A discussion of the moments of calm before, during and after a storm.
Having grown up in Nebraska, I’ve had a fair number of experiences with tornados.
There are 5 levels of impending tornados. First is the forecast that the conditions are ripe. Second, is the “alert” of a higher probability. Third is a “watch” to be on the look for. Four are the “sirens” that are telling you the make way to the root cellar. Last, the tornado is close enough to do some terrifying damage.
Back in my Nebraskan childhood everybody knew preparations, precautions and general processes to survive tornados. Many houses had basements and quite a few had storm cellars that did double duty of also being the “root cellar” to store vegetables and can goods. Also, a few items were stored in case of a tornado, e.g., water, candles, matches, can opener, flashlight, battery operated radio, a deck of cards, a couple of books, and a blanket. Everything needed for a few hours. And there was always room for neighbors, pets or whoever was caught in the storm. This was not prepper life, just a fact of life on the Great Plains. And in the winter, there was a “go bag” that was already in the car’s trunk in case you ran into the ditch or stuck in the snow. Of course, 60 years ago, forecasts were spotty, no cell phones to call for roadside help that showed your location via GPS. The ethos was to have common sense, be prepared and be kind and generous to all. Regardless of a tornado, winter storm, etc. there was the community ethos that in the event of a storm and the resulting disaster of any kind; friend, families, neighbors, and strangers regardless of wealth, class, color, politics would come together to help each other. This was an underlying awareness that individuals, families and the community depended and the community survive by this code. By-the-way this is also the ethos of the seas, whether in backcountry skiing or any life-threatening the terrain and conditions. Everyone knew that surviving a mishap was also an opportunity to learn some common-sense.
Forecast Says
There are many sources, perspectives and interpretations that note we are in “sweet spot” for a perfect storm. Take your pick of the impending storm: climate, class, economic, political, social, etc. Each storm has their experts, models, empirical data, recommended preparations and survival plans. The recently, “preppers” are often noted as nut jobs. However, this “old school” notion of community and being prepared is based on history. And considering the current conditions of the perfect storm may be relevant. Especially in light that the past 100 years in which has been the expanse of the “survival of the fittest” rugged individualism. And recently expanding to the notion of the corporate entity having rights and rule or at least influence over sovereign individuals and community. Ah yet another storm looms corporatocracy versus individuals and a community of individuals or a self-organized collective (SOC) of individuals (thanks, Clif High). Is this another configuration of the “Rage Against the Machine?”
Skittish Animals
Even further back, forecasting was based on observation of things happening. It was the “common sense” or wives’ tales of those who spent a lifetime of being in the environment. For example, the squirrel’s behaviors of storing acorns in the fall were thought to note upcoming winter conditions. Great Plain Indians note snow and temperature, as “sticky, no sticky and no sticky, sticky. Insects and birds going quiet as the storm nears. The noted popping of static electricity, the smell of ionizes air or the smell of looming rain. Animals becoming skittish prior to an earthquake. This is nothing new for the folks that are outside for much of their life and taught by their elders. Of course, these days most folks live and work inside and have become reliant on the weather forecast technology, which is great for planning when to mow the yard, go for a walk, and when it is likely going to be waist deep powder for skiing. Are these the old school forecast and alert knowledge that we are at risk of losing? What happens if the energy grid is interrupted?
The Response to the Forecast
Whatever the forecast and sub-sequential weather that happens, it is about the response. It’s a no brainer that if a person is prepared for whatever the actual scenario happens, then a person can leverage or take advantage of what happens. This is simply the model of analysis, synthesis, innovation, adaptation and execution, which enables a person a spectrum or range of options and often involves an aspect of timing.
Not to be a conspiracy nut. A quick note about conspiracy. There is the conspiracy (plan) to commit and “conspiracy theory.” Conspiracy theory is a retrospective review, investigation, and interpretation of a past event verses the narrative or account that is told at the time of the event, i.e., the conspiracy. Regardless of the event, for example, JFK, 911, weapons of mass destruction (wmd’s), Katrina, etc. What is interesting are the narratives which may be a conspiracy that are being presented about this perfect storm. In a sense, the narratives are about capturing or containing the parameters of the of an event within a desired perspective or paradigm. And if you have been following, I note the deeper investigation is to question first the presumption or premise of the perspective/paradigm. And second, the authority and agenda of those who present the narrative, forecast, and a particular solution. Those damm squirrels, insects and animals! LOL.
