Making a Difference: An Unconventional Approach

So... how would you like to make a difference in the world?

As many of you know, I've been writing for several years now about my views on the world's problems and possible solutions. During that time, I've sought to make a difference in the world in a variety of ways. Public speaking... activist groups... community businesses... independent media... these are just a few examples of the places I've put my time and energy, searching for the power to change things for the better.

I'd like to believe that I've made an impact in the community. I've met good people, and we've done more together than any one of us could have done individually. Even so... there's still so much more to be done. With that in mind, I'm going to spend the next few months searching for unique, innovative, specific, cooperative, and powerful ways that I and other kindred spirits can make a difference in the world.

I've already got a few schemes brewing. It'll take time to work out the details, and it'll take time to come up with a few other ideas to round out this batch of revolutionary projects. But in the meantime... since I've long had a flair for the dramatic... I thought I'd start this out with the most far-flung idea of them all. And if all goes according to plan, YOU may be the one to make history!

So, what's this idea? Alright, hear me out...

Do you believe in psychic abilities? Do you believe in the power of human consciousness to interact with the world in ways that established science currently doesn't understand? If not... well then, this message isn't for you. Stay tuned for the next few blog entries, where I'll be discussing other ideas that are grounded in political theory, psychology, and sociology rather than anything "unconventional." But if you DO believe in psychic abilities... and you DO believe in the power of human consciousness to create change in the world... then keep reading.

For years, I've walked in two separate worlds... the political world, and the spiritual world. In the political world, I've witnessed horrors the likes of which most people would not believe... in the spiritual world, I've witnessed wonders the likes of which most people can scarcely imagine. For a long time, I've wanted to adopt a course of action based on the insights of both worlds... combining the liberatory potential of political theory with the liberatory potential of spiritual experience.

One of my favorite authors, Starhawk, has gone a long way in doing just that. It was quite a treat to spend two weeks last summer attending one of the Earth Activist Trainings that she co-taught in Missouri. But so far, I've met precious few people in Southern Illinois who share both interests. There are the dedicated, passionate, activist-types who taught me everything I know about revolution... and there are the insightful, intuitive types who taught me everything I know about spirituality. Inevitably, there is overlap... but the people who talk politics mostly want to stick to politics, and the people who talk about spirituality often focus on personal empowerment rather than community organizing. I'd almost go so far as to say that it's taboo for political people to talk about spiritual or psychic stuff, and vice versa.

I want to bridge that gap. I want to find other people, in Southern Illinois and elsewhere, who share an interest in both "progressive" politics and psychic awareness. I believe that if we gather and talk amongst ourselves, something powerful and exciting will inevitably emerge. I already have a specific project in mind for anyone out there who may have significant psychic abilities... if you are such a person, I have a very specific approach that we can take to making a powerful positive difference in the world very quickly. But even in the absence of any psychic prodigies, I'd like to get together with other people who share an interest in both (A) progressive spirituality [psychic abilities, personal empowerment, etc.] and (B) progressive politics [eco issues, anti-authoritarian perspectives, cooperative economics, etc.].

So... are you up for the challenge?

If so, you know where to find me. It'll be an uphill struggle, but also a very rewarding journey. When we join forces, adventure and excitement will surely await us as we explore the outer reaches of human experience! What could be more pioneering than an effort to explore the boundaries of individual consciousness and community organizing simultaneously? If the forces of conformity do not smite us where we stand, we're bound to discover something interesting.

And if you're not up for the challenge? If all of this sounds like a bunch of hooey to you? Well... like I said, I'll be getting back to some of the non-psychic projects soon enough. What can I say... it's a full moon tonight, and the lunar energies that you may or may not believe in have me feeling even more restless and wild as usual.

Either way... hopefully we can all agree that there is hope in the world. I was feeling rather exhausted, depressed, and even a bit combative this morning... but as soon as it came time to do my radio show, I felt a renewed sense of hope and inspiration. Sure, there's a lot of madness and destruction in the world... but as long as we set aside time to be with our friends and talk about what's important in life (be it politics or personal), then there's still hope that our children, and our children's children, will live in a better world.

I'm off to celebrate the full moon... I'll be back soon though with more to share. As always, I'm eager to hear from you as well... let me know what you think, and maybe together, we can figure this all out.