A Pandemic of Hurt and Violence

September 15, 2025

"The wound is the place where the Light enters you" ~ Rumi

"Violence cannot destroy the lie, the hate, nor the error, but it can multiply them" ~ Albert Einstein

Hurt People Hurt People

Covid was spreading across the  world in the spring of 2020. I was locked down at home with my husband, places were closed, the world was growing quiet. It was during this time that I began watching the news again. Covid was unprecedented in my lifetime, so I was intrigued and concerned. Covid was a beast in so many ways. Not only did it kill the immunocompromised, it spawned a debate on whether to vaccinate or not. And two camps rose up and people chose one or the other. Whichever one you chose, someone who chose the other judged you for it. This began another great divide in our world, our countries, our cities, states, communities, neighborhoods and even in our very own families. And it went even deeper, if you got the vaccine, did you get Moderna or Pfizer? If you didn't, did you take ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine? There was SO MUCH information in the news and on various social media platforms offering so much to debate and so much to judge others for choosing something you didn't agree with. The two camps grew. 

And now, in the late Summer of 2025, the news continues to report on another pandemic that is taking lives and destroying families and communities. It's not a virus, though I'd say it has infected many. I am talking about political vitriol and gun violence. It's outrageous, in my humble opinion. It's out of control and continues to spread into unsuspecting venues and communities. Last week's events, questions about mass shootings, a shooting and a mass shooting in another state, all happened at the same time. It's heart-breaking, distressing and disturbing. Granted, this is eclipse season which traditionally sponsors shake-ups and transformations. Eclipse energy is all about tending your business, time to clean up and act on whatever isn't serving you. This happens for individuals and for countries. I'd say the USA is getting a HUGE shake-up, yet how many more will we endure before we have some radical shift of unity? Things that are happening continue to create this outrageous divide. 

The only thing I can remember that really united us as a nation was the terrorist attacks that occurred on 9-11. I lived in California at the time, yet was in Atlanta for meetings. I walked down to breakfast at the Embassy Suites where two huge televisions had the morning news on. As I approached my co-workers, I saw a plane hit a tower and it didn't register as real. It was incomprehensible to me so I went and got a plate and didn't think about what I saw. It didn't take long to realize that we were under attack. Everyone watched in horror and silence as the events of that morning unfolded. And then everyone started to scramble to get home. Flights were grounded and rental cars were gone within minutes. Cell phone towers were jammed. It was a complete frenzy and people everywhere had a vacant or panicked look in their eyes. They were moving in slow motion or warp speed. Despite the uncertainty everyone was facing, there was kindness and compassion. We all knew we were experiencing the same fears and anxieties and wanted to make sure our loved ones were safe. I ended up waiting in Huntsville, AL for the week, a different story, until flights resumed across the country. I ended up being on the first flight out of Atlanta flying to LAX, Los Angeles for those of you who don't know the call letters. It was eerie. The airport was silent. We boarded in silence. As we walked on to the plane, the flight attendants handed us brown bags for lunch. There would be no in-flight service. The plane took off in silence, except for words from the pilot that I don't recall. We landed in silence five hours later in Los Angeles and the plane erupted in cheers and claps. I immediately drove straight to the Pacific, to put my feet in the sand and my eyes upon the water. Isa w porpoises playing and I cried. I cried with relief to be home, sadness for what befell the US and all the families in deep pain, gratitude that I and my family were spared and joy in seeing the unaffected porpoises playing in the surf. I drove home and saw people in the neighborhoods with huge posters and signs telling any passerby that they were loved and welcome. I saw signs denouncing hate and instead proclaiming love for thy neighbor, even if their skin color or religion was different. I cried then too at the sheer thoughtfulness and love pouring from every citizen in the United States and from other citizens in other countries showing their support and solidarity with us. 

An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

I cried last week and today as I write this. Gun violence is insane. Political assassinations are atrocious, cruel and evil. The divide in the country is abominable and quite frankly, I am at a loss for words with what we are witnessing and experiencing. Covid came along to wake people up and to force us to evaluate our lives and priorities. Yet the beauty and connection that was emerging from the Covid days has dissipated. Instead two "vaccine or no vaccine" camps continued to grow and divide. I don't want to see another 9-11 bring us together or suffer a natural disaster that has nationwide ramifications. Yet, sadly, we are on the way to calling something greater. And this time it isn't necessarily about our priorities, although it should be. This time it's about our kindness and compassion and the humaneness and integrity with which we operate in this world. What is underneath all of this "bad behavior" and I use that term loosely, as I don't want to appear judgmental; however, it's clear that people are in reactive mode. This isn't just the shooters and perpetrators of violence. It includes all of you/us pointing the finger and seeking to blame. That's just as reactive. Blaming serves no one and just perpetuates the reactive mode. It incites more divide and more fighting. Those hurting and those seeking blame are basically feeling powerless, a.k.a. victim. When someone is hurt and angry it can turn into uncontrollable rage. Those blaming give themselves a false sense of being in control. The pandemic we are seeing isn't about the guns, it's about the pain, hurt, and need to control that people are reacting from. Hurt people, hurt people.

