Lately I've kind of felt like a ball of dough being plunged into ice cold water: no control over my life, I can be kneaded every which way, with only the anguish of cold water to look forward to, which, after enough dunks, eventually reduces my doughiness to slime, until I am just particles of dough floating in shitty-ass doughy water ... Sounds pretty emo, huh? I sort of stole this analogy from Laura Esquire's Like Water for Chocolate, in which Tita feels like dough being plunged into boiling oil the first time she feels the heat of love. I guess the analogy renders itself the same in both cases, since boiling oil (love?) and ice cold water (misery? emptiness?) are both painful sometimes.
Anyway, this Hopi prophecy I am sharing with you today has been on a wall in my house ever since I can remember and only today did I take the time to sit down and read it. Take your time, too, and you'll find yourself, hopefully, a little rejuvenated with the world. It even made me feel a little less doughy and hopeless. Funny how strings of words can bring on so many thoughts and emotions.
When we're trying to figure out what we're supposed to be doing in life, it's hard not to take ourselves too seriously. Especially being in my early twenties (goddamn twenty-somethings!), it seems the consequences of my decisions now are of immense importance, and I should take things seriously and personally. This Hopi prophecy reminds me to take nothing too personally, keep my head above the water, and most importantly, appreciate other people: "See who is in there with you and celebrate." Human connection and relationships are the most precious part of our existence. I know I'm in a constant process of making good on what I consider to be this fact of life, by being less selfish and better to other people. Just like my last post about womens' issues and inequality, this calls for us to look both inside and outside ourselves, but ultimately obligates us to contribute to the web of life and work with others to contribute to a manifestation of justice.
Anyway, this Hopi prophecy I am sharing with you today has been on a wall in my house ever since I can remember and only today did I take the time to sit down and read it. Take your time, too, and you'll find yourself, hopefully, a little rejuvenated with the world. It even made me feel a little less doughy and hopeless. Funny how strings of words can bring on so many thoughts and emotions.
When we're trying to figure out what we're supposed to be doing in life, it's hard not to take ourselves too seriously. Especially being in my early twenties (goddamn twenty-somethings!), it seems the consequences of my decisions now are of immense importance, and I should take things seriously and personally. This Hopi prophecy reminds me to take nothing too personally, keep my head above the water, and most importantly, appreciate other people: "See who is in there with you and celebrate." Human connection and relationships are the most precious part of our existence. I know I'm in a constant process of making good on what I consider to be this fact of life, by being less selfish and better to other people. Just like my last post about womens' issues and inequality, this calls for us to look both inside and outside ourselves, but ultimately obligates us to contribute to the web of life and work with others to contribute to a manifestation of justice.
Hopi Elders' Prophecy
Oraibi, Arizona, June 8, 2000
Hopi Nation
You have been telling people that this is the Eleventh Hour, now
you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour.
And there are things to be considered. . .
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Where is your water?
Know your garden.
It is time to speak your truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the leader.
Then he clasped his hands together, smiled, and said,
"This could be a good time! There is a river flowing now very fast.
It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.
They will try to hold on to the shore.
They will feel they are being
torn apart and will suffer greatly.
Know the river has its destination. The elders say we must let go of
the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open,
and our heads above the water.
And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate. At this time in
history, we are to take nothing personally, least of all ourselves.
For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and
journey come to a halt.
The time of the lone wolf is over, gather yourselves!
Banish the word 'struggle' from your attitude and your vocabulary.
All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.
We are the ones we've been waiting for.
Contemplating our existence by skipping rocks at the Hammond Trail Beach. Luckily existence is not dependent on rock skipping ability, or I'd be shit out of luck.
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