Love trumps Fear

I was having another down day today. The weight of the state of the world bearing down on me, yet again. I haven’t been talking with trees lately. Perhaps the two are linked?

So I went for a walk. We are staying in town. From here we can see across the skyline of Auckland city. The weather was looking grey and threatening showers, but the rain radar promised a long enough gap to get out and around nearby Western Park.

Auckland city skyline on a grey spring day JF 06102025

I have been reading about the political situation in USA. One Substack post reviewed the rise of Fascism in multiple countries, comparing this to current events in America. It did not make uplifting reading, pretty depressing actually. The conclusion was it’s too late for America to escape the inevitable path of potentially decades of Fascist rule. I started to think about my own country, Aotearoa New Zealand. Here we have Fascist elements in our current Coalition government. Links with far right think tanks, an ideology that’s seen public spending slashed, tax reduced disproportionately favouring the wealthy, fast tracking of gas and mineral exploration... and more. Unemployment and homelessness have increased. Climate change committments have been rolled back. Our government has not joined its close allies including Australia, Canada and the UK, in recognising Palestinian statehood. Instead we seem to be kowtowing to American influence.

My mind has gone crazy since reading about the history of Fascism. The worst case scenario theory that has wormed its way into my brain is that our current Coalition Government leaders are paving the way for a similar Fascist takeover to what is happening in America. New Zealand has long been seen as a haven for “luxury survivalists”. A forgotten outpost where safety, food and water is guaranteed, where the local population is perceived as fairly benign and small enough to be minimally bothersome, or at least controllable if push comes to shove. Since Trump 1.0 the uber wealthy have recognised that cimate change really is a thing. Trump 2.0 is all about seizing control of power and eliminating the masses who will be competing for scarce resources. Here’s something else in New Zealand’s favour as a survivalists’ outpost: we are far enough south to avoid the searing heat of the equatorial regions as the planet warms. Billionaires are already building bunkers here... this is no fantasy.

So how could this play out? Firstly, our leaders may or may not be aware of the grand plan. Regardless, they are complicit in paving the way with their attempts to dismantle indigenous rights, and their actions to reduce the resources of the working and middle classes and privilege the wealthy. If this Coalition wins the next election we could be seeing Trump 2.0 playing out in our little corner of the world. We would become easy fodder for the international wealthy class to set up camp here and ultimately stage a complete takeover.

As my mind got busier and busier painting this Fascist future for NZ, I felt more and more bleak. Hence the walk to the park. It was indeed a grey day, but the rain held off. I crossed Ponsonby Road, and as I did so, I caught myself. Look around Jackie, it’s a normal breezy, showery spring day in the city. People are going about their business. A girl with long streaming brown hair sails past on her scooter, flashing me a smile. A woman walking her two small dogs bends down to untangle their leads. A young chap with headphones walks by bobbing his head, fully focused on his music and taking no notice of me or the dog lady. I look up and see the spring green on the trees, and the clouds scudding above. I’m in the park now. I choose to cross the grass rather than take the path. It’s long and wet, my feet are getting damp. No matter, I carry on. Joining the path now, I walk down around the perimeter of the park, kicking though the leaves that are blowing about and dodging the other walkers as I go. Reaching the bottom of the park I’m already starting to feel better, just being out in nature, moving my body and seeing the world go on as it alwa ys has. Ha to Fascist fears, be here now!

Then I remembered my city tree. It’s been a while since we talked. It (s/he?) is just up the path. I walk quickly in that direction, feeling the anticipation of meeting an old friend. I see the majestic Pohutukawa silhouette coming into view, rustic limbs reaching to the sky. As I reach the tree, I feel compelled to melt into it. I turn around and lean back against its trunk, resting my head against a low branch. I feel a mix of emotions – sad that it’s been so long since I’ve been here with this tree, but happy to be here now; still upset about the state of the world and my fascist fears, but starting to feel calmer and more centred as I connect with the tree.

I tentatively reach out to communicate... rather clumsily I start talking about how I’m feeling rather than asking how the tree has been. Very graciously the tree responds, it’s ok, just rest here a while, I’ll hold you. My body begins to relax. It’s just such a mess I say. Yes the tree says, you humans are making a mess of things. What can we do I ask? There’s nothing to do says the tree wisely, it just needs to play out. The balance has tipped and collapse is inevitable. There will be chaos. You may or may not survive. Gee, this is getting heavy I think to myself. The tree, perhaps sensing my thoughts, comes back with reasurance. It’s not a bad thing that we have a re-balance. Not all will be lost. Nature will survive, and you are part of nature. Come and spend time with me, with us. We are always here. Breathe, rest and relax. Your job is to love. Love your people, love the natural world around you. Live for now, protect what you can and trust that this is a mere blip in the scheme of things. Nature will reign supreme again, and humans may be part of that. But what you modern humans have built must come crashing down, it’s unsustainable.

I remember another Substack post I read this week about humans as a keystone species. Maybe we are needed, as least those of us tuned in and ready and willing to evolve aligned with the natural world, rather than with some made-up version of reality based in ideology and a dominant, extractive mentality. Love, compassion and caring versus division, destruction and death. Oops, that’s a reminder – the tree talked about death today too – death is inevitable and not something to be feared or avoided. From death comes renewal and regeneration. It’s all part of the circle of life.

P.S. I have been a little silent on my Substack lately. There’s a lot going on in the world. I’ve found it a bit overwhelming and haven’t had the impulse to write. This post popped spontaneously and unexpectedly. I do have notes from talking with trees in Australia. Hopefully they make their way here, but if not I will trust whatever emerges.

Thank you for reading, it means a lot! I would love to hear how you’re managing the chaos. What helps you to stay centred and coming from a place of love rather than fear?