Percolating in my little mind for decades is the desire to understand this concept of "other" - other people, other cultures, other ideas, other beliefs. "Others" manifested throughout my life in several ways, but the most imprinted was thrice daily dogmatic prayers for "others." These "others" were always presented as less-than, lacking, inadequate, unworthy, justifiably labeled by their different culture, background, religion, ideals, dress, appearance, but mostly different beliefs. Rebelling that dogma was costly, but the losses would never be enough to eschew my innate understanding of being one .
Fast forward five decades of researching, observing, and testing the concept of "others", I land on a panoramic landscape flooding the senses with old growth Pines and Firs, Cedars and Madrones, Salal and Ferns; up, over, and in between they vie for a sliver of sun, a drop of rain. Labeled Decatur Island but clearly a haven of nurtured individuality of "other" through oneness that pushes the boundaries of all who call this home.
To further my education in oneness, I built a board. The DIO Discussion Board contains two sides representing an interior and exterior, the duality of each being and of all life on Gaia in this third dimension. Both sides contain a word with a definition and a quote, thought, or question to ponder for the week with room for perspectives and responses from all walks of life.
Words make matter. Every utterance creates a reality. A glance around my sanctuary provides ample proof, as does a walk to the mailshed, or morning tea meditation. Every breath leaving my lips creates or destroys.
Creation and destruction - both words. And both depicting peace in a myriad of forms. Often unrecognizable as silent meditation or arguing, coupling and uncoupling, children playing or guns firing; peace results in the acceptance of destruction in order to create and a necessary situation for all involved - but remains peace nonetheless.
The words we chose dictate the direction of our lives. The paths, obstacles, opportunities, visions, dreams, direction...all words determining an outcome at once elusive and clear.
May this board service the community and every individual passing. May it beckon and pull the essence of the "other" into the realm of one. May it serve as an oasis of variety and contradiction, cohesiveness and separatism, idealism and rationality, to serve as an example of what is rather than what could be.
