by Marc Mukunda Morozumi
There are many ways to tell a story and our lives are all built from them. Sometimes, these are stories that are passed down verbally, or written and published, and sometimes they are erased and made to be forgotten. In any event, the truth still exists and will always be a light that shines through whenever darkness tries to hide it. But because of human nature, it just might take some years, decades and even lifetimes for that truth to become welcomed and commonly accepted.
In celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day, it’s a way to honor that story that wasn’t told correctly in most of our educations. A story that plainly identifies colonization and decimation of human life in the name of progress. Welcome to planet Earth. Somehow, it was able to happen 500 years ago, but let’s not uphold a story and perpetuate the harm when we’ve learned the truth. Let us honor this day as a way to recognize that omission and raise awareness of the genocide of America’s original earth keepers.
There was a movement in 1977 at the International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas, which then took over 10 years until it sparked the first honoring of the day as Indigenous Peoples’ Day in South Dakota followed by the cities of Berkeley and Santa Cruz, CA. Then, not until 15+ years until it gained popularity for other states across the U.S. Today, not every state in the U.S. has switched Columbus Day for Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Including California), but some have. View CNN article HERE.
How many things are like this and we’re simply not aware? How many things are like this and we’re aware but we don’t care enough to do anything about it? Truly, take a minute and think about that for you personally. ……………….. Is it possible that we’ve spent more time working to be comfortable in the version of the story that we once heard rather than being well informed? These truths can challenge our minds to the point that our nervous systems go in that fight or flight mode and it appears as a real threat. Just like any threat to our sense of freedom or safety. It can feel unsafe to hear an inconvenient truth and so we’ll consciously or unconsciously block it and even try to build a wall between the truth and our carefully constructed, modified reality.
Why would we not want to honor one another? Why has it made sense to kill and harm in the name of progress and survival? Is this just the way of our natures or is there another way to still feel like we are progressing but without the need to resort to our animal instincts of survival? Maybe not. At the very least, can we recognize that within each and every one of us, there is an option and maybe even common wish for peace and joy, love and light. By learning how to listen to the deeper insight of our own life’s purpose versus accepting only survival mode whether basic or glamorous, we might find a way to enhance not just our own life, but the lives of others. Truth is One, Paths Are Many (Sri Swami Satchidananda). And I’ve found yoga to be one of those paths that has revealed this Truth.
We have our own paths to accept, choose, rediscover and embark upon. That’s the mystery and liberty of taking this body in this lifetime! It’s up to each of us to decide how much we want to listen and give, and how much we want to talk and take. The thinking mind is often given all the credit but maybe it’s clear it will only get us so far. May the intuitive, creative mind awaken to spirit and let’s see what’s written about in 500 years from today.
This article was republished here with the permission of Marc Mukunda Morozumi. The original article can be viewed HERE.