To Hold Hope In My Heart

My intent this week: To hold hope in my heart!nnEvery week I write a prediction- based on the energy of the coming week- and include a message, like a poem to stimulate meditation . This week’s prediction was rather long- so I’ve left out the meditation- you can find it all at my blog on www.MichalLevin.com.nnAbraham Lincoln is on my mind for many reasons. He held together an extraordinary coalition, with great personal integrity. Little, telling details: when his wife overspent on furnishings and decorations for the White House, and her maneuvers to procure funds from other departments finally failed, she had to appeal to him for money. Lincoln was furious- a rare anger. He claimed he’d rather pay the money, a very significant amount, from his own purse than take it from far more deserving public causes. He also claimed that the very shabby state of the White House on their arrival was perfectly acceptable- it was better than any home they’d ever lived in. Puts our own more recent president’s and prime minister’s actions in an unflattering light doesn’t it?nnLincoln presided over the American Civil War where more men, comparative to the population of the USA at the time, were killed than in all the subsequent wars.nnI do not find myself in sympathy with all his action or views. But, I do find myself in huge awe of his behavior and beliefs. So today, at a time of crisis, are we looking for great compromise like the coalition Lincoln presided over, to slowly establish principle? Or something different?nnThe bankers receiving their bonuses, and the speculators playing the markets for short-term gains, clearly feel its “change to stay the same” (the famous 19th century conservative British politician Disraeli’s phrase).nnI don’t think so. I wonder too whether the compromise Lincoln presided over, in the extraordinary effort of effective coalition, is going to be our way ahead? It is not clear.nnWhat is clear, is that above all each individual, each of us, is called upon now to pledge allegiance to right action. It’s a simple little phrase, but one whose implications go deeper and deeper. What is “right action”?nnMuch new age, spiritual or esoteric thinking, or futurist speculation is directed at the potential momentous changes ahead, or indeed in process. Does 2012, the end of the Mayan Calendar mean the end of the world? Will the earth’s Poles reverse? Is Atlantis on us again? Will global warming result in the death and destruction of large areas of the earth? Is our financial system doomed? Is this the end of capitalism?nnThe answer to all those questions lies in mankind’s extraordinary creative abilities, and right action. We are, potentially, hugely resourceful. History shows that we have repeatedly been faced with situations labeled “bound to indicate the end of mankind as we know it”- like the end of coal, or the end of candle wax. Similarly new inventions- the telephone, electricity, the fundaments of knowledge itself, despite grave protest, “ the earth is NOT round, to say so is heretical”, have been repeatedly challenged, and eventually absorbed.nnIn those circumstances, has life continually degenerated? For the people of planet earth has the situation overall continuously worsened in the face of these advances? Cleary the answer in simple material terms is absolutely not! However, that does not mean that our trajectory has been perfect, or that this is an interruption to be overcome so that previous patterns can be resumed.nnThis is a major crisis- a world civil war that necessitates the revision of our way of operating. In all areas, from business to education to the environment to politics, this crisis asks for a reassessment and a commitment to a new way of being. A way of being, a code of conduct that embraces what I am calling “right action.”nnOf course the front on which the war is being waged is finance. It is a breakdown around issues relating to finance. Its cause is greed, and worship of money at the expense of all other qualities and considerations.nnThe prime mechanism fuelling the greed is short termism, and the ignorance or even dismissal of the principle of interconnection which state that there is no real gain at another’s expense. It is not possible.nnAny gain achieved at another’s expense may be short term, and will have other, negative consequences. It’s a vast subject, and one I will return to again and again, to spell out the implications. Meanwhile, we are seeing the effects of the belief that gain is possible at another’s expense all around us. But, cause and effect is an immutable law. Sometimes it takes a little while to play out- but it does in the end.nnnRight action requires a renunciation of gain at the expense of another, and the activities that support short termism. Then it demands steady implementation of codes of behavior in all areas of life that take true account of interconnection at all levels.nnOnce we accept the need to honor interconnection, the crucial elements are hope, and belief in the potential of mankind. Our creativity and ingenuity can find a way through. Our beliefs though need to be carefully examined- and brought in line with our aims and our karmic purpose (more another time). That’s what we are doing here. We’re working out what we really believe in and how each of us is to implement it in our own lives.nnSo this week, while the wild things bray on the outside, and murky depths and darkness threaten, don’t act out of fear. Look into the fire. What do you need to do to deal with your circumstances, and your personal contribution to the situation?nnAt the end of 1861, early in the civil war, Lincoln made a decision to sack the head of the War department. He had given the job to a man who was a skillful power broker, who worked through the use of patronage to reward loyalists and punish opponents. In this way he had build up a very considerable following. However, after it became clear that his appointee was creating chaos, Lincoln revised his views about the man’s suitability for the job.nnLincoln realized his choice had developed great personal power, but he had not developed the skills to be effective, to preside over the tremendous administrative challenge of leading the War Department in the midst of civil war. Lincoln made the decision to sack his appointee on pragmatic grounds, as a result of seeing the effects. In your life, you need to make the decision out of principle, not just pragmatism. Support appropriate behavior and qualifications, not merely personal power or popularity or friendship, or mutual advantage.nnMore - find truth, authenticity, hope and ultimately joy within yourself, and then offer it to the world, the interconnected reality that is our world. Look into the fire, look into yourself; do not be afraid of the noises in the dark!nnnGo well, be well.nnLove and best wishes,nnMichalnnn© Michal Levin 2009