Publication Note: This blog article by XiNeutrino was first published in The Urban Times. It is repeated here because of its relevance to current times here in America. Don’t let lifelines go to waste.
It is global. Anger, deep resentful and destructive anger is circling Earth. We are in a turmoil of economic and cultural change that breeds unrest because of weak, indifferent, self-serving politics that ignore their respective electorates. The fiery reaction is totally unproductive and stands to shove us backwards not forward. Muscle, long an enemy of logic, is halting our evolutionary progress. So, what are these lifelines?
Right now we need to soothe and ease our unrest. Normally some of this would occur as we reach out to each other, but our reaching right now is hostile. So, fortunately, we are not the only life form on this planet. Those other lives can and do provide the release we need, but we must initiate it and be receptive to its intricacies Before I explain, here is a partial litany of lifeline interactions that have personally restored my life many times over..
LITANY OF PERSONAL LIFELINES
My bond with my cougar friends Charlie and Carolion
My dance with a three-legged black bear
My morning meetings with the Reef Squid gang in St. Thomas, USVI
My rescue and release of a wounded Mourning Dove whose relatives visit me in the Spring of every year.
Yes, the above are personal lifelines and are not listed as directions, but only as examples of the benefits of our reaching across to the life that surrounds us and in doing so restoring our own. The delightful aspect of lifelines is that they are individually arranged and therefore are uniquely each persons own linkage. This is the secret restorative process that renews our perspective and neutralizes our venom toward fellow humans. We find we can become hopeful and constructive again. The future is no longer an ugly, dark and blank wall. As we establish more lifelines, that wall begins to disintegrate and the views through it sparkle with renewed challenges.
Not to worry, your individual spirituality is not at risk of mockery or abuse. Your awareness of the connectivity of your life with the entire energy matrix throughout the Cosmos is revealed and in that process your value and importance is recognized and encouraged. You are not alone, you have never been alone, and will never be alone here or throughout the Cosmos.
Limited Significance: In our Earthly surrounds some of us are significant while others are not. In some cases the insignificant are relegated to that status by other humans who have self-appointed themselves as significant. In our society, we also elevate some of us to levels of significance based upon our political, philosophical, artistic and humanitarian popularity and or efforts. Sadly, most of us are in that ignored status of insignificance As you will learn here, that is a meaningless status. Although sociologically we seek, even require, recognition from family, friends, communities, workers, etc., those acknowledgments are often fickle or tainted with specific performance requirements. Should we fail to meet these, we stand to drop into the anonymity of insignificance. Crushed and alone some of us leap away from life on Earth while others simply dissolve into permanent hopelessness. None of this is funny or acceptable.
Compassion, not pity, steps in and we insignificant are given new sets of performance requirements to master. Some of us do and rise up to Earthly significance. Rarely, if ever, are we told that we as life-forms hold eternal significance with all life and energy here on Earth and throughout the Cosmos. Yes, various religions seek to do this on a limited basis. They are limited because they too have requirements that must be mastered. Some of us fail here too, and are left to go crashing down again. Hope survives; so hang on.
Its Cosmic:Everything that surrounds us that is alive or supports life (air, water, energy, etc.) has significance here on Earth and throughout the Cosmos. We are part of that everything. All forms of energy surround us, impact us, and are within us and all of that binds us to each other and the Cosmos. The flutter of a bird’s wing matches the flutter of an excited human heart. The joyful thrumming of a happy cricket jangles us awake and then often provokes our giggles. The bright, flaming streak of a meteorite both alarms and invites us to consider what lies well beyond our Earthly confines. All striking reminders that we are not alone, and that we are all one together and are valuable.
On Being Valuable: Yes, being valuable within the Cosmos may not ring any bells when added to a job resume’, but what that status inspires can fill a multi-paged resume’. Just knowing we are not alone, and knowing that the first and most important human to satisfy is ourselves permanently elevates us to significance status. Certainly, we often need help to sustain our significance and to prosper from it. In this regard, finding the key to the help doorway is often accomplished by being a help doorway ourselves. Our outstretched, helping hand can be the magic key that opens our own development pathway. Compassion is not a sedative, it is a stimulant for both the giver and the recipient. In responding to the grief or confusion of another person we usually find answers to our own quandaries. Enlightenment and hopefulness are mutually shared. Our outreach is not just human to human, it is across the entire spectrum of life here and , as we will learn, throughout the Cosmos. Our efforts to keep our home planet alive and well is as important in sustaining our significance as all that we may do for ourselves and for each other. Nurturing nature, which by virtue of its very existence nurtures us, is a vital and enriching effort. The more we do, in every respect raises us higher and higher. Voila, we can become enriched and empowered.
