I've made a decision....

Monday, September 9, 2013

I’ve made a decision.  I’ve decided my vote is to not support a military strike in Syria.  For the last week or so, I’ve been at a crossroads – philosophically and consciously.  Thanks to all the conversations at home, on the internet and over the airwaves, I feel much clearer.  A big thank you to my friend, Ted Bynum, who expressed the importance for each of us to make a decision within ourselves.  This made an impression on me.  After all, if I expect the President and Congress to make such a decision, then I need to have the courage to make one as well.  This being said, I don’t feel it’s important to argue a position.  It just felt important to come to a conclusion.  If the powers that be make a different choice, so be it.  I will continue to hold space for Syria and its process…as well as the United States and the World as we experience our process. 

What is miraculous at this time is all the conversations that are happening.  The world is weighing in….debates, votes, decisions and contemplation by the masses.  This is the process of conscious decision-making as well as enlightened democracy.  Representatives are crossing party lines - which in itself is somewhat of a miracle.  People are speaking from their beliefs, hearts and consciousness rather than strict party rhetoric.  The metaphysical forces of holding space, keeping prayer vigil and allowing each his/her process is having an effect – a powerful one.  “Good things” are happening – we just have to see the forest with the trees. 

Another question that is being answered for me is, “can I hold a vibration of unity while making an individual decision?  Can I come from oneness while playing the part of a unique individual?”  I believe the answer is “yes”.  If I come from an understanding of freedom and the right of each to have their belief, detaching from the outcome (which I can’t control) without disengaging from the process, then I can hold the sacred position that exists between the opposites.  I can come from unity while solving any unanswered dilemmas within myself, allowing the best possible outcome in the moment to emerge.

So…. from a higher vantage point I feel good about what’s going on in the world.  This doesn’t mean everything is “hunky-dory” in the trenches but it does mean transformation is happening.  It’s important for each of us to remain engaged consciously and energetically…we each have an impact…and as a very good friend of mine reminds me constantly…1 + 1 + 1 = 1000. 

Much love,

Karrie

 

Syria as a Mirror

Saturday, September 7, 2013

As I contemplate the situation in Syria, I recognize that at the root of the challenge is freedom and co-existence.  Religious preference seems to be a very real “enemy” of life in the Middle East.  If one doesn’t attend to the same religion as those who have the power, one’s life is in jeopardy.  Without a true commitment to freedom – in which co-existence is inherent – there cannot be peace.  Freedom offers the opportunity for “everything” to express itself…even extremists and separatist groups.  The challenge arises when freedom is impinged upon by those attempting to make their belief system the “norm”.  This seems to be one of the more challenging issues in the Middle East – their religions don’t seem to allow for co-existence.

I also believe this is an issue that plays out here in the United States…home of the free…a country founded in religious freedom or freedom of conscience as Thomas Jefferson might say.  There are many who claim the United States as “Christian”, arrogantly demanding that all others “who don’t like it” can leave.  Quite frankly, I’m not sure how these “demands” are any different than any other separatist group with the “my way or the highway” mentality.  They air an ignorance not only regarding our nation’s foundation but in many ways God-Source-Consciousness itself. 

Personally, I am not “anti-“ any religion.  I am pro-freedom and believe that freedom is perhaps the highest of spiritual values.  However, freedom requires maturity, responsibility, wisdom and integrity.  It demands an inner knowledge of the right to exist as well as a certain courage and confidence to co-exist.

In many ways, we are no different than the people of Syria.  We have extremists who act in “the name of their God” killing doctors in abortion clinics, homosexuals or those of a different faith or ethnicity.  I grow particularly weary of the “let’s blame the Muslims” crowd or those who continue to cry out about Christian persecution while they themselves violently persecute others. 

If we are to grow into freedom – the freedom that is this nation’s founding as well as its destiny – then we have to stop, see from a more expanded perspective and deeply contemplate what freedom means….what it demands from us…and the part we play in making this vision even more of a reality.  Those who can, must make a conscious effort to hold a vision for freedom and role model freedom as well as share an understanding when appropriate with those who don’t remember.  People have the right to their beliefs….and this means everyone has the right to their beliefs.  And for freedom to become the norm…this means we have to learn to co-exist while simultaneously and consistently supporting the overarching umbrella of freedom.

In Love & Unity,

Karrie

Another Choice...

