Identity, Sovereignty, Autonomy

I see the Solar Plexus Chakra as symbolic of where we are stuck as a society in our evolution as a collective being. We can’t seem to figure out who we want to be; community based social equity or authoritarian, oppressive hierarchy? The conundrum.

This is a battle waged within ourselves in the solar plexus - the center of willful energy.

This chakra is based in the right to act and be an individual. Until this chakra is in balance within the individual - there can be no peace in the society.

The solar plexus governs identity, sovereignty, autonomy and our self-esteem about who we are - both to ourselves an in the world at large. This is the work of becoming a separate self, having autonomy and authority over that self, and what you do, and how you are received in the world. Self-determination is critical to self-actualization.

Self actualization is not encouraged in Western capitalist society.

We are in fact encouraged to be obedient, compliant, acquiescent and to mold ourselves into the appropriate cog to fit the needs of the corporate, capitalist machine.

Be a cog.

Do not question the structures and institutions of society. Do not question the methods or the results or how they impact all the beings on the planet. Do not ever question their inherent right to be the only default structures that can exist for society.

“This is the best we’ve ever had - don’t question it or you will be left out and you will starve and die.”

Pretty heavy messaging when we’re trying to root our self-identity and autonomy in the world.

There is an inherent tension between being an individual Self and being part of the community of Earth. There is a tension between self determination versus the authority of the structures and systems.

The greatest force for abandoning self is the desire to be accepted by the community; family, friends, society, structures, power, access, status, privilege.

As children, being accepted by the community is literal life and death - it is literal survival. Children do whatever is needed to maintain the attention and care of the authorities in their sphere.

The Lone Wolf Myth

Most of us are not lone wolves - no matter how prestigious the role is in WS, capitalist society. The lone wolf is elevated and prized as a ‘genius’ and the achievement goal of society. This lone wolf genius is an outlier (if they exist at all - often the Musks and Jobs of the world had teams of people and they are more likely to purchase existing innovations than actually be the source of innovation in industry.)

The lone wolf genius is only celebrated and elevated if their contributions support and provide boon for the capitalistic structure. Lone wolf autonomy is applauded only if it fits into the hierarchy of the existing structures and provides profit.

If you are a lone wolf genius offering solutions to the energy crisis or changes to the societal structure models that they benefit all of the beings - you are ridiculed, dismissed and maligned because you threaten the structures that currently exist. You gain no traction if your innovations encourage community and care of the marginalized and the exploited.

There is a privilege inherent in being a lone wolf genius. You need the finances, belief, support and allowance from the community for your outlier genius to be able to develop. These are foundations which aren’t available or afforded to all equally in our existing hierarchical, capitalist, WSC structures.

Indigenous personal development structures are based in the goal of supporting children becoming fully self-actualized in their lives. This was a necessary component of becoming an adult. The Siksiksa beliefs about self-actualization were used by Maslow in his Hierarchy of Needs.

Ogichi Tibagonagaywin means “The Great Binding Law” in Anishinaabemowin.

This law is a foundation of Anishinaabe society; Gitchi Manitou (The Great Spirit / The Great Mystery) created you exactly as you are meant to be.

You are wanted, loved and needed exactly as you are.

Society’s purpose is to support you in connecting to, learning from and expressing your unique Soul Sovereignty in the world. Not just for yourself - but for the benefit of the whole community.

Your self-actualization and autonomy is supported and nurtured by the community, for the community. Your individuation is a benefit for everyone. We all celebrate and gain when all of the strengths and gifts and talents of the community are being utilized. Link to Indigenous Nurturing Parent “Contemporary practice”.

Learning to accept ourselves and welcome ourselves, exactly as we are is the goal of coming of age. Allowing ourselves to be as we are and belong as we are, and affording that freedom to others is the foundation of community. When all parts are singing their individual parts to the fullest, we have the whole song in harmony.

It is transformational to accept ourselves completely, exactly as we are and share our selves with the world. When we can do that for ourselves, we can offer that same freedom and acceptance for others to share who they are and encourage and support their expression of Soul Sovereignty in the world.

POWER:

I love using the term “magick”. I’m not sure people understand magick the way I like to use it. The root of magick means literally “to do / have power”. It also means “to know”. Magick to me is the experience of living when Land + Spirit are in harmony in your life together. Magick happens when we are in connection. Magick is the synchronous events that make you think Creation is listening in on all your secret hopes and dreams and is leaving you little gifts where you can find them - if you’re paying attention. Magick.

To be free to know and act and do and be is powerful. To feel that we have an effect on the world around us is intoxicating. To experience the world around us responding to us is magick. Power is magickal and power has been understood and used in our society in terrible, destructive ways.

Healing our relationship to power is necessary for wholeness and maturity.

Our experience with power is more often one of victims and controllers, the oppressed and oppressors rather than an experience of shared power or power being used for the benefit of the community.

The etymological root of power is the PIE *poti- “powerful, lord”. This is also the hypothetical root for “master” and “husband”. Baked into this word ‘power’ is the symbology of power being used ‘over’ others, and power being held by men.

Welp. Ew. No thank you.

Building the bridge of wholeness requires winning without an enemy. Re-enchantment requires strengthening and empowering ourselves without diminishing others.

CHOICE / AUTONOMY

We start on the path of Soul Sovereignty when we feel the power to choose our identity and path in the world. Power is also feeling the ability to make it happen - to be proactive, to act in a way that will bring about change.

Power is knowing that our actions have impact and create change. (The institutional structures that we ‘participate’ in do not in fact translate action into change. They are a sham and the real change agents are those with the money to influence the action.)

We are powerful when we embody the inherent power of existing in the world. We are able to work outside of traditional institutions and create the change we want to see without “official” sanction or using the structures established to benefit those already in power.

When we begin to act for our own ends and to effect positive change in our communities - we impact our personal esteem, worth and value which flavours all our interactions with the world at large.

Exercising personal power to effect positive change directly around us inspires those in our field to connect to their own power and begin to act in ways that support their own Soul Sovereignty.

You are an infinitely powerful being that effects change on all levels of reality.

Watch Unshushable.

The Practice