August 05-C, 2022

There is cooperating with the power
coursing through life and being,
and there is co-opting and coercing that power
(Or attempting to).

This is the theme of the Star Wars movies,
and is the difference between Yoda and Palpatine.
Using the Force for our own ends
(Or attempting to)
is the way of the Dark Side.

Doing our work and stepping back,
stepping aside,
getting out of the way of The Way,
and "letting nature take its course,"
is the Way of the Tao
as noted about 500 BCE
in The Lao Tzu
(Also called, "The Tao Te Ching").

This is the seminal truth
of the story of the Garden of Eden
running from Eden to Gethsemane and Golgotha, 
and is the bane of humankind. 

Each individual over the long span of humanity
chooses how to live in relation to the Tao,
and that is the choice that tells the tale--
of our individual life
and of the collective life of the species.

It is explored in the works of Carl Jung
and Joseph Campbell
and is the theme of our existence.

To cooperate or coerce?
We decide anew 
in each situation as it arises,
or, more accurately, decide
in each of the first few situations,
and then automatically maintain the momentum
of the Dear and Glorious Tradition
throughout what remains of our life,
though the Light continues to shine 
through the cracks
to enlighten/awaken/illumine
those who can see/hear/understand/know/do/be
even now,
even so,
even yet.

To cooperate or coerce?
The choice is always ours to make,
and choosing wisely is always the hope
of humankind.

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