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Another Choice…

This morning, I have been pondering Syria and the possible actions of the United States.  As I’ve said before, I find myself at a crossroads philosophically as well as in the evolution of my own consciousness.  For me, I don’t see how we cannot respond in some way.  What happens to one, happens to every – one.  We are all connected whether we’re aware or not.  And, if we agree that we really can’t ignore what’s happening in Syria (as well as other places, including our own “home”), then the next step becomes a question of how do we respond?

I’ve contemplated the consequences of continuing to meet violence with violence, coming to the conclusion that this only begets more of the same.  If we are to move beyond war then there comes a time when we have to begin the patterning of responding differently. 

For my own contemplation, I decided to break the situation down to a level to which I might be able to relate more realistically.  So, let’s liken this to a marriage where one partner is incredibly abusive and the other has succumbed to the “battered spouse syndrome”.  The battered spouse has become so disempowered that they don’t have the self-confidence/worth/power to stand up for themselves and/or remove themselves from the situation.  Anyone that has been on the outside of this type of situation knows that attempting to step in and handle it for the battered spouse, most of the time doesn’t work.  I once helped one such spouse move away from the abusive spouse on 4 separate occasions to find out a couple of weeks later (or less) that the abusive spouse had moved back in.  It wasn’t until the abused spouse made the commitment and found the appropriate support that she was able to make a different choice.  In this case, I probably would have been better off to energetically hold a “prayer vigil” of love and peace until the awareness of the two people expanded to include the idea that there was another possibility other than the one they were painfully playing out (which is what happened anyway).

So…back to Syria (and other such dilemmas at home and abroad).  Stepping in to militarily “whack” the abuser is only a short term reaction.  Somewhere along the line, if peace is to really occur, the sides involved are going to have to come to an acknowledgment of their freedom to co-exist.  Until that happens, the battle will continue with all its ugliness and atrocities.  However, what if the rest of the world surrounded Syria energetically (but physically would be awesome!) and held a vibration of Unity and the highest of light and love until they could rise to another level of consciousness?  Some might say this is a ridiculous notion…some would label it naïve….and others might recognize the ages old power of energetic collaboration with the Divine in the assistance of transformation. 

It’s apparent to me that the world is in a transition stage which eventually will lead to us making different choices.  The good news is…conversations are happening…decisions are no longer being made by one person…nations are thinking for themselves and not according to blind allegiance…military action as a first response is being called into question…and we’re beginning to think…differently.  We each have a decision to make when it comes to global events.  Whether or not we know it, what we think, feel and envision make a difference. 

As for me….I believe I have to respond….and I’m going to do so by staying energetically engaged…holding a space for Unity….Love…and peace as well as the consciousness of individual empowerment and responsibility in transforming our globally-felt experiences.  I hope you will join me.

In Unity and Love,

Karrie

An Opportunity for the Miraculous

Monday, September 2, 2013

I’ve been pondering – as I’m sure many of you have – how to handle the situation in Syria.  For me personally, I’m at a crossroads philosophically.  Can we really go without responding to the atrocities in Syria?  It’s no longer about “staying out of the business of others”….these are fellow human beings…men, women, children ….fellow expressions of the sacred.  The essence of America…pulling together…coming from a place of Unity and Oneness…is not just about Americans…it’s about Humanity.  This being said, the horrendous “taking out” of hundreds of beings cannot be ignored.  On the other hand, we cannot continue responding to violence with violence if we truly desire to move beyond a world scarred by war. Though there is a part of me that would like to retaliate in kind…”take the SOB’s out”…I recognize this only begets more of the same.  I stand at a crossroads philosophically…and I am not alone.  Humanity stands there as well.    

I truly believe and sense in the core of my being , this is an opportunity for the miraculous.  How do we respond to the atrocities without meeting violence with more of the same?  Though we may not be able to see the answer immediately or outright, there is one.  First, we have to believe there is another way.  Second, we have to allow it to emerge, and third, we must decline from resorting to a destructive path of retaliation.  If we truly believe in a God-Source-Consciousness-Allah, then we have to trust that there are other answers than violence.  And if there isn’t, there isn’t…perhaps we haven’t reached this level of consciousness yet.  However, we have to begin sometime.  We have to have the courage sometime.  We have to take the first step sometime.  Why not start now?

I am going to hold the space for the miraculous to occur.  I have to allow the possibility for a 3^rd choice…the choice that comes from the heart and soul….the answer that comes from a higher consciousness.  I feel the opportunity we have in this particular case….I sense the prayers coming from the world over for something new.  The energies of peace and love are available for cultivating a new pattern of response…we only need open to it…align with it….and allow it to unfold.

