For so long we have lived in a society of competition and conquering as a mark of success, but now as the market plunges and our country continues spending trillions of dollars in seemingly unending wars -- some new ideals are changing the tides. A little something called Social Networking seems to be the new order of the day!
Facebook and LinkedIn are two Social Networks that are growing tremendously. As subscriber numbers increase in masses, the energy of cooperation instead of competition is beginning to prevail. In fact, sharing instead of obtaining is emerging as a preferred way to do business and live life.
Another type of Social Network popping up and growing quickly is entrepreneurial groups for women. My favorite is Ladies Who Launch. I joined with them one year ago when I was launching my clothing line, Lotus Blossom Style. The group was set up to help women do business the way women like to do business - through resource sharing and networking. Other groups I am fond of are An Empowered Woman and Spirited Woman, both based in Los Angeles. What I've seen among my friends and colleagues is that women are no longer stuck in a stereotype, no longer pitted against one another as backstabbers and catfighters. Instead, women are claiming their power as business owners and helping one another grow and expand into their dreams and potential.
I wonder if this new generous attitude of resource sharing and networking could lead to a new way of being? And...why is this happening now in this dog-eat-dog market crash and burn environment?
One theory of mine is that the Divine Feminine is coming back with gusto into our lives. The Divine Feminine, a term used to describe the feminine aspect of the Universe (Divinity, God, or however you like to call what is larger than ourselves), has typically represented the qualities of love, compassion, wisdom, receptivity, sharing and kindness. It has been personified for thousands of years through goddess archetypes such as Kuan Yin, Tara, Aphrodite, Athena, Kali, Isis, Gaia and others. Through the years women and men in many cultures have continued to honor goddesses, however lately there seems to be a resurgence. In fact this weekend I am attending an event in Los Angeles to celebrate our ancient connection to the Divine Feminine, called the Gaia Festival. This is one of many celebrations around the globe honoring the Divine Feminine.
Once upon a time it was about the lone wolf attitude of who could make the most money the fastest. However, the free-falling of our own stock market followed quickly by similar dire straights of the foreign markets only emphasizes our interconnectedness. No one really knows exactly why the market is crashing now, but perhaps we could draw a lesson from the way these Social Networks and the Divine Feminine envision the world with their emphasis on cooperation and sharing of resources and an appreciation of the interconnectedness of all of us. Could this very old, and at the same time new way of being transform our society?