CHOICES SHAPE YOUR FUTURE
By Judith Ashton
Am I my body? Where in my body does my consciousness abide? These are interesting questions to ponder and are deep spiritual considerations which have occupied philosopher’s thoughts since time immemorial.
However, more recent questions have arisen which include: What are my bodily rights? Why can the state dictate issues concerning my body? What can I do or not do regarding my own body?
Some of these were central during the “pandemic” regarding individuality and choice. “To vaccinate or not to vaccinate? That was the question” and fortunately, despite governmental pressure, there was a level of choice. A lot of media pressure was exerted on everyone and those who chose the “wait and see” approach felt “othered” by the majority and endured the restrictions and exclusions imposed on them.
Everyone suffered the imposed national restrictions: lockdowns, limited excursions, inability to visit the dying, limited funeral attendance, clandestine removal of body bags from hospitals, kids forced to wear masks, terrified of killing granny with a hug, believing death was stalking them at every turn and more besides. What happened to choice? This nightmare is never mentioned. We’re expected to move silently on.
It’s now proven that many of these impositions were neither safe nor effective. Many individuals experienced significant mental health challenges and a number still have not completely healed from the resulting trauma. Unresolved grief still hangs thickly in the air for many who can’t move sorrow on. Collective mind and body healing needs to be addressed.
It is likely, and it’s not a question of “if” but “when” there will be an emergency health declaration by The World Health Organisation and E.U. announcing there is another pandemic. It is likely that legal obligations are to be followed by everyone without question along with unconsented considerations. Brand new vaccinations may well be mandated, individual choices overridden and all the other so called safety measures will be rolled out and compliance expected, without question, by the population, like it or not! Will opposition to such legal mandates be tolerated if it means breaking the law and penalties are imposed? No!
Freedoms can be quickly eroded, as seen recently in USA where many democratic rights are under enormous threat, with some legislation threatening women’s bodily autonomy. Abortions are now illegal in many states and in some, it is difficult to access contraception. In El Salvador women can face up to 40 years prison for homicide, even in cases of still birth or miscarriage! Worldwide, 14 countries deny women access to such services. In some countries women don’t get appropriate medical attention, because they are women! They have no bodily control or rights!
While we have much to be grateful for in Ireland, I have often emphasized that we should never take freedoms for granted. We don’t have to hide our hair or conceal our bodies under voluminous robes but it wasn’t so long ago that Irish clerics and state dictated women’s bodily autonomy. No divorce, no abortion, no contraception. Hard won choices and bodily freedoms were denied to our grandmothers and mothers.
Regarding the kidnapping in Arizona, of Nancy Guthrie, elderly mother of a celebrity. With few leads, the police are desperate. I’m just waiting for some tech bro to suggest it would be a great idea to microchip us all (like our dogs) so that missing persons can be easily reunited with loved ones! Many people will no doubt agree saying it’s a great idea and that all kids should be microchipped. Personally, I would never agree to such an intrusive bodily procedure, despite any safety assurances it’s a data store, that could be hacked, do damage to long term health and be an instrument of surveillance. Another step towards an increasingly dystopian reality that Margaret Attwood, George Orwell and co prophesised. Wait and see!
We are on the cusp of great global change: AI, individual freedoms, politics; all the things we believed were stable, are now shaking. I’m not an astrologer, but according to the current state of the stars, Humanity now faces a monumental decision: we can either dramatically advance human consciousness or risk losing the qualities of goodness, truth, love, and kindness that are deeply embedded in our hearts. Let’s treasure not trash who we are! Let’s honour and trust ourselves enough to make our own choices regarding our precious bodily autonomy. My body, my choice. Change starts with questions. No questions…. no change, no choice, no consent!