If you are one of those ready to take the step…I hope you will join me…and me, you….in holding a new vision and allowing a space for the miraculous.

Much love,

Karrie   

An Absence Speaks Strongly

Friday, August 30, 2013

Yesterday morning (as I was visiting Circle K for my extra-large cinnamon coffee), my attention was captured by a photograph on the front of the USA Today.  The picture that caught my eye was that of President Obama, Michelle Obama and former Presidents, Clinton and Carter on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.  They were there commemorating the 50^th Anniversary of the March on Washington including Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous “I have a dream” speech.  Immediately, the question that popped into my mind was, “Where are the Republicans?”  The question wasn’t tainted with any judgment or emotion necessarily; it just seemed very odd that they didn’t appear to be present.

The absence of our “other half” bothered me enough that I decided to investigate on the internet.  Surprisingly, I found that prominent Republicans were invited to speak (including the only elected African American Senator) and declined.  I have to admit, I don’t really understand.  As I pondered this over the past 24 hours, I experienced several different emotions.  I’ve done my best to refrain from judgment since I really have no idea why the choice not to attend may have been made.  It appears to be a “party” decision (or a really weird coincidence)….and even more interesting is the fact that it’s the party of Lincoln.

This morning, I became interested in “why” a decision like this might be made.  As I contemplated “why”, it occurred to me that perhaps this commemoration represented something else to some people….maybe some believe in freedom and equality but don’t agree when it comes to the “how” of getting there?  Who knows?  However, it also occurred to me that it may be true that some really don’t believe in freedom and equality for all people and if this is the case, then we have some real problems.  Disagreeing over “strategies” is one thing.  Not supporting the foundational ideals of our nation is another. 

For me, the following questions now stick in my mind…not just for representatives but for each of us….do you or do you not believe in freedom and equality for all people?  Do you see the people of our country as “blue” or “red”, in terms of ethnicity, religious affiliation or sexual orientation?…or do you see Americans?  Are you more concerned about what’s best for Americans or loyalty to a political party that represents less than half of the people?

As I take these questions into my own heart and answer them for myself, I realize how important it is to hold a vibration of Unity, right now….we have come to an evolutionary crossroads, it seems.  Will we choose the values of a higher consciousness – becoming ever more aligned with our foundational aspirations?  Or will we allow the unconscious to stymy the ascent? 

As for me, I’m choosing to hold the vision of Unity…a vision of one nation….under God….indivisible…with liberty and justice for All….a vision in which the essence of America is in full bloom.  I’m in love with the essence of America…how about you?

Much love,

Karrie

The Importance of Differing Perspectives

Monday, August 19, 2013

For quite some time, I’ve been contemplating democracy.  Without putting a lot of thought into it, I have always been a staunch supporter – and still am.  However, it wasn’t until the presidential election of 2012 that I began to take a closer look.

The partisan polarization of the 2012 election really opened my eyes in regards to the form of government (democratic republic) we have been blessed with for the past 226 years.  In so many ways, it has worked.  The checks and balances have been brilliant and when the three governmental branches can’t “check” themselves, the Supreme Court has pretty much come through.  Yes, I am aware of the maddening, painstakingly slow crawl in the area of civil rights and equality.  I recognize this to be one of the “hitches” in a democratic form of government.  We can’t move forward without at least 51% of the people onboard.  We have to wait for consciousness to evolve and our perspectives to diversify and upgrade. 

So back to the election of 2012…this election was incredibly disturbing for me.  First, the extremely polarized agendas of the major parties made it almost impossible to come from a centered or “unifying” position.  In the months leading up to the election, I found myself dealing with my own participation in the polarization.  I really worked at reining “me” in and coming from a higher perspective….one that can support diverse beliefs under the umbrella of freedom and equality.  (That took some doing!)  On the day of the election, I suddenly realized that no matter who won, 50% of the voters were going to be angry…some threatening to leave the country or even commit suicide!  Wow….  This realization was heartbreaking for me. 

Over the months since the election, I have pondered this heartbreaking realization and democracy.  Democracy in many ways has become a “winner takes all” operation.  Whichever political party ends up in the majority, sees their “win” as a permission slip to force their views on the “whole”.  Yet 50% are in disagreement.  My concern is if we don’t change our ways, we may see the tumbling of that which we have held so dear due to the unrest and divisiveness.

