Ivy Sea Online: Ivy SeaBlog - Sleepers Awaken - Your consciousness and gifts are needed!

Very few people actually want to be "part of the problem." Most people want to matter, they want to make a positive difference; they want their life to have had a positive legacy. This has nothing at all to do with the "he who acquires the most toys, wins" mentality. It's not wise; in fact, it's short-sighted, destructive, and kind of immature, when you think about it.

The deeper need of most humans, once survival needs like food and shelter are taken care of, is to do something meaningful and contribute something that matters. Some people are aware of this, and taking conscious steps towards it. A few others are highly mired in the "acquire and exploit" model. And a fair number of those in-between kind of bob along hoping for the best, fearing the worst, and assuming someone else will "do something about it" and save us (and Mother Earth, etc.) from our collective short-sightedness.

These are the Sleepers, and the Sleepers are now being called to awaken. The alarm-clock is ringing. We're all needed, and complacent "bobbing along" is no longer going to cut it, particularly since too many bob along in a destructive direction that is not sustainable.

With a strong lead and intention from those who are awake and clear, and those who are shaking off the sleep and getting clear, there is wisdom to guide us, and a few practical models in development for us to experiment with. Better yet, the "conscious path" offers exactly the "meaning and mattering" opportunities that most people, in their heart of hearts, truly want. And it feels much better, and really isn't all that difficult, once you get the hang of it. What's to lose? Nothing. What's to gain? Everything.

What do the prophecies say?

There are many Native American, indigenous, and other prophecies pertaining to these times. While most speak in warning of the very short-sighted and potentially cataclysmic devastation being wreaked on Mother Earth by a culture of greed, materialism, exploitation, and environmental destruction, they also speak of the potential for great hope and advancement.

In the Mayan and Hopi prophecies, and even in the Judeo-Christian sacred text of Isaiah, humanity has a choice — continue living at odds with Mother Earth and one another and pay a very high (often cataclysmic) price; or get with the program, take responsibility, know thyself, get conscious, and begin to think, speak, and act in a way that more reflects the spiritual tenets of almost every tradition.

Whether you're familiar with these prophecies or the traditions from which they stem, or not, it doesn't take even a mediocre level of intelligence and awareness to realize that our collective habits — those that are rooted in materialism, greed, selfishness, consumerism, and a disregard for others — are not leading to very positive places.

It should tell you something when you see Evangelical leadership groups, liberal environmentalists, and the 25-percent of the population that is considered part of the "Cultural Creatives" demographic group all agreeing on actions related to environmental repair and responsibility, integrity, and compassion.

Positive action, made easy

Here are some things that anyone can do very easily, starting with a simple commitment and the intention to follow through:

• Pray, meditation, reflect on, and/or intend harmony, healing, Wisdom, collaboration, and right-action that truly does hold life sacred;

• Be mindful of what you take into your body and mind — conscious nutrition, conscious information/stimulus intake;

• Through whatever means works for you, get clear on your purpose — the reason you're on the planet at this time — and begin aligning your everyday reality with that purpose. You are not here to waste space and air; you have gifts that are needed at this time for the healing of the planet and a shift to a more conscious, sustainable way of life.

• Re-root yourself in whatever wisdom, spiritual or faith tradition calls to you — just make sure it has roots that go deep (connecting with Ancient tradition). "Just say NO" to any traditions that foster fear over faith, intolerance over love and compassion, separation over unity, tribulation over healing, Lone Cowboy over collaboration. Choose faith, tolerance, love, compassion, unity, healing, and collaboration.

• Learn more about and practice conscious breathing, whether through meditation or other traditions and practices. Breath is life; conscious breathing is conscious living.

• Focus on kindness, tolerance, skillfulness, consciousness, harmony, collaboration, loving-kindness, compassion, faith, hope, integrity, and positive thinking and creating. Reflect on these tenets, embody them, work with them.

• Don't consume what you don't need or don't appreciate. Learn what you really need, what really adds to your quality of life, and simplify into that.

• Find ways to appreciate and express gratitude to Mother Earth for sustaining you, feeding you, providing you with a place to live and thrive. Ask forgiveness on behalf of all who have degraded, exploited, and misused her resources in short-sighted thinking.

• Be mindful that what you think and intend ripples outward into action. Intend that your impact or ripple-effect be a positive, healing, uplifting one.

• Learn more about the prophecies, conscious living, simplicity, right livelihood, and the long-rooted wisdom and faith traditions.

[These tips are based on the wisdom from Carlos Barrios, the writings of Steve McFadden, the wisdom shared here at Ivy Sea Online, and the work and wisdom of many others.]

Suggested meditations from Carlos Barrios, Mayan Mam tradition keeper from Guatemala:

• At sunset (and at any other times as well), meditate, pray, reflect, intend on harmony, healing, loving-kindness, restoration. If you're unable to do this, intend and work with these intentions.

• Create a ritual where, in the spirit of these intentions, light a white candle for harmony, peace, gratitude, and positive thought; and one red candle signifying the force (life), light, the energy of a new dawn and conscious action.