Well, well well…

I know it’s probably petty of me, but I have to admit to a certain delicious schadenfreude as I’ve watched Empire falling apart lately.  I’ve been delighted to witness the Murdoch and Gingrich regimes collapsing, the International Monetary Fund culture of gender exploitation being exposed, and that theaters across the country are empty at screenings of Undefeated, the new documentary about Sarah Palin.

I try to be a better person, but sometimes the dice roll in the right direction, and I can’t help but enjoy it when the mighty get their comeuppance. Mother Theresa I am not.

Since I believe that we are only at the beginning of the total fall of all oppressive structures, it means that those of us who have volunteered to lead in the coming new era have to be prepared. The tools that support archaic systems that bind us won’t work— Audre Lourde reminds us that we can’t use the master’s tools to dismantle his house. 

We’re going to need both new and fresh tools like collective meditation that reduces crime and 3D printers – ideas that will make us marvel, spark our imaginations and think in new ways. We will also need to lean on old wisdoms like relying on our neighbors and invoking rain through dance.

One thing I’m sure of is that we’ll need lots of art. I don’t know about you, but I’m rather tired of conferences where we sit in rows behind each other listening to the “experts” at the front of the stage, or movement meetings where we only talk at one another. I came of age in the 70s when community meetings started with song, and when we took to the streets, we danced, wore costumes, and all the chants were new.  Creativity was central to what we were trying to achieve, and I think we’ve lost something as our social movements have become increasingly “professionalized”. To invigorate our movements with artistic expression, Rockwood recently received funding to support a Fellowship for Artists and Cultural leaders, and we look forward to infusing our trainings with energy from those for whom creativity is a way of life.

Here are a couple of questions I would ask you to ponder with me:

• What are some new technologies, poems, thoughts, ideas, dreams we could collectively use to ease the way as Empire falls?
• What are some old wisdoms we need to lean back on that will support us on our way?

I think it would be handy to develop a list. Drop me a line, and we’ll keep track. These are heart questions – what could we collectively do/dance/create that would make it more and more possible for us to lead toward our heart’s desires?

Let’s take some risks, laugh at folly, support each other through pain, decrease suffering, paint, and lead! It could be great fun. 

More fun, perhaps, than watching Empire fall.

From my heart to yours,
Akaya

July 2011