In Ritual: Power, Healing, and Community, Malidoma Somé introduces a powerful metaphor called "The Machine."
The Machine represents the industrialized world—our drive for constant productivity, efficiency, and material progress.
Somé warns that this Machine comes at a great cost: disconnection from nature, from the community, and ultimately, from our own souls.
It’s eye-opening to see how deeply we can become carried away with systems prioritizing profit over people and productivity over peace.
In today's world, his words feel more relevant than ever. We’re surrounded by screens, 24/7 work culture, and the pressure to constantly "achieve." We risk becoming cogs, as Somé puts it, losing touch with the things that bring real meaning and connection: community, nature, spirituality, and our inner lives.
Somé believed that reconnecting with ritual—simple acts that ground us in the present and in the community—could help us break free from the Machine’s grip.
It’s a call to slow down, find purpose, and re-engage with our own humanity.
Reflection🤔
Let’s ask ourselves: How can we bring more balance into our lives? How can we step back from the Machine and make time for the things that nourish us?
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