Turning the other way or dealing with the problem

“The ancient Nordic Saga, the Elder Edda, says that the Well of Remembrance is located at the foot of Yggdrasil, the world tree. It confers on anyone who drinks from its waters the ability to see in new ways and to tap the ancient knowledge and wisdom of Earth and mankind. As the saga relates, Odin, hearing of this well, desired to drink from it, and he approached the well’s guardian, Mimir, (from whose name the word memory comes) to ask for permission. After questioning Odin, Mimir agreed, but first told Odin that there would be a price- it would cost him one of his eyes.

It has often been said that the wisdom in this is that to gain knowledge and vision of the ancient worlds, one must give up how one has been seeing.”- Stephen Buehler

This excerpt relates to my view of the world taught to me as a child. In every stage of adolescence we under go a shift in view of the world. The discovery that Santa Claus isn’t real shifts our view of the world from a mythic one to a more cautious one. We begin to not believe everything we are told.

However, this shifting in perception we go through in life may not always be cynical. Falling in love for instant can shift our perception of the world. Or a reading a book that frees us from new consciousness.

What about the truths that are terrifying and depressing. The truths that can change our identity construct. If you believed yourself to be eating, doing, or acting in the best manner possible then find out that is not the case- what do you do? Do you accept and do something about it or to borrow a phrase: do you look the other way?

If you accept that truth how can you change your life to adjust to your new perspective of the world as it is. Just accepted it isn’t enough, just as words aren’t enough without action.

Take the environmental movement. The people in the environmental movement are good at protesting, but are they good at changing their own lives? I don't know either way but its clear that protest isn't enough without actions. What steps are necessary? How far do you go?

The idea of process comes to mind when we examine the environmental movement. One person isn't perfect nor should they strive to be. Its easy to get fixed onto ... I can't thinking, because they think if that is broken then who would I be. 

If we break down a life into making steps towards a goal and finding out just how far you need to go down the rabbit hole, can you find the sweet that goes along with the bitter? When I came to Korea, I  saw a healthier way of eating combined with an strong herbalist medicine tradition. I liked this. I thought maybe that Korean's treated their animals with a degree of respect unlike American's.

Then a friend of mine sent me this:

South Korea Reportedly Buries 1.4 Million Pigs Alive To Combat Foot And Mouth Disease

 It's the Korean food industries's response to food and mouth disease spread from pigs. It doesn't take much to understand what the significance of the surface issue is. The Korean government burried 1.4 million pigs- an immediate response to protect the spread of the disease. But the implications are what has really affected me.  It means that there is no doubt that Korean's participate in factory farming. Because without factory farming such a disease would not be an epidemic. When you raise animals in poor conditions when they get sick and then when you put them in tight quarters then anybody can see the danger in this.

This hit me in the mind and the stomach.  I thought I wasn't a participant in such system. I was buying organic for health reasons but I didn't know Koreans participated in factory farming so I would eat anything my school gave me.

I won't look away from this! I won't support this system. So unless its raised on a farm that practices organic farming I won't eat it.  This means that because of the cost of organic meat, I'll be eating more fish than meat.

I take this as one step in a process. I am choosing to opt-out and find an alternative. The more I learn about this world the more crucial it becomes that I make these choices- whatever that may be.  There is a more natural way of living to participate in but to do that there is a lot of studying for me to do to learn how to do it. Then take those steps. What other option is there?