THE WINDS OF CHANGE

This weekend brought Storm Ciara to the UK.

 

She was relatively minor compared to some of the global symptoms of climate change that we are experiencing in various countries right now and yet dramatic enough for those living here on a small, grey, wet island.

 

The thing with living on an island is that you can become quite insular.

 

You can pretend that what is happening to people in other parts of the world, won’t happen to you.

 

That you are protected from ‘outside events’.

 

You can pretend that change won’t come and knock at your door….

 

However, if the recent events around Brexit have taught us anything, it’s that we are most definitely in a massive cycle of change both inside the UK and outside across the world.

 

Indeed, climate change is one of the most pressing and urgent issues that we are being asked to face and engage with if we are to survive (and thrive) into the next century.

 

So why is it that so many people are still hiding?

 

This Sunday, as I walked in 80 mile an hour winds up to the top of West Kennet Long Barrow in the ancient landscape of Avebury, I asked myself that question.

 

I asked the ancestors of this sacred and special land for their wisdom and advice.

 

I asked my fellow companions how they felt about the ‘winds of change’ that were blowing us all clean of our ostrich-like tendencies to bury our heads in the sands of ignorance.

 

The conclusion of our council?

 

That we need to face the winds head on.

To look at the unfolding global situation and not turn or run away.

That each of us has to wrestle with our own conscience and make new decisions that benefit both ‘me’ and ‘we’.

 

When we look at the story of our beautiful planet from the perspective of ‘deep time’ – something that deep ecologists like Stefan Harding, Joanna Macy and David Abram are all genius at – we are able to sense and feel that as humans we are being given a choice. A choice to feel our pain for a dying story and simultaneously embrace a new way of co-existing with all living species on Earth; a choice to become accountable for our own microcosm of life, and do what we can to live in harmony and balance with all other beings.

 

A choice to change.

Day after day.

Week after week.

Year after year.

 

The Earth has evolved and flourished for billions of years without us and can continue to do so long after we perish as a race – if that is the choice we are making.

 

The planetary systems will, over deep time, recover, rebalance and restory themselves into a new phase of life on Earth.

 

The only choice left to us is whether we will continue to evolve with the Earth.

Or not.

 

I don’t say this to be apocalyptic or fear-mongering.

 

I say it with a pure frequency of hope in my heart.

I say it because I know we are capable of change.

That we are changing already.

 

The only constant in life is change itself.

So why not turn your face to the wind.

 

 

 

 

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