Written by Jamaica Stevens
Excerpt from “ReInhabiting the Village: Co-Creating our Future”
“HUMANKIND HAS NOT WOVEN THE WEB OF LIFE. WE ARE BUT ONE THREAD WITHIN IT. WHATEVER WE DO TO THE WEB, WE DO TO OURSELVES. ALL THINGS ARE BOUND TOGETHER. ALL THINGS CONNECT.” ~Chief Seattle
What is our common thread? What are the unifying factors, the basic foundations of life that connect us all, regardless of the seemingly insurmountable differences?
There are some simple things that many people can find a common connection in-like the sharing of food, nurturing children, endeavoring to provide for yourself and family. Sometimes people can find commonality through the shared expression of culture such as art, music, storytelling, etc. Some things bind us in commonality through their essential nature- such as the non-negotiable necessity of fresh water as a factor that every society, from primitive to more advanced, shares. Yet what about the one unifying factor that unites us all- we share the same HOME, this one planet, a precious blue jewel of bountiful life called Earth, set in a vast expanse of endless darkness?
Somehow the awe-inspiring planetary conditions that make this abundant diversity of life possible, so far, hasn’t been enough to stop the extraction of our finite resources, the degradation of such magnificent ecosystems, or to incite us to lay down our arms of war and open our hearts to connect as one species, in stewardship of one shared home. There is a wound within the fabric of humanity buried deep underneath the layers that separate us. Until this is addressed and transformed, we cannot experience flourishing or wholeness.
I believe in all people there is a fundamental longing to belong, to be a part of the community of life all around us, to be safe, to be valued, to be cared for. Along with that longing, I also believe there is a deep-seeded fear of abandonment and scarcity that can compel actions of survival focused on taking and destroying instead of tending, creating, and sharing. And from that destruction I believe there is an even deeper sense of shame, guilt and sadness. When we destroy the very thing we long for it culminates in generations of grief, handed down until the origin is not always seen or understood, but is none the less felt for the generations who become the inheritors of separation.
How can we begin to acknowledge and forgive, not only each other, but ourselves? How do we see ourselves in the “other” and move forward with commitment to compassion, generosity, and equality? How do we begin to collectively move towards a society where the impacts of the past do not have to define the future. How do we even begin to embark on the path of PEACE?
Acknowledging the complexities of social structures, socioeconomic divisions, diversity of culture, violence, oppression, environmental degradation, and power struggles within global systems, we must find our way to the heart of the matter, into the essence of our humanity and access our potential for transformation. Now is the time for LOVE.
It is time we discover what is at the HEART of the common-unity between us and how we can begin to engage the journey of healing ourselves, our communities, and our relationship to the Planet by aligning our everyday actions with the spirit of Love in service to Life.
At the heart of Regenerative Communities is the ethos of TRUST. Trust is built on consistency, a willingness to take ownership for mistakes, a willingness to listen and the courage to be vulnerable. Trust is also built on accountability which requires transparency, humility and restorative action. There can be no more hiding from mindsets, patterns, behaviors or systems that continue to degrade life rather than uplift life. The consequences are too evident and coming to the surface in confronting ways through planetary and social volatility. It is time to address the conditions of systemic and inter-personal oppression, racism, inequality, greed, separation, slavery and the perpetuation of violence. There is no “right way” to do this, but with a willingness to first address and engage in the journey towards reconciliation, justice and restorative action we can learn together how to approach these deeply embedded issues to create the potential for true understanding, acknowledgment and change.
As we face the future before us, together we must build the bridges between our distant shores and recognize just how interconnected we are and how each one of us is responsible for our shared fate. The future of this planet requires justice, equality and all access for all to the conditions for thriving. The vitality of all peoples, all species, all ecosystems must be included and considered in policies, practices, decisions, and actions. This is most impactful when engaged at local levels by people working together to create meaningful change and to uplift those people, creatures, environments, cultures and systems unique to a particular composite of place.
And there must be advocacy for change at systemic levels, taking in a Global and holistic perspective when we consider our participation in the systems we are embedded in. History has shown us that large scale movements, community led initiatives, and courageous people who dare to challenge the status quo or to simply show up to do their own small part have all indeed impacted significant shifts in our societies.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead
For how far humanity has come, there is a great journey still before us, and when deepen into the ‘authorship’ or authority within ourselves to create life as we choose to see it, when we create balance in our own lives, when we take accountability for our actions, our potential and our power, when “You” and “I” join together in the spirit of cooperation, mutuality, and devotion to ethical stewardship of that which is common between us, “WE” will find the way.
We will have arrived in the heart when our perspective is holistic, when each member of the community is valued, when we help each other instead of fight, when our leadership works in service to the voice of the people, when resources are shared, when economics include the preservation of seeds, soil, water, forests and human dignity, when basic health needs are met, when city streets are filled with gardens, when all bellies are filled, when learning is a lifelong love affair accessible to all, when children are valued, and all people are safe and respected. When we share in celebration, in purposeful work, in play, when we recognize and honor our place within the community of all living creatures, when we grow from our challenges and triumph over our adversity, when the generations are reconnected and can share their medicine with each other, when skin color is a work of art, when all religions are in honor of the Sacred in all things, when we reweave the frayed edges of the web of life and become the ancestors that the next seven generations will thank. This is not an impossible dream, this is a potential waiting for us to choose, to show up for, to devote to and take action towards…. So what do you choose?
“In every situation, every challenge — there is only one important question we can ask ourselves. What would love do? And then out of the silence of our Heart the answer will rise.” -K’anchaq sonqo — Heart of light