"Might we begin then to transform our passing illuminations into abiding light?"
― Huston Smith
The root of the problem stems from a system which encourages hostile division between people based on their differences. Whether it is race, gender identity, religion, caste, nationality, ethnicity, ability, age, class, or even political affiliation those forces that have prodded and pecked at and encouraged separation (via those aforementioned vehicles), have done so to keep stirring the pot...of antipathy, of confusion, of isolation. After all when you 'pay no attention to the man behind the curtain,' the one pulling the strings, you stay ignorant to the origins of the division and separation.
I've come to see this as a struggle for pieces of a pie, convinced that securing our slice is essential for our success. That pie is the gifts, benefits, beauties, aspects, attention and rewards from the very system from which the division springs. And the pieces in the pie are finite. We clamber for that necessary slice that will affirm our worth, our success, our power, even our victim hood. After all, if you can't be acknowledged for your worth, then be recognized as #1 (victim) for how that self-same system does what it was always designed to do. (See paragraph #1, again). But no one much questions the ways in which the pie, itself, is bad for us. Not good for our health. Perhaps, rotten, even.
So we quibble.
"For the master's tools will never dismantle the master's house. They may allow us temporarily to beat him at his own game, but they will never enable us to bring about genuine change. And this fact is only threatening to those women who still define the master's house as their only source of support."
― Audre Lorde, The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House
We are continually distracted from acknowledging our common bonds and encouraged to squeeze ourselves into an eye-dentity perspective. And while it is good to affirm the uniqueness, the beauty, the talents, the creativity of those distinctions, our contemporary culture has got has us pigeonholing ourselves into special places which tell us that pieces and sections of us trump the totality of our whole selves. It's not that one should deny or overlook special and unique aspects, but rather integrate their importance into our whole identity.
I recently got into a discussion about this with a friend. He was defending the need to call out the system, historical foundations as reasons, and that it is necessary to take action to address issues. No disagreement there. But I explained that we must as well transcend the system that has done these things to black people. The more we engage the system (as if there are no other possibilities), the more we "fight back against", the more we lend power and strength to self-same system because the system itself is not built on integrity, truth, or valor. And human weaknesses of the ill-kind have been taken for strength, power, and victory.
If, as a black woman, I am focused on the so-called racial aspect of myself (because race is a social construct, after all), I spend my energy fighting a system which I could believe is denying my blackness, or limiting me, or even abusing me. In the process, all the other aspects of myself which make me uniquely me, are not as important, or cannot truly be appreciated in a holistic way but only according to their parts. Race becomes the overall most distinguishing characteristic of myself. Self-autonomy or dependence, personal success or failure, become decided not by my own power which comes from my connection with my divine design, but rather at the whims of some so-called outside authorities which hold power over me. If it is my religion, or my education, (or lack of), or gender, then again, that focus says I focus all my steam trying to obtain some rights or advantages that have been stolen from me.
The pie metaphor asks what's the use in all this? Has anyone considered cake, perhaps? Or gluten-free cookies?
"Stop giving other people the power to control your happiness, your mind, and your life. If you don't take control of yourself and your own life, someone else is bound to try."
― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart
And this is where we are.
If I look to the prevailing system to affirm me, to empower me, I am misguided. Everything that takes place in this so-called reality in which we live is a construct designed to teach us about our own authentic power. The power to be had in being victorious according to social standards is not that power. It means putting our money where our mouths are in living what we say we believe without regard to prevailing systems. It is not waiting for permission from somewhere that we will never get it (but that's another story for another time). It's defining our own reality and creating our own new world.
"Only you can take inner freedom away from yourself, or give it to yourself. Nobody else can."
― Michael A. Singer, The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself
How that's done and why it's necessary is for another moment. But if you give your understanding to a spiritual orientation, you will see there is no other way but that by which to transform and become 'successful.' At this time, on the planet, we are commissioned with the task of no longer leaning into definitions of who we are. We are to understand that there are forces which act to support such emphases. The cosmic energies of change flooding us now, suggest this is an opportune moment to decide to do differently, see bigger what is possible, and to initiate true action in that direction.
As we embrace our spiritual orientation and recognize our authentic power, we begin to see the possibility of a new world-a world where love, compassion, and justice prevail. This world is not a Utopian fantasy but a tangible reality that we can create through our collective efforts.
The journey is not without its challenges. It requires us to confront our fears, to heal our wounds, and to let go of the identities and beliefs that no longer serve us in elevating ways. But the rewards are immeasurable. We find freedom, joy, and a deep sense of fulfillment in knowing that we are living in harmony with our true selves and contributing to the well-being of all.
The invitation to transcend limited identities and embrace our authentic power is open to everyone. It is a call to awaken to our true potential and to recognize the beauty and power that lie within. By doing so, we not only transform our own lives but also contribute to the healing and upliftment of the world. Let us embark on this journey with open hearts and minds, ready to discover the boundless possibilities that await.
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