Over the last few months I've been exploring the nature of conflict. After talking with Larry Santoyo the conversation has returned within me.. and I'd like to sum up some of the things he spoke to in his dialog.

Conflict is everywhere in nature. In a world of opposites, dichotomy, contradiction and paradox conflict is a form within nature. Out of conflict we find friction, and in friction and discomfort we find energy, change and new vitality. Without those uncomfortable spaces, without the friction, without conflict life would cease to exist.

I'm reminded of West Coast Native American Art where there is use of the form known as the ovoid. The ovoid is a circle in tension.What comes through is this idea that the things are not circular, but instead everything exists in a state of dynamic beautiful tension.

I'm no expert on Native art, but I would guess that it's no mistake that these are often the shapes that make up the eyes of the artist rendered creatures.

I also think of a story I read in Ram Dass' book The Only Dance there Is. He talks about sitting in meditation with a group in Brooklyn or somewhere. There was a train that passed by the space, and every time it would pass Ram would open his eyes and see people clenching their jaws and squinting their eyes in resistance to the noise and train tremors. He himself realized at that moment that the train, the noise, the tremors, was simply energy passing through the space. Free energy, bountiful and abundant! So why the squinting? It comes from resistance and judgment of something that simply IS. When in reality is a just a beautiful magical exchange.

this is how I've been trying to think of conflict lately... I've been attempting to suspend judgment and ride the wave. I've been trying to enjoy the tension of the ovoid, the abundance of free energy, and delve into it all with a compassionate and open heart.

peace,d