TO CHANGE SOCIETY WE MUST CHANGE OUR BELIEFS

Societies Are Relational Energy Fields.

Therefore -

To Change Society

We Must Change The Way We Relate.

However - The Way We Relate Depends On Our Beliefs.

Therefore -

 To Change The Way We Relate We Must Change Our Beliefs.

What Is A Society?

What does the definition in the title - “societies are relational energy fields" – really mean?

Individuals aren't societies. Societies emerge when individuals come together. When they relate.

And the type of society they form depends on how they relate – on the kind of relational energy field they co-create.

This is how I understand the definition "societies are relational energy fields".

What Shapes A Society?

So the kind of society people will co-create depends on how they relate when they come together.

And how they relate will depend on their beliefs, and the values that emerge from those beliefs..

For example - people who believe in a judgemental deity that rewards obedience (and punishes disobedience) to its decrees, value conformity and disapprove of individualism - and this leads to very specific, strict ways in which everyone is expected to relate (and punished if they don´t).

Basing themselves on such beliefs and values they co-create a relational energy field that (in their eyes) supports everyone in receiving the deity´s approval and avoiding its wrath.

A very different society emerges from people who believe the universe is a random, amoral, inter-species and intra-species battle for domination. In contrast to the previous society, these people value power, with all of its accoutrements – wealth, fame, influence, and so on – creating an individualistic, competitive, combative relational energy field.

This doesn´t mean that everyone in such a society is competitive (just as in an obedience-society not everyone is unquestioning and compliant). People survive the dominant relational energy field of their society in their own ways, and there are endless counter-currents and sub-cultures in every society. But in a meaningless-universe/power-valuing society the overarching field will be competitive. Education will be characterised by exams, business will be a fight for market supremacy, sport will be about winning or losing, and everyday life will be a jostling, hedonistic consumer pursuit of luxury and comfort.

Beliefs And Values Of A Respectful Society

So if we don´t want to live in a relational energy field of obedience/disobedience, nor in an energy field of individualism and competition – if we want to live in an energy field of Mutual Respect – then what are the beliefs and values from which such a field/society would emerge? And how do we go about co-creating it?

After many decades contemplating this question I have come to the opinion that the following beliefs would be foundational for the co-creation of a respectful relational energy field - a respectful society:

(1) Recognising that human perception, feeling, thought and intuition is limited and fallible, we believe that we do not fully know The Truth about Existence.

(2) Although we recognise that we don´t fully understand Existence Itself, we believe that we ourselves, every other person, and every living creature belongs to, or is part of, The Magnificent Mystery of Existence.

(3) In fact, we believe we are all unique expressions, or unique manifestations, of the Magnificent Mystery of Existence.

And what are the values that emerge from these beliefs? Not obedience, not competition – but respect. Respect for existence – for creation, for life itself. Respect for ourselves. And respect for each other. Respect. And equality. And unity.

But could the creation of respectful society on Earth be that simple? If we opened to these beliefs would human society be transformed? Yes, I believe it would! But...

The opening is not that simple! To open to these beliefs - and feel them, and live them – to be able to live in respect, equality and unity - can take a lifetime of commitment to The Path of Self Knowledge. Why?

The Personal Path Towards The Beliefs And Values Of A Respectful Society

It can take a moment to accept these beliefs, intellectually. But it can take a lifetime to understand them - and embody them. Firstly, because it takes enormous courage and humility to admit that one does not fully know The Truth about Existence. It requires great centredness and honesty – a kind of stable emotional nakedness. And this can take many years to evolve within us – gradually enabling us to live on the edge - embracing our fear, not seeking refuge in certainties, experiencing the freedom of a life beyond definitions.

And (to be clear) “to not know” does not mean we can´t believe in God or The Goddess, or Universal Love, or The Oneness or The Tao – or believe that only matter exists, that there is no co-ordinating intelligence – that the cosmos is empty of meaning and feeling. It means that we acknowledge the fragility of our beliefs. It means that we acknowledge that the beliefs of others are as valid as our own - that however passionately we might believe in God, our belief is in no way superior to the belief of the Atheist. And vice versa, of course.

It means that we acknowledge that none of us knows everything - that every perspective is limited - that we are all looking up at the stars through our own, limited, unique eyes - and accepting that everyone has their reasons for concluding what they conclude.

Nor is “not-knowing” agnosticism - because it doesn´t see agnosticism as the superior stance. In fact, it is the renunciation of all superiority! Which brings us to the other reason why I feel the beliefs I propose as foundational for the co-creation of a respectful society (a respectful relational energy field) might not be as easy or obvious as they initially seem...

To accept that we are all part of “the same thing” (existence) - and that therefore (although we are all unique) We Are One – and that nobody is superior (or inferior) to anyone else - also requires enormous courage, humility, strength and openness. The ego thrives on overt and clandestine superiority – so the renunciation of superiority/inferiority (the embrace of our total existential equality) is the ultimate insult to the ego! And it usually takes many years of inner-work to get to know the many faces of the ego, and give them space, and love them all – so that, gradually, it accepts one as its guide through life – instead of being its servant (caught in its fantasies of superiority/inferiority).

We Can´t Learn Relationality Alone

Finally, obviously - we cannot learn to relate respectfully (in not-knowing, belonging and equality) alone! We need each other in order to practice this depth of relating. I will put a link at the end of this essay to the Conscious Relating Groups we offer within the Conscious Tribes Movement. But I believe there is no one right way to learn to live, and relate from, such foundational beliefs.

Call it forming a community, forming a tribe, or forming a support group – to me, it doesn´t matter! In one way or another, using one set of techniques or another, we need to come together. If we want to change society, if we want to co-create a society that is respectful of everyone´s uniqueness - for ourselves and our children and the generations to come – and if we understand that societies are relational energy fields dependent upon our underlying beliefs – then we need to (a) examine our beliefs, then (b) consider whether our beliefs generate respect, and (c) support each other in educating ourselves in living our beliefs.

This means coming together and co-creating respectful relational fields – microcosms of the societies we envision. Then we´ll really know what we´re talking about! We need to experience the shared, self-educational journey. We need to experience being together inside an energy field unlimited by certainties. We need to experience the relief of not being in (overt or subtle) competition with each other. And we need to know what inhibits us, and trips us up, and complicates the journey.

This means coming together regularly, for a long time. It means experiencing the open, respectful energy field, and also the closed, tense, neurotic field – and learning how to transit back into openness. And over time, of course, as we travel together in this way – we come to know each other, deeply. To be blunt - we come to love each other. And if new societies of respect and unity are ever to emerge - these groups and communities, I believe, will be the places from which they will emerge.

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To find out about the Conscious Tribes Movement “Conscious Relating Groups” go to https://www.tribusconscientes.com/wehelpyou-teayudamos

Then scroll down to where it says “Online Conscious Relating Community”

There is a new group starting this February.

If you´re interested, or have any questions at all, please feel free to get in touch, here:

https://www.tribusconscientes.com/contact

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Mark Josephs,

"Mark the Mystic Activist",

Aragon, Spain,

Winter 2025

"I feel The Conscious Tribes Movement carries something beautiful,

 profound, powerful and important.

I try to convey this in my articles, stories and poetry."

www.tribusconscientes.com

THE CONSCIOUS TRIBES MOVEMENT

Everything Depends On How We Relate!