Spiritual Ecology – A Way Forward

By Karen Blakeley, RScP and Ministerial Intern

2020 hit and we heard about a new virus.  This wasn’t the first time or even the second in recent history we had seen new viruses.  However, this one was different. It affected the entire human race; binding us together in our collective anguish regardless of personal beliefs about causes, practices, or the best way forward. During this time I keep hearing people, “I want things to go back to normal”. And I think, but isn’t “normal” how we got here?  Isn’t living a life disconnected from each other where collectively we treat the planet as a commodity and/or feel like there isn’t anything we can do how we go a place where an opportunistic infection has virtually shut down life as we know it?  Now, I understand and would never minimize the need for a return of human connection and an end the physical and emotional isolation that has occurred throughout this pandemic:  However, I don’t want things to go back to normal.  What I think we need is a way forward.  A way to take the best of what used to be and transform that into something greater.  In this way, this time of retraction of staying home and sheltering in place becomes like a caterpillar wrapped inside its cocoon.  if you know anything about caterpillars you probably know that out of the cocoon will one day come a beautiful butterfly.  But have you ever stopped to consider the caterpillars process?  Stay with me here for a moment.  If a caterpillar is anything like we are then I bet it hesitated to step into the cocooning process because it knew it meant everything was going to change.  Or perhaps thought to itself – “Who am I to think I could be a butterfly?”.  I know the process of transformation for the caterpillar is hard and at times I wonder if during the process the caterpillar cried out “I can’t do this – I’m just a caterpillar!” and felt alone even while be fully protected inside the cocoon and completely supported in the process.  Then one day as if by magic, the caterpillar comes to realize it has transformed.  It began to stretch inside the cocoon and beat its tiny wings in order to break free. Once free it will take flight for the very first time and realize its greatest potential.  You may have also heard what happens if someone tries to open the cocoon and help the butterfly with this process…. the butterfly’s wings fail to become strong and it can’t fly. In this I believe we are like butterflies and covid is our cocoon.  Our charge is not to find a way to return to the caterpillar life that lea us here, but to open be to find a way forward. To transform into our greatest possible potential for ourselves and for the entire planet.  To create a more sustainable planet and realize the global CSL vision of a works that works for everyone.

The next questions we may ask is, “What can I do?” We may feel like we can’t effect change or wonder where we would even start.  However, I believe Ernest Holmes already gave us the answer. He, along with other great teachers have provided us with a road map for this journey.  Ernest Holmes says that there is a spiritual solution to every problem.  Joanna Macy adds to this saying that the global crisis is at a root a crisis in perception.  This means, that where we start is by working at a spiritual level. It is from here that true lasting change happens.  We just have to be willing to take the first step. As we shift our perception, we can also begin shift our consciousness and seeing ourselves as an interconnected part of the world. From this place, change occurs naturally. Then we choose to recycle not simply because we should or we have been told by some external force that it is the proper thing to do but because we have a deeper felt sense of connection to and responsible for all of life, all sentient beings, including the living body of Mother Earth herself.  From this space we begin to realize that everything we do is sacred.  Life its self is sacred and care comes naturally.  

This shift in consciousness begins in small ways many of which may be things you are already engaged in. Llewelyn Vaughan-Lee’s short book “spiritual ecology 10 Practices to Reawaken the Sacred in Everyday Life” offer us several suggestions. These include small things such as walking in nature and noticing the beauty and the rhythm of the earth.  It even includes breathing as a spiritual practice.  This could entail the yogic practices of pranayama, soma breath or any other technique that allows you to have a felt sense of connection from the see to unseen realm of life.  Even things such as gardening, cleaning and cooking, when do with love and conscious intention, can become a part of this journey.  All it takes to begin is the willingness to make a conscious effort to notice that life is sacred. To hold a felt sense of connect with each other, with the planet; and with all of life.  

Together, we can create our best yet to be.  Let’s not return to normal but to build something more, something greater- to realize a transformative sustainable world that works for everyone and everything.  If you’d like to learn more about spiritual ecology or the book mentioned above consider purchasing it from Amazon smile by click the link here.  When you use Amazon smile, you donate a percentage of your purchase back to NVC.  I look forward to being in this journey with you. Until next time, know that we are always connect heart to heart and soul to soul from that place where everything is one divine essence ❤️