I think we are all familiar with the claim. If we are to believe the right-wing pundits, out-of-touch billionaires, and their knuckle-dragging sycophants, the political Left in the USA — suffers from an infectious disease of the mind. This, they assert, is the source of our wanting things like clean water, equal rights, and universal healthcare. (Oh, the horrors!)
Whether it’s called “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” or “the Woke Mind-Virus,” it’s an easy way for the current political Right to simply disregard the arguments of those to whom they are politically opposed. Their constant cries of “communism!” or “socialism!” grow louder whenever the suggestion is made that in the greatest economy in the world, we should maybe treat everyone equally and that workers deserve their fair share.
It is cultural propaganda, rooted in the dehumanization of the other, ignoring —and at the same time justifying— the reality of systemic racism, misogyny, transphobia, and the like. This is their justification for opposing things like Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives (which are meant to give the underprivileged a fair shot) claiming that such programs oppose meritocracy, claims that rely on anecdotal evidence at best and usually just stem from the patently boring jealousy of white people who perhaps are simply not as qualified as their peers-of-color.
These claims might be dismissed as the political delusions of what has often been described as a dying breed of right-wing, narcissistic white nationalists. But we are seeing more and more of those who might have otherwise been considered “on the left,” fall prey to such abhorrent views, abandoning logic and reason (and compassion) seemingly for an opportunity to “own the libs.”
When I first encountered it, I must admit I was in complete shock. When the Covid-19 lockdowns were stretching on, and mask mandates were in full swing, a woman with whom I had previously been professionally associated began posting a barrage of anti-vaxx and anti-mask talking points on her social media. I was floored. She was an intelligent woman and had always seemed down to earth, especially considering much of the “alternative spiritual” industry. But she balked at the idea of scientific reviews that indicated that those things were necessary in curbing the infections and rising death toll, instead asserting that such claims were merely fictions designed to control the populace and convince us to give away our freedom. She had firmly decided that fear-based conspiracy theories were more viable than actual peer-reviewed scientific reports made by reputable organizations. “Who funds your science?” she said.
In her view, it was all very simple: the vast majority of doctors, scientists, and experts were not to be trusted. But influencers with podcasts who were selling health drinks and promoting unpasteurized dairy products were the obvious sources of all things true.
There is honestly no substantive different between this line of thinking and that of a flat-earther. We have known the earth is round for centuries, and yet they engage in complicated mental backflips to “prove” that it isn’t. Most people would look upon a flat-earth proponent with puzzlement at best and disdain at worst. Either way, we wouldn’t want them teaching this nonsense in our schools. They can believe whatever they want, of course. It’s a first amendment right to believe and say deeply stupid things, but that doesn’t entitle them to their own “alternative facts.” To engage it is to condone it, and that effectively dumbs-down our society.
But those “alternative facts” lies have been growing louder and louder, demanding our attention from seemingly every square inch of the internet. The ubiquitous presence of social media in the majority of our lives has enabled the very worst ideas and opinions to gain traction, convincing huge swaths of people to ignore science and empathy in favor of demonizing immigrants, the poor, and basically anyone other than Christian nationalist, heterosexual, cisgender white supremacists. Somehow, a sizeable chunk of our population has been groomed into believing that the real enemies are people-of-color, the poor, and trans people. It’s like some sort of infectious ideology swooped in and replaced basic human decency with self-serving narcissism. What could do such a thing? I started to receive an answer in the most unlikely of places.
When I first heard Elon Musk speak about the “Woke-Mind Virus,” I found it amusing. And absurd. And, quite frankly, blatant. Here was the richest man in the world, using his own global platform to denigrate minorities and blame those who would stand up to fascism as the real enemies of the people. (Apparently calling someone a Nazi is the worst thing anyone can ever do, so we’ll just ignore his Roman salute.)
But it’s not just rich civilians who are spreading this Orwellian ideology. The US government has literally labeled those who are against fascism (aka “antifa”) as “domestic terrorists.” This, despite “antifa” being no more than an ideology and not an actual organization.
Let that sink in for a moment. The US government has placed itself firmly against anti-fascism. So, what do you think that makes the current government? (Let’s pause for a moment to give my right-wing readers more time to process.)
Image source: https://boingboing.net/2016/11/08/heres-the-unexpected-origin.html
This effectively makes the current White House the “thought police.” Don’t believe me? You can read it for yourself here.
I have watched otherwise good people fall down a rabbit hole of conspiratorial lies and fictitious statements, becoming twisted versions of their former selves. To be honest, it’s somewhat scary. I have lost friends, teachers, and co-workers to the clutches of what I now believe to be a demonic spirit, one that encourages and empowers the very worst within us. It takes our doubts and fears and inflates them. But it also injects a sense of superiority and righteousness. Once this happens, no amount of differing perspectives or even blatant facts will be enough to sway them from their course.
This is why I feel it is accurate to say that MAGA/MAHA is a cult, because they have given up the responsibility of looking for answers outside of their philosophical bubble as well as having rejected any trace of empathy for those outside of it. The result is those who call out racism are the real racists and the Left are the real fascists. (Because, you know, “cancel culture.” So much more fashy than those pesky concentration camps we’ve been building.)
Every accusation is a confession
The “Woke Mind Virus,” as espoused by Musk, is of course a work of fiction. Mostly. But don’t count the idea out just yet. There’s another perspective we might take when engaging this concept. I think those who promote it are so close to getting it, but they have failed to take any responsibility for their own sick hearts, resulting in a collective case of projection.
There is a corruptive mental contagion at work, but it’s not “woke.” It’s a spirit… documented in indigenous folklore, the same demonic presence that has plagued humankind for eons: the corruptive quality of power-over, of demonizing the other. This is the spirit of the powerful preying on the powerless. It’s the rich getting richer while the poor get poorer. It’s the ultra-elite class harming children and getting away with it. It’s the mindset that some people are worthy to love and others are not. It’s not new. It’s been here forever.
And it’s even been given a name: wetiko.
Wetiko is an Algonquin word for an evil, cannibalistic spirit, driven by greed, a lack of empathy, and over-consumption. It is a spiritual parasite, hijacking the minds of its hosts, convincing victims to believe that disconnection from empathy and the consumption of other’s life force is the moral and correct way to live. They do not believe they are infected, instead they project outward, seeing enemies everywhere and refusing to entertain points of view that do not center their importance.
Paul Levy, author of Wetiko: Healing the Mind-Virus That Plagues Our World, describes it as “malignant egophrenia,” and asserts that it is this spiritual and mental parasite through which current events are playing out on the world stage.
To dispel wetiko, one must first learn to see it. And of course this is the very thing that the infected cannot do. Or at least not easily. This is where I feel our magic should be directed. By focusing on the spiritual cause we can then hope to bring a collective healing to the world.
This is not a suggestion that we all stop what we are doing and force-focus solely on the positive. On the contrary – the sickness must be witnessed. It must be called out. A mirror must be placed in front of those infected by this seething spirit. Though they will look away, and plug their ears, we must not relent. Though we must also do so not from a space of contempt, but of compassion. For them, for ourselves, and for the world.
We do not cure hate by spreading hate. But we also do not cure it by passively looking the other way. Spiritual warriors, this is a call to rise up and do what you were born to do: harness the power of love and let that fill you, giving you the strength to fight the good fight, be it at the ballot box, protesting on the streets, performing acts of “malicious compliance,” (no, really… f**k ICE) or even sharing your truth in editorial columns, and the like. Speak up! Stay informed! Demand transparency and accountability. And do shadow work on yourself and cast spells to dispel the infectious spirit of deception.
We must not lose hope. We have the power to transform the world.
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