Espousing Causes

There has been an ongoing issue at the Monroe Institute that is a prime example of the topic for today’s post.  One of the long time facilitators was let go without having been given a reason why, and this has caused a lot of disturbance amongst the TMI community of participants with people taking sides and even refusing to go back for any other classes. 

One person in particular has been sending out e-mails encouraging people to complain to the board of directors, sign petitions, and express support to the ousted staff member.  Each time another e-mail from this person would arrive, I would have a brief moment of thinking that I should respond, take a side, sign a petition, or express my personal support.  Be sympathetic, be a “good” person by supporting a worthy cause.  I literally couldn’t even take a stab at starting an e-mail in response, even though I know the person who was let go.  There were no words, no opinions, and no allegiances to be found within me.

I did and do trust that all is in perfection around this event, and that the staff member and the TMI board of directors co-created all of this on a higher level for the lessons to be learned and experience to be gained.  I am confident that all will work out in the end.  Unfortunately, that is not the high road that some are taking.  You can refer to my post on Light vs. Dark to see what happens when one end of an issue is polarized and fed.  By doing this, the other end is empowered, as energy is always seeking a balance.

This brings me around to the subject of this post, espousing causes.  I am not against causes per se, as a lot of good in the world has been done through causes and organizations.  AA, Habitat for Humanity, and the Humane Society spring to mind.  Let’s take the high road here and view causes from a spiritual perspective.  Every cause that has been started and championed by an individual comes from that individual’s personal issue.  After all, wasn’t AA started by an alcoholic?  It is an organization that has helped many, but on the other hand, I have met AA sponsors who are so extremely identified with the organization that they are still mired in the energy of addiction even though they are no longer drinking. 

If we look at every cause as someone’s personal issue that has been projected externally to society at large, that will make it easier to decide if we need to jump on that bandwagon, or not.  If you are drawn to a cause, how does it resonate with you personally?  How are you a match? Are you projecting any issues of disenfranchisement, abandonment or victimhood of your own?  Are you promoting someone else’s cause by projecting your issue onto it instead of owning your own projection and working through it internally?  Technically, all is projection anyway, as on a multiple of levels we are creating our reality every second of every day.

When you are faced with these choices and feel a pull towards a cause, it is time to do some inner reflection as to why.  Are you a match for the issue that the cause is espousing or perhaps you feel the need to be a “good” person by helping out?    Maybe you have a lot of free time on your hands and it is better than sitting at home.  Nothing wrong with any of those as long as you bring your awareness to the situation before diving in. 

I cannot begin to say what is driving the behavior of the person who is spearheading the protests at TMI.  A tremendous amount of energy is being expended by him as he supports his projection onto the situation.  Things have become so polarized that I believe there is no going back.  There is a saying that says “Is this the hill that you want to die on today?”  Bring your awareness to any opportunity to engage in a cause or another person’s issue and that will help you consciously make that choice.