Metaphysical Anarchy?
Evolve Through the Chaos of Deconstruction
How honest are we about the current terrain of Modern-day New Thought, Spirituality, Metaphysics, culture, society, politics, and more? If we are educated enough about the caste system and all the related dis-eases that spew from it and if we are willing, we will undoubtedly see how deep these tentacles go into the foundation of who we are as a people and as people who study and live according to New Thought principles.
The ways that many of us teach New Thought as well as our inadequate way of addressing many real-world issues, are clear and present outcroppings from the predominant white supremacist ideologies. The way that we teach prosperity consciousness, and the law of attraction is very indicative of the caste system tied to toxic capitalism and cognitive imperialism. Our continued promotion of rugged individualism, self-development, and self-reliance which occur in both overt and covert ways continue to instill in us a sense of separation and safe distance from real-world concerns. The minister-centric structures of our churches and centers continue to place laity at the bottom of the hierarchy where their tithes and service are wanted far more than their input regarding more significant matters. This consciousness is a take and not give and don’t share consciousness. It is a me-me-me consciousness. It is an every “man” for himself consciousness. It is a consciousness that does not address the needs of the masses but focuses on the needs and wants of the few which tend to be select people.
For New Thought to evolve, we must enter the chaos of the unknown, the anarchy of deconstruction and decolonization of the teaching and the practices. We must decenter whiteness and the pseudo-power that has been aligned with or maligned with whiteness. Keep in mind that this idea of whiteness also encircles heteronormativity, maleness, wealth, and Christianism as it relates to the aforementioned groupings. Christian Nationalism is an expression of this very thing.
“All paradises, all utopias are defined by who is not there, by the people who are not allowed in.” ~Toni Morrison
We must center those who have not been allowed in...
Center, not just select representations of the LGBTQIA2+ community but center, those that have not been centered. Transgender women of color.
Center the Straight and Queer Women of Color.
Center those who are differently abled and disabled.
Center the Indigenous Peoples.
Within a minister-centric structure, we also need to center the community, the laity.
Keep going… Who else can you think of that needs to be centered?
It is very scary for some to even talk about deconstruction. For them, it sounds too much like destruction. And they have a point. Deconstruction and destruction certainly share very similar goals and energy however, we must keep in mind that this is only part of the equation. The other part is what we are building and constructing.
There are many ways of deconstructing the systems but one thing they all require is that we do the work of deconstructing and decolonizing our own beliefs, consciousness, and ways of being in the world.
We are invited to deconstruct and decolonize what we think about those taboo topics I shared in a previous post last week. (Sex, Disease, Politics, Grief, etc.)
Deconstruct and decolonize the power structures so we center those who have been marginalized. Deconstruct and decolonize the theological teaching so that the intent as a Liberation Theology is evident.
We have a grand opportunity to make profound evolutional shifts in consciousness and in practices that extend into every part of this global ethos. We have an opportunity to become the Beloved Community in ways we couldn’t imagine. However, talking about chaos, we must release the form of the caterpillar if we are to embody the imaginal cells and become a butterfly.
“If you want to fly, you have to give up the things that weigh you down.” ~Toni Morrison, Song of Solomon
Rev. Raymont Anderson, PhD., the spiritual director of The Center for Spiritually Integrated Arts, author of Moving Mountains: The Journey of Transformation and Visual Music: Interpreting Songs in American Sign Language
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