refuse to accept the fact of collapse, we armor ourselves from
endless opportunities for personal and community growth. Perhaps other
collapse watchers would prefer not to hear about "opportunities"
inherent in collapse, but I feel compelled to name them!
I
would be the first to admit the possibility that nuclear war may erase
all potential for human survival as collapse more fully unfolds.
However, I would also adamantly insist that it may not be inevitable
and that local communities and families who have consciously prepared
for collapse can not only navigate it but create mini-societies where
an entirely new paradigm prevails. In the latter scenario unimaginable
opportunities (a word very closely connected with "options") abound for
remaking human relationships, human connection with the earth and the
non-human world, and the reclaiming of our ancient memory of living
within limits as partners with, not dominators of, the earth.
Paradoxically, "solutions" obfuscate opportunities whereas options
nurture them. Not only is it too late for "solutions" but the process
of collapse, which is well underway, challenges us to revere and seize
options in which reside unfathomable opportunities. The switch has been
flipped; there's no turning back to antiquated means of addressing
unprecedented challenges. Time to stop asking "What can I do?" and
start doing the five things you can. It could mean the difference
between suicide and survival.
Watch this website for more information about Carolyn's forthcoming book, The Spirituality Of Collapse: Restoring Life On A Dying Planet
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