Are we on the verge of another 60’s? (but better)

I mentioned previously that I’ve been studying the 60’s. I came a little too late to experience it for myself, but I’ve been compelled to investigate it.

The 60’s was a leaderless movement, which welled up from within the masses themselves. No one quite knew exactly what to do or where to go, let alone what was behind it. In fact that was never really solved. But because it didn’t appear to have an obvious purpose it became subject to all sorts of criticism and abuse. The establishments who were more organized and backed by traditionalists barricaded themselves against the onslaught of their time honored values and authority. “Get back to work!” They cried. “Become responsible citizens. We know what is good for you.”

Their fundamentalism finally prevailed. The movement fragmented in all its different flavors. In many cases these factions becoming cultist, and many people who were interested in building their own kingdoms gradually took over the fracturing sub-cultures. The Spirit was lost and many dropped out and turned to all sorts of stuff, and different beliefs and practices, trying to recapture that initial excitement and euphoria.

Initially, the change in disposition was revealed through the music of the time. But as the movement receded, it lost its soulfulness, and became more gritty, aggressive, frustrated… and stoned!

I have talked with people who spoke of experiencing a tremendous lift during that period, and wonder where it all went wrong. To them, the deterioration of the movement was tragic. They speak of an energy of love, authenticity, togetherness, and harmony that connected people together as never before. To them it showed the possibility that a whole new world could have opened up.

But many of the folks from the 60’s gradually and reluctantly worked themselves back into the system, became “successful,” but feel like they never really did what they really wanted to do, and express a sense of emptiness about life and shallow relationships.

I see a lot of similarities between the counter-cultural energy of our day and the conditions that gave rise to the 60’s. I wonder about the possibility of there being a tipping point where a large-scale movement of people become connected to what’s real inside themselves, and speak to one another from their deep feelings and Spirit awareness, bubbling up from inside them.