I would like to discuss Darna,(Harmony) and how it is possible to reconcile yourself considering the many bad things that have been done in the name of colonialism and/or religion. Other crimes against humanity and nature have been perpetrated and many sacred lives are still suffering, to this day. My question to myself, "How do I stay in harmony with my community when I am a conscientious objector to the heinous crimes of the community in which I live. There are many activities I don't agree with, some I can make peace with,like seasonal community celebrations held at the wrong time, and some that I can't abide whennature or humans are oppressed, destroyed or harmed. All life is sacred, unique and special.but I Whether you object to Naziism and the evil things they did, mining crystals from the Earth to end up as house ornaments or you object to the ongoing negative ripples of colonialism. There are many reasons that make it hard to remain in harmony with my community, some as easy as making seasonal adjustments. Although, the tenets of Romuva states that I need to constantly strive for harmony with my community. It is possible to live in the community without having to be in harmony with wrong doings but by championing the right of all life, animate and inanimate. Waters, plants, lightning, thunder, animals and whole ecosystems. All life is sacred and needs to be protected and sustained. So being an activist when possible is the only form of recourse for Romuvai and all other earth centred cultures.
What got me to thinking about this issue, is that Australia celebrates Australia Day on the 26th of January each year, but this celebration has left me conflicted for some time now. I strive to remain in harmony with my community and on celebratory days like this, it is a challenge. I don't view colonialism as a good thing rather as a tragic blight on humanity that still caused many negative impacts that are still being felt to this day. Many countries and peoples across the world have been subjected to colonialism. Whether we call it being Britainised, Russified, Germanised, Christianised.etc It's all colonnialism with a different cultural and/or religious slant that implied that they were superior to the indigenous peoples or those who were invaded. First, I'd like to talk about how I am able to acheive Darna,(harmony), considering my community celebrates the European Pagan festivals at the wrong time of year. It then means facing some ugly truths,reconciling with them and walking away from the colonial attitudes of "take all" and finding peace within yourself.
Most countries have a similar celebration of national pride. Here in Australia,such an observation is held on January 26 and is called Australia Day., however it is a day of mourning and sorrow for the indigenous peoples. I faced a dilemma of how I remain in harmony with the majority of the country and celebrate or commiserate along with the many indigenous peoples who are still healing from what the English did. It's a hard ask to overcome the shock and grief when realising that this country was built on the back of massacres, land and resources theft,genocide of nations,racism, lies, and many forceful separated from families and communities. The list of offenses is far from complete and most are now condemned by Human Rights Acts, And yet, my community wants to celebrate national pride with a BBQ or beach party! I don't think this day needs or should be celebrated. I have an Aboriginal partner and 3 Aboriginal young kids who don't and won't understand or appreciate the romantic version of colonialism as told by the English invaders. I appreciate that not all people have never been educated in the true history of Australia. True Australian history was never taught in schools nor is it encouraged o question the approved syllabus. However, my family and friends are well educated in real history just through my own verbalised understanding or their own experience.
As most of my readers know, I am a Romuvis, otherwise known as an adherent of the traditional Lithuanian Earth customs. I live in the Southern Hemisphere so we are seasonally opposite to those who live in Lithuania and the northern hemisphere so I am accustomed to adjusting seasonal celebrations in order to continue to maintain harmony with my community. For example, I will celebrate the Xmas at Summer Solstice ,when traditionally, it should be observed st Winter Solstice. Easter in Australia is observed on the first full Moon after the Autumn Equinox when traditionally this European Custom is traditionally observed on the first full moon after the Spring Equinox. It is easy for me to maintain harmony with my community in these respects. I still do the whole Xmas and Easter things with my family and community but I still observe the seasonal customs of my Lithuanian ancestors. I encourage my family and Pagan community to join me in these celebrations but others participation is not necessary for me to observe the customs of my ancestors. I see that as by continuing the customs of my ancestors and keeping their memory and presence alive in my life, Performing Fire Rites is another way to connect me to my ancestors and deities. I also feel that by doing these things,it aligns me to the Earths rhythms,seasons and energy. I understand about the right time of year to plant my vegetables and what to expect as the seasons change. Personal Harmony with the world around me is easy to achieve when I am aligned to nature. It really doesn't matter to my own personal outlook if the rest of the country are celebrating Easter in Autumn. I know the real reason for the season and knowing this, I will not protest buying Easter Eggs as gifts and eating chocolate and hot cross buns. After all, the displaced celebrations have become a time to express peace,love, forgiveness and goodwill. I certainly don't disagree with these qualities and think that they admirable qualities that should be expressed everyday. I like to hear wishes of goodwill and peace on Earth!
I consider myself to be an friend to Aboriginal peoples here in Australia. I try to be an activist, when I can, to champion Aboriginal causes, sacred sites and community aims to regain self sovereignty and to return to the way of life that enjoyed before colonisation/invasion. I feel their pain and grief and try to fathom their loss but never really can. I can only sit with them,try to feel and heal the pain by allowing them to find self sovereignty again. I understand that my sentiments are not congruent with the mainstream celebration of national pride but I believe that ,one day, the majority of people will see as I see. For the time being, I am not disrupting other peoples right to celebrate as they see fit. However I am vocal when asked why I don't see the need to celebrate. I believe that I have achieved harmony with my community in this respect by being respectful of both the colonised and to those that were colonised understanding that responsibility lies squarely on the shoulders of the constructed institutions of the Empire. fall who continue to oppress people with racist and misogynistic values and policies. I have chosen to recognise the grief of the Indigenous peoples and out of respect for other people in my community and I choose not to interfere with their national celebrations even though I choose not to participate in them. After all, many just don't understand the issue when they are born into the oppressive and dominant culture. The perceived white superiority is considered the "Norm" for most because they just don't know any different.
It is easy to make seasonal adjustments in order to maintain harmony with my community but it is sometimes hard to understand the level of ignorance of others concerning these issues and I believe that the Romuvos temet that states that ,"all life is sacred", is important and should be a call to activism on many things including human rights and ecological issues as a way to resist the colonial ideals that are far removed from124h than being in harmony with a community that does harmful things to others. I would try to help the persecuted as a sense of duty rather than follow the "herd"/community aims. I would also feel obliged to help the oppressors to stop their oppression and do what I can with my white privilege to make it happen. I am fortunate that I was born white and although the privilege that I have had all my life, is unfair but also gives me more power and responsibility to enact change for the good.
