It is no coincidence that I find myself writing on this topic with my 300th post on Steemit! When we decide that we had enough of the violence in our lives, we decided to make some drastic changes. Given that the colonization process has taken over the world, we are now all faced with the process of decolonization, which my wife and I have now realized that we have worked on over the last 15 years.
So what does that process look like?
I've covered many times the physical aspects of off-grid living or homesteading in order to remove our dependency on the colonial structures that have grown up around us. There are many groups around the world that are working hard to be as independent as possible in order to free themselves from the corporate dependencies we have all found ourselves enslaved.
I've written many posts that highlight the steps that we have taken to accomplish this level of freedom in our own efforts to decolonize. To help others, here is a high level breakdown of the process and what to watch for.
1. Heal thyself
Let's face it. How can we self-govern if we are still fighting our own internal demons. We need to take full responsibility for our lives and that means no more blaming others for our problems. No more law suits, courts or violence of any kind, whether we are conscious of it or not. For me, it required that I take a long, hard, deep, dark look into my own soul and heal all the demons that I found within. Only then did it seem to help me keep my cool and remain peaceful, especially when others resorted to violence. If people fail to heal within, their efforts to self-govern will be sabotaged.
2. Provide for my own needs
This step actually helped my healing, so it could be done at the same time. This requires that one take active measures to ensure that they can provide for their own physical needs. Whether that be shelter, cloths, food, water and air. This takes a big step as the life style is very different than what we are used to within the colonial system. However, when we accomplish this, we will find that a good part of our our dependencies are removed and the stress is reduced significantly. I found the earthship, greenhouses, gardens, plants, animals and good old Mother Earth to be the best allies in my journey towards self-sufficiency; food, water and shelter sovereignty.
3. Say good bye to the state
Once we have taken care of all our physical needs, it is time to say good bye to the colonial system. This requires ending ALL the relationships that we have with the state and it's corporate empires. I've accomplished this by returning all their property back to them and learning to live in the peace and protection of spirit. Learning how to communicate the intent of Spirit is key. Holding boundaries and confronting violent behaviour by the state is also important as they will test us to make sure of our resolve.
What is equally important is that we learn how to decolonize our mind. We have been indoctrinated for our entire lives and all that programming takes a long time to deconstruct. Even after 15 years my heart skips a beat when I see a police car or help somebody protect themselves against CPS. This deep programming started when we were children and it takes a long time to deprogram that shit from our minds. It runs deep and it takes time to heal from the trauma, fear, anxiety and coercion that was used to turn us into obedient feudal serfs.
The other component of this step is to recognize that their pieces of paper mean nothing and are only offers to contract that we don't have to accept. The Doctrine of Discovery was initiated by the Pope to give permission to the Kings of Europe to conquer the known world. A little piece of paper or a decree from some ego driving figure head is not a justification for war, conquest, murder and other vile behaviours. Just because some guy wearing a robe says something does not make it truth. The only reason it has force is because somebody else with a gun says so. I call bull shit on that as Spirit has the highest authority and power on this planet. Each and every single one of us has the spiritual power and authority to stand on the land and steward it. When we stand in that power and authority, the relationship with the state changes suddenly. To get there requires a leap of faith as it is not intuitive at all.
4. Establish law form, customs and declare peace
This is a point that most people miss and it is important to cover. When we walk away from the defacto law form provided by the those who engage in violence, we need to establish our own law form on how we are going to govern ourselves. Otherwise, they could claim that we don't have a law form and that we are governed by the default ... theirs. It is also important to declare peace to ensure that we don't engage in war or accidentally declare war against others.
The other critical component is to establish your own customs as well. For most people who's ancestors came from Europe, our customs have been wiped out for hundreds, perhaps thousands of years. Being the first people colonized, we lost most of it. But we can still get it back and we need the help of the indigenous peoples all over the world to do that. Let's face it, indigenous customs around the world are basically the same.
I make my own customs and ceremonies. I am a culture of one, which has just as much validity as any other culture on this planet. Don't be afraid to be a culture of one. Be unique and embrace your individuality. Have a wonderful relationship between you, Creator and Mother Earth. Custom trumps law! Period! That is why they work so hard to assimilate people into 'their' law form. When we walk away from our customs, they will make a claim to govern and rule.
5. Help others heal and do the same
I feel that once we find our way through the gauntlet, it is our duty to help others find their way through it as well. We lead by example and we can help people by sharing our stories, encouraging them and helping them heal the traumas they experienced. When we help others, we end up with allies and the more of us that start standing up, the more courage others find within themselves to do the same. We all have different levels of courage and it is up to those of us who found that courage first to lead by example and inspire others to do the same.
