Is the world falling apart?

For many of us, it’s hard not to feel that things are going terribly wrong in the world. There’s a sense that we can no longer take anything for granted. Our way of life, our very lives, could be threatened at any moment by a severe weather condition, another pandemic, another war, unemployment, or some kind of broader economic collapse.

For many, there has been a growing sense of hopelessness, loneliness, depression, a lack of meaning or purpose in their lives, and even a sense that the notion of a shared reality – simple basic facts that we can all agree on – is increasingly out of reach. 

But Is There Something New Emerging?

Is it possible that, alongside everything that seems to be falling apart, there may be something new, something positive emerging?

We  (Jan and I) were living in Asheville, North Carolina on Sept 27, 2024 when Hurricane Helene hit Asheville.  When we woke up that morning, it was to a very different world – one without electricity, running water, internet or cell phone service. We had no idea of the extent of the damage, how long it might be before services were restored, or when food and water would become available. 

It was both completely disorienting and oddly calming. Within hours, people in our condo complex had spontaneously started using the barbecue pits on our common green space to heat hot water for everyone to have their morning coffee. 

By the end of the day residents had brought their food supplies to the green space and a team of volunteers had spontaneously organized to make three hot meals a day for anyone who showed up. Neighbors talked to neighbors they’d never spoken to before and every day was like a quiet celebration of mutual support, collaboration and camaraderie. 

No one cared who you voted for, who you worshipped, or the color of your skin.  It was like being in an oasis outside of time and the normal stuff of everyday life. In the midst of catastrophe, something beautiful had blossomed.

And it left us with the question we opened with:

 Is it possible that in the midst of everything that seems to be falling apart, something new might emerge – or is already beginning to emerge? Could the beautiful side of human nature that seems to spontaneously arise in the midst of extreme adversity, point to new possibilities for global cooperation and possibly, to something even beyond that?

TWO SUBSTACKS FOR EXPLORING THESE QUESTIONS

We’re in the process of creating two Substacks that will explore the possibility that there may be some kind a global shift that is already quietly taking place. In each Substack we’ll look at four facets of this possible shift: in us as individuals, as a society, over the long course of evolution, and in the field of what has been referred to as “rogue” experiences – those odd experiences that don’t fit our beliefs about reality.  But each Substack will look at these four facets through a different lens.

On our REMEMBER TO BE Substack, we’ll look at each of these categories – inner, collective and evolutionary shifts, and “rogue” experiences without drawing any conclusions as to what they might mean in a philosophic, religious or spiritual sense. 

The focus will be more on the positive impact they can have on our day-to-day lives – our work, our social life, our physical and mental health and well-being.  

In the Inner Shift section, we’ll explore those shifts in consciousness that spontaneously give rise to an experience of deep joy, peace and connectedness. The section will include a series of posts with guided “micropractices” – short, simple practices that can relax and reorient our thoughts, feelings and actions, and help to bring about an experience of peace, happiness and overall well-being.

In the Collective Shift section, we’ll look at how, over the past half century, the growing willingness to take these inner experiences seriously has led to significant changes in fields such as science, education, health care and business.

In the Evolutionary Shift section, we’ll look at evidence which suggests that consciousness has grown more complex over the billions of years of evolution, and we’ll speculate as to whether – if it’s true - that might help us make sense of the crises of the modern world.

In the Rogue Experiences section, we’ll explore the growing willingness to take these “rogue” phenomena seriously – from psychedelic experiences to near death experiences, and other unusual states of consciousness. We’ll also consider whether these experiences could eventually lead to a fundamental shift in how we understand not only science, but ourselves and the world?