We’re thrilled to introduce you to this month’s guest editor, a woman who truly embodies wellness from the inside out: the radiant Marianne Williamson. We’ve been fans of Marianne’s work for years – her books have a permanent spot on our shelves, her lectures are on repeat on our iPods, and her words of wisdom are scattered about our vision board. As if this six-time #1 New York Times bestselling author
, speaker, philanthropist and all-around visionary could not get more inspiring, next month Marianne is looking to add another role to her bio: United States Congresswoman. In true Marianne Williamson style, she is encouraging “a new conversation for a new America” and sparking a political dialogue that is reaching everyone from governors and gurus to activists and actors. This paradigm shift from the stereotypical political candidacy is bringing all walks of life together in support of an inclusive government that is truly “by the people, from the people, and for the people.”
We could go on, but no one could speak on the matter so eloquently as Marianne herself. All month long, Marianne will be sharing her words of wisdom with Chalkboard readers on everything from political activism to personal growth. Prepare for a month to remember here on TCM. Here’s Marianne...
Dear Chalkboard readers,
Why politics? Sometimes we don’t want anything to do with politics because it seems so toxic, so small-minded and unconscious. But how can we complain that politics is lower consciousness, if those of us who value higher consciousness haven’t been contributing to the political dialog?
We can’t be “selectively awake” – awake to issues in relationships, spirituality, psychotherapy, food and nutrition and everything else, but then leave politics out of the mix. There will be no enlightened world unless we’re willing to bring enlightened attitudes everywhere – not only to some areas of life. We can’t really say we’re concerned about bringing love into the world but then not concern ourselves with the fact that 17,000 children starve each day. If that’s the case, then where is the love?
I’ve always been intrigued by the writings of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., and their words ring in my ears as I now run my own campaign for elected office. Gandhi said, “Politics should be sacred.” By that, he did not mean religious; he meant wise, authentic and reverential toward the things that matter most. Politics should be the container for the deepest conversation among us, but instead politics have become the container for the shallowest conversation among us. I’ve dedicated my campaign to the effort to change that, and I’m inspired again and again by what I see happen when citizens come together – not thinking about who’s Republican and who’s Democrat, who’s right and who’s left, but simply as concerned Americans, pondering with clear minds and pure hearts the state of our country and what we can do to improve it.
I don’t think politics is the salvation of the world; I think love is the salvation of the world. But love must be applied. It’s an active, not just a passive emotion. Love is a powerful healer in one person’s life, and between two people. Now let’s imagine it extending into the life of the collective. Gandhi, according to Martin Luther King, Jr., “turned love into a broad-scale social force for good.” Gandhi said that love could heal our social and political relationships, as well as our personal ones.
And once again, it’s time to try…
Marianne Williamson
