Rain falls softly as I type.
The day has given way to evening and the sun sets in the west behind the trees.
There is a chill in the air; I have lit the stove.
Birds swoop low over the roof of the lodge; so low, I can hear the sound of their wings.
Over recent weeks there has been much clearing out of sheds, cupboards and closets, as the energy of approaching Midsummer holds sway.
Through all of this, I have been mindful of need; keeping up a steady flow of goods to charity shops.
Ever mindful of human need, my mind turns to scarcity.
What does it mean and how does it affect us?
Scarcity is the fundamental economic problem of having seemingly unlimited human wants in a world of limited resources. It states that society has insufficient productive resources to fulfil all human wants and needs.
The art of seduction in society has led to a feeling of scarcity in the mindset of many people.
Media and advertisements seduce many into a perpetual state of want; and when not getting what they desire, into a state of perceived deprivation.
This is what creates and maintains consumers.
Living in a corporate society means being a consumer.
It has suited successive governments to align their economic policy with that of corporations, turning us all into little more than consumers.
Every aspect of our lives is heavily weighted in favour of consumption, yet not even the corporate junk food fills us up!
In the process of this debasement we have lost our sense of community and dignity.
We have been systematically seduced into a continual state of perceived scarcity…the cause of a deepening unhappiness.
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I am always up for the art of seduction Colette…..ggrrrrrr
Bit sparse out there grin
I so appreciate your words of wisdom and thought. I try to read your thoughts over and over, making them a part of my own life. It is so sad the direction our world is heading, and very few are truly aware of the hazards we are facing. So many are “programmed” to respond in the appropriate ways and not to think for themselves of FOR the world we live in…and Yes … SHE is so alive and needs us right now.
Thank you so much for bringing that to our attention and helping those of us who WANT to think for HER and ourselves…to do so…
Bright Blessings
jo
I was thinking about the journey I have made with her over these past 11 years and now recognise the immense connection we all have with her…thankfully many are realising that truth and finding true happiness in union with Mother Earth.
Blessings XXX
Colette
Reblogged this on Diggin' For Victory! and commented:
Just came across this lovely blog about a permaculture small-holding in Ireland, maintained by Colette O’Neill. Quite an amazing, and very worthwhile transformation. Thought I’d share this piece about consumerism with you, dear readers.
Hi collettebeen following all your posts and they are very inspirational – am still in wonderment from that lovely visit Gnanam and i made to your little havengoing to try to attach some photos of my outfit taken a couple of weeks ago by my other daughter’s partnermust learn at least to comment on blogs if not how to blog myselfi’ve forgotton the name of that lovely foliage plant you had growing all around the water pools-what is it called ?love vera (samuel) There was an error attaching this file.
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2014 20:26:28 +0000 To: verasamuel21@hotmail.com
Hi Vera and good to hear from you!
The plant you refer to is the Gunnera Manicata…at least that is the one I think you talk of.
Looking forward to the pics!
Blessings XXX
Nail on the head Colette, isn’t it sad though. And today I just read that 33 American cities have made it illegal for anyone to give food to the homeless!!!! How can they think to legislate against human kindness?? It is beyond me, trying to figure out the corporate mind.
The corporate mind is unfathomable; don’t try to go there! Shame on the US regime, or any other that legislates such brutality!
I totally agree with you Colette
wonderful writing…thank you for sharing…havent commented lately but am often thinking of you..I have been clearing too…and am contemplating a move..although i live in a beautiful isolated spot, a hamlet of half a dozen homes spread over a mile, the neighbours insist on spraying and yesterday my magick herb patch which i have nurtured this past 8 years got a dose of MCPA. To have mindful work undone left me very upset. But pondering how I can get away from it (the sprays)…seems endemic and very connected to the scarcity, consumer, profit world..
I have neighbours who spray too, but am protected by trees and dense hedges that make up zone 5 in permaculture. Do you have the space to do the same? It is a heartbreaking experience when so much time and nurture has gone into planting 🙁
Blessings X
Colette that is put so so well, summing up exactly one of the biggest problem of our times, the terrible thing about it is the fact 9 out of 10 people are completely unaware of this, and live their whole existence in a state of want, always striving for the next ‘thing’.
having come to where I am now in my life after living the majority of my younger years thinking I needed this and that to be happy, it feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. through necessity at first following a broken marriage and two young children to bring up, I learnt many years ago the difference between need and want. I am in such a better place now and so much happier with so much less materially and so much more of whats really important – love, friendship and living alongside mother earth and all her bounty. have a wonderful day. we have that lovely mix of sunshine and heavy thundery downpours here in the ne of England – my favourite type of weather. bright blessings lovely lady
It is a wickedness that governments perpetuate; yet when it suits them, as in WW2, they can easily break the myth of perpetual want, instead, encouraging people to share and be happier!
Have a lovely day, Margy…blessings XXX
Well said! Life is very complicated. Yesterday, I discovered a lump on one of my dogs. It wasn’t the usual soft type. I immediately rang the Vet’s and was able to take her there. The vet will operate on Monday morning.
When I was driving back home, it struck me how fortunate I was that I was able to, (a) get a quick appointment, (b) drive to the vet’s, (c) be able to afford pet insurance, which would cover all eventualities. I thought about what I would have open to me if I didn’t have these resources. Years ago of course I would have accepted the consequences. Does this then make me a weak person? I don’t know.
I like to think that I am fairly self-sufficient, and in many ways, I am. But this certainly makes me a consumer. Another aspect of this is my total disapproval of animal experimentation practised by the pharmaceutical companies, but the drugs that us and our pets use are a result of it.
Life certainly is complicated.
We are all consumers to a point in that we have real needs that have to be met one way or another. I can’t afford pet insurance, but keep a pot of small savings, a few hundred to cover eventualities. I am also able to lend this when needed in a hurry to others in the same boat. The point is the endless and often pointless consumerism; for example the bombardment of advertising, all sanctioned by government, that feed into that eternal desire for more of everything.
As for drugs…take antibiotics for example; through continued consuming for little or no reason, we now have the deadly MRSA, which is a hospital killer. Drug companies are not there to cure people but to keep them consuming.
I hope all is well with your dog.
Have a lovely day!
Blessings XXX