“We might say the opposite of fear is courage – a word that comes from the French for heart. This obviously doesn’t refer to the emotional heart which, as we all know, can be fearful, but rather to the spiritual heart which is always peaceful, compassionate and open to change. “

Twenty years ago when so many of us were protesting against the looming invasion of Iraq by US/UK forces, a group of us in Edinburgh produced a leaflet with the title ‘Who Needs War?’ Of course, we were thinking of those who profit from war in various ways.

What if we loosen our grip on the idea that happiness comes from ‘winning’ and begin to notice how happiness comes naturally from giving? Many, many people are already living like this. Probably you know the ones. They are keeping only what they need and giving away the rest to those in need. They are kind to others and to themselves. And they beam with joy!

Shifting from a non-consensual culture to one of consent, compassion and cooperation depends on transformation at all levels – psychological, economic, political, ecological and spiritual. The question is, are we willing to begin (or continue) making changes in our own lives, our own relationships? Are we open to receiving the benefits of healing?

When we put each other or any aspect of life into boxes like this, we’re not really meeting – we’re caught up in our ideas of who we are and what is possible. In these times of incredible challenge, we might want to consider the possibility of stepping outside such strictures so we can really listen to each other.

As we draw close to Samhain – the sacred time on the Celtic calendar marking the end of the year, the end of life as we know it, and the mystery of what lies beyond – we might well look to our ancestral roots for wisdom. It might seems in these times that wisdom is rare. In all times, it is precious.

When it might seem as though we’re living in the midst of a rather dark science fiction novel, perhaps we might look to the wisdom contained in this literary tradition. Let’s be honest, we need all the inspiration we can get right now.

“We need acts of restoration, not only for polluted waters and degraded lands, but also for our relationship to the world. We need to restore honor to the way we live, so that when we walk through the world we don’t have to avert our eyes with shame, so that we can hold our heads up high and receive the respectful acknowledgment of the rest of the earth’s beings.”

― Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants

Imagine the power goes out and doesn’t come back on. At all. What might happen in your community? This is the question author D.D. Johnston explores in his latest novel, Disnaeland. This beautifully crafted novel embraces comedy and tragedy, trauma and healing, intellectual breadth and spiritual depth. In short, Disnaeland embraces life and invites us to do the same.

On this day, not quite 250 years ago, the nation-state in which I was born declared itself free of the British Empire, determined to create its own. Founded by traumatised people, displaced from their homelands by desperation or greed (same thing, perhaps), they in turn displaced, to put it mildly, those they declared other. And so trauma begets trauma until we say enough. I’m not going to pass this on anymore. It is time to heal.

Maybe when you were a kid, you would sit by beside a stream just watching the water flow past and listening to the birds. Maybe you wish you had more time for gardening, or yoga or meditation. When was the last time you curled up with a good book and switched off your phone? Notice if your mind thinks of things like this, whatever they may be for you, as less important than work or other commitments. If we’re not committed to our own wellbeing, how can we really contribute to the wellbeing of the world?

Some people uplift humanity by offering a mirror of the greatest qualities of humankind. They inspire us to see our own potential by giving us someone to look up to. I don’t know that might be for you? Other people might inspire us in a different way, by showing us how not to be.

Written as part of Bella Caledonia’s Scotland 2042 series, imagining what Scotland might look like in 20 years.

Lakshmi Narayan, the spokesperson for the Govan Free State, declared “Today the people of Scotland have taken a brave step towards global equality. The real wealth of Scotland is in the vitality of the land, the people and our unique communities. After all the tremendous challenges over the past few decades, this great coming together for truly sustainable democracies gives renewed hope for the future.”

To stay in peace takes a great steadiness of mind, an ability to focus and relax, and the strength to accept insults as not being personal. When we are not in peace, we are open to manipulation. When we are not in peace, others who know how to push our buttons through threats or rewards can get us to do what they want. If we wish to live in a real democracy, where leadership comes from the people, then we cannot be open to manipulation. We need to learn how to be at peace.

While survival is great, probably we want more for ourselves, our communities and our nations. If we want to understand how to move beyond this, we can look a little at how our nervous system functions before turning to inspiration found in the deeply democratic revolution taking place in the indigenous cultures of Chiapas, Mexico (and also everywhere).

We risk radically disempowering ourselves when we rely entirely on those who seem to be authorities… They have their place, of course, acting as advisors or public servants. Sometimes they offer incredibly valuable help. But we can’t really give them responsibility for our lives, the lives of our children or the life of this Nation. We all have response-ability to contribute. And we can cultivate that ability through caring for ourselves, for each other and for the land we call home. 

People have a hard time letting go of their suffering.

Out of a fear of the unknown,

they prefer suffering that is familiar.

– Thích Nhất Hạnh

If we could define love, we might say (a bit like bell hooks does) that it’s a deep and profound commitment to someone’s wellbeing and ongoing growth. And of course, that can include ourselves. What would happen if we all lived our lives, deeply committed to our own vitality, to our own beautiful blossoming as human beings? And if we shared that same sense of commitment to those around us? As hooks notes, it would change our world in endless ways.