issue 19: Balance
A state of centeredness and calm equilibrium? The harmonious tension between a diverse mix of influences? Considerate weighing of information from different sources? An active resistance to being pulled to any one side?…
What is "Balance" for you?
In the previous issue of the CG (issue 18: "Bridging the Rift") we considered the very different though complementary roles our left and right brain hemispheres play in how we view, relate to and act in the world. Bisecting this lateral connection on the vertical axis is the heart-brain-gut connection working together and exchanging information via the nervous system. While the left and right hemispheres could be represented as our Angel on one shoulder and Devil on the other (the left with a me-centered "do whatever it takes at any cost to others to accomplish the goal" mentality; the right with a more holisitic, moral and empathic appreciation for how all parts are integral, interconnected and work together for a greater benefit to all), the vertical heart-brain-gut relationship could be seen as a film production crew with the brain as the Director (planning, logic), the heart as the Lead Actor (emotion, passion), and the gut as the Producer (survival, intuition, energy management). Together—especially when in a good and balanced relationship with one another—they form a tridirectional axis ensuring cohesive, intelligent, and survival-driven action. The key to best functioning of both the lateral brain hemisphere connection and vertical heart-brain-gut axis is, you guessed it, balance.
In Buddhist wisdom, the basic idea of intrinsic balance is called The Middle Way. In our world of complexity and clever illusions, this Middle Way is a reliably trustworthy and sustainable path overall—not too this or that, not too rigid nor too loose but centered, flexible and able to accommodate differences. In psychological terms we know that an overtly "good” persona (social mask) more often conceals an equally dark interior with ulterior motives very much not aligned with the projected image of self. Likewise, a person whose sincere and genuine nature can be fully owned and seen reflected in their words and actions—not disingenuously "good" nor terrible—tends to be of a more trustworthy character. And the opposite is often true. Have you ever encountered a grumpy, seemingly unfriendly or otherwise challenging personality only to find on deeper inspection that rough or bristly persona actually conceals a pure heart of gold? The world we live in is complex and we can all too often be led astray by surface appearances, first-glance assessments and most definitely by popular notions of what is factual and reliable. By aligning ourselves with a more balanced perspective on all things, we more fully appreciate the dynamic complexities of life, of those in it and we may also see through many of the paradoxical or contradictory representations we so often encounter.
In this issue of Community Garden you're invited us to consider both a balanced perspective and a balanced biome. We cannot address what it means to be in community without acknowledging the fractal ecology of diverse beings that make up not just the wild world we call nature, but our wildly diverse human communities and the even wilder ecosystems within each of us collectively referred to as the microbiota. This diverse biome of our bodies consists of a multitude of bacteria, archaea, protists, fungi and viruses (which outnumber actual human cells, btw) that not only inhabit our gut primarily but have a significant influence on our thoughts, moods and discernment via the “3 brains” of the gut-heart-brain axis.
Included in this issue are…
some lighthearted examples of how expanding our frame of view can change our perception of a situation.
a brief education on the gut biome with practical resources for how to bolster the number and necessary diversity of “good guys” in our gut.
a fascinating story of how a “bad guy” corporation finally turned "good" under pressure and how the “bad guy” bacteriophages from the nastiest places (and the “bad guy” country that first introduced the groundbreaking science) turned out to be the heroes that saved a man’s life.
some artfully rendered cautionary tales about the mono monster of our human making that creates destructive mono crops, mono cultures, mono media + so many other monopolies that run it all and what effect this mono mindset has on the balance of our world.
and you may also discover the little Easter Egg tucked into the fold that holds special relevance to our GW community.
By the end of this exploration, we may be reframing our notions of "bad guys” and "good guys” altogether. We may be more willing to explore diverse perspectives and diversify what we consume as food and information. We may be better able to appreciate the subtle nuances and complex dynamics within all things. We may be more inclined to value what has worked well over time while being more adventurous about trying new things... This is the hope and invitation. God knows the widening gaps of divisiveness and polarity have not served us well!
In Truth, Beauty and Goodness,
B. Monique
Find the full issue 19: Balance here.
