The First Order of Love in constellations work is to “Honor What Is.” Over and over in constellations we see the damage done in families and communities when there are secrets or major events that aren’t seen and honored for what they are. Indeed, sometimes simply honoring what has not been previously acknowledged is mostly what is needed for healing.
This summer, around the world, this Order of Love forces us to see our climate crisis. Not that the signs haven’t been apparent before; scientists and activists have been providing us with evidence for at least 50 years. But this summer, the heat waves most of us are confronting is an alarm of nature: we are no longer dealing with predictions and subtle changes; we are obviously in the climate crisis itself right now, and it’s affecting everyone.
From a systemic point of view, there are so many ways to tell this story. There are our extractive, growth-oriented multi-national energy systems, based in fossil fuels, the development of our modern economy to the benefit of many, and yet also with resulting wealth for the few. It’s a massive system — really a set of interlocking systems — that is hard to change. Just look at Germany, dependent upon Russian oil despite its green goals, its commitment to move away from nuclear energy, and its desire to support Ukraine. The heat wave facing Europe makes it hard for one country to make the massive changes that are absolutely necessary.
Another way to tell the story is in the life of individuals and local communities. One such community is close to where I live in New Mexico, where the descendants of the Spanish and local indigenous Puebloans have lived for generations, and whose lives, livelihoods and culture have been threatened by the massive fire that is still burning east of Santa Fe. Now the flooding has come from the burn scars, and ancient forms of irrigation are being destroyed. The climate crisis is seen in systems that affect the very particular experiences of particular people, usually the poorest and most vulnerable around the world.
Another story is, of course, the science one, and the physical and natural systems that we rely upon. It’s an amazing story, and one that could produce joyful, nerdy delight if it weren’t telling such a tragedy. One planet, all connected, incredibly complex, with the oceans depending upon the atmosphere depending upon the forests depending upon the cities, all connected, breathing, adjusting chaotically but predictably.
There are many more stories and systems to recount, but I’ll add just this one more: It’s the story of us, we humans, facing the truth of our beauty and our failure, our love of each other and our utter de-humanization of each other, our dependence upon this planet and our foolish ignorance at thinking we don’t really need her. This whole history of all of us is showing up in this crisis, and we really don’t know how it will end. We do know it’s bad, and it’s going to get worse, no doubt. But will we find the way we sometimes do to turn things around and find a better way?
If I were to constellate these questions, I wouldn’t look for an answer — I don’t think constellations is actually very good at predicting the future. But I would look for two things: 1) What are the traumas we still carry that we have not properly honored which is to some degree driving this selfish and self-destructive behavior? And, 2) what are the deep resources, without which we can’t possibly change course, and which we absolulely need to recover our humanity, courage and commitment to the common good?
I’m sure there are many such resources. But right now, when I step into that more hopeful system, what’s especially present is HUMILITY. This is something constellations is very good at — it helps us re-discover our correct size in our systems. Sometimes that’s discovering that we are bigger than we thought (often connected to moving forward in our work or in our relationships). But much more often, it’s discovering that we are all mostly smaller than almost everything there is. 😉 We are even, it seems to me, smaller than the fossil fuels we use so recklessly, as they are the remains of prior life on the earth.
When you think systemically about the climate crisis, what resources and hope do you see? Please share your experience and thoughts on my blog below. And, my friends, do take care of yourself and your loved ones as you face the dangers of our weather…
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