COVID as historical turning point

 As the end of year approaches I’m reflecting on what 2020 might mean for the world into the future. It is often difficult to make sense when in the midst of a crisis and to understand what might happen as a result. Wade Davis speaks of how COVID-19 signals the end of the American era in this Rolling Stone article: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/covid-19-end-of-american-era-wade-davis-1038206/

He points to historical turning points that signalled the end of eras and beginnings of new things to come. The black plague of the 14^th century culminated in revolts that ended the feudal system.

The COVID pandemic will be remembered as such a moment in history, a seminal event whose significance will unfold only in the wake of the crisis. It will mark this era much as the 1914 assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, the stock market crash of 1929, and the 1933 ascent of Adolf Hitler.

Turning points are opportunities but also present uncertainties and fears for what might be lost. Destabilisation to world order doesn’t tend to go too well, at least in the short term. It is easy to be left behind during transitions and even the threat of loss is another contributor to anxiety. It was sobering to hear of increases in domestic violence and general mental health problems. Yet COVID has demonstrated what can happen if there is will and there are many reasons for hope, beyond the headlines.   

So how does this fit in terms of Active Hope terms, I’m grateful for the enormous opportunities I have and leaders and prophets on the journey to look to in shaping a world that I believe in.  

Honour the pain – I see so many who feel they don’t have choices for so many different reasons. Cost, time, health, stress and being different from the norm.

The new way of seeing: ‘gazing with soft eyes’ with appreciating and understanding the indigenous connection to land and her creatures. Not to control but to connect. To relate directly to the winds, birds, moon etc not just observe.

Going forth To be comfortable going slowly and purposely.

Photo: Matagarup Bridge. I got to see this a lot more this year as I took regular morning or evening rides around the river. Its symbol is a proud beacon for Perth's potential future for reconciliation.

Abstracts

In my twenties when art started to engage me, I was drawn to the art of Wassily Kandinsky especially his colourful musical compositions. What was it about these that permeated through the 20^th century that grabbed me so? Something magical about the colours and yet simple about the doodling markings. He achieved his aim of transferring music to canvas –another challenge to my sensibilities that our senses can be interwoven like so – to hear the painting as in tasting colour! Whether there is meaning is another thing but to transmit joy was enough for me.

Then there is the array of indigenous art that normally carries significance with each mark and shape and colour. What was it about the work of Rover Thomas or Judy Watson that reaches so deep?  I think only someone like Fred Williams and his late Pilbara series comes even close to indigenous art’s grab for my attention.

Abstract art may have meaning and then again may not. Why should some appeal to my senses but others not at all?

So I’ve always thought that painting abstracts was the ultimate yet doing it is pretty intimidating. Especially for one who seeks approval = what if people don’t like it? Even the best (IMHO) abstract art has a limited appeal. Even Pollock’s magnificent Blue Poles had many detractors.

So I’ve dabbled with mixed success but it was normally only extending some form of realism or objects into weird and wonderful colours and shapes.

So today I did my first real abstract art workshop with Perth artist Rob Forlani whose work randomly popped up on facebook one time and I’ve followed him for the past year. I was excited to see an advertised workshop so there I went. His first instruction to me – paint left handed, start with a few colours that appeal and those magical biblical words ‘do not be afraid’ also translated to the modern vernacular ‘dgaf’. His encouragement and guidance to tap into underlying emotions and feelings, to handle ‘tension and release’, balance colour and shape, negative space and the focus, and to see what unfolds. I had nothing on my mind, had no image to be guided by, and wasn’t feeling much in the way of emotions so I was told to be informed by the colours and shapes that emerged.  

I can see the structure and lack of control, is a parallel to forms of meditation. An invitation to tap into the contemplative mind. It is a quantum leap to paint without a care whatsoever of what the finished product would be. I hear the words of Rover Thomas – “I want to paint”

I am pondering the connection to the active hope spiral.

So in Active Hope terms, I’m grateful for the opportunity to have this experience.

Honour the pain – I don’t think I have the answer to this just yet but I’ve witnessed in the workshop how suffering can pour through as well so in the process there is room to be in the space to honour the pain.

Certainly the new way of seeing is the most powerful. Not to structure, not to control, not to be concerned about what happens, not to be judgementatal. I’m a long way short of these! I was also conscious in our small group of the diversity and amazing ‘creative skills’ for want of a better term.

Going forth I’m wondering how this might be shaped – the invitation to employ these approaches in my next paintings no doubt, to be not afraid, not worry about the end product and care not for what other people might think.

Photos: my two pieces from the workshop. For now they are untitled 1 and 2!

