The Deep Collective Sickness

When you come from the recognition that no single scandal, matter, atrocity of any nature is random, that it all is a matter of sickness rising to the surface, then only those who carry the medicine of soul can pour out the cleansing waters of healing and peace.

But every single person can stretch (him/her)self out into the world a little bit, and do something — anything — to alleviate suffering right where they are.

We cannot address the deep collective sickness without addressing our own.

We cannot apply surface solutions to deeply embedded collective traumas and claim it is enough.

We cannot change the oppressive structures of the current regimes without stripping it down to its bones, and rebuilding its body into a glorious reflection of what we all really want: peace, unity, grace, mercy, humanitarianism and abundance for all.

We must bear compassionate witness to the wailing of others without imposing our arguments upon them.

We must be honest about our own guilt, our own fear, and be safe in that acknowledgement.

We must honor the rage and the sorrow of our brothers and sisters. And our own.

We must stop believing that drawing a line between us makes us different, makes us separate. We are so much more alike than we are different.

We can turn our heads away, but it harms us to the core.

It is time to turn the page on the old world. The circus is no longer entertaining. The thousand ways to die no longer holds us mesmerized. No matter how deep a person’s denial, there is a call that has been issued to us all, to return home. Dinner is ready.

Turn your back on the systems that want you to hate.

Turn your eye to the sun, who loves everything upon which it shines.

Remember why you have come to live.

Do the work that is yours to do.

Address the violence that lives inside you.

Whenever, wherever you can alleviate suffering, DO so.

Remember this: it wasn’t your child, your lover, you… but it could have just as easily been so.

( ✍️ Alison Nappi )

Art : Lisann Unis