Have we Paid the Debt of Our Existence?
from a prayer, a wish and to an intention
We, as a species, rarely consider we owe a debt based on our existence here with Earth. We may not consider our collective or personal debt because we are both disconnected from Earth, ourselves, and our communities. As a result, through our desire for an ever increasing comfortable lifestyle, we have become complacent. In the back of our minds, we think we are contributing to the common good by making money — paying taxes, often begrudgingly, and fitting in with the norm. We may give a portion of our income to charities or populist movements. Depending on the tribe to which we belong, there are different norms. My norm is spiritual growth.
The “debt of our existence” doesn’t enter our consciousness unless someone draws attention to it. And based on my experience of it when I said it aloud before meals in the 1980s, I didn’t know how to apply it. I forgot about it for a while. It never left my search for how better to pay back my debt.
What is the Debt of my Existence?
To Earth
I owe a debt to Earth. It is a debt that I may never repay, considering the damage I’ve taken part in with many others. I feel grateful for my place with Earth and coming to feel my life with Earth instead of merely on her. You may ask, what debt do I owe with many others? [You may have noticed I don’t write about “the earth” I write “Earth” because she is my good friend.]
At The Claymont School on The 6th Basic Course (1980-’81) most of us waited, one afternoon, for the History class to begin. It would have been the first of many. The instructor told us this:
Every time you drive a car down the road, you’re destroying a part of the future. Gas comes from oil, which are the remains of dinosaurs. It’s a limited resource. One day it will be gone. Think about your part in that.
To Community
Our instructor in the History Class continued while the three people who arrived late knocked at the closed doors to the room.
After a lecture by the instructor about arriving early for a meeting and preparing to be present at a meeting, he said that arriving late was a disservice to the rest of us. He reminded us of our responsibility to know where other members of the group were and that we, who had arrived early, had shirked our responsibility for other members of the group.
When he concluded the scolding, he canceled the entire series of classes — on history — personal history and its philosophy of history with esoteric elements. I gathered.
As Above, So Below: Was this collective missed group opportunity a metaphor for community and responsibility in the modern age?
I owe a debt to all members of community: local, town, state, region and nation. I owe a debt to the peoples of the world, especially oppressed people everywhere. Because of my privilege and the fact that as a citizen of the United States I share an extra burden that my government is very good at oppressing others for its own gain. It’s a shameful excuse for oppression often has nothing to do with democracy and more to do with corporate profits at the expense of human rights and murder through war. How are these debts repaid?
At age 18, I became a pacifist and at 21 I made it known to my family that I am a pacifist.
I owe a debt to my parents, who loved me. I owe a debt to my genetic line and to my spiritual line as traced through past-life generations.
To My Self in Relations with Others
A self cannot be a self without others. Part of who I am bound by light as I am connected to others. My purpose and mission in life is healing. Here are three ways in which I work:
There is some work I need to do on myself before working with others:
- being a good householder or taking care of the basics, shelter, food, employment
- Healing wounds from the past. At least starting on this enough so I can function optimally. With me the healing of wounds may never be completely finished. That’s okay.
Then the work begins (as if it ever stopped):
3. Acting as a healing conduit for others that come to me as clients, friends and relatives and taking care of myself.
And there’s more…
4. Acting as a healing conduit for the planet (relieving suffering and large groups of people you may be suffering). Honoring Earth.
5. Knowing when to take breaks for cleansing the body, mind, heart and spirit.
6. Taking a break from working on myself and having fun.
7. Passing on what I know.
8. Learning and growing with the help of friends, formal and informal education.
9. Exploring the worlds with an open heart, mind and spirit to new adventures.
The inner work I do with myself and with others in the cycles of giving and receiving are how I work with the light and help to pay the debt of my existence.
Service
In serving Earth, I have cultivated a connection that I feel deep in my heart. I struggle with the limitations of my body to serve local and worldwide communities. I work to include when I could exclude (and stay safe).
I work to service consciousness through practices, giving back, healing, self-care, and work with others.
Thanks you all for your continued support, for the connective tissue of your inspiration and good wishes. I know we all work in our own way to pay the debt of our existence. Blessings to you on your path.
If I have forgotten you, please forgive me. If you would like to be added (or taken off this list) please let me know:
Camille Grady | Marcus aka Gregory Maidman | Melanie J. | Pene Hodge | Filiz Özer | Mark Tulin | Diana C. | Joseph Lieungh | Alison Hollingsead | I. Trudie Palmer | Alberto García 🚀🚀🚀 | Kris Bedenian | Shirley Willett | Mukundarajan V N | Michelle Roussin | augmented man | Michael Walker| madmess’s thoughts | DL Nemeril | David Price | Alan Lew | Rebecca Romanelli | OrlaK | Simão Cunha | Spyder | Nombuso Makhubu | George Blue Kelly | Blaine Coleman | Jessica Wolf | Mulan