Conversations with the other side

I have a relative who has views on life so opposite to me that I get nervous at the thought of being around them for any length of time as I fear being tipped over the edge. Over the years, actually decades, I’ve learned the art of how to meet on safe neutral ground – talking about kids, dogs and dare I say it the weather. I wonder how a University educated person who has access to all the information that I have can form such different opinions about just about everything, though they probably have grounds to think the same thing. 

Yet it irks me that why I can’t have that conversation about … climate change, human rights, economic fairness, the role renewable energy for our future, politics, etc. I know my aversion to conflict especially in family settings where we gather for significant birthdays, weddings and funerals are recipes for just ‘don’t go there’. But when I hear a clanger of an opinion my pulse races and I tense up not knowing how to deal with my urge to challenge and shout. 

Then again what would be the purpose knowing that their views are so well entrenched, as mine are? Sometimes it is just to make the gathering realise that their opinion when proffered is not the only one in the room. An unchallenged declaration hangs in the air and can be influential especially when spoken with conviction and certainty as his always are. Then again I think the family should realise where I stand by now. My family spans the political spectrum with me on one end and him on the other! Though I sometimes question my ability to debate under pressure and find that tension difficult.

I realise there has been much written about this subject but taking from an abstract thought to real life is difficult esp for a 9 on the enneagram!  Some climate change research suggests not to engage with those with fixed views on the opposite side. Then I hear Richard Rohr in my head going on about the folly of dualistic right wrong thinking and the need for the contemplative mind which is where my active hope is pushing me right now. I hear the question is it that important for my ego to want to have the debate just to prove myself to my family? 

So in Active Hope terms, I’m grateful for diversity of opinion. Even though it doesn’t always appeal to my sensibility!

I honour the pain of those whose voices aren’t heard, who are shouted down.

My challenge of a new way of seeing is not to be the one shouting or even wanting to shout over others but to adopt the contemplative mind and embrace the diversity of thought and to be listening instead of judging. 

Going forth I know I need to be speaking up but I want that voice to to be non-violent and respectful. To seek to make connections rather than to win the debate. To have the wisdom of knowing when to speak up and how to do it with respect, honesty and with humility.

Photo: recognising we have more in common than our differences 

Standing with not standing alone

From a young age our society promotes independence. Learning to ‘stand on your own two feet’ and ‘going it alone’ are measures of success. Yet inevitably at some point it is not enough to be standing on one’s own. We are naturally dependent.

I was moved to hear Dean Parkin talk about his experience in helping shape the Uluru Statement of the Heart in 2017 (see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB-31jD4XcA ). He began his TED talk with something like: you might see me standing here alone on the stage but I am not alone – standing behind me and with me are my elders and ancestors giving me strength to be able to be here. How good is that I though yet how different is our Euro-perspective?

 

A tall eucalypt can stand like a solitary figure. Yet what we don’t see are its roots exchanging nutrients and information with surrounding plants and not just with trees from the same species. This new way of seeing trees has been revelatory and we are still yet to learn so much about the interdependence of the natural world. My hope is that this scientific insight will permeate our education systems to alter our course of superiority and greed at the expense of the ecological framework we are embedded in. See this for some quick inspiration: https://www.ted.com/talks/camille_defrenne_and_suzanne_simard_the_secret_language_of_trees?language=en

While the above two paradigms may feel foreign to us, it resonates with my Christianity, the idea that we are deeply connected with the ‘spirits’ in whatever language you want to call it. The notion of prayer or meditation to be still and know that I am not alone is quite fundamental yet we westerners still are pushed in our own direction. Barbara Brown Taylor wrote on this 20 years ago: https://cac.org/an-infinite-web-2020-06-25/?utm_source=cm&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dm&utm_content=summary

So in Active Hope terms, I’m grateful for those who support me and stand with me, even those who have passed on whose spirit lives on guiding me even when I’m not aware of it. I’m grateful that the universe is willing me to succeed to be who I’m meant to be.

I honour the pain of those who don’t feel this support, who feel alienated, who struggle.

Our challenge is to open our awareness to this new way of seeing: to intrinsically know and feel we stand with and journey with the immensity of this great support network. This may be at the expense of my ego thinking I can do it all. It also challenges all the consumption decisions I make. 

Going forth I want to be part of this great web to stand with and not against. To bring peace and solidarity. To connect with the ecology on a much deeper level. 

Photos: standing with in different ways. 

This banksia’s not done with yet

You might see a lonely figure in death but there is another story here

Yes I am leafless and broken, cracked and burnt with branches scattered below

Yes I am leaving but I’m not done with yet.

Defiant I remain standing – and I still have something to give -

I offer a, a roosting spot for the great cocky, the crow and magpie and many others;

I am a refuge my hollows can be your home, my bark a surface for the crawlies, the cracks their shelter, my fallen braches composting for soil of the future;

My design remains an inspiration for the artistic to stop and marvel;

My seeds of yesterdays a lasting gift to the next generations.