Empowerment: The Real and the Fake: “All right, all right, who’s in charge here?” That bossy inquiry is courtesy of your psyche. Your answer should be a strong and confident, “I am.” Yes, the source of our real (virtual) empowerment is us. It begins within each of us and with proper care matures with a solid backbone of self-confidence and skills. Proper care is vital and complex. All life-forms go through this process of becoming empowered. For humans it is first our parents, then our peers and our schooling. Later is will be essentially ourselves and sometimes a caring soul-mate. Soul-mates can be what we term wives or husbands, but they also can be a relative or a trusted friend. In many cases, our only soul-mate is our own selves and our sense of being. This is the framework of true empowerment. It is within us, not external and fleeting.
Some of us fall prey to those who partially fulfill their own empowerment by empowering us in a manipulative way. In these instances we are not free or self-determining, we are rigidly enslaved by others who depend on our bondage to enforce their power. For us to break free from this we usually must stand alone, but as we have stated throughout here, we are never alone and so despite our physical aloneness we are one with the Cosmos. This is how we replace that false empowerment with the real power that is born within ourselves. This is not easy, and it is often emotionally and, sometimes, physically painful. If we prevail, then we are set free.
Freedom’s Obligations: Being free is not a gift. It is an earned reward and as such carries specific obligations. The chief among these is the commitment to promote freedom for others who may be falsely empowered and thus in an inescapable bondage. Traditionally, this has produced war-like actions that seek to liberate, but warfare creates its own bondages and thus sullies out acts of liberation with new enslavement. In these situations the price of freedom is far too expensive. Regardless, we must strive to diminish both physical, cognitive and spiritiual enslavement. The best method is to enable all those interactions discussed above that allow us to determine our own status and to recognize our value to ourselves, to all life on this planet and especially our value within the Cosmos. We can do it, but the challenge is, will we do it?
Enabling Cosmic Significance: If we answer the challenge above and strive for freedom for all life-forms we then begin to enable our Cosmic Significance. As this becomes reality, we are enriched, we are strengthened and as noted above we are set free. This imposes an infinite cycle in which human life rejoins the Cosmos and then joyfully shares the energy and power of these cosmic alliances. We are strong, we are compassionate, we are creative and most importantly we are uniquely ourselves, but never, never alone.
So What Does All This Mean?: In a word, as we achieve unity with the Cosmos and all life that is within us and that surrounds us, we don’t just experience it, we become JOY.
Dead Earth: Click on the image for more information.
At this time, on this planet, Earth, the environment and climate change naysayers constantly dispute the proven fact that humankind is directly contributing to the decline of life. The dispute is based on the belief that whatever is happening is in no way humankind’s fault and that much of the purported dangers are fraudulently conceived to empower liberal politics. This is tragic and even more tragic is the possibility that none of this is unique. It is possible that these sames kinds of disputes and ongoing abuse of the environment and life systems has occurred and is occurring throughout the Cosmos.
Yes, there is what we could call competitive evolution in which one life form in its evolution may threaten the existence of one or more other life forms, but all of this seems to follow a rather random but orderly pattern that appears to be a part of the thrive of planetary life systems (at least on this planet). The evolution of humankind as, for now, the top life-form, introduces a species that does not necessarily follow any orderly pattern and generally threatens a large segment of all life on the planet. At the same time, some segments of the human species is mindful of this threat to other life and seeks to alter human behavior to reduce that damage and also enhance the endurance and progress of all life on the planet. Therein resides the cause for the dispute mentioned above. The net effect right now is that life on Earth is imperiled.
Have we carried Darwin’s theory of “natural selection” too far? Are we convinced that we are the ultimate species and that there is little or no interdependence of life within our environment? Science says it is otherwise. Based on current scientific research and analyses there is a very high probability that life inhabits other planetary bodies (exoplanets) throughout the universe. It is also possible that some forms of human life exists on some of those exoplanets. Can we also assume that some or all of those human-like lives have evolved and in a manner similar to ours? In my opinion, that answer should be yes. The next question could be, are those humans abusing their environments just as we are or are they like our Native American bretheran who still believe and practice a respectful interrelationship with planet Earth? The intriguing and entrancing scifi movie “Avatar” clearly illustrates this diversity of attitudes toward the environment.
What if it is true, that human life, in whatever form and wherever, is abusing their planetary environments much as we are? Even though life in some form will most likely continue to generate and regenerate throughout the Cosmos, there is also the possibility that there could be a gigantic collapse of life throughout the Cosmos due to widespread abuse of life supporting environments. If this should all come to pass within an envelope of time, it is highly possible that we could have a silent Cosmos. By silent, I mean without life in any form and its evolutionary processes. This is avoidable, and for Earthlings, though a cosmic consciousness is desirable, the key concentration must be on planet Earth. We have the power, the technology, the science, and the economic drive that should enable us to both progress and preserve and protect our environment. On the other hand, if we submit to greed and addiction to power we could quickly accelerate the total extinction of all life on Earth. Capitalistically, that is a lousy investment. Environmentally it is stupid. Sociologically it is suicidal.
