“One discovers the light in the darkness, that is what darkness is for.”
James Arthur Baldwin, novelist
I have felt crushed and overloaded by the recent events of our times, but still feel peaceful and hopeful that we are having a wonderful new beginning. History teaches me that the Dark ages are followed by the Renaissance, Saul becomes Paul, the heroin addicted sex worker becomes an addiction counselor, on and on. This is the emergence of consciousness, over and over here at Earth School.
The Program is designed to move us forward until we realize and accept our Oneness with each other and the Universe. But what a long journey it is…probably many lifetimes of learning are achieved before we totally get it.
During the crisis, the saying goes, “When one door closes, another one opens, but it is hell in the hallway.” I’m the one who tells my clients “…It doesn’t have to be hell in the Hallway. You can choose to create a different kind of experience during ambiguous times.” Yes, I do believe that is still true. Yet during these past few months the Hallway has been brutal. Each day, it is a struggle to stay focused on solutions and find some joy, despite the chaos around us.
This pandemic chaos and racism crisis also remind me of the Chinese word for crisis, which is made of two symbols, Danger and Opportunity. In each crisis, we are totally at risk, and yet the opportunity for a new and improved consciousness is here. That’s the good news. Again, it’s part of the Program for the evolution of our consciousness.
As much as I want to discuss ways to live in ambiguity with peace, even joy, today I feel the need to be quiet. I am sitting with the grief, and processing the harsh reality of the racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia and other forms of tribal cognitive distortion that are still infecting our world in tandem with COVID-19.
Here are two resources which have been particularly soothing, uplifting and informative recently:
⭐ “Bleed the Same,” with Toby Mac and Kirk Franklin.
This song captures exactly what I am feeling, and what needs to be said now.
No other words say it so perfectly.
⭐ Tim Ferriss’ interview Coach George Raveling, 82, “This Unique Moment in Time, How to Practice Self-Leadership, Navigating Difficult Conversations and much more” .
In the throes of feeling this intense outpouring of emotion after George Floyd was murdered, and under the suffocating history of racism, I appreciate hearing how this wise black man frames this moment. This wide ranging interview will give you an intimate view of Raveling’s extraordinary journey from being born in the basement of a segregated hospital, to becoming a world class coach, and how he navigated his life in this ocean of racism all these years.
At one point, Raveling says “We are both the problem and the solution.” Yes, I love that dialectical view for each of us. We are ALL accountable for this situation. We need to step up and take a stand to create a world worth living in, with “Equality and justice for all.” Simple, but not easy.
So I invite you to listen to “Bleed the Same,” and Raveling’s interview. I think your heart and mind will be moved to a new level of awareness, acceptance and then action.
YES, you can be an agent of transformation, and turn this Hellish Hallway experience into a magnificent corridor for the evolution of consciousness!
Onward and Upward❤
Lisa Wessan
Copyright © by Lisa Wessan 2020. All rights reserved.
The Lighter Side of Transformation 