Thursday, December 21, 2006 at 12:12am
Nurturing the unfolding of the next generation
Column: Our Place in the Universe
I was reading an interview with Joseph Chilton Pearce, the author of "The Crack in the Cosmic Egg, "Magical Child" as well as "The Biology of Transcendence." Pearce's passion is the study of what he calls the "unfolding" of intelligence in children.
One of the ideas that Pearce talks about is how teenagers are driven by three factors: a high sense of idealism, a sense of hidden greatness, and a sense of great expectation, that something tremendous is supposed to happen. This is all happening because of changes in brain function and an increase in growth spurts in the pre-frontal lobes of the brain.
Because of new growth and a profound change in their brain, as well as in their body, hormones and often responsibilities, teenagers, according to James Prescott at the National Institute of Health, need our support and nurturing more during this time of their development than they need our impatience and distrust.
Young adults need role models in order to develop this capability. They need people of integrity and character to offer quality to their expectations, depth to their idealism, and focus to their actions. Teenagers need an embracing environment as well, for this transformation to take place.
Reading this made me remember my own teenage years. I was definitely
idealistic. I don't know that I'd say I had a sense of hidden greatness, but I was sure that I'd be part of something great. And I knew that it was about to happen at any moment. In fact, I even wrote a song, "Some day I might just up and leave."
I was looking for God's will for my life's direction, and I didn't mind being different to accomplish it. Many of my friends had similar purposes, but with varying role models. Often in trying to be different or great, we all ended up being the same and droll.
My favorite shirt said "Peace and Love" on it. I was so proud of that shirt, since it expressed my ideals so succinctly, until my brother pointed out that everyone else had the same shirt, or a different shirt with the same message. And yet, why do I remember it so well for all these years?
Once again, I am drawn to nature to define and expose these thoughts to see a pattern. It was Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, author of "Faust," who identified the systematic study of the structure of organisms, particularly plants. What he distinguished was the "unfolding" of a seed, and how it transformed, grew, and developed into the adult plant — ever the same and yet consistently special.
It is this very "unfolding" that reveals the quality of each similarity. It is the experience of the "unfolding" that differentiates the tulip from the rose. The experience manifests each individual's unique characteristics, and yet they are modeled after the same source.
In our children's "unfolding" we often limit their experience because of our own prejudices, rules and regulations, and conditional nurturing. We are limited role models because of lack of time, arrogance or selfishness. Mostly, we discover, it is our own fear that is holding us back. We want to understand the unknown before we take that leap into our own growth and development. So how can we be adequate role models for our children?
However, love is not something to be understood, but experienced. It is only when loving that we are truly living, because love is a much more powerful emotion and motivator than fear is. Who will run into a burning building to save their child out of fear? This is the time of re-creating our families based on love — which is the power of allurement — the glue that binds the connections within the universe. And love begins with giving of oneself, with gratitude for something received.
When we're afraid or dying, it is possible to dig a hole, plant a seed, and then watch new life grow, bringing joy. Loving another or simply sharing yourself plants these seeds. That is the power of love. I think that is also the power of place. If we literally "plant a seed," we are practicing for the more esoteric seeds we will plant in the hearts of our children.
A shift is taking place in the highly specific, analytical, take-things-apart approach of science. This forward-looking but hierarchical pattern has served to uncover vast secrets of the universe, while at the same time trying to predict and control them. But nature will not be controlled. Science has also uncovered the principle that the outcome of our experiences is changed by our very participation in the observance of them.
This doesn't leave things to chance, but allows for the attitude, intention and responsibility of the observer. We are now drawn to include the more feminine, relational, situation-oriented approach. Our actions are becoming more nurturing and unifying. This in turn will lead to changes in our homes, which are rooted in "place," and a change in our worldview, which is rooted in a "participatory world," as we watch the "unfolding" of the next generation.
