Cycles of Change

As I look back on the history of humankind I am frequently fascinated to remember in each of us individually, in cultures, in world events, and even in Nature..there have always been cycles and with each cycle comes change.

Sir Isaac Newton once stated “To every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction.” Albert Einstein furthered this truth by stating ” With every problem, there’s a solution: just a matter of taking action. Cyclical history is theorized by the suggestion that history repeats itself not in linear time, but in cycles. When we reflect on this idea we will see civilizations have in the past gone through stages of growth, decline, and renewal over a period of time. If this theory is valid we might agree civilizations have experienced the journey of prosperity, decline, and once again rising in a cycle. Because ancient civilizations knew that Nature and the Natural World teaches us how to apply the changes Nature herself demonstrates in the ongoing, repeating natural rhythms of the Universe, we can focus on the evidence that truly everything moves in cycles.

Should we choose to pay attention to cycles of change, we may make the choice to learn from the past in order to avoid repeating prior mistakes. We might , if consciously awake, choose to observe the crucial importance of viewing and recognizing patterns that have shown themselves in the past so we can actually learn from them . Why you may ask would we want to do that? I want to suggest by learning from past historical patterns we could have tools and information that would empower us to navigate those cycles of change coming in the future that are inevitable!

Yes we are in the midst of a cycle of change..one that feels out of control and overwhelming. The first step as I see it is awareness of the truth. The next step is acceptance of what is being repeated from a prior time in history. The third step is recognizing patterns within the cycle. Lastly, integrate the patterns by surrendering them as they are transformed into learning experiences. When we are willing to learn from past experiences we have greater opportunities not to repeat the same cyclic patterns in the same manner.

In the 1990’s two books were published by William Strauss and Neil Howe describing an intriguing theory that generations of history go through changes in cycles just like seasons of the year experience. This theory mirrors what the ancients knew in their wisdom that time is not so much linear as it is cyclical. The authors suggested just as a generation reaches a plateau when it moves through Childhood to Young Adulthood into Midlife those in this phase of life take on leadership roles of power in society and every 20 years as a new generation embraces the midlife stage of aging the generation that previously occupied that space moving into less influential stage of elders. Thus the” cycle of birth-growth-maturation-destruction” and chaos happens then regrowth occurs. The cycle of death and rebirth is necessary in the human experience.

As these generational years of development repeat in their respective cycles every 80-100 years four “turnings” also go through a cyclical pattern of High (First Turning), Awakening (Second Turning), Unraveling (Third Turning), and Crisis (Fourth Turning). When we view these turnings we can begin to see the cycles in history of every realm of civilization. It appears to me the Third Turning or unraveling globally showed up in the year 2020 when the entire world shut down due to a pandemic. If the theory of the four turnings is correct it is reasonable to accept not just the United States of America but the entire world once again is in the Fourth Turning or Crisis stage with many world leaders demonstrating characteristics of Patriarchal Government Leaders . Just as when the era of the Matrilineal/Goddess once revered by all genders was squashed when the Patriarch came into their Power , we are experiencing a similar global experience. For the humans who are paying attention the past history once again has cycled into a repeat performance.

Perhaps the question is not what have we learned in the repeating cycles but how can we survive in cycles of Crisis? I have come to believe over time of living through personal cycles of crisis as well as historical ones (I lived through the sixties!) it has helped me to integrate and put into action practices that bring calmness into my inner world such as meditation, yoga, qi gong, connecting and spending time in nature, breath work, and sharing with vulnerability and honesty with people I know have my back. On top of those important practices I also have discovered a few gems.

-Coming to the conclusion that my contentment and happiness always comes from within instead of the illusion my inner peace comes from things or achieving something outside of myself. What I have from childhood into adulthood needed the most was to reconnect and claim who I really am and setting intentions of how I truly want to live my life.

-Embracing my feelings and emotions as teachers has helped me to find my authenticity. No longer do I try to control or hide my emotions . I allow them now to be the catalyst , utilizing the energy of even the emotion of anger to create solutions to problems so I can make positive changes in various areas of my life.

-The creation of a Stillness Practice replaced my need to always be busy in order to look productive both to others and myself. When I learned just to be instead of always needing to be doing, it was an awakening! Being in the present now moment instead of dredging up past mistakes, pains, and memories is so freeing!

-Finally, shedding my old skin and letting go of things I cannot change, situations I have no control over, and pausing to see with gratitude the curious wonder of my world has been incredible!

If cycles are going to show up and history has presented the evidence they will keep evolving , it seems to me to be beneficial to find ways to cope, to be in the solution instead of being a scared rabbit running across my yard looking for a hole to jump into to hide from what is happening outside of myself. When I find what is working for me in times of chaos, in times of change and I share that with others , somehow knowing I and we are not alone gives me solace . What we can do together is far better than what we could not do alone!

“As is the generation of leaves, so to of men: At one time the wind shakes the leaves to the ground but then the flourishing woods gives birth, and the season of Spring comes into existence; So it is with the generations of men, which alternatively come forth and pass away.” -Homer, The Illiad, Book Six