Fields of energy related to social issues—do you ever think about that? I do. And this video and written piece are me playing with putting words to that.
It’s a piece of the puzzle that I find often missing from the conversation about social change and why it can be so hard to hold these dense, layered topics.
But it’s a layer that I think is key, especially for those of us who are heart-based and spiritually-oriented—so we can better understand ourselves and others, and work towards stabilizing a conscious awareness of what’s going on in the world in a healthy, integrated way.
Please enjoy and let me know what you think!
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Okay, let’s talk energy.
When we talk about a social issue we tap into fields of energy
I really feel for us these days.
We, as a collective, are being invited to hold, engage with, understand, internalize, and digest topics that hold a lot of energy to them—particularly topics related to the world and social justice. Complicated current events, like the war in Gaza, racism, trans issues.
Often, the answer to the question of “why is it so hard?” is that it's because people have different ideas, beliefs, or worldviews that make it difficult for us to meet each other and have conversations. While that's definitely true, I think there's another aspect of this that is less explored—one that I see especially relevant for the circles I run in of heart-based, spiritually-oriented people.
This missing aspect is recognizing that these topics and issues related to the world carry multiple layers of energy within them, many of which are tied to pain bodies.
Anytime we talk about a social issue, we can tap into different fields of energy that are embedded with that topic. Pain bodies like the present-day pain of certain people and communities, historical and global pain that spans time and space; as well as different schools of thought and opinions that make up our loud, grabby, politically activated world. For those of us who are naturally sensitive and attuned to the more subtle dimensions of things, this can make engaging with these issues hard.
It makes me think of magic and witchcraft. That words are more than just letters strung together; they are embedded with an energetic imprint, resonance, and connection to fields of energy that are invoked when they are used. This is similar to mantra—when we chant a mantra, we connect to fields of energy that have been ingrained within the fabric of the universe and the consciousness of our world and the people who have been practicing it for thousands of years.
Energy needs to be processed
The seriousness of the issues going on in the world pushes us to show up to them. The times we live in, and the ways we're connected digitally, have led to an increase in social activism, online activism, and political engagement more generally.
Because of this there's like a tidal wave effect of us as a collective being urged to look at and grapple with issues that need fixed. But what I see as missing from this equation are the tools to process all we’re being urged to see, especially the energy held within it all. Energy needs to be processed so that we can integrate, embody, and stabilize this growing conscious awareness amongst us of very palpable, layered issues.
So that's the main thing that's coming through me right now—a real feeling of compassion for all of us as we're being asked to look at, hold, discuss, and engage with topics and issues that carry a lot of different energies. While differing worldviews, opinions, and beliefs make it hard to have these conversations, it's also challenging to because of how much complicated, challenging energy is held within them.
Recognizing that this is a thing—that we’re all affected by the energy held within these topics—doesn’t mean that we shy away from them or disengage. Instead it means we engage more smartly. I recognize when I’m being affected by the energy of a situation and when it’s happening for another and choose to proceed with awareness and care. Yes, because it’s a kind thing to do but also because it’s the most constructive way to engage.
This is me speaking after many years of trying to do things differently. My origin story is one of activism that was very much in your face, like "Listen to this! Why aren't you looking at this?" This is part of my own evolution, seeing that this approach doesn't really work or has very short-lived gains. Now, I'm curious about how including this awareness of different energies in the work of engaging people around social issues might advance my goals of social justice and be of healing service to the world
Why is it so hard to engage with certain topics related to the world?