Living 'Off The Grid'

By Judith Hughes

I used to live in Trinity County, on a mining claim several miles from the trailhead. At that time (1970's), in my 20's, my thought was to get as far from "shrivelization" as I could get. I wanted none of it. I needed to sort some things out in as pure and sensible an environment as I could find, and what makes more sense than nature? Packing in supplies, growing gardens, hiking everywhere, washing clothes by hand, hauling water, grinding grain, chopping wood and cooking over fire replenished my sense of belonging and I began to feel at home, here on our lovely planet Earth.

Why didn't I stay there forever? That sense of belonging instilled from the wilderness eventually gave me enough confidence to return to society while offering me a sense of freedom and choice that I hadn't realized before. Also (hindsight), the rest of my healing process had to do with people and community; I knew I had work to do in the world, though I didn't know at the time what that work might be.

Many of us feel disenfranchised in this modern world—who does our government think they're representing? Certainly not us! Why do we waste most of our waking hours on jobs that don't serve us, just to waste our paychecks on malltrash, just to provide jobs for others? And so on and on; add your own commentary here.

Here's the thing: We are disenfranchised only to the degree we allow it. I'm not advocating revolution of the usual sort, tearing down the government and other infrastructures, or revolution from without. I'm advocating revolution from within. How many of us have had the courage (or time!) to ask ourselves: What do I really want from this life? What moves me? What do I want more of? What gives me a deep sense of satisfaction and joy?

It is our birthright and our responsibility to live deeply fulfilling lives. How revolutionary is that?

Many of us have had life and / or past life experiences that have caused us to unconsciously choose safe anonymity over risky individualism; originality being highly visible. We suspect that we have gifts to offer, but are unconsciously afraid to risk the status quo, so we deny those gifts, often to the extent of suppressing even the conscious knowledge of our desire. These suppressed urgings of our soul create unnamed uneasiness and feelings of despair. I believe they contribute to physical and mental as well as spiritual disharmony.

From where does desire originate? I trust that our hearts' desires are our souls' guidance. When we pay attention to our deepest desires we allow ourselves to be guided by our most trustworthy friend. Why does painting satisfy someone's soul while racing motorcycles satisfies another's? We are unique expressions of Creator Source and it is our mission here on Earth to please and astonish ourselves and others with our original gifts. That is the source of true safety.

I live in Mendocino County now, and I still live in nature, though in a real house (off the grid). I am self-employed, so I don't have as much dream time as I used to; on the other hand, I don't have to wash clothes by hand or haul water! All those choices have been conscious, and I continue to make it a daily practice to investigate my heart's yearnings in order to deepen the connection with my soul.