Lastly, as mentioned above we are learning and beginning to respect the interdependence of all life here on Earth and to envision that concept prevailing throughout the Cosmos. That is a purely glorious and stimulating realization. We are not alone. We have immense linkages across the universe, and with that we have the power to progress and enrich all that surrounds us. In a cosmic sense, to me at least, this is our ultimate mission and reason for our presence. Yes, life has a reason, and we should neither neglect nor abuse it.
Like the Na’vi of Pandorawe must prevail and in prevailing we could be the incentive that ensures that the Cosmos will never go silent.
It has been over 3 centuries since my earliest ancestors from Scotland and Ireland set foot on this continent. Regardless of that time interval I, to this very day, have deep feelings for my links to both those two countries. Every once in awhile, just like ET, I have this urge to “call home”, but unlike him I am not sure who to call. I do have one compensation in that by posting a few articles for a Britishonline magazine, The Urban Times, I have contact with that broad home-base of my ancestors.
ET’s yearnings will, in my opinion, be ours to experience someday as we succeed in exploring and, in some cases, settling on distant planets both in this galaxy and beyond. I am also certain that those new space-pioneers will experience the ET-effect.
Perhaps there is a genetic link or geological imprint that is passed along from generation after generation. Again, in my opinion, that imprint could be a composite not just of family linkages, but deep seated associations with the physical and emotional pull of our home-base; in this case our planet. Science-fiction notable, Ray Bradbury, documents this in his short story, “The Martian Chronicles.” In that regard, I suspect Bradbury also has experienced the ET-effect.
Going a step further, scientists are researching the source of our beginnings, and are currently documenting the fact that we are “stardust people.” By that they mean, the critical biochemical ingredients that lead to our coming into being have come from the Cosmos. Is it possible then that our deep urging to reach out and explore into deep, deep space, is a cosmic ET-effect? In other words, as stardust people, do we possess a cosmic imprint that makes us yearn to not just call home, but to explore where that home might be? Furthermore, does this imprint have a spiritual impact as well? In either of these cases we can only be enriched if, in fact, they are real.
Perhaps one of the most potentially exciting and rewarding results would be when we have a meet-up with ET, and because of our mutual cosmic imprint we quickly achieve a comradeship that welcomes us into our real home; the COSMOS. Suddenly many of our Earth-born irritations and prejudices shrink to nothing as we embrace our real home. Yes, there will be evolutionary and developmental differences between us and the ETs we meet, but they become insignificant because of our growing mutual sense of unity and belonging. We are really home and among a host of amazing kinfolk. – JOY!
The Coralyea Community, above, was founded in 1842 on a small Cay near Cat Island in the Bahamas. Catamara Reef was founded approximately 5,000,000 years ago. It is located in the chain of islands that make up the West Indies. Like the Coyalyea community, Catamara was formed by living organisms. This is the essential vitality that defines all life above the sea, beneath it, and beyond the boundaries of planet Earth.
Coralyea is fictional and exists as an example for this presentation. The coral reefs of the Caribbean are not fictional. Their sister reef in Australia (the Great Barrier Reef) is the largest living organism on this planet. The key phrase is living organism.
The key to life on Earth and as we now know on any Earth-like extra-solar planet is water. Planetary water is primarily what we call oceans, and it is our ocean that is the essential and vital resource that supports our existence. Simple logic: let that vital resource die and soon thereafter all of its dependents will also expire.
Yep, the “ho-hums” crescendo along with cries of “boring”as we under-react to the decline of life on Earth; better known as species extinction. What we are letting happen to our oceans and the life within them and the lives they support outside is an essential act of self-annihilation. This is absurd. There is too much to live for, there are too many adventures yet experienced, and too little life enrichment yet received to toss it all away. Please, smirky shrugs will not make any of this go away.
No, no, we are not essentially naughty. We are ill-informed, possibly a bit stupid, and generally indifferent to this critical issue. The deniers tell us it is all out of our hands, sprinkling their shouts with mysticism-based threats. They even pontificate that it is happening to us as punishment. Well it is punishment of all life, but it is BY OUR HANDS! Oh, oh, guilt trip coming! Yes, that is definitely the wrong way to even begin to address life on Earth. Let’s start out by agreeing that, overall, it is absolutely beautiful and wonderful. If we can agree on that, then we are set for the greatest love affair in our lives.
