You Are Not A Rock

Last updated on: May 31, 2016 at 12:03 pm by Guest Contributor

You Are Not A Rock 2016-05-31T12:03:51-05:00 Guest Contributor

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I’ve been watching Les Stroud: Beyond Survival. In each episode Les lives for a week or so with a different indigenous culture studying their survival skills and at least one of their religious ceremonies. He doesn’t pass judgement on their rituals and always respects the boundaries they set up. Most of the time he doesn’t experience what the people say is supposed to happen at the ritual. He doesn’t then claim is was illegitimate, he explains he’s glad to have participated. At one point he danced for ten hours in a village and said how could he not enter a rhythmic trance state like that and not be effected in some way. It would take time for him to process it and he was sure to remember the experience in years to come as an important one.

The show has reminded me how important balance is for a thriving ecosystem or human culture no matter where it is on our planet. From Southern India to Madagascar the climate is changing and resources are dwindling due to massive logging and fishing industries. Les though has noted that these indigenous people all ways find a way to make it through another day. To hunt and gather up enough for their one daily meal that is shared among a whole family or a whole village. Trash that floats in from the ocean becomes a treasure to them. It’s used to make nets or diving gear so they can get the fish and other sea creatures along the floor. By Western standards the people Les lives with and learns from should be miserable. (This isn’t to say they don’t suffer from ailments that readily available modern medicine could aid in but I digress.) However, it is their sense of community and heritage that brings them joy. In the Madagascar episode Les said, and I’m paraphrasing, in all cultures but my own, everyone who is able in a community comes together to help build the homes. And this brings me to the heart of what I’ve learned from Beyond Survival: community and attitude is everything.

The Spring Equinox, the time of equal light and dark, in the Missouri Ozarks has been beautiful. Warm rain, budding trees, and freshly blooming flowers. It’s easy to feel happy. But life is going to swing back and forth from times of plenty and times of less. From times of pain when our disabilities really get us down or we have gut wrenching pain and times of comfort when we feel better about ourselves or have made some physical progress. Life can go from depression to ecstasy. Keeping our life in balance means having a balanced attitude. We are not rocks that the wind and water acts upon, elements with no need for shelter, air, nutrients or companionship. We are animals with psychological and physical needs. We are creatures that move and impact our surroundings. Its important for us to keep our physical and emotional needs in balance along with how we perceive ourselves and our place in life.

Magick and Spirituality

Previous Post

March 8, 2012

International Women's Day: Women Making a Difference

Next Post

March 23, 2012 Touched by an Act of Kindness

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category About The Blog Adapting and Accessibility Current Events Entertainment Gatherings Guest Author Health and Wellness Holidays, Esbats, Sabats humor Interviews Magick and Spirituality Protecting Your Rights Science Share Your Story, Information, or Ideas Sports Sustainability Uncategorized

Select a Month May 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 September 2010 August 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which king of Israel reigned the longest and led Israel into great wickedness?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Jehu Joash Ahab Manasseh