When meditation, shamanic or pagan groups meet online where is their actual meeting? In what dimension is their gathering?
I pose this enquiry because it is relevant to the future and survival of regional and indigenous spiritualities.
Culturally we obviously need to safeguard regional and tribal spiritual traditions. They have value, beauty and uniqueness. Their disappearance is a poignant tragedy.
People are also understandably upset by cultural appropriation – a form of absorption and watering down – when they see, for example, a white person wearing the hairstyle, ornaments or clothing that belong to the priesthood of a tribal culture.
At the same time, there is another inevitable, evolutionary magnetic force. This is towards a global culture in which previously isolated traditions merge. This has been of great benefit, for example, in the field of world music and added huge value to the art. Spiritual and wellbeing practitioners too benefit from the practices of previously parochial spiritual cultures. Yoga and meditation are two obvious examples.
Over the longer term the major world religions, especially Christianity, Islam and Buddhism, have all subsumed animist traditions. This had great benefits as well as causing great harm.
Today online spiritual groups are creating another substantial shift. Geography and locality are becoming irrelevant in a way that is both obvious and also subtle.
The obvious dimension of the online group connection is purely materialistic. It is just a group communicating over the internet, like a telephone or zoom conversation. This is normal physics.
The second dimension is more weird, metaphysical. People report that they are also connecting energetically and telepathically. The digital connection, they say, helps to facilitate and even amplify this subtle experience.
It is relevant that prior to the internet, many groups and individuals practised subtle connections over a distance. Abbeys, convents, monasteries and individual meditators, healers and shamans, have long asserted the efficacy and necessity of subtle energy and prayer work over a distance. I live close to Glastonbury Abbey, which I once heard described as a ‘prayer machine for the world.’
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Many people I work with nowadays say that they really enjoy online meditations, groups and courses. This is different from when I first started online teaching and many people complained about it. There was a lot of tut-tutting about technology versus ‘real’ spirituality and the loss of in-person meetings.
A few years on however, opinion has dramatically transformed. To their surprise, many people find that they value and even prefer the experience of online meetings. Covid and the lockdowns accelerated this change in attitude.
One reason for this transformation is that people, for example, doing meditation work online no longer have to deal with the coughing, shuffling and other irritations that happen in an in-person group. It is not easy to be serene and sensitive to subtle dimensions when someone close by is breathing heavily, wheezing and ruffling a cough medicine packet which refuses to open; or a latecomer in Minnie Mouse high heels clip-clops across the wooden floor; not to mention some people’s pungent perfumes, or choking on incense.
Introverts and quiet types also find that they like studying online, because they are free from the exhaustion of social interaction. It is easier to stay open and aware of subtle experiences when there is not the stimulation of other people in your space. In fact, many report to me that their meditations, healing and inner work go deeper when they work online. They assert that it amplifies their experience. That certainly tallies with my own experience.
None of this, of course, is to underestimate the healing, enjoyment and encouragement that can come from real life groups and communities.
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There is an interesting mystic and evolutionary perspective here too.
Teilhard de Chardin and then Peter Russell suggest that the network of global communications was evolving to resemble the neural connections of a global brain or global heart. This, they propose, is a huge step forward in human evolution. From geographically isolated and separated tribes and nations, often in conflict, the internet and digital dimension is now fully demonstrating humanity’s holistic connection and interdependence.
I like that interpretation, even if it is just a hopeful metaphor. I use it as a lens through which I look at the sad chaos of social networking — Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, etc. Optimistically, I choose to see these current troubles as the birthing pains of a new global culture. Painful now, perhaps even dangerous, but something new is arising.
But here is the question that I posed at the top of this piece. What happens now to the metaphysical, magical and spiritual traditions that are rooted in particular geographies? Will cultural appropriation and the inevitable forces of globalisation mean that they disappear completely?
In my own history, I feel that my roots are deep in the Middle Eastern and European mystical approaches — gnostic Christianity, Qabalah and Sufiism. I have a personal sense too of a relationship with the traditions of Tibetan Bon, Berber and central African shamanism. Many of my close friends feel their roots in other geographies, particularly shamanism in north and south America, and Scandinavia.
To repeat my enquiry: What happens now to these regional jewels?
I found part of the answer in the last months when I interviewed Grandmother Flordemayo of the Mayan tradition and Puma Quispe Singona, an Andean medicine man, for an online Shift Network event.
