The U.S. is in crisis. Senseless gun violence, especially in my city of Chicago. There is no consensus on how to solve the problem. Our election process has been a complete circus. It's like our nation is going through a total shift in consciousness, somewhat akin to the 60's.

Truth be told though - I haven't paid much attention to the news. It's been background chatter to me as I have been struggling with my own issues. Then I read this quote yesterday from Elie Wiesel: "The opposite of love is not hate. It's indifference." That stopped me cold. I was removing myself from participating in the world around me to focus on myself, but in doing so I forgot what I was supposed to be working on: compassion.

I don't want to get into the Facebook arguments but I do want to be a part of the change.

I have been having a lot of health issues lately - shoulder & back pain, now a nagging cough - and I am trying to view them symbolically because it is the only thing that helps me make sense of things. The areas that are giving me issue fall in the fourth and fifth chakras - for those that follow these things - and correspond to living my life truthfully, honestly, and forgiving myself. And I'm seeing that being played out on a national scale too. Compassion for all human lives. Living honestly. Forgiving those around us.

We as a nation are imploding. But that may be a good thing. Like my aches and pains the violence that is facing us daily cannot be ignored. We must change. But in this pain is a real opportunity to grow. There are many people in this country who wish to hide behind a 200+ year old document to justify holding on to old world beliefs and prejudices. But there are also many, including myself, who believe common sense and compassion will prevail. This country is in crisis but I feel the healing is beginning.

Lexi

A Moodscope Member