Good that Come from War?
In the book 'Anatomy of the Spirit' Caroline Myss Ph.D writes that the World War II defeated the polio virus epidemic. I admire the wisdom that can view both sides of the polarity and find gratitude in each and every experience.
The following is an extract from Caroline's book to explain her insight:
"A dramatic example of a social tribe's energy capacity to manifest an illness is the polio epidemic of the 1930s and 1940s. In October 1929, the American economy crashed and the Great Depression began, affecting the entire nation. In describing how the American people felt, journalists and politicians, business executives and workers, men and women all described themselves as having been 'crippled' by the economic disaster.
In the early 1930's the polio epidemic surfaced -symbolically representing the crippled spirit of the nation as a community. Those who felt most economically crippled, either by actual experience or by the fear of it, were energetically the most susceptible to the polio virus. Because children absorb their tribe's energy, American children were as susceptible to the viral disease as to the economic dis-ease.
All Is One: when an entire tribe becomes infected with fear, that energy extends to its children.
This sense of being crippled was so quickly woven into the tribal psyche that American voters even elected a president crippled by the polio virus, Franklin D. Roosevelt, a living symbol both of physical weakness and of indomitable resilience. It took a physical tribal event and experience of physical strength, World War II, to heal the American tribal spirit. The sense of heroism and tribal unity, supported by the sudden increase in jobs, restored pride, power, and honor to each tribal member.
By the end of the war, the American nation had assumed a global leadership role again. In fact, the United States became the leader of the free world because it developed nuclear weapons -a position that brought enormous pride and power into the culture's Tribal chakra. Once again, this recovery was reflected in the language of the tribal spokespeople who described their newly healed culture as economically 'on its feet again.' With that shift in consciousness, reflecting a healed tribal spirit, the polio virus could be defeated. The spirit and the attitude of the tribe was ultimately stronger than the virus. Not coincidentally
Jonas Salk discovered the vaccine for polio in the early 1950s."
Maybe the answer (What good can come from the next war?) can be found in the short story of Kahlil Gibran 'Daughters of the Sea' first published in 1950 as a collection of works titled 'A Tear and A Smile.'
In the depths of the ocean which surrounds the isles near the sun's rising place was the dead body of a youth. Around him, among the coral plants, sat the golden-haired daughters of the sea gazing on him through their beautiful blue eyes. They spoke softly in tones music, and their words were taken up by the deep and borne by the waves to the shore, whence the breeze carried them to my spirit's hearing.
Said the first one: 'This is a human who came down yesterday when the sea was angry.'
And the second one said: 'Nay the sea was not angry. But this man -such are called those descended from the gods -was in a war in which much blood was shed until the water became the colour of red. This human is a victim of that war.'
Said the third: 'I know not what war means, but I know that man was not satisfied with his conquest of the dry land but coveted the lordship of the oceans and invented strange machines to cleave the waters. Then Neptune, god of the seas, came to know and he was angry because of this enmity. And man was made to appease our sovereign with sacrifices and offerings. That which we beheld yesterday descending was man's latest offering to mighty Neptune.'
A fourth one said: 'How great is Neptune, but how hard is his heart. If I were mistress of the seas I would not be pleased with bloody sacrifices. Come, let us look on this dead youth; mayhap we learn something of humankind.'
Then the daughters of the sea drew near to the body and searched in the pockets of his garment. In the garment nearest his heart was a letter which one of them took and read:
'My darling. Midnight has struck and I keep vigil sleepless with no one to console me save my tears and no body to comfort me but my hope in your return to me from the terrors of war. Well do I recall what you did tell me when we parted, that with every man are tears as a trust that must be returned one day.
'I know not, my love, what I write; rather shall I let my soul flow on to the paper. A soul tormented by misery and consoled by love, which makes suffering a delight and grief a joy.'
'When love made one our two hearts and we awaited the union of two bodies within which was one spirit, war called you and you followed it, impelled by duty to your country. Yet what thing is this duty that separates lovers and makes of women widows and of children orphans? What thing is this patriotism which for little causes calls to war to lay in ruins the land? What is this duty that fastens itself upon the wretched villages but is heeded not by the strong and privileged?
'If duty exiles peace from among nations and patriotism makes havoc of man's tranquility, then away with duty and patriotism....No, my darling, heed not my words but be brave and a lover of your land. Do not hearken to the words of a woman whom love has blinded, whom separation has robbed of seeing....If love brings you not back to me in this life, then love will join me with you in the life to come.'
The sea maidens put back the letter beneath the youth's garments and swam away in silent grief. And when they were gone a distance, one of them said:
'In truth man's heart is harder than Neptune's.'
The painting above is called 'RESURRECTION' by Kahlil Gibran
the action or fact of resurrecting or being resurrected.
"the story of the resurrection of Osiris" - synonyms: raising from the dead, restoration to life;
(in Christian belief) the rising of Christ from the dead or the rising of the dead at the Last Judgement.
the revitalization or revival of something.
"the resurrection of the country under a charismatic leader"
synonyms: revival, restoration, regeneration, revitalization, reinvigoration, renewal, resuscitation, awakening, rejuvenation, stimulation, re-establishment, relaunch, reintroduction, reinstallation, reappearance, rebirth, renaissance, renascence, comeback
Who was Neptune?
Neptune was the Roman god of the seas and water. He was designated as the god of springs, lakes and rivers before becoming a god of the sea and venerated by the Romans as the father of all living beings on Earth through the fertilising power of rainwater. He was represented in art as a god of the sea, with black or dark hair wearing garments of an azure or sea-green color and seated in a large shell chariot drawn by whales, horses or sea-horses.
He is always pictured with with his trident in his hand and is usually attended by sea gods and sea goddesses and a retinue of Tritons and sea-nymphs. (source:www.talesbeyondbelief.com/roman-gods/neptune.htm)
Sources: Image 1, from www.rotary5130.com
Image 2. from the Childrens-Bureau-Timeline website
Image 3. Mermaids Frolicking in the Sea by Charles Edouard Boutibonne
Image 4. Neptune as per www.talesbeyondbelief.com