I’m bereft but at peace,

I know pain and suffering, of fires and floods, lightning strikes and disease.

Yes I have stories to tell, as I’ve stood witness through the years,

I’m passing on the wisdom of the old ancestors to the new comers that rise around me

Holding the ground, waiting for them to take over and stretch skyward.

The ups and downs of the fallow time.

Since March we have been living in the ‘fallow time’, isolating, being home and slowing down. The term the fallow time seems quite appropriate. We all have need this time on an individual basis but it is quite remarkable to observe this across all our communities and indeed globally.

The farming of leaving a field in fallow is an ancient practice to rejuvenate the soil. However, modern practices have tried to get around having to leave productive land lie for a season through the use of additives and ‘smarter’ crop rotation. Yet apparently at some point the land needs to just lie without crops for some time. 

It has been easy to romanticise this time out to rest and recover. Families are spending more time together, kids are getting off their devices (apparently) and experience nature, and being imaginative and learning new ways of doing things. The creative side of humanity is getting more coverage and that is a good thing.

That is part of the upside of this time. I have certainly enjoyed slowing down and learning a new daily rhythm and routine of bike rides around the river, more time on the guitar, more home cooking, reading, and reaching out to people more frequently.

Of course we haven’t been in hibernation – we are still working and living but in an altered state. The reality is that it hasn’t been easy nor the same each day. Emotionally there are times when motivation vanishes and lethargy creeps in to take over the day. The enthusiasm to work wanes when there is a day without talking with a colleague and looking at the screen becomes way too much. When nothing is coming back why give so many hours in to it?

Sometimes these oscillations happen within a few hours sometimes longer. Everyone seems to be enduring this it seems when the conversation gets raised. And what now, when restrictions are being eased and there are increasing expectations for a return to the external world busy-ness? Yes there is some excitement but also a tinge of sadness that I need more time out- I haven’t tended to all those things that need attending. I need longer in the fallow time.

Photo: Waiting.

Into the communal slowdown hibernation and what might emerge on the other side

In these crazy times I’ve noticed a very quick change both personally and across the community. Initial feelings of loss of all the things I can no longer do – being forced to work from home, losing the social connections and regular activities with friends etc; have given way towards one of acceptance and seeing what other things I can do. A lot of the running around to do things have gone and now life is simpler, more quiet, and reflective.

This sudden jolt has forced a rethink on many scales, to see life through new eyes. Lo and behold there is so much awaiting – time do things we have longed to do but were denying from a lack of time.

Personally I’m both grateful for having job security and for being of good health. I am well aware of the pain of others who aren’t as lucky as I and there is a gross under-reporting of suffering in developing countries.

This rapid change in our community is in contrast to the frustration at the lack of action on climate change even when the extreme fires were in full swing just months ago.

There are many signs of hope emerging:

·         People are acting in the common good not just for themselves by following physical distancing.

·         Creative ways of thinking and being abound: our stuffed welsh dragon in the window is part of the community teddy bear in the window for kids to find on their bear hunt as they walk in the neighbourhood. What started as a whacky local idea has spread around the world.

·         People are reaching out to old friends especially those who live alone and might need some contact.

·         Working from home has rapidly become workable for many and .

·         Families are spending more time together and looking after each other (though life in close proximity can increase conflict).

·         Politicians are saying things like ‘we need to trust the science’ and ‘we are all in this together’ and making provisions for supporting those who have fallen on misfortune.

I can’t help thinking that this grand malaise is what the world has needed. As this quote from somewhere online says-

 "Kinda feel like the Earth just sent us all to our rooms to think about what we've done."

The environment seemingly is breathing a sigh of relief. Pollution levels are down, traffic is down, birds are appearing where they haven’t been seen before, people are out planting, etc.

The communal slowdown is breaking the global economic model of ongoing consumption. Someone likened it to a hibernation, going inwards over winter. Conversations are turning to what we might do differently when we do emerge from this. ‘What will do differently when this is over?’

The real threat is that we return to the ‘business as usual’ economic model. But after a hibernation there is emergence in spring and not a return to autumn. Undoubtedly how we are living now will reshape our future. In what way depends on so many factors that make it hard to predict. Certainly the longer we are in hibernation the longer there will be new and creative changes that will take hold. The working from home model will be entrenched that commuting will decrease alleviating transportation requirements and I’m sure education models will be revamped as well.

Not all is hopeful though as some of the positive ways of life we had may also go as the corporate world demand extra favours to rebuild the economic model. Workers rights maybe traded away; environmental regulations (red tape and restrictions) swept away; the screen dependent lifestyle may keep kids inside all day.

So as we live in the great slow-down I encourage a reflection of how we might take some of our positive lifestyle changes and share how we can make these to become a part of our post hibernation world both on a personal level and across our global community.

