The New Age

A friend passed along this reflection, received in a group email, on the fires down in Santa Barbara. I have edited for privacy, if not for sanity.

Last week was not an ordinary week.

In a life changing experience, the entire community from Goleta to Montecito was united in a ritual of purification from the non-essential. Lead by the elements of the Great Mother, Fire dancing with Wind then soothed by Water led to a renewal of the Earth and a transformation of our Spirits.

...I watched the monumental flames ignite the same hills. Our entire week was engulfed as well in deep feelings of fear, loss, grief and release. We deeply thank our firefighter heroes for saving our beloved city.

With 30,000 people leaving their homes there were no more facades keeping us separate, we became part of a whole. While feeling the loss of our dearest friends, the events became not about us but about shared love and concern.

Many wise friends saw this disaster as a teaching. The week culminated for me on Mother's day with a Dance of the Tribes led by Babs and Jeordi Soulster who had lost their beautiful home in the fire. Giving us a place to feel all the feelings through music and the body, we were healed by art and community. Perhaps Santa Barbara, rising from the ashes, is being birthed as a center for spiritual wholeness where we can truly be the children of our Mother: completely open and vulnerable to love, and honoring all of life.

Now we are this truth. The future is uncertain, so give yourself fully in love to the moment.

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