I have just finished reading Dan Brown’s latest book “Inferno” – an exciting ride as usual!
At the beginning of the book there is a quote from Dante Alighieri that reads “The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis”.
It caught my eye and my interest, in particular with regard to our societal view of neutrality…
There is nothing like the fear of eternal hellfire and damnation to spur one out of neutrality and into action, to engage, to choose sides, etc. Even the most committed atheist or non-believer might tremble slightly at the thought – can they afford the risk of being wrong?
This is one of the reasons I believe that scientists are so driven to prove the seemingly improbable and unquantifiable nature of energy and spirit -Â so that they don’t have to rely upon blind faith – so they can know for sure, beyond the shadow of a doubt what is the truth and what is not.
This desire to know for sure, to leave nothing to chance is perhaps, in part, fueled by past experiences when it was discovered that our beliefs were misguided or that we were mistaken, which may have resulted in a loss of certainty or self-trust.
Regardless, there seems to be a general feeling among many of us human beings that neutrality equates to irresponsibility, inaction or indifference and is worthy of punishment or public outcry. You are part of the human race, therefore you must engage. It is in this sense that neutrality is seen as a negative. But is neutrality really indicative of turning your back on humanity, or simply a way to have a different perspective – a different vantage point?
I am fortunate to live in an area in which there is a mountain nearby – Mt. Diablo. This is by no means the tallest or most spectacular mountain in the world, but to those who live within sight of Mt. Diablo, it holds a certain majesty.  I believe this feeling of majesty is in part because of the opportunity a mountain affords us in gaining perspective. Our mountain towers above the hubbub and buzz of life in the communities that lie below, neutrally observing and reminding us of both its connection to the area and also its separation.
I love the drive to the top of Mt. Diablo. As you wind up through the twists and turns, slowly distancing yourself from the lowlands, you can feel the energy shift. There is a panoramic vista point at the summit from which you can look down on the cities, towns and neighborhoods of the Bay Area. Looking down on your home from this vantage point, allows you to recognize the energy vibration of it and separate for a moment from the clamor in the midst of which we live our daily lives. It gives perspective, space to breathe and observe, and the opportunity to hear your own voice rather than the collective noise. It allows space for some neutrality.
Yes, it is important to engage in life. We each made the choice to be spirit in a body on this earth and to experience life, to participate in the human race, to learn and grow. However, what it means to engage is unique to each and everyone of us.
Within the field of healing, neutrality is essential…… Having a different perspective from which to address the challenges your clients are facing, allows you to see more clearly how to proceed in assisting them. Neutrality also allows the healer not to be overcome by the pain or emotions of their clients.
We are spiritual beings in emotional bodies. Neutrality is a way to find balance between the strong pull of the body’s emotions and the limitless nature of spirit.  Balance is where we come together and from this place we can create change and healing.