F.E.A.R., V.O.T.E. and some other nifty word plays

It’s almost over. Breathe. Yes, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Oh and by the way, it’s Halloween time, too. Boo! Talk about a scary planetary confluence — it’s Hallolection time!

And while this amazing, never before seen and hopefully never repeated campaign winds down to its official end time, I keep asking myself — as a conscious, concerned citizen — what is mine to do? In the stillness of meditation the answer is not surprising: Be a compassionate and sane voice during this election. Somebody has to be ‘cause people are seriously freaking out.

If you’d like a good example of that, here’s a news flash for you: The Washington Post recently released a poll that said over 50 percent of Americans were depressed about this election. Wow, who knew? They even have a name for this particular affliction — E.S.D. or Election Syndrome Disorder. It also states that this form of despair is a unifying factor because both red and blue party members are equally depressed.

The Washington Post then offers some common sense solutions to help folks during these troubling times:

1) Reduce your intake of media consumption

2) Don’t get into arguments with people that disagree with you

Beyond these suggestions I know I will find a place to go deeper into self-reflection and to allow myself to see the bigger picture. I must remember to stay in the conversation, question everything, and remain open to mystery. Last year my Halloween article described F.E.A.R. as Forget Everything And Run, and this year it must certainly be Face Everything And Rise.

What are my spiritual practices during these tough times? The first comes from a quote by Sufi poet Rumi: “Raise your words, not your voice. It’s the rain that grows the flowers, not the thunder.” In this campaign we’ve seen a lot of raising of voices but not a lot of raising of words.

Words are powerful because they are manifestations of thought and consciousness, so I’ve become even more aware of the words that I choose to express. I’ve taken a step back from divisive words and conversations, and opened to expansive words that invite dialogue. Learning to listen and hear other people’s words and intentions is an art, and is so essential in our current political climate.

The second idea I’ve embraced is to raise my consciousness, not my blood pressure. After all, I’m the person that’s always saying, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” I know that there’s an energy field beyond good and evil, beyond polarizing opinions, and that’s where I need to hang out.

Our culture has an affinity for dualism — heroes & villains, terrorists & patriots, good & bad, right & wrong. What’s fascinating to me is that there aren’t any clear good/bad guys in this election. Since polarization is rampant, I see this political campaign as an idea laboratory. How can I look beyond him/her and red/blue into a more expansive viewpoint? What does a broader vision of a unified America really look like?

Once I am clear on my vision then I must V.O.T.E. – Vocalize Our Truth Eloquently – and vote consciously. I want to move beyond mere research into the realm of infinite possibilities. I know many people who like to vote for TV shows but get nervous in political situations. As adults we are trained to never discuss politics and religion. But the truth is that we are already master voters. Every day of our lives we vote.

At its most basic level a vote is a thought, a unit of energy. When I open my eyes in the morning, I vote on how I want to create my day with the attitude and thoughts that I embrace. Every conversation, every interaction I engage in is a vote for what type of relationships I will allow into my life. And I vote with my dollars, my money at every store I support. I am always creating the economy I want to see. Now I am simply going out to vote in a polling booth so that I can further engage in the political process.

When all is said and done, and we accept the results of our collective decision, I will hear these words of Ernest Holmes: “For if the whole nation works together and prays together, a great moral and spiritual power, an actual soul force, will penetrate the whole world …” Let it be so. And so it is.

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Through her ministry, “Doorway Into The Infinite”, Rev. Maria holds the vision for the transformation of the consciousness of planet earth. She is a spiritual change agent committed to… educating people in the process of healing… empowering the world one creative thought at a time… and experiencing peace in our lifetime. Her articles, essays, and meditations have been published in various magazines. She has self-published numerous books and manuals, and released two recordings of guided meditations. She’s created a variety of classes, workshops, and spiritual performance pieces, where she expresses her profound interest in spirituality and peace. For more information, she can be reached at her website: www.be-the-change.com or at her e-mail: [email protected]