There is an undeniable and fundamental truth: nothing remains the same. Change and transformation are sacred assurances, especially in the height of devastation, experiences of trauma, violence and unparalleled suffering. Nature proliferates cycles of change through, for example, its seasons. We observe the eternal sequences of the moon, connecting us to her consistent rhythm; she offers space to reflect on our experiences, to release anything that no longer has value, emotionally, spiritually, psychologically. She prepares us for the unfolding of new opportunities and manifestations. There is also the cosmogram from the Bakongo group that connects the individual’s life cycle with the sun’s movements: emerging (or originating) – conception – rising – being birthed – maturing (as when the sun is high in the sky) – before descending (dying/transitioning).

The Adinkra symbols from the Asante also embody the variable qualities of life. Take as example the indomitable Aya – the fern that symbolises endurance and resilience, reflecting our own capacity to be resourceful and courageous during the most difficult times of adversity, oppression and chaos. The Nkonsonkon are chain links that relate to human relations and community and there is also the remarkable Funtunfunefu–Denkyemfunefu, signifying unity, cohesion, democracy; its symbol of intersecting crocodiles highlights unifying qualities, despite natural differences: such that the crocodiles share one stomach.

Energy of the time: War and Despair

We can agree that there is a wilful, insidious assault on humanity, superseding what many of us have observed in our lifetime. The prevailing fleshed out and in-your-face (barefaced) energy of the times is despair and degradation.  From the criminal capture of the Venezuelan president Maduro by the US regime, landing dramatically at the beginning of this year and coming after the ‘powerful and deadly strikes’ on Christmas day of ‘militants’ in Nigeria by US army, to the now 3-month war on Iran following the unprompted attack by US and Israel, we are being tussled emotionally and forced like unwitting addicts to chase the next human tragedy.

I started writing this some months ago, hoping to help counter the mental and emotional invasion of our psyche with so much devastation. I was feeling incensed by the forgotten war in Sudan – a conflict many feel we cannot fully understand, let alone know what we can do when we see images of emaciated children caught in the crossfires of the long-standing humanitarian degradation there. No matter how much we’re begged and guilt-tripped not to scroll past them, it’s too painful to watch the images of skeletal children, we used to see on TV as children (Ethiopia, Cambodia) – it was psychic terror then and it is traumatising still. I cannot get the image of children eating worms from my mind, though I attempted to flash past it – this was from an even more distant, little known war in Yemen.

In Congo we see the same mass displacement, abuse of young children, weaponisation of rape and genocide. Our despair deepens at our complicity in what’s happening in the Congo; we own the technological products (mobiles and laptops) we know are part of the conflict – even if we don’t fully understand all the parts. Millions of lives have been lost or grossly affected for decades during these conflicts, in ways we in our respective comfort zones cannot imagine. Children, as seen in the more reported Palestine-Israeli war are the worst victims – their innocence cascading in the violence, blood and rubble of destruction without hope of ever seeing an end. No one will forget the most recent bombing by US-Israel on the first day of their attack on Iran, killing 120 school children on 28^th February. This is the measure of their Hollywood style ‘epic fury’ – civilian casualties – most of them children paying a price for a war they didn’t start.  We know the situation is far worse than the mere sketches of information the media – especially mainstream – wants us to know.

Falling Empires

What we see and know despite the media’s spin is a US-Israel expansionist strategy in full maniacal performance. It impacts every corner of the world, particularly where they’ve installed military bases and misleaders.  These are calculated actions, with epic theatrical scenes that distract, confuse and inflict literal and psychological terror. We are daily exposed to the fascistic, autocratic, malice of the US president, contrary to the so-called democracy he’s supposed to represent. Western democracy, if it was being what it purports would have advanced by now, but instead it is in a regressive state, unveiling it as a farce. We should all remember that the US claimed its supremacy and democracy through force and plunder. His continuous attacks on the very institutions, such as the UN, that the Western governments created to keep themselves and the rest of the world in check reflect a stride towards totalitarianism by the so-called ‘leader of the free world.’

Collectively his countrymen and European brethren, the UK’s premier Keir Starmer to name one, have not attempted with serious conviction to stop their mad big brother from the descension he’s bent on dragging the world into. Wish all we like to be magically swept away from the infuriating madness of deranged despotic leaders and inhumane unsocial, unjust and unequal economic systems, idealism can never save us. We are all involved.  The Great Depression of the 1930s is being mirrored in our times – only now there is wider awareness of the mental anguish it comes with.

Find the Balance

Laid out like this, with obvious blatant disparities it is tempting to conclude that this is the stirrings of a new world order where we have no say; that this long night of psychic terror will never end. But I wanted to write this post as a reminder that ‘no matter how long the night, day comes’, as the proverb goes.  And for us to find ways to preserve our equilibrium when a predetermined new world order seems inevitable. How can we who long for spiritual connection, commit our work to establishing a fairer, better world and favour the total eradication of war find balance and hope in this volatile, unstable period of our humanity? It might be comforting, if that’s the right word, in the first instance to remember that this is not a new period in humanity’s development. Empires rise – usually from dominating others through wars and genocide, then fall/disintegrate and often after an intense period destabilisation. There are periods of light, the golden ages/times from the dominant empire’s perspective but this doesn’t last. Impermanence is the constant we know.

