When I first came across the phrase All My Relations in an essay by Richard Wagamese, it warmed my heart, in part because I remember reading about Rabbit, who loved all his friends and relations in the wonderful children’s stories about Winnie the Pooh :-).
There is much richness as we deepen into the words All my relations. Here is the context: our currents times are plagued by deep polarization, us/them thinking, zeno-phobia…the very opposite of positive thinking. These destructive habits of mind and speech create divisions and anxiety and hatred. We are not going to overcome these challenges if we do not find ways to recognize the way we are connected, the commonalties we all share, the things that are important to each of us… no matter how we vote or where we live or what colour our skin is.
Wagamese’s essay really invites a life transformation. Here in his words what he means when he says, all my relations:
I’ve been considering the phrase ‘all my relations’ for some time now. It’s hugely important. It’s our saving grace in the end. It points to the truth that we are related, we are all connected, we all belong to each other. The most important word is all. Not just those who look like me, sing like me, dance like me, speak like me, pray like me or behave like me. ALL my relations. It means every person just as it means every blade of grass, rock, mineral and creature. We live because everything else does. If we were to collectively choose to live that teaching the energy of that change of consciousness would heal all of us – and heal the planet. We do it one person, one heart at a time…we are connected, we are the answer.
What a positive thinking shift this would be! How it could help us in overcoming challenges!
All our relations is also the interbeing that the Dalai Lama refers to. He also emphasizes that we are all connected, interconnected. We are one. We are not separate. We have to learn to get along. We need to be able to talk to each other if we’re gonna come out of this alive! Literally! And what a great opportunity, no matter what our religion, no matter what our beliefs, we can open to each other, we can Awaken from the Trance of Bad Othering, as Tara Brock says.
If you want to explore an even deeper version of this topic, I invite you to check out what Charles Eisenstein says about all my relations. He truly suggests a life transformation. I am not there yet, but I appreciate his offerings. Listen here as he talks about An Us That Requires No Them
I’d love to hear how all this lands with you. We’re in this together!
Jill Schroder is the author of BECOMING: Journeying Toward Authenticity. BECOMING is an invitation for self-reflection, and to mine our memorable moments for insights, meaning, and growth. Check the website for a sample chapter, or see the reviews to get a flavor for the volume. Your feedback, forwards, tweets, and likes are most welcome.