Fitting In

Oct 2, 2014 at 10:31

We humans are social creatures, sometimes. Over the years I have studied the behaviour and different life styles of many animals and see a similarity in the organism we call humanity. That may seem a strange way to speak about the collective we call humanity, the total aggregation of different ways we live and the tapestry of different tribes.

Even the human body we think of a single identity, a whole and complete being is in fact a collective of mutually and sometimes opposing organisms. We spend money killing bacteria and obsessing about cleanliness, when in fact there are more bacteria, viruses and fungi living within us and adding to or subtracting from our health.

 We think of ourselves as individuals, when in fact we are collective of organisms working together for our mutual survival. Each organism has it's own intelligence and contributes to the collective consciousness and our experience of life. The ignorance of this simple fact has profound consequences. While researching my book, Kissing the Black Dog I came across some interesting information relating to this subject. Here is an extract from the book

Scientists are starting to ponder the concept that the gut microbes may communicate with the brain. When the vagus nerve is cut the brain no longer responds to changes in the digestive system.

The vagus nerve is the highway of communication between what's going on in the gut and what's going on in the brain,

John Cryan of the University College Cork

Gut microbes may also communicate with the brain in other ways, scientists say, by modulating the immune system or by producing their own versions of neurotransmitters.

Rob Stein

Gut Bacteria Might Guide The Workings Of Our Minds

As there are many different species on the planet, there is a multitude of social behaviours, one no better than the other, yet we segment, categorise , label and in true masuciline brain functioning, compartmentalise. If we do not conform to the social norm we are cast out, excommunicated. Sometimes it is severe, e.g., gaol or death. Othertimes it is being shunned, criticised or left out of the group dynamics. The rules are subtle, unspoken and there is strict code to be followed. The punishment can be indirect or direct. Trying to accommodate the social norm, especially when it operates from mediocrity is difficult for those souls with a greater vision, the visionaries, the mystics, the artists, to push their expanded concepts of humanity into the small narrow box of the little minds.

We tend to perpetuate the myth that we are all equal. No one really acts as if this is true, those with power, lord it over those without. Class distinction still exists, the lower classes think they are better than the upper class, who in turn know they are better than everyone else. We are mostly self serving organisms, only interested in things and people who serve our needs.

While we speak of the higher values of humanity, the truth is they lay in the gutter, trodden into submission by our fears and limitations. This is the way of our male dominated world, the subtle rules and regulations, driven from the era of male domination and slavery of the masses, giving control to the few at the cost of the majority. Conform or be broken is the standard operating system, to bring change, to work for the higher good will destabilise the majority and bring the full wrath of their fears and limitations.

           Great Spirits Have Always Met Violent Opposition From Mediocre Minds

                                       Albert Einstein

Trying to reduce ourselves to the social norm may be a contributing factor in depression, anxiety, stress and most definitely suicide. To have the courage to run with wolves instead of lamenting with the sheep is a journey some must make to survive the ruthless, heartless dog eat dog old world order. Things are changing and this process will only accelerate as more wolves throw off their sheep's clothing and step out into the light of their creative expression.

Accommodating the needs of others is honourable, yet we can not survive and thrive by giving our power to those eager to reduce us to normality. It is pointless. It is better to shine bright and lead the way than to cast out our light for the useless reward of social acceptance. Greatness never conforms, never.

We are each unique individuals, made up of an an ocean of other lifeforms, together we create who and what we are as a collective. Each has it's place and there is an order to the world. Our social interactions are the same, we have our place and our right to be ourselves, we need only be the best we can be and let those who want what we have be attracted to us.