Ultimately, ultimately, ultimately, it all comes down to someone feeling wronged, feeling powerless to see change in their life and feeling that way for so long that they act out. Come on and let's address the fact that this nation is hurting. Your neighbor is struggling, those kids are scared to go to school. The parents next door cannot pay for adequate child care, much less health insurance. Crops are going unharvested and people are afraid to even show up at work. This country is attacking itself like cancer attacks the body! In the metaphysical world cancer is seen as "eating away at the self." I'm watching and experiencing this country dealing with its own cancer, just the red blood cells and white blood cells are fighting instead of peacefully coexisting. I saw a quote this morning that had a picture of an eagle flying. It said that the left wing and the right wing are both needed for flight.

People who are powerless make an open theater of violence.” ~ Don DeLillo 

So how do you fight this cancer in the US right now? How to you convince both the left and right wing that they are equally needed? You acknowledge and honor others opinions. I didn't say you had to agree with them, just note them. Quit judging. Turn off the news. Disengage from social media. If you feel inclined to be on it then make an agreement to only look and share at uplifting things. Get to know your neighbors. Leave a "thinking of you" note in the mailboxes. If you have fruit trees in your yard, put a table and basket out with a sign to share. Maybe your sign can say, "Take one and blow my house a kiss". If you do your own landscaping, see if you can treat a neighbor. Start practicing random acts of kindness. Stop and LISTEN TO PEOPLE. Look them in the eye. Be present with them. Stop what you are doing and LISTEN. Like I stated above, you don't have to agree, just listen. When you listen you are letting them know they matter. These people who are in reactive mode are so used to being ignored. Maybe someone important to them doesn't listen or really make an attempt to hear what they're saying. They in turn demonstrate these god-awful acts so they'll finally be noticed. People just want to be validated. They just want to know they matter and that they make a difference. Knowing the underlying cause is crucial to change. Look for someone's hurt and pain before you seek to condemn. 

I am not a Charlie Kirk fan by any means. I think his rhetoric was divisive, exclusive and unkind. At the same time, I think it is horrific that he was shot. I feel for his family, for everyone at the rally, for all of us processing that tragedy. I cry for him as much as I cry for the 22 yrs young shooter. And I am not saying he is a product of neglect or that no one was listening to him. Clearly he had something he was urgently feeling to pull that trigger. I cry for the whole country and pray, pray, and pray that unity returns without more devastating acts. The one thing Charlie Kirk DID leave an impact with, is the right to debate. And yeah, some will debate that topic too, yet, he was known for his willingness to talk with anyone. That's how it should be. We should feel safe and encouraged to share our opinions with anyone at any time. Some debate he didn't listen to his opponents while in a debate. Whether he did or didn't is not the point. The point is that he brought to the forefront the issue of free speech.  And if someone says he didn't listen, then he brought the issue of LISTENING too. Make sense? If that creates real and positive change for the US, if it brings us closer together as a nation, then we must be grateful for both the role he played and the unfortunate role the shooter played. Clearly there is a soul contract being honored in this exchange and I can only hope it will be the impetus for real, needed, healing and change.

This is about listening first.

Listen to your heart. 

Listen to what people are saying and especially what they aren't. 

And maybe, like the Governor of Utah suggests, QUIT listening to ragers and blamers. 

Stay off social media. 

Disengage your attention and energy from the two camps.

Go put your feet in the grass.

Drive slowly with respect for neighbors and other drivers.

Recycle.

Pick up trash.

Drop your judgments.

Turn off the news. The news feeds on ratings, thus drama. If you need to be informed, your Guides will find a way to bring you any information you need to know.

Most importantly, more than anything else, tend to your own hurts! Take responsibility for your thoughts and feelings. Take care of yourself. Find a healthy and safe way to be seen and validated. Learn to identify and disarm any anger or rage. Get help if you need it. We all need a coach and cheerleaders! When you tend to your own hurts, it's easier to see it in others and you release the need to react and judge. Bottom line, if you have a judgement, then you have a trigger that needs to be disarmed. That, IMHO, is the best place to start. Healing the hurt in the world starts with healing the hurt in YOU!

      "Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know"

~ Vironika Wilde

Remember, you are always creating with your thoughts, words and actions. Let them be ones that allow you to live authentically.

I look forward to connecting with you soon!

Betsey