Both of these teachers were born into and are rooted in their traditions. Both are loving, experienced and wise practitioners. They also teach online. Without my prompting they had the same core message:
We are one humanity, one people.
We must learn to be still, to connect with Source, and spread love and compassion.
These two influential, indigenous teachers, deeply anchored in their cultures, truly enjoy teaching online. They celebrate the opportunity to connect with students and colleagues beyond their local geography and outside of their culture. They celebrate too the unity and the interconnectedness of all beings. First and foremost, they teach connection, love and compassion.
Teaching connection, love and compassion is not anything new in their traditions. That indeed is what they and their ancestors were imparting long before the digital world wide web.
Before the global digital revolution, wise mystics universally taught the universality of all life.
From this perspective, we can reasonably suggest that the universality of the digital web mirrors classical spiritual teaching.
People often forget that all the kit — the hardware, wireless and wiring — all derive from resources in the natural world. They are not magicked out of thin air. They all, in another language, emerge from Gaia. Where else? The digital web is not separate from nature. I might want to criticise Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, but I cannot deny they belong to our interdependent species.
The isolation of tribal groups and nations always meant that there was a challenging transition as they met other peoples. As I wrote above, the major world religions all subsumed indigenous traditions. Some tribal folk, of course, held on to their old ways and fought for their local traditions and sense of identity. Others embraced the new times.
The history of what we call civilisation and the growth of the world religions, is filled with terrible persecutions and genocides, as well as with inspiring evolutions and development. We are a mixed species!
The digital ecosystem is potentially benevolent because it is inherently democratic, accessible and universal. Anyone can now make news. And that, of course, has its awful shadow elements.
But I take an optimistic stance. The world wide web and online groups enable us to be simultaneously global and local without conflict. Our sense of identity can be located one hundred per cent in the Earth where you stand; and also one hundred per cent in the global village, still on this same Earth. We are not either local or global. We can easily be both.
When we participate in online groups, we are precisely experiencing being in these two dimensions: local and global. And for many of us a third dimension too, one that is metaphysical.
Our demons then are not globalisation or the extremes of identity politics. Our demons are the usual suspects. Greed. Insecurity. Bullying. It is these negative traits that create the real problems.
So as we integrate locality and globalism, we need also to celebrate our ethics. Connection. Love. Compassion.
Remember the call to action:
Think global. Act local.
We might add to that call another ethical mantra:
Local roots. Global compassion.
Very timely indeed and well put. You present this directly in the foreground yet place it historically, leaving nothing out, as a well thought opportunity to climb aboard the Peace Train (ala Cat/Yusif) which leaves no one behind… Makes it possible to offer to my 84yr old sister (who helped Obama get elected) my own optimistic (by choice) stand politically; in a format that she can find acceptable and respectful even in troubled Miami. Also allows me at 80 to participate fully by Zoom in several ongoing Lodges and groups over several continents in issues which are ever-so-similar to ones I experienced decades ago yet I am still learning, growing and enjoying working with all age groups in my own OTT emotional way while adding one more perspective to all our ongoing processes. I also find us becoming increasingly metaphysical; way beyond any further words I could add…! Blessings, Lee
The advent of greatly increased opportunities to participate in many aspects of life online has revolutionised the world of those who are, through disability and/or caring responsibilities, extremely limited in being able to leave their home and attend in-person events. For our family (two of the three of us are almost completely housebound) the past few years have opened a transformational window of connection to others and opportunities for learning and personal development. I realise many people are unaware of how many lives continue silently and invisibly behind the doors and windows they walk past every day. I myself didn’t discover this until 12 years ago. The on-demand Shift courses and webinars, for example, have been an enormous blessing to my life. I’ve been able to connect to others, at a pace I can manage, and am deepening my spiritual growth in a more challenging and diverse way than ever before. I’ve also been able to access shamanic counselling with a shamanic practitioner, something I had been interested in for a long time but hadn’t had a chance to experience. As an online counsellor I can attest that, for reasons unclear to me, unconscious communication between counsellor and client is as much at work as when counselling face-to-face in a room. Online counselling is another virtual activity that has created opportunities for clients who may have physical freedom to see a counsellor in person, but find doing so less than ideal. So while I rejoice that most people can enjoy the deeply enriching possibilities of being physically present with others, and while I agree that online life is not without its problems, I am deeply grateful that online spaces for spiritual connection and development are now so readily available, especially to the many people who can’t otherwise take part. I’m so pleased that indigenous elders see the unifying possibilities in online connection as well.