So….yesterday, I was chatting with a good friend of mine about the importance of differing perspectives.  When we listen to diverse perspectives, we can get a better picture of the “whole” of the situation or issue.  This reminds me of the story about the six blind men and the elephant.  Each man was in proximity to a different part of the elephant and each had a different perspective on what an elephant looked like.  One described the elephant as a “trunk”…another a foot…anotherthe tail…another an ear…another a shoulder….another the hindquarters.  Each was correct in describing their experience of the elephant yet none was correct in regard to the “whole” of the elephant.  To me, this is an example of the importance of different perspectives when discussing an issue.  Without listening to all the different perspectives, we can’t see the whole of the situation.  Therefore, we are less able to make the best decisions.

I read a couple of books in the past several months that also exemplify this idea for me.  One of the books was about John Adams and the other Thomas Jefferson.  These two founders were almost polar opposites in their philosophies at times.  As I saw “events” through the lenses of each man, I began to get a picture of what was really going on at the time.  The neutral truth of the event could be found in using the different perspectives.  Both were necessary to see the whole of the issue.

Winston Churchill was once quoted as saying, “It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.”  From my contemplations over the last several months, I definitely understand this statement.  I’ve come to a conclusion that it isn’t the form of government that’s to blame for the polarization that threatens to rip us apart at times.  It’s just that it’s time to evolve our consciousness in how we use our form of government.  It’s time to move from “winner takes all”…”there isn’t enough”…”some are more worthy than others”…to something that comes from our unity, first… respecting the perspectives of all… and recognizing the importance of differing perspectives in finding solutions for the whole.  We’re evolving beyond life as a “football game” and moving into life as an “orchestra” where there’s a chair for everyone and each chair is needed for the advancement of our nation – as well as humanity.

As I have come to know myself, I know my perspectives are constantly evolving.  My hope is to align with that which supports freedom and equality, and therefore, the right to varying and disparate beliefs.  My desire is to move from competition to co-creation when it comes to solutions, and my wish is for each and every one of us to find happiness as we bring forth our own unique perspectives, gifts, talents and genius. 

In Unity and Love,

Karrie       

The Evolution of Government

Friday, August 16, 2013

This morning, I find myself vibrating with a sense of urgency.  Well, I’m not sure urgency is the right word, exactly.  Perhaps I could better describe it with “an intense energy” which is pushing me to “do” something.  This intensity seems to be around government…specifically, the evolution of government. 

When I take a step back and look at our government today – especially state or federal levels of government – I sense that we have outgrown something and that we’re ready for the next level (whatever that means!).  Lately, I have visited some local city councils and have been very impressed with what I’ve observed.  They appear to function with what’s best for the community in mind.  They seem to listen to community members who choose to take part…and they attempt to come up with win-win solutions which address the whole as well as the individual.  They don’t seem to align with a particular party rhetoric or jostling for power.  I haven’t observed anything like blocking proposals from the public or holding ideas hostage.  They seem to know their communities and make decisions accordingly.  For me, this is how it’s meant to work.

So why can’t “higher” levels of government work the same way?  Part of the answer to this question seems to lie in the allegiance of representatives to a political party rather than the “whole” and the basic tenets our nation was founded upon.  Those elected seem to represent a piece of society but not the whole of their constituents.  They represent those who believe as they do but not the entirety of the citizenship.  Doesn’t this seem dangerous in regard to freedom and equality?  Doesn’t this seem threatening to the very ideals that government is meant to uphold and protect?  How can one protect freedom while supporting one set of individual beliefs over another?  It seems the goal is to support freedom and equality, first because this would maintain the rights of all beings to their individual beliefs.  What if they and we came from our unity, first?    

I think what’s going on in Egypt is a perfect example of the partisanship which holds our country hostage.  Rather than protecting the unalienable rights of each being to have their own beliefs, religions, etc., the majority party attempts to force the minority to live according to beliefs oppositional to their own.  Isn’t that what some of our citizens attempt to do through a misuse of government (at least as far as I’m concerned)?

It seems to me, we’ve gone as far as we can go with our current rules of engagement.  These rules no longer support the positive evolution of our society on any level.  Each of us is called to raise our consciousness to a new plane…a plane that comes from unity – supporting the ideals of freedom and equality while embracing our differences as a means to co-create a world of a more truthful and updated nature.  It’s going to take each of us engaging in whatever means calls us.  Some will march…some will hold space for unity…some will form organizations…some will contact their representatives… some will attend meetings and make their voice heard…and all will affect change with their thoughts and prayers.

As for me, I may find myself taking part in any of the above…depending on the direction my soul dictates.  I am excited to be alive on this planet at this time…and part of the creation of what is to come.

Much love,

Karrie