The current phase of the world we’re experiencing can be likened to going through a detox phase. Just as in a detox regimen, where we rid our bodies of toxins, Mother Earth is now raising her vibration, and we’re all experiencing a global detox phase. A lot of dirt is coming to the surface. The dirt can no longer hide.

The question now is, how do we deal with all this dirt? How do we respond to the darkness, lies, and chaos we’re faced with? Each person chooses their own strategy. Some choose to ignore it. While this may sometimes seem like a good choice temporarily, avoiding the problem doesn’t solve it. We can’t keep burying our heads in the sand forever.

Others choose to blame others. It often feels easier to point fingers and judge others as “the guilty ones” than to work on ourselves and truly change our ways.

Yet others choose to fight against oppression. Resisting against opponents may feel heroic. However, this approach doesn’t work either. What spirituality teaches us is that we are all one with each other. When you truly feel the unity of life, you realize that every fight is like one hand fighting the other. Fighting is pointless when we are all one. It’s essential to remember that there are no opponents; every person is your brother or sister.

Another strategy I see people apply is preaching. My definition of preaching is trying to forcefully convince others of your personal truth. Often, preachers try to impose “half-truths” on you when you have no desire for this information. In short, a preacher is someone who behaves arrogantly and fails to recognize that everyone has access to their own wisdom.

If ignoring, blaming others, fighting, and preaching don’t work, what does? How can we deal with the darkness we experience in our lives? In my opinion, the answer is to confront darkness with love.

An example from my own life: I used to get angry when I saw many examples of how we humans oppress nature. I deeply love nature, and I struggle with this rape of nature. We humans oppress nature, often without even realizing it, or we are indifferent. We don’t know any better.

A few weeks ago, I was relaxing in nature. I lay beside the edge of a pond, admiring all the life around me. How beautiful to see a mother coot with her young. How beautiful to see a tern dive into the water to catch a fish. How beautiful to see the herbs bloom beside the water. Unfortunately, my relaxing moment in nature was disturbed by a man with a stinking tractor.

He came to mow the grass… Normally, my first reaction would be anger. How could this man disturb my beautiful moment? How dare he mow the nature on this beautiful bank?

At such moments, the universe tests you. Do I react with anger or with love? I decided to respond differently. No longer with anger. After all, this man is me… (there are no opponents, we are one). I chose to engage in dialogue with love.

He saw that I wanted to talk to him, so he got out of his tractor. I told him that I had difficulty with how we oppress nature in our country. I told him how we can approach nature differently, with love and deep reverence in our hearts. I told him about the biodiversity on this bank. The many herbs growing there.

At first, he tried to defend himself… And I showed understanding. After all, he was just following an order from the system. At first, he thought I was trying to attack him as some kind of activist. He defended himself by saying that in other parts of Europe, entire natural areas are being destroyed.

Of course, I understand such a viewpoint. The destruction of entire landscapes is terrifying indeed. But that doesn’t mean that all our small choices don’t matter. I have little influence on the destruction of entire landscapes, but I felt that I could make a difference in this small spot of natural beauty.

When he noticed that I wasn’t angry, showed understanding for him, and didn’t try to impose anything on him, I saw his attitude change. He really listened to me, and I felt a connection. We understood each other. And I really understood him too. I’ve also been in his shoes before, reluctantly carrying out orders.

At the end of our conversation, we parted ways positively, and I wished him a good day. As far as I was concerned, I passed my test at that moment. I hadn’t reacted with anger, but I had engaged in dialogue with love.

At that moment, I didn’t just see nature in the beauty of the blooming herbs, the tern, and the pond. I saw nature in my fellow human being too! This man was also nature! And he deserved to be approached with the same love and reverence as the rest of nature.