The Angel of America
Dear Friends,
Emerson said that this time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but knew what to do with it. That's how I feel now, after last Tuesday's election. The times call us to action (after whatever rest and recuperation we may need).
Rather than argue politics, and rather than ignore politics, today's group will emphasize a particular kind of subtle activism on behalf of America and the world.
As you all know, many of our practices come from lorian.org, which I urge you all to keep visiting and attending in various ways. In a recent class, David Spangler suggested an exercise that engages the "Angel of America" --a being who lives the spiritual, sacred possibilities of this land. I've adapted and changed it for us today, as usual, but kept some of its essence I hope.
For some, such an exercise may be difficult for several reasons, such as not warming to the idea of invisible beings like angels. Then too, some may have doubts about any even potential sacredness of America, given the theft of the land from the native peoples here before Europeans, slavery and its continued effects, other forms of oppression at home and abroad, and our participation in harm to the planet. These are important objections to a subtle activism involving the Angel of America. In group we'll deal with them respectfully, and swiftly, and move on to the practice itself. (By the way, don't forget Lincoln's willingness to be touched by "the better angels of our nature.")
The practice itself involves first coming into our own presence, then orienting toward the best possible meaning of America, the USA, as we each understand it: bringing it to mind and feeling it in our bodies and imaginations. We'll spend some time discussing what America, in its highest potential, could mean to each of us.
As further preparation, we will then ground ourselves in the sense of the sacred underpinnings and accompaniments that make up our own individual incarnations. We'll get in touch with our own multi-sourced presence, inviting all the aspects of ourselves that aim at the sacredness of this earth. And we'll ground ourselves in our immediate surround.
Finally, we'll each address, in wordless, I-Thou relatedness, the spirit of the United States as a living sacredness that is available to inspire all the constituencies of the country. It also means considering this country as a unique animal within the world's spiritual ecology. In this I-Thou moment, we'll recall our previously-developed ideal of the USA, and this simple act of recall is equivalent to suggesting that ideal for inclusion in the ongoing life of the country.
We'll close, as so often, with a roundhouse radiance of gratitude and blessing for all the elements involved, and a return to our distinct, individual sovereignty.
The exercise will have been worthwhile if by the end of it, regardless of dark or empty moments along the way, you too feel that this time, like all times, is a very good one. You may have a dawning sense of how you can thrive, and help others to thrive, within it.
wishing you joy,
Michael
