FALL

August 3 , 2009

It seems like summer never got here this year, and already it’s Fall. August 3 is the first day of fall. Fall is the season of letting go; of dissolving structures; of surrender and adjustment. And boy oh boy, do we have a lot of surrendering to do!

So first, let’s talk about structures: what are they, how do we build them, and why do we need them?? Structures are the things that direct our energy towards specific goals. When we build a structure, we plant the foundation in a particular time/space continuum. That structure will usually reflect the beliefs of the times – the zeitgeist, as it were. Zeitgeist (pronounced De-zeitgeist) is a German language expression translated as: Zeit, time; Geist, spirit, meaning "the spirit of the age and its society". The word zeitgeist describes the intellectual, cultural, ethical and political climate, ambience and morals of an era (similar to the English word "mainstream") or also a trend. In German, the word has more layers of meaning than the English translation; included in common understanding of the term is the allegation that Zeitgeist may only be observed for past events.

So, foundations are laid with the values of the Zeitgeist. Let’s say the values look like this; you have to have a college education, then you get married, buy a house, have some kids, climb the corporate ladder, make a boatload of money, retire to your second home and live your final years relaxed and happy with your fun toys. If we are part of the group zeitgeist, our investment of ourselves will follow this structure. We’ll put in the time and money to get a college education. We’ll find an appropriate spouse, have kids, buy a home, etc. And one day we wake up and realize, these things define who I am. My identity is built of all of these myriad structures, and there is no room left for spontaneity; no room for adventure – no room to startle myself with outstanding creativity.

The structures keep us in place; they also keep us contained. So Fall is the time where we examine the structures and see what is now out of date. How has the world changed since we began that journey? How has the environment shifted? How do those changes affect the integrity of our structures? If the environment has changed and the things of value are no longer valued, does it make sense to continue to invest ourselves and our identity in these ways? Bear in mind that the earth is moving through space in several different directions, while simultaneously revolving. What this means is we are NEVER IN THE SAME PLACE TWICE, AND NEVER IN THE SAME PLACE FOR LONG. The environment is always changing.

More new information has been produced in the last thirty years than in the previous 5,000. The amount of information available in the world has doubled in the last five years, and it keeps doubling. Obviously, the environment is changing rapidly and dramatically. (and by environment, I am not simply talking about the earth’s surface; I am talking about social environments, emotional environments, etc). Ray Kurzweil, in his book The Law of Accelerating Returns, states : “An analysis of the history of technology shows that technological change is exponential, contrary to the common-sense "intuitive linear" view. So we won't experience 100 years of progress in the 21st century -- it will be more like 20,000 years of progress (at today's rate). There's even exponential growth in the rate of exponential growth. Within a few decades, machine intelligence will surpass human intelligence, leading to The Singularity -- technological change so rapid and profound it represents a rupture in the fabric of human history. The implications include the merger of biological and nonbiological intelligence, immortal software-based humans, and ultra-high levels of intelligence that expand outward in the universe at the speed of light”.

Whew! What does all this mean? How are we to even comprehend these kinds of statements when most people are having trouble putting food on the table? It’s time to really examine the structures that hold our lives together and determine which of these structures is holding us in a time that has passed. The way of life we have invested in since the 50’s is not going to return. Instead, something new and marvelous is happening. And in order to ride the wave of change, we will need to be more flexible, more fluid. Retirement isn’t going to look like anything we’ve ever dreamed. The kinds of work our children do will be dramatically different than our own. And certain skills that we learned as children will become more important than a 401K or financial investments.

So how do we surrender the structures that are no longer timely? First of all, ask yourself why you are hanging on to "the things". Is your identity tied up with things? “I worked very hard and was really clever in order to acquire this, and it reminds me every day of that”. Nothing wrong with having our identity reflected back to us by our things. But is the MAINTAINING of the thing keeping you in thrall? Does the feeding and caring of the thing take away the resources you could be using to ride the wave of change? Is your entire being caught up in “how” to maintain the thing?

What would be the worst thing that could happen if you let go of the thing, or things, that you are currently trying to support? What kind of energy would that free up? How might your identity change? How might you surprise yourself in ways resourceful beyond belief?

Tribal cultures had initiations for young people that included a real chance of death. Facing one’s death and overcoming it was considered a rite of passage to adulthood. In our Western cultures, we no longer create those sacred ceremonies; indeed, we do everything we can to prevent our children from facing their death (except soldiers - they are facing their death, but rather than returning to a tribe that understands and seeks the dark wisdom, they return to invisibility). Each generation then self-initiates with no supervision. The wisdom we collect from these initiations are not included in the cultural whole, because we have no place for those experiences to be integrated. I believe that our culture has pushed itself to this place because we are collectively going through an initiation that will change us forever. And because we are going through it together, it will have value and a place in the culture. It will become a new garden in which to plant the seeds of the future. As the old systems crumble, a fertile soil will be waiting for the new growth. And trust me, it will look nothing like the old.

So please take your investment energy out of the following beliefs:
“People are lazy and don’t want to work for anything anymore”
“Kids can’t focus or follow through on anything; all they want is instant gratification”
“You need to get a degree or you’re not going to get a job”
etc. etc. etc. You’ve all heard these judgments swirling about. Let them go! The shift we are going through needs each and every one of us to show up with just exactly what we have to offer. Your unique set of skills, life experience and wisdom will be called upon as a new way of life bursts forth.

What can we do to get there? Now, today, pay attention to exactly what is in front of you. Don't think about tomorrow or next week or next year. What do you need to get through today? What needs to be handled today? And then do it. Don't forget to include time to enjoy the summer. Not working? Get rid of all your extra “stuff” and make room for something new to come in. Working too hard? What can you let go of maintaining so you can relax on your off hours. Make relaxation and community a priority. Come together. Grow something alive and let nature teach you about cycles. Make beauty. Laugh and refuse to be devalued.

And speaking of value: let no one else determine your value. This is the biggest structural shift I would like to see us all take. In our old paradigm, everyone from your parents to your teachers to your boss got to determine what value you provided. No more. You are in charge of your value from hereon out. Make a list of what you are good at, and include ironing, or efficiently cutting the grass, or excellent at getting everyone at a party to laugh, or…everything that you do well, put it on your list. Write a resume not for a job, but for the world. Include your Masters Degree in Life Experience. And each day, as you gaze at that document, and feel pride in your accomplishments, the World will bring to you exactly what you need. No more, no less. Receive it with thanks and then smile, smile, smile.

Blessings!

Cat

“I was happy, though, almost sublimely happy, compared to a few hours before. I was going to trust in the unknown. You might think I was opening my arms to embrace the night, but the unknown wasn’t dark or empty or frightening. Something amazingly potent lived there. It watched me, it knew me, it understood what needed to happen. I myself had no idea what needed to happen, but I’d caught a whisper from the unknown: I will deny you nothing”
-Deepok Chopra, The Daughters of Joy