Happy Birthday Dianne!
Can’t believe we’re into March already. But…I still have a month here in paradise. I was going to hold off purchasing more ink and paper before I return home, but it seemed like a waste of practice to use the inferior materials that will not be part of the final project. Saturday morning I was happy that my order showed up at RedNBlue, so I was able to pick it up after breakfast with the gang at Sugar and Spice. Well, they weren’t all there, but it was still lovely.
And my breakfast was unique and delicious. I can’t remember what it was called, but it was two eggs over easy atop beans and hojaldre (the bread), topped with salsa and pickled onions. I would love to be able to replicate this.
This is today’s practice with new ink and paper.
A number of shaky spots, but I’m getting the feel of it.
On Wednesday, we had a gem day at Kathy’s. Everyone picked their favorite.
Kathy did the blue one, Cindy the emerald, Holly the “blueberry,” and Nancy just watched, since she had to leave early for an appointment with Dr. Shannon. I texted her yesterday and asked if she were up for a visit, but she’s just too tired. She has good days and not-so-good days, but she continues on with grace and a smile.
I just finished this one for Barbara. I was going to wrap it and have her save it for her birthday in May, but I changed my mind and gave it to her on Friday.
I’ve started experimenting with adding gems to flowers in my cards.
I’ve been doing relatively well with limiting my exposure and maintaining my composure regarding what’s going on in the U.S. As a sort of emotional release, I posted for the first time on Substack:
AWAKENING: MY TAKE ON THE DIVIDE BETWEEN “WOKE” AND MAGA
This essay is the product of a collaboration between Perplexity, an AI language model, and me. I developed the core ideas and arguments, and the AI assisted in articulating and refining them. I believe AI can be a valuable tool for enhancing human creativity and communication.
I was motivated to write this essay to better understand the deep divisions in our society and to explore paths towards healing and reconciliation. I believe that by examining the spiritual underpinnings of these divisions, we can find common ground and move towards a more unified and compassionate world. Moreover, our world may be undergoing a collective “dark night of the soul.” Just as individuals often experience a period of intense challenge and emerge with increased awareness and insight, so too can this transformative process occur on a global scale, potentially leading to a more enlightened future for humanity.
In recent years, American culture has witnessed a growing divide between two groups often labeled as “Woke” and “MAGA.” This polarization has led to a clash of ideologies, with each side viewing the other as a threat to their vision of America. However, beneath this surface-level conflict lies a deeper spiritual awakening that has been misunderstood and misappropriated by both sides.
The Origin and Evolution of “Woke”
The term “woke” has undergone a significant transformation since its inception. Originally rooted in African-American vernacular, it emerged as a call for awareness of social injustices and racial inequalities. The phrase “stay woke” can be traced back to the 1930s, urging Black Americans to remain vigilant against racist violence. Over time, the term gained broader usage, particularly during the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2014.
However, the meaning of “woke” has since been co-opted and distorted. Today, it is often used as a pejorative by conservatives to describe progressive values and social justice initiatives. This shift in usage has obscured the term’s original intent and spiritual underpinnings.
The Spiritual Roots of Awakening
At its core, true awakening is a spiritual concept that transcends political labels. It represents an understanding of our fundamental interconnectedness – the realization that we are all expressions of a single Source or God. This awakening involves a shift from perceiving ourselves as separate entities to recognizing our inherent oneness with all of existence.
This spiritual awakening is not new. Throughout history, figures like Jesus, Buddha, Lao Tzu, and more recent teachers like Eckhart Tolle and Rupert Spira have attempted to convey this profound truth. Their teachings emphasize love as the ultimate expression of this understanding – not as a mere emotion, but as a state of being that recognizes the equality and inherent value of all.
Evolutionary Perspectives on Oneness
The concept of oneness has been explored through various evolutionary perspectives:
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin: This French Jesuit priest and paleontologist proposed that evolution leads to increasing complexity and consciousness, culminating in the “Omega Point.” He envisioned a “noosphere,” a thinking layer enveloping the earth, formed by interconnected human minds through knowledge and technology, leading to a state of collective consciousness. Modern followers of Teilhard’s philosophy see the internet as a manifestation of the noosphere, viewing it as a global network of human thought and information that aligns with his vision of increasing interconnectedness.
Ray Kurzweil: This futurist predicts a “Singularity,” where artificial intelligence surpasses human intelligence, leading to rapid technological growth and a new form of collective consciousness as humans merge with their technological devices.
Yuval Noah Harari: A historian and bestselling author of books including Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind (2011) and Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI (2024), Harari approaches cosmic evolution from a secular, scientific standpoint. He views human consciousness and our ability to create shared beliefs as products of natural evolutionary processes. Harari argues that humans have always had a troubled relationship with truth, constructing elaborate stories and convincing others to believe in them. He emphasizes that individuals and societies cling to their personal narratives as ultimate truths, despite the fact that these stories are often fictional constructs. He states, “No human society has ever cornered the market on absolute truth. The truth is that everything changes, people are never satisfied, and identities are fictional.” This perspective highlights how our personal and collective stories shape our understanding of reality and influence our actions on both individual and societal levels.
