I want to speak to the incredibly chaotic times we are living in here in the United States, knowing that it also impacts people all over the world. I feel somewhat destabilized, confused, and often upset, not knowing how to deal with what’s happening. And I think it is really important for us to be honest and authentic about what we are going through as a country and even as a human species and that it is okay for us to acknowledge our feelings, even if they are difficult.

We humans have been stuck for a long time on a path that is dangerous to ourselves and all of life. Despite all the evidence that climate change and ecosystem destruction and massive economic inequality are wreaking havoc on planet Earth, we continue – and even accelerate – our progress toward a dystopian future. We can certainly hope that our destabilization is a prelude to transformation – that this massive breakdown will lead to an equally powerful breakthrough. But I think we can do more than hope.

We can use this opportunity to go within and to find our own taproot – to discover a soul space that can anchor us, soothe us, feed us, and lead us.

The eminent chemist Ilya Prigogine studied the principles of uncertainty in complex systems and developed the notion of “islands of coherence in a sea of chaos” — essentially, areas where things make sense and function well even when surrounded by chaos. Small areas of coherence have the potential to shift an entire system toward a higher order, so that even in turbulent environments, small groups or initiatives focused on positive change can inspire a wider transformation.

Sometimes, surprising opportunities arise from chaos – things you could not have seen because they were stuck in rigid systems and structures that are now disrupted. So it’s a time to let our eyes adjust and absorb the truth of both the beautiful and the terrible world we’re living in. When  the ground is pitching and our stomachs are turning, we can still recognize that in the vastness of the universe we are at home in our own skin. We can center ourselves in the ultimate power of love.

Where can you find – or create –  islands of coherence in your life now? I find them in my family, in my work, and particularly in the deeply connected community that has been created by the Pachamama Alliance and the Soul of Money Institute. I find them in my connection to Nature, to Mother Earth – in tuning into her messages, hearing and feeling what she wants from me. Even in these times, soulfulness and stability are there for the asking. We just need to ask – and to listen.

Poet and author Clarissa Pinkola Estés, who famously said, “We were born for these times,” also says, “One of the most calming and powerful actions you can do to intervene in a stormy world is to stand up and show your soul. Struggling souls catch light from other souls who are fully lit and willing to show it.”

With love and appreciation,

Lynne