And if this offers little comfort, we can consider these more practical suggestions to maintain peace of mind and wellbeing while the chaos ensues.

Awareness and Self-Awareness

It might be easier to dodge the large issues – the macro – but they will always find a way to reach you. We’re all part of this proverbial matrix. Accept that. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed. Acknowledge that. Know that this sensation – being overwhelmed – though it seems everlasting will pass. Observe – then mindfully let go. Move on and focus on your internal armour. What does your spirit ask of you – when you’re still enough. What has always felt good, calming, attuned? Take time out to reconnect with these. Revisit childhood experiences – good, bad, unexplored. Acknowledge them without judgment.

• You’re not ignoring what’s happening in the world, but directing and controlling your personal, spiritual narrative. This will free you from feeling overwhelmed, depressed or as though you’re drowning.

Grounding

Although this practice appears to be ‘trendy’ it’s as old as time. Being conscious of the things you do to stay connected can help override the onslaught of despair and prevailing sense of disconnection. Grounding practices allow us to feel aligned, gives us a sense of belonging, of being part of something greater – the earth, the universe, nature and all her creatures. Make space in your day to play, walk on the grass, gaze at the stars, feel the sun against your skin, touch water, embrace trees, feel the breeze rushing through your hair, gliding on your skin, admire the flamboyant colours of flowers – even when they appear as weeds.

• This is a powerful way to reclaim your power and trust that all is well, despite how bad it seems. You are aligned; you are always connected.

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Conscious Connections

Rather than allowing your mind, body, spirit to roam aimlessly spend time seeking experiences that enhance your consciousness. This could mean deliberately putting yourself in the way of meeting beautiful souls that help build your character, deepen your spiritual development, and who can help you to embrace and fearlessly trust the process of change. Create your sacred sanctuary with likeminded people, not only with people but do the things that strengthen your integrity and reaffirm your self-sovereignty. This could be as conscious as restricting the amount of time you scroll on social media! Or stepping away from WhatsApp groups that don’t add spiritual value but further enmesh you in the desperate world affairs. Switch off, even if for a short time. At least try to measure the extent of your engagement and the impact on your spiritual and emotional wellbeing.

• This is how you remind yourself of your agency. You can reclaim it by being conscious of where you direct your energy and, even where you feel it’s ‘good,’ consider how much you’re expending.

Contemplate the Light

Now is apt time to revisit Malcolm X’s message about needing more light in our lives. He connected this to love. Recently, I held a workshop about shadow work where we acknowledged that most of us assume the shadow only refers to the repression of ‘dark’ experiences and feelings: guilt, jealousy, envy, trauma etc. Often overlooked is the light we possess – our creativity, our gifts which are also hidden/buried – that is our golden shadow. The dark is recognisable, easy to access and analyse – but the light should be too. By this is meant our ‘divine light’ which can eclipse the dark forces/regions we home within our beingness. The light is also part of our beingness but for most of us it is dulled, if not switched off altogether. Despair, depression, feelings of disconnection get their power source from deactivated light. Joy, love, laughter, self-awareness, community cohesion and unity are redirected toward darkness when we don’t activate them. These qualities are linked to the divine spark of creation and need constant activation. When we contemplate the light, we are summoning our collective power, reminding ourselves of the responsibilities we’ve taken for granted.

• By contemplating the light, we reanimate our creativity, remember how to love each other and the importance of preserving our humanity by every means necessary.

Channel the Forces of Good

In all ancient and indigenous cultures there are examples of opposing good and bad forces. ‘Chaos’ and ‘Order’ are natural opposites, reflected by ‘Apsu’ the primordial water/order and ‘Tiamat’ its opposite representing the salty, chaotic ocean in Mesopotamian mythology. In Kemet (ancient Egypt) Isfet represents chaos while Ma’at is balance/order. These are examples of creation stories – some force had to be destroyed for there to be the order of creation. So it is that the two (creation/destruction) are necessary opposites, one cannot be conceived without the other. This ancient paradigm can be channelled in our modern reality by contemplating anyone you have a connection with, and feel have always been a force for good in the world. Whether they are leaders, artists, writers, environmentalists, prophetesses, priests/priestesses, elders, warriors, ordinary members of your family or community etc., you can channel their vibration. Light candles for them and invite them to assist us in our collective struggles against forces that oppress, destroy and deny our humanity. Those forces for good need to be activated – which can be your personal and spiritual development or as an act of sacred service you feel called to initiate.

• By thinking about those forces that represent good in the world you own the responsibility we all must share to dismantle the dominance of anti-human aggression prevalent in these times. In other words, you owe it to yourself to use energy with intention to bring about peace in the world.

And finally…

To preserve your sanctity, your wellbeing take time to step away from the zones of mental war and distraction. Stay focused on yourself; not selfishly but pragmatically, harmoniously, peacefully. Protect your mental and physical spaces, shutting out anything you know is not needed any more for you to align with your good. Watch as those empires that claim longevity come to crashing reality of darkness, blinded by their heinous crimes against the whole of humanity. You might become enmeshed in the fall if you choose to disregard your sacred sanctuary; the choice is yours: follow your guiding light or perceive the dark as an unrelenting force against which you have no power. Trust that life is full of cycles – you live it every day; day becomes night, always. Night, no matter how long it appears to last, will always turn to day, bringing renewed light as the primal force for peace, love and human understanding.

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