At the time of my writing this piece, Donald Trump is expected in Davos, Switzerland, where the Western World leaders are waiting for him. You readers know by now what transpired, if they finally had the decency to call for his resignation, and if a successful movement builds up for his removal in the US Congress.
The prospective invasion of Greenland would force NATO to expel the US from that alliance, break the ties between Europe and the US, but most especially cause the collapse of the value of the US dollar, as other countries sell their US bonds as a measure of protest against the present US imperial madness, which has exceeded that of the past.
As Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said this week in Davos in a speech that will be printed in history books for many years to come:
We knew the story of the international rules-based order was partially false. The strongest would exempt themselves when convenient. And we knew that international law applied with varying rigour depending on the identity of the accused or the victim. But this fiction was useful. American hegemony helped provide public goods: open sea lanes, a stable financial system, collective security and support for frameworks for resolving disputes.
He continued to say that it is no longer the case, and the world order is ruptured.
One would think that the POTUS is afraid of global collapse and wants to avoid it at all costs… perhaps he keeps pushing because he foolishly thinks that it won’t happen, that all countries will simply acquiesce. But an even darker scenario is possible and — in my view — more likely. He knows that a deep economic crisis might result from the invasion of Greenland, but he is happy to capitalize on it. The deeper the crisis, the more likely his chances to begin his dictatorship; i.e., cancelling future elections with the excuse of the civic unrest that will inevitably expand inside America.
Friends of mine are traveling to Minneapolis to put their bodies on the line. We all probably have friends like that, and we pray for them. Every night. We know they can feel us and that invisible connections can be stronger than death.
But I can’t go there. And I feel oppressed by the madness. What can I do?
I just watched this video of a Greenlandic woman beating her drum and singing. The tradition of “drum dance” was almost lost in the course of the forced Christianization of Greenland in the 18th and 19th centuries, but fortunately, it has been recovered. The beating with the stick is gentle and persevering, like the beating of the heart. Her voice is incredibly soothing.
I also discovered Angaanagaq, a Greenlandic shaman and elder who now lives in Germany and offers lectures and workshops based on the charge he received from his mother: “Go melt the ice in the heart of men!” You can look at several videos of him singing or talking. Angaanagaq is a leader in the IceWisdom project, which is committed to bringing back the wisdom of the Far North to people all over the world for creating healing and peace.
One of the ancient teachings that he carries is this:
The greatest distance is not from the earth to the moon, nor from the moon to the earth. The greatest distance is from the mind to the heart. Unless you learn how to walk that distance, you can never soar like an eagle.
As it is spiritually dangerous to keep sitting on our chairs in disbelief and despair, i.e., to stay in our heads, I suggest to you what I just did for myself. Listen to the drum song, and/or to Angaanagaq singing or talking. Then take your drum or just some wooden sticks, go to your garden or to a large room, and start beating and singing. Everything goes. Let it out. Beat your chest if necessary, or make music with your palms and your thighs.
As the world plunges into madness, let your neighbors think that you are mad. The music of the great mother, the music of the heart, is the best resort we have if we don’t want to become broken and unhelpful to ourselves and to the world.
Learn more of the IceWisdom Project here: https://icewisdom.com
Banner Image: The Big Ice of Greenland, vanishing as the powers of the world rush to exploit its absence: rivers of meltwater flow across the island nation’s glaciers in this 2015 photograph by Maria-José Viñas, NASA Earth Science News Team.
Queries for Contemplation
Were you able to dance your ritual? How did you transform it or enrich it? What are your strategies to keep truly alive in the midst of madness?
Related Readings by Matthew Fox
Creation Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth
One River, Many Wells: Wisdom Springing from Global Faiths
Prayer: A Radical Response to Life
WHEE! We, wee All the Way Home: A Guide to Sensual Prophetic Spirituality
Order of the Sacred Earth: An Intergenerational Vision of Love and Action by Matthew Fox, Skylar Wilson and Jennifer Berit Listug
Naming the Unnameable: 89 Wonderful and Useful Names for God…Including the Unnameable God
A Spirituality Named Compassion: Uniting Mystical Awareness with Social Justice
Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision for a New Generation by Matthew Fox and Adam Bucko
6 thoughts on “In the Midst of Madness”
I may not dance but I go to the garden and watch life taking place.
And I remind myself that some of the madness intends to create imbalance so I must stay grounded and resist fear.
Daily silent contemplative prayer is important to me along with Faith and openness to the Sacredness of the Divine Spirit/Flow ETERNALLY PRESENT within and around me LOVINGLY connecting me to others, Beautiful Sacred Mother Earth/Her living creatures/Graceful abundance, and to All physical/nonphysical spiritual beings/dimensions of Our LIVING evolving Sacred Co-Creation~Cosmos in Our LOVING DIVERSE ONENESS….
“’But he has nothing at all on!’ at last cried out all the people. The Emperor was vexed, for he knew that the people were right; but he thought the procession must go on now! And the lords of the bedchamber took greater pains than ever, to appear holding up a train, although, in reality, there was no train to hold.”
Although this part of the folktale was not on display along the Davos obsequious procession, my strategy to keep truly alive in the midst of madness is to see the masquerade for what it is and to contribute, each in one’s own way, to empowering the child that will trigger the tale conclusion.
Canadian here- we are so thankful for our Prime Minister Carney. As I watched his speech at Davos I knew something earth shaking was happening, and I thought, he is a Canadian Churchhill fir these times. I am praying daily for the people in Minneapolis and all of Minnesota. And I am also thankful for Matthew, Gianluigi, these daily messages and this community.
At this time in human history, many of us wonder what we can do to make a difference.
One possibility was suggested recently: Follow the example of British citizens in World War II when Hitler bombed London for eight straight months. Hitler expected his blitz to terrorize the British people into submission. It did not. Here’s what they did:
Nationwide, they responded with the “SILENT MINUTE”. At the exact same time every night, people – including the king and Winston Churchill – paused for one minute of silent prayer or meditation. Millions of people participated, creating a spiritual network for peace amidst the horror and chaos of war.
We can have such a network, too.
This idea came to my inbox from Marianne Williamson. I think it’s her idea, but I don’t know for sure. In any case, here’s the plan:
At 6 pm US Pacific (9 pm US Eastern, etc.) stop for one SILENT MINUTE. As Marianne said: “Whether you participate prayerfully, meditatively, or simply in silent reverence, the energy created will be a strengthening of our hearts and a mantle of protection for our democracy.”
She added, “There is internal as well as external activism. Both matter, both are powerful, and both are very important right now.”
Do what you are called to do. Right now I personally am called to practice the SILENT MINUTE and spread the word, which includes sending this message to you.
I am making art and putting it out into the world each day for 100 days. That is how I am surviving. To create beauty from the madness brings daily healing. Each day I photograph a moment of beauty and compose a related haiku. The photography makes me notice and see beauty when I feel there is none. The haiku makes me listen to the creative energy of God in me to make sense of the moment. Giving it to the world feels like a small way to remind people to hang on. 100 Days of Noticing.