When it comes to getting people to understand longer term cycles of existence, first off one needs time for contemplation. I myself was distracted by travel and work obligations in the last month that prevented me from diving into this concept.
Distraction is the enemy of thought (Joyce Carol Oates in a commercial said it was the enemy of writing). We are so overwhelmed by digitization and small competing tasks that our days are entirely fragmented, leaving little time or energy to consider next year, never mind the next decade or century.
Our western society’s emphasis on this being our only life and not considering that we may have had multiple incarnations before likewise narrows our focus to competing for God’s love or mercy in this one short miserable existence.
Financial motives such as quarterly reports shut down long-term consideration and even when larger cycles are presented, economists and traders think they can game the system.
But even more than these modern day “realities”, I think there is a problem with emotional maturity and development of consciousness. The lower levels of awareness are focused on the here and now, the self and/or the tribe. This is the primal security level and there is no larger perspective than dealing with the immediate moment. As one moves up into greater awareness, one is able to consider ideas/concepts/timelines larger than oneself.
A minor foray in Spiral Dynamics does explain the evolving level of human awareness with turquoise the pinnacle of spiritual development with the capacity to envision the larger and longer view.
How can we get people to grow in awareness? We must first try to ameliorate the conditions which leave people in survival or trauma mode. We create a stronger safety net and opportunities for educational and philosophical advancement. Whether valid anymore or not, universities were set up for students to learn without the worries of everyday responsibilities. To make art, write books, develop scientific theorums, one needs some level of withdrawal from the everyday vicissitudes and financial demands of life in a capitalist system.
And that is just what we consider talent or genius in this dimension. In order to improve civilization, we must nurture the advancement of the soul (and this can only happen after the basic material, emotional and creative needs are addressed).
Because those operating from a higher level of consciousness would AUTOMATICALLY do the right thing — they would consider the long-view, would accept responsibility for crafting society, would support and comfort others. The healthy awake individual would naturally see their connection to the larger cycles of life. The only way to induce people to awaken to these larger epochs is the awaken them to their best selves.
Hence a sad commentary on where were are now as a society and planet — most people are still operating from the first or second chakra levels of security or emotionality.
And when it comes to emotions, I don’t think that that we must eliminate emotions from the decision making process — just the regressive negative ones. Because altruism, compassion, generosity, joy would move the needle in exponentially more beneficial directions. The positive emotions have a higher vibrational frequency — the frequency of love is ultimately stronger than hate. Why hate seems to win right now is that it is invading damaged vessels. People who are broken on some level are more susceptible and fragile where a negative emotion finds a home. If you are in integrity and strength, you would be invulnerable to takeover by these toxic forces.
Dictators and authoritarians would have no power if the population were healthy and individuated. They only win when there is a weak and vulnerable and traumatized citizenry.
Hence my phrase, the tide that lifts all boats is consciousness. This will require many minds and hearts to accomplish — and healers/therapists/educators/activists in the field — to bring humanity to a place where we will be supporting continuous life rather than simply trying to cheat death.
