Now is an opportunity for a radical new beginning, a departure from business as usual. This is a photo of the solar eclipse on March 20, 2015 taken in Hamburg, Germany by my dear friend Dr. Gunnar Lindstroem. Remarkably, this potent eclipse coincided with the Vernal Equinox, the first day of Spring, on the last degree of the last sign of the zodiac, 29 degrees Pisces. The Spring Equinox is defined as the moment when the sun enters 1 degree Aries, the first degree of the first sign of the zodiac. One door closes, another opens. That is what this time represents, personally and globally.
Both eclipses and equinoxes are moments when the boundary between personal and public are blurred. Our private actions have more public import and visa versa. In addition, at this moment, there is abundant cosmic energy available for personal and collective transformation.
We find ourselves at a unique turning point in human history, where we will either wake up to the immediate necessity to modify the consumptive practices driving climate change, or suffer an “eco-apocalypse”. This is a link to a piece by National Geographic in December 2014 about the warming of the seas, which is accelerating the melting of Antarctic ice at a pace which far exceeds forecasted worst case scenarios. “As warm ocean water rises up to melt them, glaciers around the Amundsen Sea are losing half a Mount Everest a year.” Here is another recent piece by Robert Scribbler, environmental and social justice activist, concerning the same issue.
Many feel completely helpless and paralyzed in the face of the enormity of the planetary crisis that we are facing. There is understandably an impulse to deny the immanent catastrophe because it feels like there is so little individually that we can do that will make any difference.
A pragmatic and relieving solution is provided by a funny collection of spiritual lessons and tales, called “Outrageous Openness”, Letting the Divine Take the Lead, by astrologer Tosha Silver. This book is filled with every day wisdom and instruction for “fresh and vivid ways” to align ourselves with Divine Order, to solve problems that are simply too overwhelming and confounding for us to manage alone. Her approach is not about sitting back passively and waiting for God to rescue us. To the contrary, she enjoins us to regularly practice inviting Divine Guidance, and then to let go and open ourselves to the inspired response, which will inform our path.
Here is a quote from chapter two of Outrageous Openness, “Shopping with God.”
“When I was in ninth grade my friends and I played a certain game for months on end. No matter what someone said we just added the words “during sex.” Such as, “She loves to eat anchovy pizza (during sex). or, “He always forgets to do his math homework (during sex.)” For whatever reason, this never failed to send us into gales of hysteria.
But then we were fourteen.
Now I find myself in a new version. Have you noticed how some people will rush to discourage a certain goal? Or at least to let you know how futile, exhausting, or expensive your attempt will be before you even start?
So in my revised game, I always take their words and add “without God.”
As in, “Its imposible to find the right job in this economy (without God)” Or, “You’ll never be able to find parking there (without God)”
I can’t tell you how well this works.”
I would add, “It’s impossible to think about restoring the planet and averting ecological catastrophe, or healing your auto-immune condition (without God).”
Don’t let the God terminology turn you off. You could as easily substitute, “your Higher Self,” or the Force of Love, or Spirit.
I believe that there is a deep hunger and need in many of us for this approach. I have recommended Tosha Silver’s work to my patients, and many have found the practices she recommends very helpful. She gives us both permission and encourages us to invite the Divine to show us the way. Inviting Divine guidance is something that is unfamiliar in this culture that valorizes pulling yourself up by your bootstraps. Many feel shy and awkward asking for Divine assistance, but there is a secret longing and need, both for our own good and the highest good of the planet.
Here is a YouTube video of Tosha Silver lecturing at a Google Mind/Body conference, which will give you a flavor of the woman and her work:
Judy,
Thank you for this entry and your other blog entries. As a psychoanalytically trained therapist also interested in matters related to spirituality & consciousness, it is encouraging to discover your writing. Your entry regarding the Freud/Jung dichotomous views of religion capture well the dilemma of psychodynamic practitioners interested in non pathologizing perspectives of spirituality.
A few years back I became familiar with the work of Elizabeth Lloyd Mayer, author of “Extraordinary Knowing” and also an analyst. Besides her (and now you), analytically trained folks with these interests are typically reluctant to “go public”. So, thank you for sharing your work. I would be interested if there are other resources/communities you would suggest for like-minded psychoanalytic hybrids?
So happy to read your comment and to learn that my posts were meaningful to you. I know Lisbee Mayer’s book. She writes poignantly about traditionally trained, and even famous clinicians have had experiences that cannot be explained within the consensus paradigm, and who were afraid to be public about their experience for fear of ridicule. The lack of openness from a profession that prides itself on curiosity and truth is very striking. I do not know other resources to suggest. I am currently at a Writing Intensive, and that is my intention, to write about bringing the soul back into psychiatry.
I so appreciate this post, Judy, and agree that calling in Spirit, God, the Divine, Essence, Highest Self – whatever terminology one uses – is crucial to accessing the best of who we are and have available to us. And, the way the planet is being destroyed, we need to get our best selves and efforts together to make changes and heal the earth and ourselves now. It does feel like there is a rising consciousness and collective energy coming together. Cultivating this change consciously is imperative. Thanks for inspiring me.
Thank you, Janet, for writing. And yes, the time is now and its important for us to recognize others who are tuned into this reality, so that we can work together to make the changes that are so needed.
Thanks so much this, for following your own intuition and being “outrageously open”. You posted this, just when I (and I’m sure others) needed to read and hear this.
So glad it was timely. I appreciate you writing and letting me know. It made me happy.
Yes, indeed, very important part of healing, and glad to see you address it. Even if people don’t respond, I know they are reading your posts, so I hope you carry on with your important messages in this arena too.
Thank you for your encouragement. I appreciate it!
Thank you for this, so timely and helpful. I love Tosha Silver’s work and also the title of your post, “Pragmatic Spirituality.” Spiritual practice comes in many shapes and sizes, and can be very different from how we grew up or are conditioned in our society. For me it’s very important to have my own unique practice, and it has literally saved me from my own catastrophe,so I know it’s an important piece in the bigger picture too.
Thank you for taking the time to write. I am glad that the post resonated with you. Typically readers respond most to pieces about histamine intolerance, or bio-identical progesterone or the dangers of Miralax. Post about Spirit do not generate much obvious interest. And I think it has to do with what you wrote about, conditioning. This is not the way that we think in our culture. It is such an important piece of healing and must be included.