Heart of the Labyrinth
You have three votes every day. Nick Chambers, Valley Roots Food Hub
Our choices are the guiding force for how life unfolds.
I think of Nick’s quote often. In my mind, we have vastly more than three. EVERY choice we make is a vote for something. In the fast pace of today’s world and the multitude of choices we face, I wonder whether we’ve lost connection with how important our ‘votes’ are. Perhaps more importantly, I wonder if we are willing to take seriously the power of our choices and make them wisely on behalf of ALL life.
As I settled in to write early this morning and the direction became clear, Muse, knowing my passion for the topic, gently suggested that I take care not to rant. I take heed of Muse’ message, especially in this intense time where the planetary energies are magnifying much of what is occurring in our world. I aim not to contribute to the chaotic energy, but rather to look deeply at what is being revealed with care and compassion on my own journey to live in alignment with all life. What do we need to reckon with? What do I?
In a world of distractions and complexities, it seems that collectively we’ve lost the awareness that our power to choose IS our personal power. And that our choices matter in the greater context of community, planet, and life.
Our choices are the guiding force for how life unfolds. Take a breath. Let that sink in for a moment. Our choices ARE the guiding force for how life unfolds. It IS up to us!
Paradoxically we crave freedom of choice while at the same time looking outside of ourselves to burdensome, self-interested systems (governments, institutions, corporations) to ‘solve the world’s problems’ and even our own. Even more (and with good reason) we have lost faith in those systems.
Though wobbly, old systems persist, and they continue to be the ones that receive the attention of mainstream media and dominant search engines. Alternative choices are often labelled as ‘dangerous’, ‘risky’, ‘misinformation’ and the like.
Just this week as I was researching alternatives to traditional veterinary medicine, I was warned about the dangers of a therapy that I’m quite certain extended the life of my dear canine Luke several years ago. While I’m sure that, like all interventions, this therapy has had negative consequences for some, my instinct now as it was then is to ‘vote’ for its use.
In one sense my vote is a vote to buck the system. To support an independent practitioner whose experience, knowledge, and heart I trust. In this case I’m blessed that our ‘traditional vet’ is supportive. I do the same with my own health, doing my best to vote for healthy, local, organic foods and work with independent practitioners whose values align with mine. And with other choices like where to bank (locally as much as possible), to invest (finding initiatives aligned with my values – locally where possible), to shop (local and directly with companies whose products I value – though, yes, I haven’t ditched Amazon – yet).
I’m reminded that my job is to be clear in purpose and intention. To act from a place of self-trust. And then to ‘let the chips fall where they may’. This is my aim in all the choices I make, the votes I cast daily. I understand that these votes matter, just as my vote does in every election. Not only does the choice itself matter, but my intention and spirit in which my ‘vote’ is cast…Muse says that’s a thread to weave another day.
In what area of life do your choices create angst? With new awareness what pivots are possible to align your choices with what you value?
Morning Light and Shadow in the Labyrinth