The Bliss After the Agony

                                               "The world is in agony."

Well, that much is pretty obvious! And there are any number of folks who seem always ready to begin their rise to power by "announcing" the obvious: we all know enough of our collective history to know this is true -- but it is only true as far as it goes, and no further! 

In 1993, the Parliament of the World's Religions, released a "Declaration Toward a Global Ethic". The five words, the world is in agony, are the first five words in the Introduction to the text itself. Following those five words, though, is much more than an analysis of our continuing situation: there is in this text a "prescription" for a way out of agony... Words such as "We are interdependent", "We take responsibility for all we do", and "We must treat others as we wish others to treat us" point us into the possibilities of a collective bliss...

And no, I'm not smoking anything! Although I am drinking a cup of Lapsang Souchong tea as I ponder and write... From the vantage point of my desk, I can see that bliss is on the way! Not only will Michelle be home in a few hours after attending a Math Workshop for educators, but it is inevitable that our collective consciousness evolves a next step: look! It is already all around us and manifesting in incredible ways!

Great art, poetry, and music continue to be made: everywhere! Everything is Indie: a spirit of power-for-beauty is rising and co-opting the old and dying power-for-privilege. The Occupy Movement is now beneath our feet and our toes can squish into an increasingly fertile ground. Black Lives Matter is a resurrection of the vision of justice for all. A universal opening to spirituality independent of domination-inspired-theologies-and-scriptures is increasingly evident. The women's movement is re-energized. Oppressed minorities are just a few years away from becoming majorities (yeah for more sex!). Farmers Markets and community gardens are in many cities and towns and folks are talking and planning on how to get closer to the land. Eco is everywhere. Alternative energy sources are rapidly developing -- even the possibility of making fuel from seawater. Climate change is seriously considered and plans are being effectively developed (they are!). But most of all, most of all, there is what the old spiritual masters would indicate as evident in their bones, "in the signs of the times"...

What are the "signs of the times"? The sign is in the lotus flower... originating in the mud of stagnant or still waters, the lotus rises and flowers above the muck... and the "jewel of the lotus" is the will to "lift every other up" into their liberation and bliss. This "mothering" is the great sign of our time. Personified by the Divine Mother, the Idea is the thing: we can, if we will, become that which we need. If we love Unity, if we activate our compassion, and if we generously feed everyone, the Wisdom that we need to leave our agonies behind will be given to us! All of us, together, can take a next step in our species evolution: into higher realms of consciousness... oh and, don't, don't even consider voting for Donald Trump: he's only an opportunity to go backwards: which is to go nowhere but into more agony: he and Putin will be sure to profit, but enough already of that!