While Republicans Double-Down on Anti-Democracy, I'm Doubling-Down on Conscious Politics
Issue 103
Even with a worldview that places what’s happening in American politics today in the context of an old, dying consciousness clinging for dear life while a new one endeavors to assert itself, I’m stunned by the power of that clinging, by the strength of that undertow. I’m appalled that half our population has fewer rights today than they did on June 24 of this year when the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization. I’m repulsed by the words and actions last week — and still — of state and federal Republican officeholders, candidates, and their myriad supporters who see fit to decry, debase, and deform the very rule of law their party once revered with dangerous talk about law enforcement at Mar-a-Lago. I’m incensed that all of this and volumes more is at the hands of the 45th American president, his presidency, and the concurrent, now-complete co-option of the Republican party by his anti-democratic supporters. I’ve got enough old consciousness in me to want to rage and bang some heads. It’s true. But I’ve apparently got far more new consciousness in me because I’m inspired instead to double-down on conscious practice. I firmly believe it’s the only way out, the only way to get from where we are to where we want to be and today that includes, but is not limited to:
Choosing Peace
Choices abound and it is easy to choose peace over fighting. Fighting is pure old consciousness, steeped as it is in all of that binary and duality, either-or, their side and our side, right and wrong, winners and losers. To be sure, we’re having trouble letting go of the fighting habit or, more precisely, we aren’t even trying as evidenced by everybody in politics always talking in terms of fighting all the time — I’ll give you that. And I’ll add that it’s all the more reason to choose a different path because to choose to fight is to choose the old consciousness. To choose to fight is to weigh ourselves down. If we are fighting against something we are advocating for something else so let’s advocate, let’s champion, let’s create. (See also: law of attraction and intention.)
Being Compassionate / Non-Judgmental
Compassion encourages us not to judge others in any way and reminds us that none of it is personal. U.S. Representatives McCarthy, Greene, Stefanik, Turner and their lot, Governors DeSantis and Abbott and their minions, U.S. Senators Rubio, Scott, Johnson, and Paul — to name just a few and to say nothing of their myriad anti-democratic supporters — all got born on purpose for a purpose just like we did. To be compassionate is to allow people to live their lives (until and unless they’re hurting us intentionally). It means that everybody with a belief of any kind has every right to that belief based on who they are and the experiences they’ve had and are having. We don’t really know and it’s not really any of our business.
Trusting that I’m Here for a Reason
What is our business is remembering that we are here for a reason, that there are no accidents. When “here” is a situation that is not so much to our liking, conscious practice encourages us to ask ourselves who we have to be or what muscle we might benefit from growing or developing in order to feel better about things. Then, we have a project — a reason for why we’re having the experience we’re having. It’s always something simple and it’s usually something familiar as in, yeah, that’s been on the back burner for a while: I just have to be less judgmental/more accepting; I have to trust more; I have to let go; I have to change a belief. Investing our precious time and energy in projects like these is what fuels our growth and fueling our growth is always the reason for what we’re experiencing.
Being Intentional
What are the intentions of anti-democratic Americans? We can surmise, based on what we see, that they include amassing political power at any cost — but we can’t really know about others unless they tell us. What we do know is what our intentions are, what we want to see happen on our political landscape. And the more small d democrats anywhere and everywhere talk in terms of intention all the time, the more anti-democrats will be squeezed to talk in terms of their intentions as well.
Believing in Possibilities
Part and parcel of creating shiny, clear intentions is making sure we believe they are possible. If disbelief is one’s only impediment, I promise you that disbelief can transform into belief.
Taking Responsibility
Is it just me or is mainstream political talk one hundred percent devoid of talk of responsibility? How is it that we teach kindergartners to take responsibility by cleaning up their tables and storing their belongings in their cubbies and not tattling but the nation and world writ large are living at the effect of a ranting ex-president who never takes responsibility for anything? Why is there no shame in a grownup person holding political office in America playing the victim? Why has it seemingly become an art form and universally accepted? Because the old, dying consciousness is clinging for dear life, that’s why. So what do we do about it?
We remember that as a concept, take responsibility is not only an admonition. It’s a reminder to be clear at all times about what we are and are not responsible for. I’m responsible for how I respond to anti-democratic behavior on our political landscape. I’m responsible, as one who strives to live consciously, for understanding how Spirit communicates with me. I am responsible for my energy and what I put out into the world. I’m responsible for being truthful with my fellow humans. I am not, however, responsible — in any way, shape, or form — for making an unconscious world more conscious today. That sure helps.
NOTE: You and yours are invited to this month’s Conscious Politics Free Monthly Training on Tuesday, August 16 from 5:00-6:30pm Pacific / 8:00-9:30pm Eastern. It’s this newsletter come to life. And it’s a time when we talk about what you want to talk about. For a change. All are welcome.
