I believe we are being pushed to create something better, and by necessity structure must be abandoned for a time. Creativity and chaos shall flourish, but it may not be what you expect.

 I had this interesting conversation with my friend Thomas a few days ago that has sparked (and resparked in some ways) thinking about the future, and where we are heading as a culture.

 I've been thinking about this really since I was in elementary school, but it a slightly different context. I was  brought up with this idea that there would be war. As I see the things happening around us in these times, I am again reminded of this idea. That a dark period is coming upon us, that if society doesn't collapse structure will at least be tossed aside and there will be chaos...I feared this idea for a really long time, but when I brought it up to my shamanism teacher one day she said something that really began to change the way I think about all situations, and particularly this thing that seems to be impending on so many people's minds.

 She told me to think positive. Simple as that. By empowering the idea that this horrible thing is going to happen, by constantly worrying about it you make it more likely to occur, so believe and put positive energy into something better happening.

 Well, I do hold to that, and try to be as positive as I can, but I can't ignore completely the things happening here and now. So here is where this conversation I had a few days ago comes in.  I was able to formulate this thought regarding creativity and chaos where this 'dark period' is concerned, and it surprises me because my thoughts on the subject of chaos have changed so much recently. We had been talking about structure, and I see that the structure of our society is not functioning like a well oiled machine, especially at the level of the people. We have so much soul loss and pain as a society, such careless attitudes about the earth, and love, and human relations, and such a lack of spiritual integrity. This is why I think the changes I see coming are very likely and relevant to happen. There seems to be a...repopularizing of earth-connected, closely animistic-related ideas and spirituality. I have been growing more aware of this since I started studying shamanism and it rings very true for me. Modern culture has so far removed itself from connection with Spirit and Earth, which up to very recent centuries had always been integrated in our everyday lives and actions. We are missing an essential piece of our souls/ourselves, and so it is natural that people are attempting to reclaim this. (Through whatever form, Spirit makes sense to them). The other side I see is regarding creativity, true, unbound creative expression, even beyond the superfluous title "art". Thomas brought up a good point to me, that in order to have structure, a certain amount of freedom and creativity must be relinquished. Well, to have freedom and creativity, structure must be...reconsidered. The way we tend to think of structure is so square, and stolid...it has a foundation, and it doesn’t move, it isn't flexible, and it doesn't change well. All of these things are what pure creativity and chaos are about, and are really very important to be in touch with (just as a certain amount of structure is). What I see happening in this destructuring/destabilizing of our economy/culture, a chance for art and spirituality, which are full of spinning, twisting, curvy, changing, flexible and moving energy to really become important, and restructure our society in a way. Chaos will never set it solid like the foundational structure we think of with government (foundational like my picture earlier-square, cement, solid kind of foundation), but I can see where we need to be shaken up a little, test our own flexibility. 

I think this will also make it essential to be more connected with our communities (whatever form those may take for each subculture/family/etc)...to have something to rely on, and have a place where the things you bring to the community are valued. This gives us a reason and a place to validate the need for our own personal creativity because there is someone to appreciate it, and find use from it. This is a lesson I learned from Sobonfu Some, of the Dagra Tribe in Africa. She was talking about community, and how in their beliefs, everyone is born with a specific intention/purpose to fulfill, and it close knit communities they are able to give what they have that is unique. In our culture, that is so large and so individualistic, yet sheep-like...there aren’t places for certain individual talents/skills/views that those people necessarily need to share in order to be fulfilled.

 So I want to invite and perpetuate the idea that we as a family, friends, community can support and will be there for everyone. Invite people into the community, think positive, and explore your individual contributions of creativity, they may serve to support you soon, if not financially-emotionally. They are essential for you, and they are essential for everyone around you, If you do not share with the community and the world, there will be less light to benefit you and we will have missed out on an important experience for building relationships, and positive energy.