Sandy Hook Tradegy

This weekly email came to me today from Integral Post which is a free high-profile blog series that features writings and articles from many great Integral thinkers and leaders from around the world. I found this article particularly helpful at this time. An Integral Path in a Tragic World (FREE) by Dr. Karen Wyatt Last Friday it seemed as though the world might really be coming to an end. For all of the communities, families and individuals shattered by the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the world, as we have known it, has indeed been obliterated. Nothing will ever be the same again for any of us as we contemplate the depth of insanity and darkness that could compel a person to slaughter innocent children.When tragedies of this magnitude occur in our dualistic society there exists the potential for us to come together as a united force against a common enemy, such as the pro-war movement that was sparked by the attack on Pearl Harbor. But there is an equal possibility that the shock and pain of such loss will divide us even more deeply along the lines of polarization that already fragment our society. We hover now at this precarious crossroad with the opportunity for transcendence or dissolution to unfold in the coming months. The Sandy Hook Massacre has crystallized and focused our attention upon the polarity that exists in our society over gun control rights and responsibilities and whether access to mental and physical healthcare is a right or a privilege. But this divide represents only the surface of the developmental and cultural chasm that runs throughout this and all human societies. What is needed most at this pivotal time in the history of the planet is an integral approach to tragedy that will allow a sane interpretation of catastrophic events. Because an integral approach would also by definition embrace the diverse perspectives of all parties concerned, no matter how extreme the polarity, it provides the only hope of bridging the divide and moving toward healing and transformation. As integral thinkers of higher consciousness we can make a difference during these chaotic upheavals that will continue to foretell the death of an old way of being and the birth of new, expanded awareness. Society is in the throes of the birth process now with violent contractions that could seemingly end in destruction. Here are some ways to act as wise midwives for this process: Be a calming presence. Maintain your own equanimity even when you are in the midst of angry conflict. Keep your own emotions in check while you allow others to ventilate their pain.   Take the highest possible perspective.  Remember to have compassion for all points of view, even when they differ from your own. Consider with equal understanding the fear felt by parents who perceive their children to be at risk in our violent society, and the fear felt by gun-owners who cherish their weapons as well as their constitutional right to own them.   Seek the greatest good for all. Refuse to accept easy or obvious solutions that might alienate one group or another. The best path through tragedy is one that brings divergent groups together respectfully with wisdom and vision and without hidden, self-seeking agenda. Work toward “both-and” solutions rather than “either-or.”   Be a bridge. Recognize that you can play a role as a connector and facilitator whenever heated discussions arise. See the commonalities between opposing sides (such as, both groups love children and want to protect them) and enlist opponents to work together to accomplish those common goals.   Do Shadow work. Any pain or ugliness that exists within our own individual Shadow adds to the collective Shadow of mankind. Rather than pointing a finger of blame at the deep Shadow wounds of others, we must take responsibility for our own unconscious wounds and bring them to light through daily reflection and intention. When we heal ourselves we heal our society as well and it is imperative that we begin now to practice compassion, forgiveness, and surrender.   Breathe. During the pain and agony of childbirth one of the most helpful tools for coping with discomfort and controlling anxiety is regular, timed breathing. Remember to do your own deep breathing exercises whenever you are engaged in interactions of conflict or deep pain. And ask others to follow you by taking some deep breaths, as well, before beginning a difficult discussion. The time has now come for each and every one of us to utilize our integral vision and stand up in the world for a higher path through tragic events. We can no longer afford to hide behind the walls of academia and expend our energy in endless semantic debates. We are needed in this world now to help show the way forward to a new level of consciousness that is pressing to emerge. We must allow this and every other tragedy we encounter to hone us into the leaders that the world so desperately needs.