Hi William and All
I just need to say that I think and feel that zoom is profoundly detrimental to the physical, emotional, spiritual and rational health of humanity. If I believed in the devil I would say “it is the work of the devil” but I don’t. I think it is the work of those who want to separate us and control us. I feel shocked and saddened that so many of “us” love it and want it in lives. If I were young I would be looking for a community off the grid in some remote place where computers and smart phones do not reach. Jill
Thank you for this, William. I’ve always respected your grace and wisdom. From finding your book on fairies on my first visit to Glastonbury decades ago, to interviewing you around the time your endorphin book came out (for Spirit of Change Magazine). At first I thought the shift to so much online teaching/learning/practicing would water them down, lessen the energy, vibrations. Yet, I find now that, as you mentioned, it is a way of enhancing, or maybe like training wheels, for ways of communicating and participating our ancestors used through distances, and their ability to consciously access certain vibrations for various purposes. Healing or finding or holding in some way. Whatever it might be. In groups that meet regularly, with many of the same people each time, relationships are created that would not be possible in person as people are from all over the world, right then, meeting together. There are dangers, and AI in particular poses hazards I’d rather not dwell on. And I can see how social media is contributing to the divisiveness, especially in the US where I live. So caution is needed, and also a willingness to engage with curiosity (and care). We are on the edge on so many dimensions right now. It’s both terrifying and exhilarating.
Thank you William! (this is from California; We met ages ago at Findhorn) A native friend would say (when things seem hopeless or confusing) ‘do what you can do’ because in the end it’s how you act in the world that matters; not what you say. So for those ‘rootless’ descendents of colonizers struggling with red herrings and feelings of unworthiness and worried about appropriation, he would say: Everyone has tribal ancestors and you don’t have to even know anything about them to tap into the wisdom of our mother, earth, the source of our ancestors’ wisdom. It is a remarkable thing to be present and remote simultaneously. So I feel hopeful that in this age of individual self interest and heavy focus on energy/technology, humankind has the access points to step up and Grow. We can do it! Love is the way. Aloha
Aloha Mahalo William , to quote a Non Indigenous Hawaiian Shamanic Healer Kupua Teacher who walks in both worlds of the Spirit ,western cultures around the globe and in engaging with local shamanic traditions of his homeland , Serge Kahili King had great heart and taught us Aussies much was universally applicable and necessary to evolve and lift us up and connect us from separateness .
Max Shubach from Globall Process work taught me and a bunch of HIV peer support workers that we are all manifesting apart of a global and collective archetypal impulse from the species intelligence field of consciousness ,we choose what we manifest out of that field but it’s available to everyone .
I remember that events like Harmonic Convergence taught me the power of collective and global action , with many different pathways and practitioners of multi faiths and traditions feeling inspired to bring about global collective action for good and sacred ceremonial work in places of sacred spaces of ancient cultural significance to expand the global mind and open it once more to universal truth love and peace and healing . it inspired me then and does now as I’m encouraged to continually reach out beyond myself in my current limitations of space time matter energy .
I’ve travelled the world seeking out teachers and sacred sites of energetic transformation to shake myself free of restriction and embrace greater truths of being in embodiment . I didn’t always succeed and sometimes the anticipated positive energetically didn’t manifest or were the opposite manifestation but you pick yourself up and dust yourself off and try to be open again .
I am also reminded of the power and majesty of Our divine Parents /Grandparents Gaia /Pachamama /Pachamata and Ah Kin ( Grandfather Sun ) that I am reminded turn to every day in blessing and gratitude ( most days )
Hi William, thank you for this interesting piece. I shall read it a lot over the coming days. I’m resistant to online stuff because I’m pretty illiterate in the tech world. It leaves me feeling stupid and clumsy. I have attended a lot of your classes in person, in church halls, retreat centres and the like and I like the show ups of human frailty, coughing, clicking heels etc because this is the nature of humanity. And it is the irritation with these things that becomes ‘the work’. How do I keep my heart open and generous? How do I continue in open dialogue with people who hold such opposing opinions? My feeling is that online it’s easy to love everyone because these things are not seen. I’m over 75. I’m not the future. I get it. I’m grateful that you continue to do free stuff still through the shift network because I like being reminded of your teaching and wisdom which has supported and nourished my spiritual path.
