Freedom

"Freedom" comes under my understanding as being one of the transpersonal qualities - we know what it is but it's not always easy to pin down or define. We know it when we see it or experience it. And we know when our freedom is being compromised is when we can't do exactly what we want, or go where we want, say what we want, wear what we want or read what we want, just to give a few examples.

Right now, many people are finding their freedom is limited because of the various lockdown restrictions we're living under, depending on where we live. Extended family in France tell me that they're under a curfew from 6pm to 6am, so there's no chance of going out socialising; when you're in, you're in for the night. Not so difficult to deal with as we go through the dark days of winter, but still felt as a restraint of freedom. On the other hand, I understand that in France it's OK to travel around and visit family - but not during the hours of curfew.

Here in the UK we have different rules which affect our freedom of movement,  rules which are somewhat vague and open to interpretation, so deciding exactly what is "local" becomes a conundrum devised by our government to keep us guessing or confused. One person's definition and understanding of "local" might differ greatly from another's. 

Then there's Brexit and the changes to our freedoms. I've lost my smooth, easy, streamlined freedom of movement if I want to visit extended family in France. I have to take a gigantic retrograde step back to the early 1970s, with all the paperwork involved, if I want to go to Europe. I'm not pleased about that. 

My dog's Pet Passport is no longer valid, so if I want to take him too, I've got to go through the same beaurocratic hoops as I did with my previous dog, back in the  early 2000s, before the EU Pet Passport was introduced. I'm not pleased about that either.

And as I travel in a campervan, there are going to be restraints on the kind of food I pack into the cupboards and fridge in my van if I want to go to Europe (not possible right now anyway but that's beside the point). Customs will be checking on food being imported if it's dairy or meat; if it contains either, it will be confiscated. Crazy, like going back to the dark ages.

The only comfort I gain is that those who voted to leave the EU will be subject to the same regulations, restrictions and restraints, and their previously-held freedoms will be compromised too.

Back to freedom, as that's what this post is about. With freedom comes responsibility; some restraints are obviously needed to make society work and be safe, and many of the current restrictions in place are to help us overcome the current pandemic. Yet it's not hard to understand how difficult living under these restrictions is for many people. Go out, and walk past people talking (socially distanced of course) and you're likely to hear just one topic of conversation - coronavirus. There are concerns too about the mental health of those living alone, or who are shielding; compromised freedom affects everyone and is uppermost in their minds.

I've turned to the words of Roberto Assagioli, whose philosphy and psychosynthesis make a lot of sense in our current situation, where our freedom is compromised. Assagioli was imprisoned in Italy in1938 by the fascists for his anti-war and internationalist views. He put into practise his ideas about collaborating with the inevitable as he realised that the only an attitude of conscious acceptance would help steer him through this situation. He wrote about this, saying:

" I realised that I was free to take one of the many attitudes toward the situation, to give one value or another to it, to utliise it in one way or another....I could rebel inwardly and curse, or I could submit passively, vegetating; or I could indulge in the unwholesome pleasure of self-pity and assume the martyr's role; or I could take the situation in a sporting way and with a sense of humour, considering it as a novel and interesting experience.......I could make it a rest cure or a period of intense thinking....I had the clear, pure perception that this was entirely my own affair; that I was free to choose any or several attitudes and activities....and that I was fully responsible.........."

Kindness

Mural, Houston, Texas

 

 

 

 

Being kind. It's something many of us have beome more aware of since early March, when life as we'd grown used to was turned into life as we'd never before imagined.

Kindness, friendliness and good manners were very noticeable at the start of the major lockdown in the UK. The few people one met when out strictly observed their distance and said hello or smiled (I live in north west England, where this happens anyway, but in lockdown people seemed even friendier - there was a need for contact).

Now, with coronavirus around the world, and restrictions of some sort or another still in place, it seems even more relevant that we human beings all remember that we're human beings and express kindness and consideration to each other. We're all in his together. Especially at this time of year when families are eager to get together over the Christmas holiday period.

But are people still being as kind or considerate? Experience of this when out walking suggests "No, not so much". There are those who courtesously observe distancing, and who smile and say thank you when we give way on a narrower pavement and wait until they've passed. And there are those who totally ignore distancing, carry on as though nothing is happening and - I have to be honest here - look pretty miserable (as they may be), don't make eye contact, don't acknowledge with a smile or a "thankyou" if you wait for them to pass. They seem very unaware of others, and they don't show much evidence of kindness either.

The book "The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse" by Charlie Mackesey is full of gentle wisdom and reminders that none of us is perfect, but we can all support and help each other along the way by being kind. To quote from the book:

"Nothing beats kindness," said the horse, "It sits quietly beyond all things."

"Being kind to yourself is one of the greatest kindnesses." said the mole.

Being kind might involve being more tolerant and understanding of others. It's a quality which is difficult to pin down and put into one explanatory word, but you know it when you see or experience it. Kindness is a manifestation of the transpersonal quality of Love. In Psychosynthesis terms it's an expression of love in action; in Astrological Psychology it's symbolised by the planet Neptune's qualities of love and inclusiveness.

Earlier this year I watched the film "It's a beautiful day in the neighbourhood" starring Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers, or Mister Rogers, as he was known when he presented his TV show for children. I knew nothing about him; Mister Rogers was not on UK TV in the 1970s. But I enjoyed the film very much because it was almost 100% about being kind to people, accepting them as they are, acknowledging their faults, fears and misgivings and not judging them.

The film is based on a true story, but the facts have been tweaked as film versions of stories so often are. In this case, it didn't matter too much because the end product was heartwarming, showing us how people could be and how, if they were wounded or hurt inside, this could be overcome, transcended and transformed.

Love, acceptance and being kind - worth striving for, I think.