Some thoughts about the Condor, the Eagle, Pachacuti and three new books

The cycles of time as described in myths from South America are called Pachacuti, and each covers approximately 500 years. Columbus discovered the Americas in 1492, which could be seen as a pivotal beginning. The next “pachacuti” would be 1992, and might be thought to be the beginning of the new age where the condor will be invited to fly with the eagle. The condor represents the deep and warm spirituality of the southern hemisphere and the eagle is thought to be a symbol for the materialism of the northern hemisphere. We are ready for some reconciliation between spirituality and materialism.  (The number 5 is important here.  There is another idea formed in Japan recently regarding powerpoint presentations.  They call it “pacha kucha” and it means 20 slides, each 20 seconds long –a six minutes, forty seconds ppt. !!)

My recent visit to South America was deeply rewarding and satisfying. My hosts were warm and welcoming and I felt that warmth and experienced the welcome with heart-felt meaning. Their understanding and compassion came forth in the smiles and physical touch offered by each one individually. I was included and I was honored. The whole trip was gratifying and helpful to me as a human being who is still “incomplete”. I am so glad that I was privileged to experience these feelings. My “bucket” was filled to overflowing.  I am so grateful to all my Interface Flor friends in Argentina and Brazil.  Thank you, each one!

Perhaps our evolutionary movement as a species called “human” is progressing toward more balance between matter and spirit. In our western world in the northern hemisphere of our planet, we are materialists with addictions to things. We procure more “stuff” as if that will bring some sort of spiritual satisfaction. We eat more, gain more weight; and then we spend lots of money trying to lose that weight. I watch at the supermarket and am astounded by the people crowding the aisles with overflowing carts filled with chips, soft drinks, and high fat-empty calorie foods. Our addiction to the white stuff of refined sugar and grains is there to be seen in our fat bodies and our sedentary life styles. Our children prefer computer games to outdoor play. We sit when we could walk or run. On and on, the evidence mounts that we have reached some sort of saturation point.

We build more closet space, buy bigger houses, and rent storage space to hold all our “stuff”. We have “overdosed” on materialism. Swami Beyondananda (Steve Bhauerman) says we are the targets of “weapons of mass distraction”.  So, the eagle has flown very high. Now is the time to join the condor, blending our materialistic society with the society of the indigenous natives who are close to the earth and fly with the condor. Change is ahead, for sure.

I am not yet sure how that would translate here in our household. I just know that eating vegetables and fruits is increasingly more satisfying. I also know that the acquisition of yet more stuff is probably not the route to real joy. We are deliberately “down-sizing” and enjoying the simpler life.

I think about the wisdom of our native American forebears and the philosophy they brought to the settlers of the new world that became our United States of America. Studying these tribes and the Andean tribes of South America is like seeing history through new eyes. History is subjective and has been skewed to fit the prevailing zeitgeist of the times. There is a transformation in the future as we re-view and re-state our concepts of earlier times.

Dan Brown’s new book, “The Lost Symbol”, reveals how our founders were thinking as they declared their independence from an outmoded way of governing. I enjoy Dan Brown’s writing and have found this latest book to be a “page-turner” that I devoured in a short time.

Another book we are studying now is also along those same historical revisioning lines. Bruce Lipton and Steve Bhaerman have written an evocative book entitled, “Spontaneous Evolution”. They are presenting leading-edge possibilities and a mind-expanding way of looking at our existence.

Most of my friends know that I am a “book-a-holic”. I make no apology since learning is one of my strengths. Today, I am deep into a little book by Mike Morrison, “The Other Side of the Card”. He is saying that we can find meaning in life and work.  His “me-we” philosophy is easy to grasp and makes lots of sense. This is a quick read and I recommend it for anyone who is in a leadership role (or aspiring to become a leader).

We are incomplete.  We can learn.  We can expand.  We can evolve.

written December 1, 2009 at 6:00 p.m.  here in Buda, TX.