The Dawn of Everything: a book for now

Posted on Jul 6, 2022 in Book reviews, Spiritual living, Uncategorized

The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow

I posted about how The Dawn of Everything was blowing my mind on Facebook, but I really think it merits a bit more time and attention so here we go.

It’s written by archeologist David Wengrow and anthropologist David Graeber, so that’s two of my subjects of fascination combined for a start. But it ventures far beyond just another history book, literally, because it questions all the deep-rooted assumptions popular history has taught us about how human society developed.

We all know the story, and I’m guilty of buying into it too from what I’d read previously. In humanity’s early days we were peace-loving hunter-gatherers living in idyllic small groups.

If you prefer to listen, play the video below for a podcast version. Otherwise, read on.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHWzJKfeYDo

Until along came agriculture and civilisation and out the windows of those burgeoning societies went freedom, equality, and fairness. Or, conversely, we were bestial, violent savages until we discovered the stability of agriculture-initiated hierarchical and ordered societies. Either way, it’s a myth that no longer stands up to modern examination of the latest archaeology, or exploration of academic books and papers that have been side-lined because they refute this narrow view. For example, did you know there’s prolific evidence that Neolithic peoples in Great Britain tried agriculture, decided they didn’t like it, and went back to hunter-gathering?

This dangerous myth keeps us locked powerlessly in our current system believing there’s no alternative because, history tells us, our ancestors have already discovered this is the best and only way to go. In fact, our ancestors were incredibly creative and experimental, and their societal structures were myriad and shockingly fluid, as you’ll discover (probably with mounting awe and horror as I did!) when you read the many worldwide examples presented with a fresh perspective in this book.

In accepting this myth of inevitability, we’ve lost our sense of agency and freedom. Which begs the question, what is freedom anyway? Well, through their research the authors break it down into three essential freedoms, embraced by Native American tribes such as the Iroquois and Wendat who were both vocal in their mocking of our so-called civilised lifestyle when they first encountered Western Europeans. The contemporary diaries and reports quoted in this section of the book, all of which I’d never heard of, had me alternately howling with laughter and crying with anguish. There’s a story from the Native American tribes about how any potential council member would have to go through a systematic, ritualistic humiliation by the people to ensure they possessed the requisite humility and commitment to service. I’m sure I’m not the only one who takes great delight in imagining this particular process being enacted in my own country!

Where this book about the past lifts my heart and imbues me with greater hope for the future is in the naming of these three essential freedoms: the freedom to move away, the freedom to disobey, and the freedom to transform social relationships. Our ancestors, some of them, recognised the right and need of everyone to enjoy these freedoms, and it’s exactly what many of us are seeking to create now. In many forms and over many millennia, they structured and protected this freedom for themselves, which means we can do so again. We’ve already proved we have the ability to do it, and we now have the advantage of technology at our fingertips to assist faster dissemination and implementation of the necessary wisdom and organisation.

All I can say is read this book, be jaw-droppingly amazed, and then apply renewed hope to how you choose to help build our shared future. I’ll see you out there, making history with the assistance of the ancestors who also understood and promoted our right for freedom in the outer world as well as on the inner, spiritual planes. You might also like to read my recent article, connected to this subject A Thrutopian Evocation; the way through.

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Semele Xerri

© Semele Xerri is a psychic intuitive guide, healer, animal communicator, and Reiki Healer / Master Teacher. To find out more about her and her services, go to her Work with me page.
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