Sex, drugs and rock n’ roll…
It was the impromptu theme at my women’s group last night. It all began as a full-hearted, deeply rooted inquiry into sexuality…how we got to talking about drugs I’m not quite sure but given that we went there, we couldn’t ignore where everything was headed and just had to throw on some music and rock out for a while.
And while we usually begin with a 20 minute meditation and are a lot less ‘girls gone wild’, this meeting-turned-social didn’t lack depth or meaningful inquiry at all. The theme of Collective Expertise ran through our conversation…
What is a Collective Expertise? It’s what happens when you get a group together, bringing each unique perspective, experience and expertise. When we throw these all into the brew, inquire and tease apart, what bubbles forth are even more perspectives, insights and paths to go down. All become enriched.
Unless…well unless what the collective is bringing is a little less than, say, holy…
Have you ever gotten together with a group of co-workers, bitched about your boss or the direction of the company or the like? What expertise are you collecting in this moment? What are you all offering each other? Perspectives on how to ground your righteousness? Ammunition for your war against your perceived enemies?
What about with your girlfriends? Do you get all ‘Sex in the City’? (I know, I know, don’t knock it right? but really) What are you collecting when the conversation about sex is provocative and edgy and funny, but doesn’t drop into the tender challenges and concerns you’re each facing? What collective expertise occurs here?
What about talking about hand bags and expensive shoes? What are you collecting here?
Longing. Craving. Inadequacy. Separation.
The conversations we’re having, especially within groups are creating something…
Don’t mess around. If we stay on the surface, fear speaking to what’s really going on, what we’re actually experiencing, we miss out on the opportunity to create depth, meaning and growth with others…
But not only that. If you stay on the surface, you’re offering less. You’re ripping people off, you contribute to their feelings of separateness.
What would happen if we started demanding more of one another, started offering more to one another? What would happen to the collective intelligence if we actually brought depth and intelligence?
What if Sex, Drugs and Rock n’ Roll got touched into with sacred devotion? What would we be collecting then? I’m honoured to be with people who are doing that…are you doing that? If not, why? If so…Rock on…