Chaos. Confusion. Anxiety. Fear. Erratic behaviors. Non-sensical speech. Delusions. Rage. Restlessness. Grandiose projections of blame. Impatience. Bullying.

All of these are among the typical symptoms observed when an individual is moving toward death. No matter how much the spirit is willing, or the individual is mentally at peace with leaving behind the mortal coil, the body fights – often tooth and nail – to remain.

I have witnessed this myself as I have accompanied individuals through the final days of life. Medication provides support and eases some of the symptoms of the death throes, but the body still fights the release of its spirit.

The same is happening in the world today. The patriarchy is dying and it is working extra hard to cling to the perceived power, wealth, and control they have wielded these past 5000-10,000 years.

Every day we are witnessing symptoms of this dying. Those who have benefitted from the way things have been, and those who believe (falsely) that the dying patriarchy will save them are collectively raging, whining, and clinging. If it is difficult to notice these behaviors in the collective, we need only look at the loudest of our world “leaders” for examples of the patriarchy trying desperately to stay alive and in the position of perceived power:

• Fingers of blame pointed outside of themselves.
• Men unwilling to claim responsibility for their own actions.
• Grandiose behaviors and gestures of attempted power.
• Non-sensical speech.
• Delusions of grandeur and illusions about how much power they actually have.
• Attempts to dismantle systems and services that they perceive as being of no use to them.
• Impatient and rash decision-making.
• Bullying and name-calling.
• Chaos and confusion.

The symptoms of the death throes then cast observers into panic-mode. What can we do to help ease the effects of their actions? What can we do to stop them? How can we help them see that their actions are unreasonable and rooted in fear? How can we help ease their fear?

We can’t. Neither should we try. In physical death, sedatives help to ease the restlessness of death throes. When the death is of a system, the only thing we can do is stand back and watch, letting nature take its course.

And soothe ourselves. Whether we are experiencing grief, anxiety, worry, or fear in the face of the patriarchy’s dying, we are invited to turn to the tools we have for navigating these feelings while restoring ourselves to peace. Only in finding our way to peace can we endure the upheaval of systemic death while keeping our eyes open for signs of the new life that is already here and which is taking deeper and deeper root as the patriarchy heaves its final sigh.

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