We’re living in times of unprecedented transformation, challenge, and opportunity. Despite our modern progress and technological advances in the last few decades, global upset, environmental crisis, economic strife, poverty, and war have taken their toll. Our old approaches, based on separation, ignorance, greed, and materialism, have reached a dangerous peak. As a world, we’re being called to a whole new level of consciousness.
So, how can we pave the way to a positive future? Should we scurry to our beds, throw the covers over our heads, and just hope it all goes away, hoping someone else will figure it out for us? Or, do we rise to the occasion and awaken to our personal and collective responsibilities in creating a new planetary experience based on unity, love, and respect?
On December 21, 2012, we move into a new world cycle. While some people frantically claim that we’re heading for doomsday with 2012, we’re NOT. The 2012 date marks the completion of this World Age Cycle, but it’s not an endpoint or something to fear. Our current challenges aren’t signaling the end at all. Rather, they’re beckoning us to wake up and take full responsibility, both as individuals and a collective, in the shaping of our next world age.
Let’s step back for a moment and consider the experience of one little caterpillar:
Once there was a little caterpillar who dreamed of becoming a beautiful butterfly. He woke up confused. “What? Me? Fly? Wow… cool,” he thought. “But come to think about it, I’m afraid of heights! No way, caterpillars don’t fly.” So he went about his life exactly the way it had been, chewing on leaves like the others because… well, that’s what caterpillars like him were supposed to do. He began to hear voices urging him to fly but that made him move further to the center of the leaf, further resisting the voices that began to bother him. “What’s happening to me? Is anyone else feeling this way?” Along with the scary yet compelling voices in his head, he started to get sick like he had a bad flu and his skin began to fall off.
So the little caterpillar, getting more and more ill, continued going through the treacherous process of shedding his skin. His immune system was being attacked by the source of the voices—imaginal cells that kept multiplying inside him. Each time an imaginal cell created another one, he heard, “I can fly!” He was seriously having the nightmare experience of his life. What was he becoming? What about his caterpillar life? Why wasn’t it working for him anymore??
And so our little friend kept getting sick and tired from all the shedding and feeling miserable. One day he was finally able to crawl to another plant, but then he discovered he had to hang upside down. Talk about scary! He worked through all his fear and, compelled by something deep inside him, he found the last caterpillar strength within him. After several attempts, he was finally able to attach himself to the leaf. With hard work, he formed a hard casing around his body. Then he remains stuck inside this little, claustrophobic cocoon for what seems like an eternity. He’s tired, sick, and having crazy hallucinations about flying free and happy in the air. Nothing makes sense anymore, and he just wants to give up. He falls asleep for a while exhausted, not sure who he is anymore.
In fact, while he’s inside the cocoon—painful and scary as it was—the parts of him that died brought new parts to life! How could this be?
He wakes up in the dark and finds he has a different kind of strength now. He pushes and pushes and cracks his cocoon open and… the once slimy caterpillar finally emerges as a beautiful butterfly!
***
Of course, I added some humor to illustrate this natural process, but here’s my point: As a world, we’re now in a similar process of metamorphosis. Like a caterpillar has to transform to become one of the most beautiful insects on earth, we must go through our own metamorphosis to reach a whole new and more beautiful level of existence. Right now, we’re collectively in that sick and tired phase. Rather than give up and focus on catastrophe, as a collective we need to change our perceptions and focus instead on community and respect but also to honor the process of death and change.
Biologist Dr.Bruce Lipton talked about this power of collective thinking in his amazing book, Spontaneous Evolution. When Bruce was working with cells, he noticed that when he changed their environment, it wasn’t the gene that controlled the fate of the cells. It was the environment. And when we change the environment of our thoughts, feelings, and beliefs to one that is supportive, loving, and healthy, we become well. Bruce illustrates how the same is true for humanity—we cannot evolve if all the cells (us) are focused on competition and separation. Bruce calls us the imaginal cells in human consciousness evolution. Imaginal cells are responsible for taking a caterpillar to a butterfly. And, that’s us!
On a more individual level, many of us are also going through a personal metamorphosis. If you’re longing for something to change in your life, think of the experience of the caterpillar. How can you use your imagination to reframe your experience?
Ultimately, through new thinking, trust, and imagination, we can create a whole new experience for ourselves and our world. Remember, a creepy, crawling caterpillar becomes a one of the most beautiful flying creatures in our world through transformation.
Exercise:
What’s your vision for the world? Write out your dream for the world and for yourself. Then share it!
I’ll start:
My vision for the world is that our governments detach from their enmeshment with big business and allow a new source of renewable energy to replace our dependence on oil. My vision is that we all treat the earth as our First Mother, ensuring respect for all of life. I see humane treatment of animals, especially all that are raised for our nourishment. My vision is that we share the wealth of the world to ensure that no one goes hungry. I see clean oceans, clean drinking water for every person, and untouched protected forests. I envision peace and inspired right livelihood for all, bringing abundance to all. As global citizens, I see cooperation and true democracy by the people for the people, ensuring fairness, justice, and the pursuit of happiness. In my own life, I see myself doing my part to relieve the suffering of others and to always be inspired and creative, showing others how to find magic and meaning in the story of their lives. I envision the flow and being part of the solution, not the problem!
What’s yours? I hope you’ll write in and share it with me and others who read this blog!