— — —
Anne E. Ulvestad is a free-lance writer residing in Maryland. She has her master's in earth literacy, and is available for public lectures and group presentations and rituals on Spirituality and the Environment. Anne can be reached at {email anne@ourplaceintheuniverse.com}anne@ourplaceintheuniverse.com{/email}. © copyright 2006 by Anne E. Ulvestad
One of the ideas that Pearce talks about is how teenagers are driven by three factors: a high sense of idealism, a sense of hidden greatness, and a sense of great expectation, that something tremendous is supposed to happen. This is all happening because of changes in brain function and an increase in growth spurts in the pre-frontal lobes of the brain.
Because of new growth and a profound change in their brain, as well as in their body, hormones and often responsibilities, teenagers, according to James Prescott at the National Institute of Health, need our support and nurturing more during this time of their development than they need our impatience and distrust.
Young adults need role models in order to develop this capability. They need people of integrity and character to offer quality to their expectations, depth to their idealism, and focus to their actions. Teenagers need an embracing environment as well, for this transformation to take place.
Reading this made me remember my own teenage years. I was definitely
idealistic. I don't know that I'd say I had a sense of hidden greatness, but I was sure that I'd be part of something great. And I knew that it was about to happen at any moment. In fact, I even wrote a song, "Some day I might just up and leave."
I was looking for God's will for my life's direction, and I didn't mind being different to accomplish it. Many of my friends had similar purposes, but with varying role models. Often in trying to be different or great, we all ended up being the same and droll.
My favorite shirt said "Peace and Love" on it. I was so proud of that shirt, since it expressed my ideals so succinctly, until my brother pointed out that everyone else had the same shirt, or a different shirt with the same message. And yet, why do I remember it so well for all these years?
Once again, I am drawn to nature to define and expose these thoughts to see a pattern. It was Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, author of "Faust," who identified the systematic study of the structure of organisms, particularly plants. What he distinguished was the "unfolding" of a seed, and how it transformed, grew, and developed into the adult plant — ever the same and yet consistently special.
It is this very "unfolding" that reveals the quality of each similarity. It is the experience of the "unfolding" that differentiates the tulip from the rose. The experience manifests each individual's unique characteristics, and yet they are modeled after the same source.
In our children's "unfolding" we often limit their experience because of our own prejudices, rules and regulations, and conditional nurturing. We are limited role models because of lack of time, arrogance or selfishness. Mostly, we discover, it is our own fear that is holding us back. We want to understand the unknown before we take that leap into our own growth and development. So how can we be adequate role models for our children?
However, love is not something to be understood, but experienced. It is only when loving that we are truly living, because love is a much more powerful emotion and motivator than fear is. Who will run into a burning building to save their child out of fear? This is the time of re-creating our families based on love — which is the power of allurement — the glue that binds the connections within the universe. And love begins with giving of oneself, with gratitude for something received.
When we're afraid or dying, it is possible to dig a hole, plant a seed, and then watch new life grow, bringing joy. Loving another or simply sharing yourself plants these seeds. That is the power of love. I think that is also the power of place. If we literally "plant a seed," we are practicing for the more esoteric seeds we will plant in the hearts of our children.
A shift is taking place in the highly specific, analytical, take-things-apart approach of science. This forward-looking but hierarchical pattern has served to uncover vast secrets of the universe, while at the same time trying to predict and control them. But nature will not be controlled. Science has also uncovered the principle that the outcome of our experiences is changed by our very participation in the observance of them.
This doesn't leave things to chance, but allows for the attitude, intention and responsibility of the observer. We are now drawn to include the more feminine, relational, situation-oriented approach. Our actions are becoming more nurturing and unifying. This in turn will lead to changes in our homes, which are rooted in "place," and a change in our worldview, which is rooted in a "participatory world," as we watch the "unfolding" of the next generation.
— — —
Anne E. Ulvestad is a free-lance writer residing in Maryland. She has her master's in earth literacy, and is available for public lectures and group presentations and rituals on Spirituality and the Environment. Anne can be reached at {email anne@ourplaceintheuniverse.com}anne@ourplaceintheuniverse.com{/email}. © copyright 2006 by Anne E. Ulvestad