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A hopeful approach for the future of international relations.

Redirect teen rebellion towards idealism and self improvement.

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Archives 2002:
Vol. 1, Numbers 1-12

Read past articles including:
Hope for the Future
Six Part Series on Science and Religion
First Three Parts of the Series on Leadership
Archives 2003:
Vol. 2, Numbers 1-12

Read past articles including:
Series on Leadership continued
Avoiding Dictatorship in a Free Society

Art and Politics
Living the Good Life
Teaching Teens
World Peace in Less Than a Month?
Archives 2004:
Vol. 3, Numbers 1-12

Read past articles including:
Seven Part Series on Global Consciousness
Is "Liberal" a Dirty Word?
Can Idealism Solve Problems?
Peace on Earth, Goodwill to All

Archives 2005:
Vol. 4, Numbers 1-12

Read past articles including:
Standing up for Humanity
Unity in Diversity

Thought and Imagination
Imagination and Healing
Lessons of Katrina
Intelligent Design or Evolution

Archives 2006:
Vol. 5, Numbers 1-12

Read past articles including:
Human Programming and Conflict
Non-Violent Political Change
Sustainable Development
Legalizing Torture
Living Without an Enemy
"Fast Food" is really "Slow Food"

 

Featured Articles about Responsibility, the Future and Consciousness:

Hope for the Future
Series on Leadership
Series on Global Consciousness
World Peace in Less Than a Month?
Can Idealism Solve Problems?
Conflict, Harmony and Integrity
Human Programming and Conflict
Non-violent Political Change
Living Without an Enemy
Protecting Children: Words and Deeds

Featured Poems:

Making Friends
The Sounds of an Empty Promise
Mama's Tears
Wake of Distaster
Entertainment
March Madness
Take Heart
Kabul Update

 

 

June, 2007
Vol. 6, Number
6


This Month's Article

Personal Ecology

"That which is Below corresponds to that which is Above, and that which is Above, corresponds to that which is Below, to accomplish the miracles of the One Thing."

—The Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus

This code of Hermes, simplified to “As above, so below,” was used to emphasize that within man is Cosmos. In the symbolic alchemy of human development it inspired ages of philosophers, theologians and psychologists to seek the formulas of spiritual transformation — to change the human consciousness from its animal nature to its divine nature.

Today, on the brink of environmental and political oblivion, humanity must change the widely quoted simplified version to its inverse — “As below so above” — which is the second half of the original code. Human beings as the microcosm may also affect the macrocosm through our thoughts and actions. Whereas “As above, so below” was used to transcend the material, humans need now focus on our custodianship of the material in order to survive and flourish. For our planet to become a sacred place for human development and spiritual wisdom, we need to make our material life harmonious with spiritual laws of nature.

This indicates that the mystical path of transformation must be replaced by the practical considerations of solving the problems humanity has created for itself. The “new alchemy” is environmentally responsible living. This will enable humans to understand the mysteries of life and nature in cosmos. This will enable humans to develop spiritually.

In the words of Hermes Trismegistus I find the wisdom of ecology, which is basically reciprocity and wholism. True ecology and sustainability follow the law of Karma — one reaps what one sows. When any system is in balance you have health and life. Our world is dying because of imbalance.

On a personal level, ecology is integrity. The world is our mirror. Thus, when we see our relationships, when we see our circumstances, when we see our challenges and our errors, we are looking in the mirror of our life. When our inner values match our external reflection we may say that there is integration — integrity. Spiritual wisdom is to put in motion those causes that will produce effects that are harmonious with our inner purpose. Thus, a spiritual life is a life of integrity and action, where there is no friction between the inner reality and the outer reality. This is a worthy goal, which the forces of nature will assist. This is the essence of natural healing. Inner values produce the motivation; actions that are harmonious with those values produce a life in ecological health.

On a global scale we do not have ecological health, because of a crisis of integrity. World leaders do not have integrity. Hence we have war, global warming, human suffering, and religious conflicts. All these effects are mirrors of the inner state of consciousness of people and their leaders. Those in power are negligent and hypocrites, so the result is that humanity is currently living in a prison of fear and uncertainty. If there is no hope, no inspiration, no sense of security, no optimistic concept of human potentials, and no vision for a better future, then there is no progress and transformation. World events mirror this failure of leadership. In this vacuum people turn to religion (any religion) and become vulnerable to the appeals of religious fanatics.

“When they lose their sense of awe, people turn to religion.” 

— Tao Te Ching

The Hermetic code instills awe: Human beings who contemplate cosmos contemplate themselves; actions harmonious with cosmic order, benefit oneself and the whole. Human beings are miracles of nature, as nature is a miracle of the universe, all set in motion by cosmic laws. So when we think about a healthy environment and sustainable living, we are really thinking about how to live a balanced life on a personal scale, a family scale, a community scale, a national scale and a global scale. That is the essence of the bumper sticker that says, “Think globally and act locally.” So global problems are first solved on the individual level.

