The Field Effects of Our Every Action and Thought

– A process for comprehensive consideration of all that we do, say, think…

Part 1. Awareness of the Field Effect

This process is to support the awakening of people to the field effects of their every action and thought.

If we drop a very small pebble into a pond, ripples will go out from where we dropped the pebble, no matter how small or large the pebble, or how large or small the pond. These ripples have an effect on the whole dynamic of the pond, whether we like it or not. Therefore, to be truly conscious and responsible for our every action and thought, we need to consider with exquisite care the effect of our action and the dynamics that are created when we take that action. What effects will our ripples have on the fish in the pond, on the retaining wall, on the growth of the lily pads, on the people who fish in the pond, and the people who buy the fish, eat the fish, or come to the pond to contemplate their future…and the animals who drink from the pond?

Our history of humanity is littered with examples of how we have not considered the field effects of our actions and thoughts. As the movie “Blood Diamond” highlighted, to wear a beautiful diamond on our hand is no longer an innocent action. At what price, from the very beginnings of the formation of the diamond, to its mining, to who mined it, and under what circumstances and at what cost…human, land, nation, soul…to its pathway to my hand, the buyer, the seller, the next buyer, the diamond cutter. What is the real cost of this diamond? The all-in accounting cost?

Awareness of the field effect always considers the whole. (For synergy to be present, we must start with the whole. You cannot determine the whole by examining the parts separately.)

We are now living the consequences of our thinking, which until this time has focused on an outcome with little or no consideration of the field effects.

The people of the Maldive Islands, for example, have hardly registered on the scale of greenhouse gas use. Yet their entire country is under threat of immersion from rising sea levels, so that other countries can enjoy urban sprawl, and all the other wonderful choices we have as wealthy nations.

As part of a global world, and as we become more conscious, we can no longer afford to ignore the field effects of our every action. The butterfly fluttering its wings in the Amazon can indeed cause a typhoon in Asia.

Each and every one of us is the butterfly. How are we fluttering our wings? With consciousness, consideration, care and reverence for all of life? Comprehensively considerate?

Part 2. The recursive nature intrinsic within comprehensive consideration of our field effect.

Our awareness may awaken in us various forms of energy and emotion, from;

Rage

Anger

Frustration

Anxiety

Fear

Indifference

Empathy

Excitement

Inspiration

Compassion

And our emotions may move us to choose an action.

Therefore, intrinsic in the very design of our awareness process, we must build an environment that supports all of these possible energies of emotion in a way that channels the energy towards a flow of healthy life for all sentient beings.

Anger about the blood diamond is acceptable, but if my anger moves to action, it is important that I pause and consider what action I take. And what are the field effects of that action? My action may be to resort to an open expression of anger, such as taking up a fight with the mine managers. Or my anger may move me to create a petition, or even better, a movie with a major star to play the lead role, outlining the story of the Blood Diamonds.

Herein lies the recursive nature intrinsic within comprehensive consideration of our field effect. My anger may move me closer or further away from care and consideration of the whole, and the healthy flow of all of life.

Which path will I choose? When we design programs and events for awareness, are we also considering the field effects in all aspects of our design?

Buckminster Fuller used a similar model, which he described as precession. Often, he would say that man’s side effect was nature’s main effect.