One of the biggest challenges an individual has in life is to develop the ability to think independently of outside influence. A real thinker does not rely upon the words and opinions of others. The goal is to be able to gain knowledge and wisdom through one’s own experience. This happens through honest self-analysis and objective observation of others. The problem that many of us have, is that we assume that everyone is at the same point of evolution or level of experience, which is certainly not the case. There are still many people in the world who believe they are thinking for themselves but are merely reacting emotionally to their environment. These emotional reactions are based on many factors, such as the need to belong or have a sense of purpose or importance. This, unfortunately, creates for some the giving away of one’s personal power to an outside entity or system of beliefs. Without a strong sense of personal identity, there is a tendency to believe that one’s thoughts and beliefs are self-created and therefore belong to oneself. The reality is that these thoughts and beliefs actually belong to someone else and are “adopted” in order to fill the void that exists within the self. This can lead to a dangerous vulnerability that can be used by others in order to fulfill their own particular selfish motivations. A cult is really a system of beliefs, not based on reality, that is precipitated by an individual or group of individuals who seek self-aggrandizement, money, and power. Times of great change can produce the conditions of vulnerability and therefore susceptibility to abusive behavior by others. It is fear that underlies the possibility of such behavior, and the same fear is found on both sides. There are two powerful groups found today that exhibit this power dynamic, and it has the potential to result in havoc and violence.
The “Q-Anon” phenomenon exhibits all of the above characteristics. The behaviors of this group exercise the classic giving away of personal power to an outside influence, in this case to Donald Trump and the republican agenda. The underlying motivating factor is the need to be saved or taken care of. The hard truth is that without a sense of purpose impelled from within, the need for self-responsibility is not recognized. When we give away responsibility for ourselves to others, our identity cannot be properly defined. The very foundation of their belief system is based upon an invented reality to help support their feelings of desperation, giving rise to all kinds of conspiracy theories. Let’s keep in mind that theory is exactly what it means, not based on reality. This unfortunately creates a state of “victimhood” for those involved and allows the predatory behavior of the above-mentioned forces to take hold. The real danger comes into play when these people realize their beliefs do not match the reality they see around them. They then need to prove the correctness of their beliefs, even though proven false in their own experience, through acts of desperation. Violence, therefore, becomes warranted and justified in their minds. In time, this sort of power dynamic will be adjusted through a support system that has their best interests in mind.
The “Aryan Nationalists” as they have sometimes been called are an even more dangerous group of people because they believe they are supreme, special, and perfect and therefore have the right to rule all of humanity. The idea that some state of perfection has been achieved is of course ludicrous because their whole foundation is firmly rooted in fear. There is no love present, and the belief in separation dictates all of their thoughts and behavior. The reality of being part of a greater whole is completely absent from them, and the fear feeds upon itself. All of their activities center around the protection of their misconceived territory, and they will engage in violence in order to defend themselves. This mindset is also unfortunately somewhat representative of the male gender in a general sense, and has created an unbalanced state of power in the greater system. I am not referencing all men by any means, but enough men to have a significant impact. Men still control most positions of power in the world today, and we will cover this in more detail in a future discussion. We can clearly see how deep and insidious this fear is by taking a look at the following:
Fear of the power of women
Fear of ethnic and racial diversity
Fear of religious affiliation
Fear of the diversity in sexual expression
Fear of love
It is worth reminding ourselves that there is no belief system or institution that can be sustained in the long term without the presence of love and equality. The fear of a changing reality will dissipate over time, and the power of such groups will lose its grip on the world. It is critical that we be vigilant in the expression of our love and compassion where it is needed most, while remaining aware of the possibility of violent actions perpetrated by those who cannot see truth. Those of us who are able to think for ourselves, and therefore have a firmer grasp on reality, have a huge responsibility in this regard. In order to truly assist those that are susceptible to a conspiracy theory or non-reality-based belief systems, we must find a way to provide a sense of purpose and identity to those who are unable to find it for themselves. The void that many people are experiencing can be filled by giving them what they really. It requires a necessary and adequate support system that provides education, money, and resources. Sometimes the simple solution is to show that we care. It will then be much less likely for the vulnerable in our society to fall prey to such states of powerlessness. Let’s take this heartfelt action today.
All my love and support, stay safe and be well