My five items are not hierarchical, in that each is as crucially important as part of the whole – I arbitrarily listed them in that order. What my do though is challenge in an uncompromising way the major assumptions we have for living in a modern technological world. All the assumptions we take as absolute are nothing of the sort. And the biggest one that strikes fear into the hearts of most people is that we have to take charge of, and be responsible for our own choices and decisions. It’s easy to give your power to a higher power to take charge of how we live, then we can bitch and moan about it even while accepting all the crappola that this hierarchy pours down on us. After 6000 years, it’s easy to accept this as normal, but for hundreds of thousands of years before that humanity lived differently – the real way humans were evolved to live. We can see this way in the indigenous peoples that were never ‘captured’ by the hierarchical story – the takers and the leavers (see link). And probably more specifically, the European mindset that came to dominate the world we know today, but that shared the same root hierarchical story of all empire building cultures.
While the story varies a little, all around the world, the premise is that some ten thousand years ago, some benevolent hierarchy stopped by a group of indigenous peoples and converted them to agriculture and peaceful civilization. Then later (5-6000 years) another hierarchy came by, or arose, and began dominating that culture to empire building with a supreme head of state. Fast forward to one part of that story in 1492, where the Europeans discovered the ‘New World’ and brought the natives civilization ala Europe. While many native tribes were indigenous, the story we tell today likes to forget that major empires already existed in the America’s. LinkedIn blogger Nakeda Naeem has a wonderful commentary about ‘Who civilized who?’
The dominant narrative tells us that the Spanish brought culture, progress and civilization to America. However, it takes a closer look to understand that indigenous civilizations were not only advanced, but surpassed Europeans in many respects. What the indigenous people already mastered:
Hygiene: The Aztecs all bathed twice a day when in Europe the standard was once a week for the elites primarily.
Medicine: Aztec herbalism was the most advanced in the world at that time. They had specialized medical schools, with disciplines such as surgery, hematology and internal medicine. They used suppositories, ointments and suction cups, while Europe still resorted to practices like bloodletting.
Architecture and engineering: From Teotihuacan to Tenochtitlán, their structures not only withstand the test of time, but are wonders of urban planning and design. Chinampas, a system of cultivation on artificial islands, continue to be a unique example of agricultural sustainability. Europeans didn’t have basic Europe lacked basic sanitary drainage.
Astronomy and math: The Mayans calculated the number “zero” and created a calendar more accurate than the European. This astronomical knowledge was not only ahead of time, but it was fundamental to his daily life.
Art and literature: They created codes on paper elaborated with tree bark long before Europeans brought print. Their works in feathers, metals, ceramics and wood amazed the conquerors.
Music and Poetry: Indigenous people celebrated nature, love, and friendship through songs and poems, demonstrating a deep connection to their environment.
Economy and trade: The Aztecs and Incas developed extensive trading systems, reaching as far as Nicaragua. While Europeans were into trade, it was more mercantilist in nature rarely being beneficial to both sides of a trade.
Reflection: The true story reveals that America was not a wild or uncivilized territory. It was a continent full of knowledge, creativity, and unique breakthroughs that Europe still did not know. The conquest destroyed much, but it cannot erase the footprints of greatness indigenous cultures left behind.
Anthropologists are now at odds about just how violent these indigenous empires actually were, with war and sacrifice as normal. We like to think of them as barbaric in their own way, but this is not a clear as we once thought. An interesting poem describes the difference between indigenous empires and the European empire building since the Medieval Renaissance, “First came the traders; Then came the Priests; Then came the soldiers” A quote from the Zulu tribe of Africa. “When the European intention was to steal and be deceitful to indigenous peoples, you want them to believe that their cultural values are beneath your material values. The indigenous people should therefore accept their ‘cultural inferiority’ and enslave themselves to a European hegemony that breeds greed and violence” Ishmael Kajee.
In addressing the assumptions of the modern world, we come to the fallacy that money, materialism, and hierarchical power are what matter. A fascinating book ‘The Man Who Quit Money’ by Mark Sundeen, overviews the thought-provoking exploration of an unconventional lifestyle choice by Danile Suelo. A key assumption that drives our global culture is that materialism is the only way to live. For over a decade, he chose to live without money following a more simple and spiritual life, away from the constraints of a consumer-driven society. “The book explores the philosophical underpinnings of Suelo’s decision, as well as the practicalities of living without money. Through his experiences, you are invited to reflect on the value of material possessions, the nature of happiness, and what it means to lead a meaningful life” Amazon Books.
The Key Lessons and Insights from this book sound a lot like my blog –we all don’t need to live without money, but we do need to clearly understand how money currently controls us completely. I recommend you look his story up (via the book or online accounts). In summary, the key lessons were:
1. Questioning Materialism: You learn that challenging societal norms around money and consumerism can lead to profound personal insights.
2. Living Simply: By reducing your reliance on money, you can focus on experiences, relationships, and personal growth rather than accumulation.
3. Self-Sufficiency and Resourcefulness: Finding ways to meet your needs without money encourages you to think outside the box and rely on your skills.
4. Embracing Community: You discover that community plays a vital role in living without money.
5. Understanding Freedom: Freedom from financial obligations and letting go of money can free you from societal pressures and expectations.
6. Redefining Success: Success does not have to be measured by financial wealth or material possessions but fulfillment comes from personal experiences, relationships, and a connection to nature, prompting you to reconsider your own definitions of success.
7. The Impact of Nature: The book emphasizes the importance of connecting with nature as a source of nourishment and inspiration.
8. Mindfulness and Presence: You discover that living without money encourages a heightened sense of mindfulness and presence.
9. Facing Challenges: Living without money comes with its own set of challenges but teaches you the value of adaptability and perseverance in the pursuit of a meaningful life.
10. Personal Reflection: His story encourages you to examine your values, priorities, and relationship with money, inspiring you to seek a life that aligns with your true beliefs.
In 2012, John Strohl, Climate Reality Leader John Strokl, said: If we are desperately in need of a paradigm shift, and we can’t solve the problems with the same thinking that got us into those problems, how do we shift in a world that is massively old paradigm? Our starting point:
1) The new paradigm hasn’t achieved any substantially coherent agreement. We need to stop looking at the old paradigm for help and forge a new path completely;
2) The problems that make up the bulk of old paradigm are complex, compound, and massive; It cannot be tweaked, jerked, twisted, or yanked to become truly sustainable;
3) A lot of what needs to be done isn’t “new”, it’s the baby that got thrown out with the bathwater when we were seduced by technology and materialism at the expense of people;
4) There is, however, a lot that needs to be done that IS new;
5) There is a deep need for collective action, but there is no universally accepted functional approach to collective action in the predominant social structures of the developed world; We need to do that for ourselves starting at the grassroots;
6) There is a need for a non-hierarchical, self-organizing, flexible structure of some kind that allows for people to move in and out with ease and effectiveness, contributing to the greater whole but not rigidly defined in their support of that greater whole.
We know what we want. We know what we need. So let me lay it out ‘again’ so we are all clear about the solution and the path it takes.
To Be Continued…………………
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