ACIM's Lesson 333 made me question whether I had really forgiven. A long time ago, I realised that individuals are never the problem, and I put the blame on The System. This long-term collusion between church and state has held control for thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of years. Even though I have no problem with individuals, I still found it difficult to let go of my frustration with their Control Systems.
The Sky People named it Earth. The natives probably had no name for it. But we'll call them Earth People. The Sky People had almost succeeded in obliterating the Earth People.
The Earth People were stewards and carers of the land.
The Sky People were exploiters, using and abusing Earth's resources. They prided themselves on their advanced civilisation and regarded themselves as infinitely superior to the locals. They systematically began to "civilise" the whole world through trade, religion, and violence, legalised as war. They generated conflict wherever they went. The fancy term for this is globalisation (see below).
"As Irish-speakers, we should regard ourselves as members of a unified cultural archipelago of coastal people who have more in common with each other than with the centralised powers that control them." Manchan Magan in 'Thirty-Two Words For Field'.
Forgiveness In A Course in Miracles
Forgiveness is the central practice for healing and undoing guilt.
It is achieved, not by excusing behaviour, but by looking past the ego's illusions to the inherent innocence of the "other person" and oneself.
It's a way to recognise that perceived slights are not real but are instead projections of the mind's own guilt and fear. By forgiving, one frees oneself from these illusions.
The fundamental principle is that to forgive is to receive forgiveness, which ultimately leads to a memory of one's true, guiltless identity as part of God.
- Ancient Trade Routes: Early forms of globalisation emerged with trade routes like the Silk Road, which connected empires from East Asia to the Mediterranean, facilitating the exchange of goods, knowledge, and ideas.
- Roman and Han Empires: Trade links between the Roman, Parthian, and Han dynasties spurred the Silk Road's development and fostered a cosmopolitan culture through the exchange of goods, crops, and knowledge.
- Islamic Golden Age: Jewish and Muslim traders established a sustained economy across the Old World, spreading crops, trade, and technology.
- Mongol Empire: The Mongol Empire unified a vast territory, which, despite its destructive aspects, promoted travel and trade along the Silk Road, leading to innovations like the first international postal service and the spread of the printing press and gunpowder.
- Proto-globalization (15th–18th centuries)
- The "Age of Discovery": European explorers sought new trade routes to Asia, leading to sustained maritime contact and significant cultural, material, and biological exchange between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
- The Columbian Exchange: This massive exchange of plants, animals, foods, and diseases between the Old World and the New World dramatically impacted ecology, agriculture, and populations.
- Rise of Chartered Companies: The 17th century saw the rise of private businesses like the British and Dutch East India Companies, marking a shift toward private enterprise in globalisation.
- Modern and contemporary globalisation (19th century–present)
- The First Wave (c. 1870–1914): The Industrial Revolution fueled a new era of globalisation with increased production, capital mobility, and a significant decrease in transportation costs, leading to a highly interconnected global economy before World War I.
- Post-World War II: The period after the war saw a resurgence of globalisation, driven by:
- International Institutions: The creation of organisations like the United Nations (UN), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) helped lower trade barriers and promote cooperation.
- Technological Advancements: The development of new technologies in communication and transportation, such as the internet, significantly lowered costs and sped up the flow of information and trade.
- Growth of Multinational Corporations: Companies expanded their operations globally, moving production to low-wage locations and becoming a major force in the global economy.
- Digital Globalisation: The late 20th and early 21st centuries have seen an unprecedented level of globalisation driven by the internet and digital technologies, which enable new forms of communication, commerce, and information sharing.
- Earth People Sky People
I asked Gemini to define the characteristics of Earth People and Sky People using the definitions above. The following is how it responded.
This dichotomy of "Sky People" and "Earth People" appears to describe two fundamental, opposing approaches to humanity's relationship with the planet and with different cultures.
Here is a summary of the defining characteristics of each group based on your provided definitions:
🌎 Earth People (The Stewards)
The Earth People are characterised by a relationship of stewardship and integration with their environment and local communities.
Characteristic Definition Implication Stewards of the Land Their primary role is to care for, nurture, and protect the natural environment. Their existence is symbiotic with the land. Local Focus Their identity and practices are deeply tied to specific geographical locations. Care and Nurturing Their actions are driven by preservation and maintenance, ensuring the health and sustainability of the environment for future generations. Harmony with Nature Their way of life is dictated by natural cycles, suggesting a non-exploitative, balanced approach to resource use. 🌌 Sky People (The Exploiters)
The Sky People are characterised by domination, extraction, and cultural imposition, viewing the Earth and its inhabitants as resources to be used or overcome.
Characteristic Definition Implication Exploitation of Resources Their fundamental relationship with the Earth is one of taking and consumption, leading to the abuse and depletion of resources. Belief in Superiority They possess a strong sense of cultural and intellectual arrogance, priding themselves on their "advanced civilisation" and viewing local cultures as inferior. Systematic Cultural Imposition They actively sought to "civilise" the world, implying the destruction or suppression of existing cultures and practices. Tools of Imposition They use formal structures to achieve control: Trade (economic dominance), Religion (ideological control), and Violence, legalised as War (physical and political subjugation). Source of Conflict They inherently generate conflict wherever they go, suggesting their presence disrupts local harmony and provokes resistance due to their extractive and dominating nature. Core Conflict Summary
The conflict between the two groups is a clash between an internal, rooted, sustainable relationship with the world (Earth People) and an external, hierarchical, and extractive relationship with the world (Sky People).
Earth People: Being with the land.
Sky People: Having/Controlling the land.
This dynamic echoes historical and philosophical concepts related to colonialism, environmentalism, and the clash between indigenous, holistic worldviews and industrial, expansionist mindsets.
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