Farm Fresh April 2021: Forgiveness

Farm Fresh News - April 2021

In this issue:

The Altar
Forgiveness

The Magic of the Dogwood, a painting by Shelly Barger

Dear Friends,

The dogwood blossoms are just beginning to pop as we come into April on The Farm. The painting above by second generation Farm Member Shelly Barger is part of a new art installation my friend Bernice and I are working on of paintings covering the side of a wall on a food production facility adjacent to The Farm Store. The paintings share a broad theme of Farm History, and the dogwoods have awakened our hearts in spring for almost 50 years now. We arrived on this land in September of 1971. So much has changed, here and in the world, but our connection to the land is a foundation that endures.

This issue goes out to you today on Easter. Although Easter is the symbol of rebirth and to return of Life Force, one of its strongest messages is about the power of forgiveness. "And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” As we go about our lives, let us remember this deep embodiment of mercy and compassion.

Peace,
Douglas

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The Altar

An altar is a focal point in many homes and religious centers throughout the world. My first real encounter with an alter inside a home happened in Guatemala. In every Mayan hut among our neighbors in the village and all across the country, there was a spot in the home set aside as an altar. It was an eclectic collection of religious icons, toy soldiers and other odd trinkets, along with a bottle of Coke and sometimes even a GI Joe or Barbie. In these holy alcoves, copal incense burned as prayers were made to God and Gods, spirits that played a role in every part of life.

I chose to create an altar in my bedroom that would be a point of reflection, filling it with objects that represented a significant point or person in my life. In a way you could say I am honoring the ancestors and my own previous incarnations. It functions as a reminder to appreciate the life I have lived and the life I have yet to live.

Above to the right and left are two yarn paintings by the Huichol of the Sierra Madre, brought back when Deborah and I visited began and working with the Huichol Center in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. The Huichol are an indigenous people who were never truly conquered by the Spanish. and have held on to their spiritual practices rooted in nature. The image to the left represents me, as a circle of energy radiating from the peyote, a plant that allows a direct connection to the essence of life force. The birth goddess on the left symbolizes Deborah and her strength as a midwife. The deer at the breasts of the mother goddess, and above right, along with the corn, represent the sustenance of life. Both yarn paintings have drops of rain, which brings life and symbolizes abundance.

In the center, a wood carving I brought back from Bali of a heron. When I lost my young grandson to e-coli, herons came into my life and my consciousness, appearing before me in the forest along the creeks, at the beginning and end of significant journeys and travels. It is said the heron represents stillness and tranquility, two elements necessary to recognize opportunity. Over time I accepted the heron as a totem.

The alter can be a tool that can help you cultivate a spiritual path. Being a musician, I see us as instruments, and that when we are in tune, taking the time to attune, we produce a life in greater harmony.

More to come.

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Forgiveness

I believe, and as I have seen, forgiveness is one of our most powerful, and critical tools for living in community. Without forgiveness, grudges calcify, there are undercurrents of disharmony that break down unity. There is also relevance to how it is sometimes said, "Forgive but don't forget."

A healed place often remains more sensitive. Grudges and resentment are like picking at a scab; it takes longer to heal and leaves a bigger scar.

Sometime we have to begin by forgiving ourselves. Which is different than making excuses or rationalizing our behavior. Forgiving yourself begins with recognizing, seeing your mistakes, and vowing to learn and not repeat them. It may or may not be possible for you to receive forgiveness from those you have wronged or offended, but you can atone for your mistakes in other ways, through conscious service to the greater good.

On the other side is the act of forgiveness, to forgive "those who trespassed against us." Although we may find it difficult or impossible to forgive someone, we can also take a broader view, understanding that there are cause and effect circumstances beyond our knowing that produced their resulting behavior.

But when we are able to truly forgive each other and reconcile, it can open doors that can change your life forever.

More from my Farm friends:

In the Zulu language, “Ubuntu” is more of a philosophy of forgiveness and reconciliation based on a shared humanity.

"Forgiveness is a tough one at times. A therapist friend once told me that forgiveness is powerful when it can be done. It is NOT saying that it doesn’t matter what a person did, it means I am not going to hold onto the energies of anger, hurt, etc... that actually drains my power & kinda gives it up to the other... Rather, it means that I am nit going to put energy into this thing or person. I will move on and not allow the thing to garner anymore of my attention. I won’t forget, but it just holds no energy for me or towards the other.

And sometimes, it takes a looooong time to get there. It can’t be forced. And in really hard circumstances (like rape or killing) it may never come because the wound(s) are so very deep. Yet we know some who have had these crimes committed on themselves or someone they love, and it has been incredibly powerful to see those transformations." Kathy

"Forgiveness makes it so we don't have to continue to carry around guilt, anger, resentment or anything else. One doesn't forget, but lives in the moment without the burdens. If you're like me, I seem to continue to personally sort it out even after I forgive. It makes it stronger and stronger." Tomas

From Hawaii, the translation of “ho'oponopono” is said to be, "I am sorry, please forgive me, I love you," but it is so much more than that.

"Forgiving doesn’t remove the consequence of the karma of the wrong doing; it elevates s/he who forgives out of suffering - ho’oponopono is a tradition that evolved skills in this. It Can and Is done graciously in cultures that embrace aloha in action. We can still get there." Robin

Judaism has Yom Kippur, the day of atonement and the practice of Teshua, the expression of regret and repentance.

"Forgiveness is a choice. I think there's an alternative for those who find certain actions unforgivable which is to let it go...it doesn't mean you have to come to terms with an offending individual, but you just let it go...if you hate 'em in your heart, it hurts you more than it hurts them." James

Sikhism: Forgiveness comes when the soul is stirred by compassion.

"In my experience forgiveness is a burden we put on ourselves after experiencing trauma and that burden is not particularly healthy. It's entirely possible to move on (incorporate the lessons and then let the emotional baggage go) without forgiving. Better to focus on having good boundaries, taking care of yourself, and being as kind to the people you choose to keep around as you know how to be. If you happen to forgive along the way, that's the way you roll- but it isn't necessary and shouldn't be an expectation." Sarah

"In Buddhism the 6 Paramitas are the foundation for enlightenment. Each one is a gate to be entered. The first one is generosity, which is the foundation of forgiveness. It is said without generosity there is no enlightenment." Bernice

I want to close by reminding us to never be afraid to be the one who initiates reconciliation, through an apology, to ask for forgiveness, especially in those instances between friends and family. The only thing you have to lose is your pride!

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Peace,

Douglas

Douglas@thefarmcommunity.com