David Brooks: A political and cultural commentator, Brooks has undergone a significant spiritual evolution, moving from agnosticism to a profound sense of faith. Brooks now views faith not as a set of beliefs, but as a “longing” – a continuous process of seeking and questioning. He emphasizes that this evolution wasn’t driven by intellectual arguments, but by what he calls “numinous experiences” – moments of awe and wonder that revealed “wider dimensions of existence.” Brooks sees this focus on morality and spirituality as addressing a hunger for meaning, especially among younger generations. He also speaks to the idea of evolution through suffering as “rupture and repair.”
Viktor Frankl: A renowned psychiatrist, Holocaust survivor, and author of the influential book Man’s Search for Meaning(1946), Frankl’s perspective on longing echoes Brooks’ views. Frankl emphasized the importance of meaning in human life, arguing that our primary drive is not pleasure or power, but the pursuit of what we find meaningful. He believed that meaning can be discovered through creative work, experiences, or by adopting an attitude towards unavoidable suffering. Frankl’s concept of “logotherapy” is based on the idea that we are driven by a “will to meaning” or an inner desire to find purpose in life…. These diverse viewpoints highlight the ongoing debate about the nature of human consciousness and our potential for collective unity. They suggest that our evolution, whether viewed through a spiritual, technological, cultural, or psychological lens, is moving towards greater interconnectedness and a search for deeper meaning.
From Chardin’s concept of the noosphere to Kurzweil’s technological singularity, from Harari’s emphasis on shared narratives to Brooks’ spiritual awakening, and Frankl’s focus on finding meaning in all circumstances, these perspectives offer a rich tapestry of ideas about human purpose and our collective future.
The MAGA Response and Misunderstanding
The MAGA movement, which emerged during Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, represents a different worldview. Rooted in nativism and a desire to return to a perceived past greatness, MAGA adherents often view the concept of “wokeness” as a threat to traditional American values.
This reaction stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of what true awakening entails. The MAGA perspective often reinforces an “us vs. them” mentality, believing in the superiority of an in-group over perceived out-groups. This mindset directly contradicts the principle of oneness that lies at the heart of spiritual awakening.
The Challenge of Love and Understanding
The current cultural divide presents a significant challenge. Those who are genuinely awakening to the reality of our interconnectedness may find themselves labeled as “woke” in a derogatory sense. Simultaneously, they may struggle to extend the same understanding and compassion to those who oppose their views.
True love, in the spiritual sense, involves recognizing that given the exact same circumstances of birth and conditioning, we would act just as those we might judge. This understanding extends even to figures like Trump or Musk, whose behaviors may be rooted in their own painful experiences and limited understanding of love.
It’s crucial to recognize that we are all products of our conditioning, our personal stories. As Yuval Noah Harari highlights in his writings, we all have our narratives, and we tend to believe our story is the absolute truth. This perspective is further explored in Bruce Perry’s book “What Happened to You,” which emphasizes the impact of early experiences on shaping our behaviors and worldviews.
Consider Trump and Musk, for instance. Their upbringings, particularly their relationships with their fathers, have significantly influenced their adult behaviors and values. They apparently never learned what love feels like and instead seek it in externals, such as power and money. Rather than simply judging their actions, we can choose to view each person as having a metaphorical book in front of them, explaining their conditioning. We have the option to move this book aside and see them in their essence, without the conditioning – an essence that is, in fact, a reflection of ourselves.
From this perspective, the difference between good and evil can be seen as the difference between love and ego. Consciousness can be viewed as gradations of concentric energy, with ego (the conditioned mind/story) at the dense center, and love as the outer, most expansive level.
The Path Forward
Bridging this divide requires a deeper understanding of love not as a fleeting romantic emotion, but as a powerful force for peace and prosperity. It involves recognizing that the journey to this realization may be long and challenging, but ultimately rewarding.
As we navigate these turbulent times, it’s crucial to remember that the labels of “woke” and “MAGA” are superficial distinctions that mask our shared humanity. By focusing on our fundamental interconnectedness and cultivating genuine understanding, we can work towards healing the divisions in our society.
Paradoxically, figures like Trump and Musk, despite representing ideologies that many find problematic, play an instrumental role in our collective evolution towards love. They embody the fear and hate that we must confront and understand to truly appreciate love. Just as personal growth often emerges from suffering, societal evolution can arise from confronting our deepest challenges. As the ancient wisdom states: “As above, so below” – this principle applies to all levels of creation.
The path to true awakening is not about political affiliations or cultural labels. It’s about recognizing the love and unity that exist beneath our apparent differences. As more individuals come to this realization, we may find that the current cultural divide gives way to a more harmonious and compassionate society – one that honors our shared essence while celebrating our diverse expressions.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, while the divide between “woke” and MAGA ideologies may seem insurmountable, it presents an opportunity for profound spiritual growth and societal evolution. By embracing a perspective of universal love and understanding, we can transform this conflict into a catalyst for positive change, moving towards a more unified and compassionate world.
As Martin Luther King Jr. so eloquently stated, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
Tonight is dinner at Lesley and Don’s.