Our Struggle for Energy: Evolving from Conflict

international | arts and media | opinion/analysis Sunday September 12, 2004 01:05 by Tom olearys at oceanfree dot net

In order to evolve from our current , stagnant state as human beings; to progress to a higher level of understanding and purpose; to realise radical cultural change and evolution...and to alleviate conflict around the world; we must stop competing against each other for energy. This can only be achieved if we learn how to fill ourselves with energy from sources other than each other.

Having recently revisited James Redfield’s "The Celestine Prophecy," I have been thinking more about interactions between man on interpersonal, professional and political levels. While many tout Mr. Redfield’s work as new age sensationalism, it causes one to think more clearly about where we have come from, how we are evolving and the reason for our existence. In the book, an ancient Peruvian manuscript is sought which contains 9 insights that, when discovered and understood, will alter human culture dramatically, evolving mankind from where we are now to a completely spiritual culture on Earth. The second insight in the book explains the importance of putting our current awareness into a longer historical perspective…that history is not merely about the evolution of technology and growth, but the evolution of thought. By understanding the consciousness of the generations before us, we can understand why we look at the world the way we do, and better appreciate what our contribution is toward further progress…and our evolution.

"…imagine yourself being alive in the year one thousand, in what we have called the Middle Ages. Every aspect of the Medieval world is defined in other-worldly terms. All the phenomena of life - from the chance thunderstorm or earthquake to the success of crops or the death of a loved one is defined either as the will of God or as the malice of the devil. There is no concept of weather or geological forces or horticulture or disease…"

This blind allegiance to the godly view of the world fell apart in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, when people noticed hypocrisies on the part of the church leaders. A rebellion emerged, led by Martin Luther, and mankind suddenly had to redefine itself, in worldly rather than godly terms.

"…you would have prepared explorers to go out into this new universe, each armed with the new scientific method, and you would have given them their historic mission: Explore this place and find out how it works and what it means that we find ourselves alive here. When the scientific method couldn’t bring back a new picture of God and of mankind’s purpose on the planet, the lack of certainty and meaning affected Western culture deeply. We needed something else to do until our questions were answered. Eventually, we arrived at what seemed to be a very logical solution…we are certainly learning enough to manipulate this new world for our own benefit, so why not work in the meantime to raise our standard of living, our sense of security in the world?…and that’s what we did. Five centuries ago!"

Since diverting from our spiritual purpose, we also lost our connection with nature and focused instead on more practical matters such as new ways of making our lives more comfortable, our processes more efficient, and our progress more rapid than ever before. After 600 years of this new, non-spiritual focus, however, our obsession with conquering nature and the world around us is now becoming problematic, as our natural systems and resources are degrading and depleting from so many years of manipulation and overuse. Which brings us to our struggle for energy as a cause for conflict.

"…The third insight showed you that the physical world is actually a vast system of energy. And now, the fourth points out that for a long time now we humans have been unconsciously competing for the only part of this energy we have been open to: the part that flows between people. This is what human conflict has always been about, at every level: from all the petty conflict in families and employment settings to wars between nations. It’s the result of feeling insecure and weak and having to steal someone else’s energy to feel okay….the only reason that any conflict can’t be immediately settled is that one side is holding on to an irrational position, for energy purposes."

Until we learn to fill ourselves with energy from sources other than each other, conflict will remain as our competition for energy will continue. Unfortunately, natural energy sources are being so radically compromised as our forests and environment continue to be destroyed to further develop the spot where we have been idle on for over 600 years. In order to evolve and break the cycle of our aggressive competition for energy, we must reconnect with nature and spirituality and fill ourselves with sufficient energy to the point where we no longer require each others’. We must evolve to a self-fulfilled people in order to eliminate, or at least greatly reduce our reliance on the need for power over others or material possession...and thus conflict amongst ourselves.

To visit the James Redfield’s website, go to: