Evolve Beyond…(violence, ego, war, unhappiness, consumption?…fill in the blank)
Hi. My name’s Christine. Welcome to Evolve Beyond.
The name is born of a belief that we can move forward in a new way. The visible need to solve planet-wide challenges, increasing transparency from technology, especially international social media, and volatility in global power structures have combined to created much needed and very real opportunities for change.
Evolve Beyond is written concurrent with my research on the History of Peace, and work with Mark Whitwell and the Heart of Yoga Foundation.
I am most interested in whether and how we can accelerate evolutionary consciousness away from conflict and violence- and toward awareness, creative solutions, greater joy and happiness. I am not interested in this in the abstract, but in practice: what works for change in the heart of the individual, in intimate relationships- and from there extends into the community and the planet- especially tangible actions, and simple, teachable skills. I am interested in how technology can accelerate social justice and awareness. As a rational thinker, I am interested also in historical trends, moral philosophy, economics, politics, technology, neuroscience and spiritual development- with regards to the insights they can bring to this topic.
The book itself is the result of a simple insight: that the complete history of the world has been framed through the eyes of armed conflict. At what point did secular movements for peace become acceptable? when did conscientious objection and peace protest emerge? when did non-violence as an effective form of activism begin to work? The early answer is that while seeds have been present, this has only begun to take root in the last 75 years, and has been accelerating on a planet wide basis for the last 20 years, and hyper accelerating in the last 5.
Would LOVE to hear from, connect with, anyone who is interested in this topic, especially physical or social scientists, or historians.
Polyphrenic identity: Founder/CEO, tech head, online marketer, linguist, yogini, painter, writer. Mother to Jarrett, Samantha, Ky, Connor- 2nd mom to Laurel and Grace, wife to John. TEDster. Traveled and lived loads o’ places. Northwestern BA, PoliSci/International Relations- 1987, Kellogg MBA 1991.
Where we circulate: Sonoma, CA, Los Angeles, Manhattan/Brooklyn, Chicago (South AND North sides). Hochsauerland- a nod to my childhood in Brilon, Germany, all my uncles, cousins, and Grandmother.
I am writing to anyone who is interested in what is happening with the Iraq Afganistan veterans. YES they volunteered to go into the army and fight in this world, YES they believed it was going to bring peace and harmony back to the middle east and the world and YES they are angry and disillusioned coming come. THey feel betrayed by the bush administration and are calling for JUSTICE To be served. WHERE are the 43 billion dollars that have been pocketed and unaccounted for, WHERE are the ghost soldiers, that have been paid for but don’t exist. WHAT will happen to this economy and relationship to China when we are 300 BILLION dollars in debt?
What can we do. Much of this society has checked out. Kids want gameboys and ipods, junk food and tv. They are also ADD, depressed and often suicidal. The environment is screaming for attention and care, just like a child abandoned by a parent. We are complacent, distracted by our desires and discontents and guilt for that. We are obsessed with media images that will make us into a carbon copy of a person. We look to outside images and have lost much of the goals of why we are here as human beings.
Much has been exposed about the terrible conditions in army hospitals. See Bob Woodruff’s documentary on his brain injury and treatment at Walter Reed hospital. Know that 1 in 3 of all vets returning home have some kind of brain injury, not to mention other kinds of injury. 40% of Vietnam vets now make up the USA homeless population, coming home to unemployment and drug addiction.
My life has been changed since last week meeting hundreds of veterans at the IAVA organization that represents their needs. Bob Woodruff was there, and I spent much time with a man named Luis Carlos Montalvan who is a journalist and about to come out with a book describing his experience as a captain in Iraq, and all that he witnessed of CORRUPTION . He is determined that those who back the corrupt operations be held accountable.
Please search for him on the web. His website is about to come out. He has been on NPR and NYC stations often. THis book will inspire you to see deeper into the truth.
It has changed my life to meet these men and women who are passionate about their lives and service and justice.
I am working with other holistic practicitoners to have 24 hour clinics in all cities where they can have PTSD counselling, yoga, massage, feldenkreis, chiropractic, acupuncture etc. THis is a kind of seva that is needed now.
ALl the information is time sensitive as well. We need to learn this before the next election, and we need to care for those who are injured and traumatized and brain damaged right when they get home.
COntact IAVA for any other information. Also cominghomeproject.org in San Francisco, also Luiscarlosmontalvan will have a website.
blessings and namaste
KATE