6. Confront or rebuke those who engage in violence
When we find a position of peace and freedom, it is also our duty to confront and rebuke those who engage in violence against others. It is one thing to get through the trials and tribulations associated with this journey, but it also demands that we stand up for those who are down. By standing up to the bullies and violent offenders, they will soon realize that their days of empire building, raping and pillaging are numbered. They will do what they can to try and take us back down, but with enough of us standing up we make a difference.
I choose to stand on the principles that I use to govern myself as I confront others. Whether I do that myself or in solidarity with others makes no difference to me. I've done this for many years and over time I find more and more people standing beside me as they too learn how to govern themselves. We will change the world and there is nothing that the bullies and colonial empires can do to stop it.
The colonial system will try to negotiate to save itself. I say no to that. The terms are clear: No violence, no ownership, no coercion, no claims over land, people or lost souls.
I govern myself as I work on sacred stewardship of Mother Earth and myself. This decolonization process is one of the most difficult work I've done, even more so than recovery from depression. Healing from generations of violence and abuse is tough. Rebuilding healthy relationships with myself, family and friends is equally tough. But as we do this work, we heal, find peace within and come to terms with the trauma that we have hidden and ignored for far too long. These are some of the deepest causes of social problems we face today. Politicians cannot solve these problems because they helped create them!
Time to decolonize our bodies, mind, emotions and spirit. Time for freedom, peace and prosperity! Time to UNGRIP and Graduate Life with Honours!
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I appreciate you posting this. It has expanded my understanding of what you have done. I wonder, however, if this self subjugation to authority goes back much farther than you indicate here, back to primal tribal mentality when we had to submit to the Alpha male or female of our packs, tribes, clans, vils, in order to survive and remain part of the group. This willingness and even sought for meekness to authority has led to our submission to those who abuse us through wars, and other forms of violence. And now as governments become more and more intrusive and controlling the vast majority simply comply. It's a deeply ingrained "survival" instinct. Or perhaps this submissiveness comes from old genetic memories of being peasants under the rule of Kings and Queens, Popes and Lords.
I don't hold much hope for the masses taking back their rightful self-government and responsibility. You are a rare case. Unfortunately this means an unending cycle of war and violence. The only other hope is for those who rule to relinquish their dominion over the masses. That is probably more unlikely. So what to do? Answer me that my friend and I'll be tempted to put you on the pedestal we both despise.
Oh, and just so you know, I've been a painting contractor for decades (recently retired). I never bowed my knee to the State for a license. That reduced my potential income significantly because most people are well indoctrinated into using only "licensed" contractors. But that's the price I paid. At one time I told the IRS to stuff it too, but finally bowed to that authority. Sad to say. But I did other...hmnn.. strategies to limit their abuse along that line. I have not had the testicular fortitude you have in severing all ties to the state. I do think, however, that as technology and government surveillance increases there will be more and more people who seek separation in order to maintain their very survival as "humans". But that's another discussion.
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I am also very short on testicles but am trying to grow a pair.
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Well, I'll just have to trust you on that one. As far as growing a pair, well... many blessings and may they come in wild and strong!
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I agree with you that it may have started long ago. In a healthy tribe, those kinds of ambitions would not manifest. But if somebody within the tribe gets corrupted with greed or lust for power, it is easy to then take over the tribe and instill themselves as 'king'. Once there, it is easy to then move into a feudal empire model and really cause problems which manifested to what we see today.
I also agree with you that most people would not want to do anything about it. What I've done is indeed rare, but will also be necessary when the feudal powers consolidate their authority and violence. The people will be faced with a choice: enslave themselves to their feudal king and put up with the abuse, fight a war and repeat the process for another 250 years or evolve their consciousness, declare peace and live independently of the feudal kings.
The stress, anxiety, pain and suffering of the current feudal model is making it more difficult for people to ignore these choices. I foresee a time where they will be forced to make a choice. Only then will they surrender what is familiar but painful and choose some other option which is not familiar but holds hope for peace, freedom and prosperity. I think everyone is aware now just how corrupt those that wear masks actually are. Now it is only a matter of time until the comfort of their feudal slavery is less than the comfort of taking some risks and doing something else that is not familiar at all. That is when change will unfold.
