Remember When Water Was Free?
How is it possible that we pay for water? How is it possible that someone owns water? Is air next? What if you had to pay for air? Would we just accept that, like we’ve all accepted that we have to pay for water?
Here are some questions I’m asking myself:
What would have to change in my life if water were all of a sudden not available in the same way it has been my whole life?
What conveniences would I need to let go of?
What extravagant sensual delight would this new relationship with water open up in me?
We are at the precipice of some massive shifts. Some of those shifts may involve water, and food, and air, and soil, and ecosystems. Do you sense this in your bones like I do?
I notice I am still straddling the dangerous middle space between my old life, and a nascent lifestyle born from my true values. Can I imagine a life with minimal air travel? For every airline ticket bought I am also buying RECs (renewable energy certificates) or better yet am myself helping to grow a food forest to bring balance to my choices? What would really be required for me to tread more lightly on the earth, divest my own lifestyle of consumption habits that exploit non-renewable sources of energy, and ways I otherwise introduce harm to the web of life in which I take part? What will it take to actually practice Maya Angelou’s maxim:
“Once you know better, do better.”
Making the leap feels a bit like jumping out of a plane to me. What will be there to catch me? And yet I see others, pioneers, who have successfully made that leap so I know it is possible. And yet others who never took on the extractive lifestyle to begin with.
Bows to all our relations who are showing us possible ways forward (including the birds, animals, mammals, insects and other life forms). Bows to the innovators coming up with new solutions in renewable energy, permaculture solutions, food systems re-design. Bows to the ancient ones who already had all the technologies needed. May our hearts open again to this new, ancient way.