Russia, Ukraine, and Oneness

Dear Reader,

This is not the post I expected or wanted to write today. But on this cold, windy morning in Shetland, my heart is heavy. And I have questions. Lots of questions.

A few days ago, as much of the world watched in horror, Russia invaded Ukraine. We have seen many images and read countless stories speaking of both naked aggression and incredible bravery against all odds. We are seeing what happens when fear runs the show instead of love.

That feeling of heaviness is palpable, and I do feel it in my heart.

Are you feeling it too?

You may experience it as a clinging presence that you can’t shake, or as sudden moments of sharp fear, anger or grief, that break through unexpectedly, before leaving you again feeling heavy and numb. These feelings may color the rest of your day, impacting even the smallest choices you make.

If you are experiencing anything like this, you may also be wondering:

Why is this happening?

What does it all mean?

What can I or anyone do about it?

Is there hope?

A bigger question

All of your feelings, and your questions, are valid. I will address them in a moment. But first, I’ll share the biggest question I am grappling with today:

Where is Oneness in all of this?

I passionately believe that we are all one. By that, I mean that all human beings, all of life, our living planet, our universe – everything we can imagine and beyond – are part of the same presence. You might call it something else – God, The Universe, Life. I have written more extensively in the past about how I view Oneness. At the end of this post, you’ll find links to that writing.

If we really are all one, how can something like this war (or any war) happen, what does it mean for all of us, and what do we do about it?

And here’s another question:

Does believing in Oneness even help in times like these?

Are there any answers?

First, I will say that I am not one to rush to answers. I believe in the importance of mystery, of not knowing, and of taking multiple perspectives.

It’s just that when a tragedy like this war, or even a tragedy on a much smaller, perhaps more personal scale occurs, we tend to want answers. We want some way to understand what is happening, and a way to make meaning of it. We want a way to fit it into a world view we can handle, and feel good about.

Often we expect that view to support our personal and collective identity.

But in the past few days, we have been thrown into chaos.

Again.

Think about all we have encountered in recent years:

• increased polarization politically, leading to growing violence, and sometimes dividing friends and families
• increased hostility against all forms of “other”
• a global pandemic that has killed millions and called on every one of us to alter our lives in significant ways
• a growing climate emergency that is causing greater damage every day

That’s a lot for one species to handle, let alone one human being.

And yes, I know, I have left a lot off the list.

So – answers? Solutions?

A few common responses

Spiritual: “Everything that is unfolding is perfect, exactly as it is.” I have seen that response on social media over the past few days, and it comes up often in times of hardship or challenge. I understand it; I think there is something to it; and I see it as an incomplete perspective.

On a deeper level of spiritual inquiry, that statement holds truth. Yes, everything that is unfolding has an element of perfection, because it is part of the great unfolding of everything that is. But by itself, it creates a false sense of separation between a “spiritual” view and an “earthly” view.

This incomplete view can lead to spiritual bypassing, where the focus is on spirituality as a way of avoiding the immediate experience unfolding all around us.

The great masters and teachers all tell us, and exemplify in their own lives, that the spiritual and the everyday are one. When confronted with suffering, they say, you do something about it – even while holding a bigger vision for what is possible.

Evolutionary: “Everything that is happening is part of our evolution as a species.” This outlook also contains an element of truth. And yet, without further elaboration, it also overlooks something important – that we have the desire and the ability to change our experience, and alter our path for the better. That, too, is part of evolution.

Geopolitical: “War and other disasters are part of a complex interaction of cultural and societal factors that must be addressed through negotiation and force when necessary to solve our problems.” This outlook also contains an element of truth, but is also partial. On one level, we do need to address the  cultural and societal factors involved in being human. But the view lacks a bigger vision, and is dominated by a problem solving perspective. You could think of it as the “whack-a-mole” approach.

All three of these viewpoints are interconnected. I’m sure there are more.

Instead of answers, a few suggestions

If you are struggling with this heaviness today as I am, here are a few suggestions that may help. I find them more powerful than answers.

1. Before you do anything else, take a moment to be fully present. You can do this by focusing on your breath, and experiencing it fully. Or, try focusing on your bodily sensations, a candle flame, or a glimmer of sunlight on the snowy field outside your window. When you become even a little more present, you are less susceptible to being overwhelmed by strong emotions.
2. Next, if you are experiencing heaviness, pain, sadness, anger, or overwhelm from a whole host of feelings, go ahead and feel them, as well as you can safely manage. It is important to acknowledge these feelings, because it is from them that we may find the strength and courage to say “enough.”
3. If these feelings start to feel unmanageable, share them. Find someone you trust, or a format for expression you can relate to, whether by creating a social media post, a poem, a painting or having a conversation with a friend. Then explore your feelings safely and constructively. We are all in this together.
4. Step back from the rabbit hole of information when you need to. If you are paying attention to how you feel, you’ll know when.
5. Lighten up if you need to. It’s ok to feel lighter, even in the midst of chaos, especially if it helps you break the grip of fear.
6. If you feel called to action, honor that feeling. Whether it is speaking out in support of the people of Ukraine or another oppressed group, making a donation, joining a demonstration, making art to share, or doing something kind for someone in your immediate circle – pick one thing, and do it. You have a voice, and you make a difference.
7. Pray or send energy to those who need it, if this approach resonates with you. A growing body of research shows that prayer may have a positive effect, even at a distance; please reference the work of Lynne McTaggart if you want to learn more. In addition, prayer and energy can help both the sender and receiver connect with the awareness of a bigger vision for good.

Oneness does help

Here’s one thing I know.

Human beings contain a spark of something that cannot be easily extinguished – call it love, call it a burning desire to be better. You have it, I have it. Trust it. Go within, tap into it, and share it however you can.

For me, the lived feeling of Oneness, of being part of something bigger, helps me on a daily level to get back up when I feel like I have been knocked down. I hope you find that within yourself too, dear reader, because I know it’s there.

If you want additional reading to help you find this spark in a lived way that you can apply in your life and in the world to make a difference and end tragic wars such as the one we see in front of us today, here are links to a series of posts I published in 2016.

Oneness

Spirituality for the 21st Century

Your Vision, Your Life

The Information Age Is Over

What one step, no matter how small, can you take today to help alleviate a little of the suffering you see around you?

Take that step.

And may you, and all beings everywhere find peace.

I honor your loving heart,

John