I, personally, was blessed by both being raised my first three years by Navajo Native Americans, and also by living right in the middle of a National Forest. Respect for life, for nature and planet Earth were ingrained in me. The Navajo deep reverence for Earth was imprinted on my daily life. This taught me to be always aware of Mom Nature’s blessings. So, I was lucky, that does not mean the rest of you are unlucky. It has just not been a first order of your early childhood education. Well, it is not too late to acquire that deep awareness and appreciation for our planet, and especially our mother oceans.
Today, opponents to environmental awareness bark warnings about what we could lose or what it could cost us in productivity if we become more in love with dear sweet Earth. They either intentionally ignore or simply do not know about the costs to all life if we continue to ignore this planet and all its marvelous resources. Sure, we take advantage of them daily. The problem is we make no effort to preserve those resources to make sure they remain abundant and available. This is no different than all the things sane, healthy humans do each day for themselves to stay well and alive. What those Navajo’s taught me was that the whole idea was a respect for a community of life that included all things within the environment; including humans. This attitude of worshipful respect ensured that we were blessed by Earth’s beneficence because we carefully nurtured that community of life.
We are at a brink now. Our indifference, even in some cases, our defiance of preserving our community of life now threatens our continued existence. Perhaps the most dangerous argument is the one that espouses the inevitability of our extinction. This is a direct disregard of the amazing process that brought human life onto this planet, and most probably across the Cosmos. In short it is blatant self denial. With this philosophy it is no wonder there is a grab and run attitude about this precious Earth. Most probably, civilizations on other distant planets (exoplanets, if you wish) have faced these same challenges, and we may eventually find out that many failed and became extinct. So can we, but we also can learn to preserve our community of life and thus eventually meet up with those civilizations that also fell in love with their planetary homes and resources.
In my own mind, I consider my Navajo mentors were really emissaries from some distant planetary culture that had learned to save their communities of life and were now here to help us do the same. We can do it. Do we want to? Do we care? Look below to see the probable outcome if we do not care.
Lastly, if you wish, watch this video which is a Cherokee expression of their respect and love for this sweet Earth. Yes, the Eagle, the Wolf, the Bear, and the Lion as well as the Buffalo are special treasures, but they hold to this day that the entire community of life around them is truly an Amazing Grace.
There is absolutely no sense in panicking; robotics are going to replace more and more of the current human workforce. Does this mean we are approaching a Player Piano human lifestyle? It could happen, but it does not need to happen.
As more robots move into the workplace there will be an increasing availability of workers to tend to Earth’senvironment. Are we talking about just planting trees and raking leaves? Absolutely not, we are talking about an entire range of skills from agronomy to zoology. Yes, there will be a need for manual skills, but also a growing demand for entrepreneurial and scientific interests and skills. For now, at least, and until we really achieve a successful migration to another Earth-twin, we must rely upon our home planet. It is our precious resource and if we lose it we lose humankind.
A combination of science and entrepreneurial interests can turn the Amazon region into both a key environmental resource and an income producing resource for the inhabitants of that vital area. The same combo-team can also turn the poppy fields of Afghanistan into a major resource of natural medical pain medications. No synthetics, all natural thus enriching and stabilizing a stagnant culture.
A combo-team of scientists (biology, botany, and zoology) and specialist in animal husbandry can begin to address the causes and the remedies associated with a rising extinction of Earth’s wild creatures. Why bother? We must bother because as extinction increases it spreads across species debilitating Earth and that means us as well.
Similar combo-teams can turn agriculture back into a productive and rewarding life. Science finally addresses plant nutrition in ways that eliminates polluting run-off. Finally the farmer returns as a revered and vital member of society and not the presumed enemy of Mom Nature.
Engineering geniuses finally develop engines and vehicles that instead of polluting Earth; enrich it. Additionally, scientists, in concert, finally develop a natural fuel system that also enriches rather depletes Earth’s resources
So the demand and the workforce are already in place and they will grow and in growing they will first preserve our home and secondly preserve and enrich us with a fuller and more rewarding life.
None of this will be an easy transition. Without direct international leadership in redirecting both public and private energies to concentrate on nurturing nature, we will all wither. If we wait until it becomes an emergency then that situation will extend to include all life forms; again that includes us.
This entire process can produce a remarkable redeployment of a cast-off workforce and introduce an entirely new and rich international endeavor that sustains humankind while preserving our home.
Yes, there is a spiritual element to all of this. We return to revering the Earth and all its residents (plants, animals and human) which stands to spread cooperation and desires for peace among us all. Every sunrise becomes a celebration and an individual moment of praise and thanksgiving.
Lastly, when we talk about nurturing nature we are talking about humankind as well. We are all one, and it is time that we achieve that reunion which will provide new adventures for an idle workforce and a return of the full glory of our beloved Earth.
XiNeutrino
COSMOSARIUS 