When I bought this farm 20 years ago, I hadn’t heard of Landback or colonizer. I bought the farm with the idea that it should go on in perpetuity with no more buys and sells, no more profiteering from extraction. I learned from Dine’ friends that land was not mine to own and I respected that understanding.
I was counseled, “Buy the land and it will teach you”, and I have learned from it.
I have learned that the symbiotic relationship with the land is key to understanding my humanity; and that the dance with the seasons is in direct relationship to my understanding of myself as a finite being. The satisfaction and fulfillment I garner is testament to a Greater existence. And the whole experience is one of beauty and peace, regardless of the difficulties that arise.
I believe the capitalist system has shortchanged our worldview and has cheated us of the most valuable of commodities, our humanity. I’m very grateful to have taken the plunge away from social norms and that very kind people took the time to help me heal. Because stepping out of normalcy is a healing.
It’s not easy to live in a world where bad deeds and actions are legitimized. It’s not easy to force innocents to close their eyes to the horrors of hunger, homelessness and violence. But that is what we do everyday. We teach our children to stuff the question, “Why?” And we carry on with the charade.
This country’s wealth is based on land theft and stripped resources. Trying to rectify poverty or heal generational traumas without acknowledging the assaults of our history will be fruitless.
We’re all damaged by cruelty. We must all take time to heal.
Step out of normal.
let kindness win 
Yes, Dena….your words resonate with me as I walk past countless people sleeping on the cold and wet Portland sidewalks these days, taking the grandkids to their soccer practices and Spanish lessons. They no longer even ask ‘why’ there are so many unhoused people around us.
We need to step out of this ‘normal’…The bigger question for me is “how”!
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Hi Judy, yes that is the next step. It is a personal journey that I think each of us needs to take. I have had the good fortune to spend time with people who instilled compassion and a love of humanity since I was a very young child. But to my credit I also sought it out. All people carry the ingredients to make the turn. And that is why I write. Because we need to become aware. And that is why I point to the work of Prem Rawat. Because self knowledge is the primary key to any change. It does begin within each one of us.
I never leave room for doubt that it is possible to return to compassion and peace. The game is to find my part to play and play it well. And what a sweet game it is…
Best to you, always.
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Powerful one today.
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Thanks Deb!
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