Currenteventsnow

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Gae·a Audio Help Pronunciation Key n. Greek Mythology The goddess of the earth, who bore and married Uranus and became the mother of the Titans and the Cyclopes.

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Gaia

“Earth as a goddess,” from Gk. Gaia, personification of gaia “earth,” a collateral form of ge (Dorian ga) “earth,” of unknown origin. The Roman equivalent goddess of the earth was Tellus (see tellurian), sometimes used in Eng. poetically or rhetorically for “Earth personified” or “the Earth as a planet.”

A meditation on Gaia….

It is so troubling to hear about what is happening in the mid west… in Iowa and all down the Mississippi River. The flooding, the homes and farms lost… the tragic deaths of those boy scouts and the many injuries others sustained as a result of a tornado tracking through their campsite in western Iowa. I felt very fortunate, having driven across the continent a few weeks ago, to have evaded all the turbulent storms and flooding that have been wracking or continent in recent months.

What is going on ? We have become so accustomed to the comparatively benevolent “metabolic activity” of our planet in our current age. How can any of us not at least speculate that something… that somehow what we are doing might be upsetting the balance, causing aberrations in ways atypical to normal planetary fluctuations ?

I know that the “hard science set” is so quick to say this sort of speculation is short sighted. That in the broad sweep of millennia there have been far more drastic fluctuations than these relatively moderate climactic blips we are currently experiencing. That of course is true, but I am of the mind that it is perfectly logical and -in deed wise- to entertain the possibility that this is only a partial truth; and that factors beyond the assessment/measuring abilities of our current technologies –in fact- just might be in play.

And so… why not take the cautious measures to restore a balance that is kinder to our species and the other organisms in our biosphere ? And perhaps (through balanced, thoughtful and scientific measures) engender a detour from possible cataclysmic disaster ?

I do not pretend to have the precise knowledge on what these technological (theological ? philosophical ?) steps should be, I’ll leave that to the specialists.

I do believe however, philosophy major that I am that most powerful… the most enduring actions and subsequent physical manifestations begin with an intent of will. And the greater the clarity of that will, and the more minds focused with intensity of emotion and with unity towards that particular goal, the more likely the subsequent actions taken will bring real physical, measurable results. All manifestations of great impact arising from our human race begin as abstract thought with intent.

The other night on CNN, I heard David Gergen (who is -in my opinion- one of the wisest of the wise) say that there is “something akin to the Salem Witch Trials going on in Washington right now.” I do not wish to entertain the specifics of what he meant by that too deeply.

But what he said for the broader picture, the words he used…I believe, is important. A “witch trial” is never specifically an attack on any individual. It is a fear reaction to the shadow aspect of female power. It is a virulent desire (sadly expressed by both sexes) to crush an aspect of the female earth/mother principle that has to do with that which is illogical, chaotic, ruled by forces beyond our ability to control.

The eastern traditions of Taoism and Buddhism have a wonderful symbol expressing balance: the Yin Yang symbol. The concepts of yin and yang are represented as apposing energies or principles in life, and the balanced path is not achievable by constantly pushing into white/rational energy, but by tip toeing precariously along the wavy, razor-thin line which meanders back and forth between the dark and the light as these principles ebb and flow in our personal lives and in the greater world. Most of the great religions seek some sort of balancing principle between apposing energies. “Maleness” and “femaleness” are two of the most powerful symbols, and so we frequently find both energies represented in religion as with Catholicism in its sanctification of both Jesus and Mary.
Back to present circumstances….

I think it is a time for all of us in our country to engage in a calming/focused meditation, a prayer (if you will) for balance. Find a stream or body of water to sit beside. Or perhaps a field, or mountain view. A personal, sacred place to focus.

Let us breath in the air of our beautiful Gaia, our earth, and breath out peace. Let us intend peace, a great ”OM”; an embrace of the female earth mother archetype that has been too long denied and distorted in our land. Let us do this to calm the waters of our collective-oh-so-fallible human souls and (hopefully) the soul of the all-nurturing and protecting mother who is our earth.

Please if you can, in your own way, try this.
Below is a song I wrote shortly before hurricane Katrina hit and devastated New Orleans. The words, sadly, still have a ring of truth.

To Higher Ground
(written by Gail Lloyd, from 2006’s Circles)
You were my soldier
When we were young
When things got tough, boy
You said you’d always be around
Yes you were my soldier
And mine alone
But the time came to find higher ground

When we were older
Your country needed you
They took you away, boy
For the red, white and blue
Now the waters are rising
And the dam’s broken through
I’d better start making for higher ground

Time passes by
You couldn’t be found
Now I’m all alone
When the bugle sounds
The rain’s falling down
And I got no reason
To search for you on higher ground

We the people
We’re sinking fast
The things that matter
Are left for last
Our brothers are dying
And the flood’s on the rise
Will we ever make it, Lord, to higher ground?
Will we ever make it, Lord, to higher ground?
Will I ever make it, Lord, to higher ground?

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