Photo: our dragon ted in the window

Image: From Fear to Learning to Growth Courtesy: Carla Hickman https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2798525580267711&set=a.380053245448302&type=3&theater

Transitions and disruptions

Change can happen for different reasons and different time scales. The urgent call for climate action and a change to a ‘renewable’ economy has been met with opposition and a reluctance to ‘give up’ existing systems and industries. We can’t afford to change too quickly less people lose jobs and break the economy. We can’t move to electric cars because how could we go on long distance weekend trips?

It has been frustrating and difficult to maintain hope with so much political obstruction. As a scientist it has been particularly disheartening for public figures to distrust institutional science. Yet I understand the benefits of a well-managed gradual change process that brings everyone along with a clearly articulated vision.

I had a vigorous discussion with a (distant) relative on the need for the prophetic voice to show that point in the distance that we should be heading. We don’t want to be too quick to get there lest we leave people behind but we shouldn’t be hesitating to move either. Scouts are needed to go first and test the waters and say it is ok for everyone to come. We need strong leadership to set a long term direction, to support the scouts to keep them safe and even to extol them as our adventurers. The ‘early adopters’ that put their neck out and take risks can lose economically but if everyone waited before it was safe to leave our status quo we wouldn’t get anywhere.

And then comes along the great disruptor – the virus that has sent the market into freefall, smashed travel and global tourism, closed schools and events, and who knows how much further into our way of life it will encroach. Our response? Panic shopping, political stimulus packages, increased racial tension to anyone bearing a Chinese resemblance, and much cleaning of hands.

Without going further down this track I’ll make two observations:

1. We can change abruptly if there is will to do so. We can have a stimulus package that quickly. What an opportunity to provide jobs and create activity in the direction we want to go into.

2. Fear on a community scale can send us to very dark places. I’ve often wondered how far we are to being led by a modern equivalent of an Adolf or Pol Pot down a similar path. Our racist undertones can easily surface - ask any Chinese friend if they are viewed any differently in the past few months.

We don’t know how 2020 will play out but the active hope philosophy is needed more than ever to prevent fear being mis-used. The elderly are at great risk, jobs are at risk, our wellbeing is being put to the test. My hope is to seek out the opportunities to reshape our future and for our community to be bonded with goodwill. Some further reading from Sojourners: https://sojo.net/articles/time-act-community-now

Photo: the water lilly (subject I’m painting at the moment).

Giving up work for lent

I still take the season of lent, leading up to Easter, as a time to reconsider life and make at least one adjustment. For many it is what we are going to sacrifice or give up, though theologically it is more about reconnecting to be able to the resurrection story more fully.

After working 7 days straight and having Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent slip past me, I thought that this year I would ‘give up work’ - well in the sense that I will take every Friday off at least. The intention is to do something different each Friday in restoring creativity, physical, relationships or just be. So last week I was in the Kwinana garden reshaping Anne’s future orchard. This was followed by a sound meditation but I knew this wouldn’t go so well as the compulsion to sleep when lying down in the dark at 7pm on a Friday night will always be strong. At least I had Anne next to me to gently wake me when I was about to enter snoring mode. If not for sleeping it would have been a valuable experience.

As for the next few Fridays, the intention is to break open the paint brushes and see what creativity will emerge; reconnect with the swimming pool; take my new (old) bike to the beach for its first time; play guitar; catch up on reading books that I’ve been meaning to get to like Dark Emu; some writing; buying some fruit/vege in bulk and try cooking up some preserves; and visiting friends who may also have a Friday off; and have time to be spontaneous. The list sounds like I need more than just a Friday off! I’ll see how I go and what may emerge.

The counter story for this is the role of work in life. For five days each week I invest my effort into meteorology and  perhaps it is well overdue that the balance is not right for me any more. Perhaps this could be a catalyst for something more permanent post lent. At the very least it is an opportunity to try a new  perspective.

Vietnam reflections – seeing with new eyes

Sometimes you have to get away to gain perspective. On my recent cycling tour to Vietnam, one of my greatest pleasures was experiencing passing interactions with the locals. How generous was their spirit? Smiles and hellos came easily and frequently, To see how difficult their history has been, how hard they work but then how seriously they take  hospitality and caring for families.

The country is in a great transition as the capitalist market overtakes the nominal communist philosophy. Yet the Buddhist heart remains – compassion, acceptance, discipline and kindness was demonstrated every day.

We also got a taste of their violent past and for sure they carry the memories and consequences daily but they are such a resilient people that they remain hopeful for their children and understand how important the future is for their children.

This 70 year old man was seeding rice as he has done for so many years. Yet when we stopped to take photos he was kind enough to come over and demonstrate and talk through his work. The new challenge is convincing younger people to pursue agriculture as an option – the work is too hard apparently!