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Ah, but what will the change be? History has shown us that with each rebellion or revolution a new set of masters appear. With no apparent alternative the masses will just do what they have always done, but this time "it will be different" they say. I'm rather pessimistic regarding humanities ability to shift unaided by some outside power. I mean look at it this way: even here on Steemit we automatically arrange ourselves in little fiefdoms and look toward "leaders". But, yes now that I think of it, we are establishing Cooperative Abundance here. And everyone must be self-responsible. But we are the 10%, the other 90% bailed out. What about those folks? They will be looking for a leader. Oh my... time to take a walk.
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Yes and I do believe that was foretold in scripture too. All we can do is walk our path and lead by example. We cannot make them walk through the door. That choice is and always was theirs to make.
But I'm not going to stand around and wait. I'm going to do everything I can to bring awareness and make life uncomfortable for those who are floundering in the hopes that my work will thaw their heart and they start to recognize the trap that they are in. Freedom is a spiritual journey and healing must take place for it to unfold. People are healing. I have faith that it won't be 10% as you suggested but much higher. We can even reach those who engage in violence and appear to be narcissists, sociopaths and even psychopaths. Of that I have no doubt. I used to be one of them. <3
We lead by example my friend. That is the only form of leadership they will find. Any other leader is only building empires and I would stay away from them.
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Let us be wise, and if not, then let us be humbled.
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I have been an expert at blaming others for my problems. My husband being my main focus. There were many others. But he was the main one. My life partner, Father to my two oldest boys committed suicide when the boys were three and five years old. I blamed him for leaving us and the hardships that followed. I even blamed him for my marriage to the man I married after that. Who would want a woman with two young children? So I married the first one who came along.
I have been working to go off grid for years. By the end of this summer that should be accomplished.
My thinking was I could withdraw from the world. And not have to bother with society. That is no longer true. I have been working on my communication skills so to be able to connect with people. Reconciling relationships that are reconcilable. If the other individual involved is not willing to try I let it go and move on. I have made tremendous progress. Sometimes there is so much going on around me that I need to disengage. I came accost a post by @eco-alex https://steemit.com/ecotrain/@eco-alex/aeifbm54 that has been very helpful to me. When I get tense or frustrated I do this exercise.
Peace starts with me.
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My dear spiritual sister, I am so impressed with how conscious you are. If we could all be as aware as you are, this world would look very different. Well done. If you could ever make it up here for the retreats that I'm co-facilitating, I think you would have lots to offer and get so much out of them. Keep doing the great work! You are doing wonderful! <3
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You have really given me some things and topics to think about...
So basically BIG BROTHER is ruling over my future, financial well-being and if you get right down to it, my survival. Nope, they can keep my money then. I can balance a checkbook, pay bills on time without borrowing and live within my means... but it looks as if Congress cannot balance a budget, stop going deeper into debt, etc... so yeah.. keep my pittance of a monthly disability check; it seems you need it more than me.
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Ahhhh, my dear spiritual sister. It is a challenge eh! I want to acknowledge what you said as these same thoughts and feelings are what I experienced going through the process myself. It is not an easy path as we have been dependent upon the state for our entire lives. When we start to build true community we then start to establish the support and infrastructure we need to help one another.
I hear you and stand here to testify to my own journey. It takes time ... a life time. There is no switch that we can turn on to change things. This is a spiritual journey and that is what this life is ... a spiritual journey. That means our work is presenting itself at every moment of every day. How exciting is that? :)
I must say that I disagree with this one statement. I've found in my own life that by healing myself, all those life long challenges that I suffered with, went away. I don't believe for a moment that anything that we experience has no cure. When we heal our Spirit, mind and feelings, our vessel heals as physical illness is a manifestation of emotional, mental and spiritual illness. Our faith and belief can heal anything as the placebo effect often demonstrates.
Thank you for taking the time to write such a pointed and timely response. You are not alone in those thoughts my friend. I pray that we can help each other through the journey. Peace to you.
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I've come to the resolution that I need to take my own health's future into my own hands. Not sure why I was chosen by the Heavenly Father to have this disease, but I know there is a reason. And perhaps one day, I'll discover it.
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Healing is a big thing I need to do right now. And I believe then, the rest will follow gracefully. I myself love to be there for others and help them with what they need. It is a need that I have to help others. It is a good feeling.
Beautiful post. Perhaps one day I will get to meet you on the other side of being off grid :)
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I look forward to the day when we could break bread together and get to know one another. Peace to you.
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What a wonderful post. You are so correct in how we take on things and beliefs that are not our own. I love to read your posts. It is great to see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel (so to speak)<3
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Thanks again for another crucially helpful post! I am a culture of one already but haven't learned to love it just yet. Working dilligently to eliminate my dependencies one by one, I wasn't born free but I will die free.
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nices health posts
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wow this is really amazing
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