When people change their consciousness then the world will change. Along with a change of consciousness must come a change of actions, so that there is integrity. We have heard it said that we get the leaders that we deserve. The ill state of our planet is therefore a sad commentary on the state of collective human consciousness.

I know that the majority of human beings want a peaceful, happy life. That is not complicated nor speculation. That is universal. People want to see their children grow with health and opportunity. That is also universal. There are many great organizations in the world that are working for the welfare of the planet and humanity. The only thing standing in the way of their success is that the priorities and resources of nations are currently dedicated to goals that oppose the goals of health, harmony and life for all beings.

If, as stated in the Hermetic code of cosmos and deity, all are part of one whole, then humans must learn to cooperate and work for the welfare of the whole. Through fulfilling our responsibilities to the whole we will create the alchemical transformation in our personal life that will positively impact society and the planet. A life in balance between taking and giving back is a life of personal ecology. It is not a burden, but rather an asset, enhancing the life of the greater society. Our spiritual connection to all life defines our responsibility to work to our potential and cooperate will all other parts of nature. Thus, the consciousness of personal ecology instills a sense of kinship, and a sense of universal spiritual understanding that will prevent humans from harming any part of the natural system to which we belong.

Related Articles

Science, Religion and the Search for God

Series on Global Consciousness

Unity in Diversity

Sustainable Development is Nature's Way

Standing up for Humanity

World Peace in Less Than a Month?

Intelligent Design or Evolution?

© 2007 Richard V. Sidy

 

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Archives 2005
Volumn 4
January: "Standing up for Humanity"
February: "The Wake of Disaster" – a poem
March: "Unity in Diversity
April: "Life is Calling"
May: "Entertainment" – a poem
June: "Thought and Imagination" part 1
July: "Thought and Imagination" part 2
August: "Imagination and Healing"
September: "Malice or Neglect? – Lessons of Katrina"
October: "Protecting Children"
November: "Intelligent Design or Evolution?"
December: "Building with one hand, destroying with the other"
Archives 2006
Volumn 5

January: "Conflict, Harmony, and Integrity"
February: "Satyagraha or Soul-force and Political Change"
March: "I Know I'm Not Alone - Wisdom of Michael Franti"
April: "Human Programming and Conflict Part I"
May: "Human Programming and Conflict Part II"
June: "Soccer Diplomacy"
July: "Sustainable Development is Nature's Way
August: "Parallel Universes"
September: "The News is not New"
October: "Legalizing Torture"
November: "Living Without an Enemy"
December: "Fast Food is really Slow Food"

Archives 2007
Volumn 6

January: "State of Fear"
February: Criminal Justice - "The Powerful Over the Weak"
March: "Culture Shock: The Good Life and Survival"
April: "March Madness"
May: "No Child Left Behind" Leaves Many Teachers Behind
June: "Personal Ecology"
July: Criminal Justice - "The Ethic of Custodianship"
August: "Exploring the Mind - part 1"
September: "Exploring the Mind - part 2: The Poetic Mind
October: "How Much Pain Can We Stand?"
November: "When Languages Disappear"
December: "Is it Enough to be Tolerant?"

Archives 2008
Volumn 7

January: "Beyond Ideology: Politics of the Future "
February: "Beyond the Bush Years"
March: "The Imaginary Economy - Part I
April: "The Imaginary Economy - Part II
May: Questions from Prison
June: "iGods and Connectivity"
July: "Energy Independence"
August: "Tribalism and the 2008 Elections
September: "Guilt, Shame and U.S. Justice"
October: "Have We Been Willing Slaves?"
November: "Are We Ready for the Future?"
December: "Are we done learning from pain?"

Archives 2009
Volumn 8

January: "Awakening"
February: "When Sacrifice is no Sacrifice"
March: "The Good New Days"
April: "The Power of Metaphor"
May: "The Conflict of Mythologies"
June: "The Time is Right"
July: "The New Anarchy"
August: "The Art of Living"
September: "Outrage"
October: "Are Women Becoming More Unhappy?

November: "Effect of the manufacturing culture on the American Psyche"
December: Who are the Real Game Changers?

Archives 2010
Volumn 9

January: The Music of Place
February: Earthquakes and Other Awakenings
March: Sense of Place, Sense of Self, Sense of Humanity
April: Why Do People Serve?
May: Decentralizing Food and Energy
June: Beyond Reading and Writing — Ecological literacy
July: Organization or Organism?
August: Fear and Cynicism = “Inter-fear-ance”
September: Are we afraid of our "Better Angels?"
October: Choosing Our Battles
November: Meeting the Need
December: A Living Canvas

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