What is a person to do? Do you pay attention to the external signs, symptoms and narratives? Or do you feel into your response to the energy? How does a squirrel or birds, insects or animal sense a storm or hard winter will happen? Do they read the Wall Street Journal, watch CNN, listen to the weather alerts? Are they more astute than we give them credit? But likely they are sensing the experience and wisdom of the long generational linage of their species memory. I.e., some form of an internal and non-conscious survival response. What if we are not a “tableau rosa” a blank slate? That needs to relearn everything. That we must trust the latest and greatest information. What if we can access via intuition (inner knowledge) of our species’ memory of survival for the past 200,000 years of being on the planet? What if we can appreciate the ancient hunter-gather, tribal community and with our adventures through the ego, are we at the threshold of an opportunity to both a sovereignty of being and being in a community to face this impending perfect storm?
Gap
Well, where is this damm opportunity? I’ve talked about the gap. The gap is where things change. It is the period when and where the opportunity to change exists. The change is within us and is our response to whatever happens. If you are tired of the same old thing continuing to happen, then your response is what must change. And one of the first questions is why and/or what am I doing for this thing to continue?
The Storm Hits
During a tornado, when it is near and you can feel it, hear it, the natural survival response is one of the three responses; to fight, flight or freeze. The thing about a tornado, hurricane or monumental event is that it is terrifying. You can’t fight it or outrun it. And if you freeze you are surely at the naked mercy of the tornado. All you can do is to is to abide somewhere safe. Don’t go outside and fight the storm. The folks that fight with the storm are out in the elements and have a risk of injury and death.
Instead, hunker down and realize the storm is within you. The storm usually quickly passes. Prepare to go within, observe and examine the storm within you. The storm is your fear and how to respond, fight, flight or freeze? Which is craziness. The realistic thing to do is to go deeper within and abide in the depth of stillness that is far beyond the storm. Patiently waiting for the storm to pass. After the storm has passed, then is the time to emerge to see what has happened? It is only then to realistically assess how to respond. Now that the storm has passed, it is in the past, and there is nothing to do but re-emerge, build and prepare yourself for the next storm.
That you have been through this before. It too shall pass. It has blown away a lot of crap and yet also blown in new opportunities. And it is sunny again.
What? Preparation is merely asking the questions, what happened, why, what did I learn and what might I do differently when the next time? If you don’t investigate and evaluate, you are doomed to repeating very similar storms because of a failure to learn from the failure.
Situational Awareness
You emerge, assess what has occurred, what is safe and dangerous. And then, what needs to be done and what you can do? With tornados, what is destroyed and what is spared is seemingly a matter of luck or random divine intervention. It is unfathomable to see destruction and yet a home a few feet away is unscathed. What has blown away and what remains? What is blown away? A storm forces us to determine what to salvage, to let go and to renew or rebuild. The bones of this process are analysis, synthesis, innovate/adapt and execute. “Change management” is the theory of execution. But the actual execution is the stepping into the moment, the flow of being the change. This is the magic. You have always been the liberator, protector and creator. Discover and know that you are the storm, the gap and new opportunities. And that is the heaven and hell of it.
The forecast, if one wanted to pay attention, has been happening for quite some time. That we are going to have a storm. Some folks like Noah have been preparing for years despite ridicule. Noah’s ark was not a boat or ark per se. But a response as an ark (arch)… a connection or bridge between the past and future; between the old and new. It doesn’t matter whether it is a hurricane, flood, tornado, snowstorm or earthquake, what matters is your small bit of preparation, your ability to abide in the gap where the storm cannot touch you. And your subsequent response. In the relative planetary scheme of things, earthquakes, storms and floods happen. But they are small, localized places that suffer devastation and some parish. (This is not to discount and discredit people’s experiences and feelings of those who have suffered pain and loss.) The point is our response, though perhaps being hidden and insignificant can be of significance and have an exponential effect that is not realized or even acknowledged for some time. The story line is “a crazy man builds a boat and saves animals. Only after a thousand years to be acknowledged as… not so crazy.”
What Is Found After A Storm?
A new sense of community, a tighter knit of relationships, renewed feelings of empowerment, and resiliency? In some disasters, it is realized that we need to correct our faulty understanding of how things work, e.g., don’t build in floodplains. Or perhaps it is an opportunity to discover and discuss our past intentions, priorities, and agendas. What were the risks and benefits and for whom?
This is much like the winter. Early winter is a time of evaluation, of discovering lessons and what we might do better next time. Mid-winter is about diving deep within. Rediscovering, abiding, and renewal. Late winter is re-birthing our new beginnings of our being.
There are many stories. In a sense, the story of our humanity is told in our history, culture, rituals, and reflected in our interactions with each other. If we don’t like our history, its stories and our narratives, we are the ones that can change them, in order that we don’t doom ourselves to a future of repeating them.
Even though the prediction and perhaps we are already in a “perfect storm,” is this not also a “perfect opportunity” to create something new and never seen before?
In times of great crisis, there is even greater opportunity. But the untold secret… (pun intended) is the gap. The gap is the bridge… duh.
Blessings,
Tim