Hello William,
I loved your post. For years I’ve been thinking about how our technologies reflect abilities that are already innate in us. And I’ve sensed strongly that we are at the cusp of change as a species too.
Amazingly, the blue earth heart image came into my life only yesterday through Brad Yates of Tap with Brad. We tap on the acupressure points to calm ourselves, gain insight. Yesterday was special. We tapped to transmit our loving vibrations outward.
All best,
Carol
Thank you, William. We were in the same geographical location when I attended your teaching of The Enforphin Technique, many years ago.
I enjoyed your reflections on this subject and would add what I now see is happening in the world:
I see people of all nationalities commenting on YouTube about the political issues and what the people are thinking and feeling. I read the comments as I want to know how people are, whether they’re in Australia, Russia, America, Croatia, Africa and anywhere else (everywhere else).
It looks as though, in spite of the political shenanigans and manouvres to remove freedom of speech, freedom and democracy, there are many who yearn for global peace, connection, support, acceptance and comradeship.
We ARE all the same. It seems that many of us all WANT the same basic rights and autonomy. This gives me hope that perhaps this global coming together of us all, is the way out of the current global political mess?
Years ago I studied with a Native American called John Two Birds who said that future generations would of all nationalities would mix and we would become “Rainbow People”. Perhaps our coming together globally on-line is the first part of that?
Personally I have experienced energy healing and training on line, and I know that energy has different parameters than the physical world, so I think there’s a great potential for global peace, eventually, among the different peoples, perhaps before our respective governments.
Either way, I still hope for better than what I see happening now …
Global brain and heart that feels very warm. I really like this it gave me food for thought. Thank you William 🙏
Such a rich and thought provoking read, William. Thank you 🙏
With your permission I’d like to reflect on your wise words and respond thoughtfully in a day or so.
One of my immediate responses is about the importance for our spiritual connections (and our wellbeing) of ceremony and ritual so I’ll be reflecting on how modern communications can enhance or inhibit these processes.
Thank you 🙏 again. Blessings to you and yours,
Carol Lewis
Hi William.
Thankyou for this article. As a member of alcoholics anonymous, – essentially a tribal community, albeit with a specific purpose, I witnessed at first hand the ‘online migration’ aspect of tribal community through, and beyond the Covid pandemic. As per your experience, there are many of us now who prefer the online experience, although personally I was very happy to return to live meetings. There is a level of ‘live connection’ that is, for me and many others, missing from online meetings. (Interestingly, when we recite the serenity prayer at the end of a live meeting, our voices automatically seem to fall into a unified and shared rhythm, whereas the same prayer, recited online, is usually prey to unsynchronous, and often comic disharmony. I don’t know why that is, but there we are.)
I think, for me, the main point you make is that the conflict between local and global, especially in the internet age, is somewhat artificial. My wife, about to embark on a week’s chaplaincy on Bardsey Island, off the North Wales coast, said during the – somewhat stressful – preparations for the trip ‘I wish I could be two people; one person doing all this, the other just chilling out here with you.’ I said, well, you can be two people, just not at the same time. Likewise, I can plug into my local source(s) of spiritual refreshment, (AA being my ‘go to’ place of peace these days) as well as spending time and energy looking to the wider world, through writing, community work and the rest. I’m capable of getting the balance wrong, of course, but I know there is a worthwhile balance there to be struck.
With love,
Alan.
This is really so relevant to today!! OH MY!Years ago I had the same musings on MUSIC, my field.
Recordings Vs live music. Of course live music (has higher energy, aways). Anytime there has to be
a translation it is a stepping down energetically. The pure tones of music directly through physical instruments
via the musician remind me of “Music is what awakens in us when reminded by the instruments.” ( I think Jean Houston said this).So can we apply this also to classes on zoom?!
What a beautiful metaphor to think of our modern technological advancements spinning a digital web, to restore and create a metaphysical connection in this material world! I have regular energetic healing over zoom and our spirit, if willing opens up the space for healing to occur. I like you believe that we are nearing a greater shift of elevated consciousness, yes there is darkness at our finger tips but the collective is hungry for something more profound and connected to source. They just don’t know it yet lol.
Dear William, you have taken me back to memories of my much beloved Zen teacher, the Venerable Myokio-ni, at the Buddhist Society.
She so often quoted to us, ‘The theoreticians argue, the practitioners nod in agreement’
Thank you!