Monday, July 25, 2005
The Harry Potter Demand
What is it about the Harry Potter phenomenon that has the world pre-ordering millions of books and waiting in lines for long hours awaiting the latest delivery of the publication?
The mystery of the miracle of this phenomenon has the author seeming to be one of the magicians of which she writes. The massive sales breaks the rational and logical boundaries of the publishing world, especially with a book that is loved passionately by adults and children alike.
My hunch is that the human yearning for magic and mystery is an underlying foundation for the extraordinary financial success that surrounds the Harry Potter production from books to films and hundreds of marketable items that reflect the characters and objects of the story.
Amidst the chaos in a world that seems to have lost its logic and predictability, people find themselves searching for safety and security in the illusions of money, relationships, and religion. In the midst of a false sense of security, lives a demand for the spiritual and elements of fantasy that mimic it.
In truth, chaos brings a swirl of energy that can be confusing and disruptive. It can bring us to our knees, to the edge of an unknown reality. Within the chaos is an energy that can be embraced and focused to produce dreams, to design visions of a world that extend far beyond the current paradigm. The energy of fear and trepidation resulting from this changing world can be directed to enhancing love and healing on the planet.
The child in us may still be holding on to hopes that there could be a world in which it is safe to love and be loved, to express feelings and dreams without being stifled, and to enjoy the natural freedom of living. The adolescent us might still be passionately fighting for fairness and integrity that could sustain a world of balance and goodness.
Has the adult by default forsaken the hopes and passions and settled for resignation as a result of the despairing frustration of unfulfilled expectations and dreams? Is there a conscious spiritual adult available to direct the chaotic energy toward new opportunities and visions?
Perhaps the Harry Potter phenomenon stimulates the archetypal memories of the parts of us that know that even in the chaos there is magic and possibility. Harry as the magical child is unaware of his gifts and powers. His naive attempts, like those of the child within us, often result in adding to the chaos, in creating more messes. The adolescent determination attends to that which is right and good and fights the evil in order to neutralize a history in which the bad guy seems to have won. Can principles and love win out? Can the simplicity of the human spirit call forth a transformation in reality? Can good overcome evil? Can good be sustained in a balanced reality without the threat that evil brings to it?
Perhaps, Harry Potter lives in all of us and engages the unspoken and unfulfilled spirit that yearns to be expressed. Perhaps, the child and adolescent in us are seeking to be relieved of the responsibility of being the torch-bearers for good and light. Perhaps, they hope for the emergence of a conscious adult who will take the banner forward with commitment and courage to bring light to the darkness, to demand the dream fulfilled in the midst of a world in which there is no evidence or proof that such is possible.
List your visions and dreams for yourself and the world. Engage the energy of the chaos and direct it toward healing the imbalance and bring light to the darkness. Without any evidence, bring hope and light into your life. Live your life as an expression of your dreams...demanding the death of domination and righteousness, refusing to give power to the terrorist in you that thrives on fear and anxiety. Bring conversations of peace and hope to your conversations and discourage constricting conversations around you.
Enjoy the Harry Potter in you and know that there are others to play with and support you...some young wizards as well as some old ones. Be audacious and express your talents and gifts without shame or guilt while being compassionate and supportive of those who may not share your insights and activities.
Allow the wonder of the mystery to guide you and bring awareness and power beyond your knowing and imagination. Ask your spiritual friends and the Divine to add to your visions with perspectives and elements beyond your imagination. Acknowledge anything that reveals clues that the form is altering in intensity and in structure. Claim and be grateful for the miracles and acknowledge your participation in having created them. Have fun!
The mystery of the miracle of this phenomenon has the author seeming to be one of the magicians of which she writes. The massive sales breaks the rational and logical boundaries of the publishing world, especially with a book that is loved passionately by adults and children alike.
My hunch is that the human yearning for magic and mystery is an underlying foundation for the extraordinary financial success that surrounds the Harry Potter production from books to films and hundreds of marketable items that reflect the characters and objects of the story.
Amidst the chaos in a world that seems to have lost its logic and predictability, people find themselves searching for safety and security in the illusions of money, relationships, and religion. In the midst of a false sense of security, lives a demand for the spiritual and elements of fantasy that mimic it.
In truth, chaos brings a swirl of energy that can be confusing and disruptive. It can bring us to our knees, to the edge of an unknown reality. Within the chaos is an energy that can be embraced and focused to produce dreams, to design visions of a world that extend far beyond the current paradigm. The energy of fear and trepidation resulting from this changing world can be directed to enhancing love and healing on the planet.
The child in us may still be holding on to hopes that there could be a world in which it is safe to love and be loved, to express feelings and dreams without being stifled, and to enjoy the natural freedom of living. The adolescent us might still be passionately fighting for fairness and integrity that could sustain a world of balance and goodness.
Has the adult by default forsaken the hopes and passions and settled for resignation as a result of the despairing frustration of unfulfilled expectations and dreams? Is there a conscious spiritual adult available to direct the chaotic energy toward new opportunities and visions?
Perhaps the Harry Potter phenomenon stimulates the archetypal memories of the parts of us that know that even in the chaos there is magic and possibility. Harry as the magical child is unaware of his gifts and powers. His naive attempts, like those of the child within us, often result in adding to the chaos, in creating more messes. The adolescent determination attends to that which is right and good and fights the evil in order to neutralize a history in which the bad guy seems to have won. Can principles and love win out? Can the simplicity of the human spirit call forth a transformation in reality? Can good overcome evil? Can good be sustained in a balanced reality without the threat that evil brings to it?
Perhaps, Harry Potter lives in all of us and engages the unspoken and unfulfilled spirit that yearns to be expressed. Perhaps, the child and adolescent in us are seeking to be relieved of the responsibility of being the torch-bearers for good and light. Perhaps, they hope for the emergence of a conscious adult who will take the banner forward with commitment and courage to bring light to the darkness, to demand the dream fulfilled in the midst of a world in which there is no evidence or proof that such is possible.
List your visions and dreams for yourself and the world. Engage the energy of the chaos and direct it toward healing the imbalance and bring light to the darkness. Without any evidence, bring hope and light into your life. Live your life as an expression of your dreams...demanding the death of domination and righteousness, refusing to give power to the terrorist in you that thrives on fear and anxiety. Bring conversations of peace and hope to your conversations and discourage constricting conversations around you.
Enjoy the Harry Potter in you and know that there are others to play with and support you...some young wizards as well as some old ones. Be audacious and express your talents and gifts without shame or guilt while being compassionate and supportive of those who may not share your insights and activities.
Allow the wonder of the mystery to guide you and bring awareness and power beyond your knowing and imagination. Ask your spiritual friends and the Divine to add to your visions with perspectives and elements beyond your imagination. Acknowledge anything that reveals clues that the form is altering in intensity and in structure. Claim and be grateful for the miracles and acknowledge your participation in having created them. Have fun!
