I have written about this extensively - yet, I still see so many people in my life and immediate surroundings who are not seen and acknowledged for who they are. Instead they are labeled and the gifts they bring to their communities (common-unity) are dismissed. This triggers deep memories in my body-mind-soul, and often stirs up a deep sadness because of this waste of precious potential and resources. Such a cause of unnecessary suffering and pain.
People who are sensitive to energies, to spirit world, used to be honoured and highly esteemed for their abilities. (They still are in some indigenous cultures.) They often were seen as the “gatekeepers” or “world bridgers” who could navigate through spirit world and access important knowledge and guidance. The information they shared was valued by the rest of the community and often served as a foundation for chiefs and political leaders in their decision-making. These people were identified already at a young age and either “left alone” (= not bullied or singled out by the rest of the community) or put under the tutorship of an experienced elder resp. a group of elders.
In our modern societies, mental health issues are “on the rise” and more and more people are labeled dysfunctional! Autism, ADHD, Bipolar, Asperger’s, hallucination, hypersensitivity… these are all symptoms of special abilities. Instead of recognising these behaviours as indicators of a heightened sensitivity, people are made believe that there is “something wrong” with them. They are put into mental health care, medicated and generally “shut down” and marginalised.
In our modern societies, mental health issues are “on the rise” and more and more people are labeled dysfunctional! Autism, ADHD, Bipolar, Asperger’s, hallucination, hypersensitivity… these are all symptoms of special abilities. Instead of recognising these behaviours as indicators of a heightened sensitivity, people are made believe that there is “something wrong” with them. They are put into mental health care, medicated and generally “shut down” and marginalised.
As a child I have been seeing and hearing “things” – and assumed everyone would perceive the world like I do. I soon realized that people in my surroundings either dismissed or ridicule my perceptions. As a consequence I learned how to “hold back” and not share my perspectives and feelings. This also created a deep rift inside of me: on one hand I knew with certainty that what I perceived was real, on the other hand it was clearly not accepted and acknowledged in mainstream society around me. This drove me to the brink of madness many times, as well as to being suicidal (= rather wanting to leave the physical plane than staying on and not being able to share “the full story”). When I look at some of the young (and old) people in my community, I see people who don’t need to be segregated and definitely not be drugged and treated as pathological. There is nothing wrong with them! They are simply highly sensitive to energies and able to perceive different realities.
In my view, mainstream education, health and other social systems have become too standardized. Everyone who doesn’t fit into the narrow framework is left out – or worse. Thus, we miss out on essential treasures: we don’t take time to listen to the wisdom of our elders, our young ones, the ones with special abilities. Instead we try and press everybody into rigid standards – creating more and more exhaustion and overwhelm and “dysfunctions”.
Sitting and listening to the stories of the “outcasts”, valuing EVERY member of our community and respect the input and gifts each and everyone brings, is a prerequisite for a functioning and balanced society. Oracles, hermits, shamans, druids, witches, sorcerers, artists, all the weird and wonderful are contributing important aspects to the bigger whole. As said before: they are the gatekeepers and bridgers to other realities. They bring balance and vision and can help the “workers” and the rest of their communities to put things into perspective. In troubled times we need them desperately to look beyond the veil.
Here is a great video clip that illustrates some of the issues mentioned above - and an example of a natural indigenous approach to deal with it...
In my view, mainstream education, health and other social systems have become too standardized. Everyone who doesn’t fit into the narrow framework is left out – or worse. Thus, we miss out on essential treasures: we don’t take time to listen to the wisdom of our elders, our young ones, the ones with special abilities. Instead we try and press everybody into rigid standards – creating more and more exhaustion and overwhelm and “dysfunctions”.
Sitting and listening to the stories of the “outcasts”, valuing EVERY member of our community and respect the input and gifts each and everyone brings, is a prerequisite for a functioning and balanced society. Oracles, hermits, shamans, druids, witches, sorcerers, artists, all the weird and wonderful are contributing important aspects to the bigger whole. As said before: they are the gatekeepers and bridgers to other realities. They bring balance and vision and can help the “workers” and the rest of their communities to put things into perspective. In troubled times we need them desperately to look beyond the veil.
Here is a great video clip that illustrates some of the issues mentioned above - and an example of a natural indigenous approach to deal with it...