REFLECTIONS ON THE "APOCALYPSE"

Interestingly enough the etymology of the word “apocalypse” comes from the Greek - from apo "off, away from" + kalyptein "to cover, conceal.” So it originally means “to uncover."

We may see the many challenges in our world today as so many uncoverings. Unbelievably quickly we have had uncovered our attachments to what we have thought as normal.

Touch, feelings of health-safety, economic security, belief in politicians, work-based self-respect, ease of social relations, trust in the future – our assumptions about these have all been uncovered.

Particularly the attachments to the lower three “chakras” have been uncovered – the sense of physiological safety, freedom to socialize, the sense of personal power and prestige – these are all so challenged. And for people who live mostly in the lower three chakras this is especially apocalyptic.

If we don’t have an equal commitment to heart, creativity, understanding and the sense of being part of something larger than just ourselves or our particular interest group – to love, belonging, genuine esteem for oneself and others, and self-actualization – then we act in generally only self-centered ways – even if it’s pointed out that that ultimately puts us all at risk.

“Whenever motivations of these kinds are not checked effectively, men, as the old texts say, “become wolves unto men.” (Joseph Campbell)

We all need to do what we can to make sure that this apocalypse turns into an uncovering of what is most important and wondrous about human life and life on earth. This is what we are re-dis-covering.

I guess one thing we can just ask ourselves, what would love have us do?