Here's the latest installment of my current dark scifi project. This is chapter 37. If you're just tuning in, consider starting with chapters 1 and 2. Be advised that this work considers difficult subjects, including suicide. If you're in crisis, please seek help. Help is available here.
In Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, Peter saw to all of the details of Greg's spiritual empowerment retreat, from renting the cottage and arranging food to organizing the information participants provided about themselves for Greg to consider when speaking. The group was small, just a dozen souls, each of whom paid three thousand dollars to spend the weekend with the renowned channeler and spiritual teacher. Peter felt out of his element with the affluent crowd, but he'd become used to feeling that way when it came to Greg's business.
Although he had sat in on several channeling and personal counseling sessions, Peter didn't quite know what to expect with this retreat. The first group session had been a meet-and-greet, but now it was time to begin really getting into it. After a five minute meditation that Peter led, Greg spoke up. "Thank you Peter and welcome everyone," he began. "Today, we'll be focusing on the subject of power. Tell me, who here feels powerful?"
A few hands tentatively went up.
"Good," said Greg. "Now, who here desires to feel powerful?"
More hands went up.
"Tabitha, can you tell us why you didn't put your hand up?" asked Greg.
"I used to feel powerful," said Tabitha. "I was a hot shot executive with all that entails. But then I came to see that power as an illusion. One that's too often used to repress marginalized voices. I used my power that way, but eventually I gave it up. Now I don't want power anymore."
"Are you suggesting that power can't be used for good?" asked Greg.
"Not in the systems that we have," said Tabitha. "Power means power in systems of repression. That's not what I want."
"What an incredible insight," said Greg, grinning broadly. "So do you think our systems of interpersonal relationships are systems of repression?"
"Sometimes," said Tabitha.
"And is there any area of your life where you feel like there's a power imbalance in your relationships?" asked Greg. "Some area where you feel disempowered?"
"Maybe ... with my sister," said Tabitha. "She's just so checked out, I feel like I can't ever really get through to her."
"Who else feels disempowered in an interpersonal relationship?" asked Greg. "Nick, you look like you have something to say."
"I feel like everyone born before 1980 is fucking clueless," said Nick. "Like they ruined the world and are determined to keep everything shitty until they die. They have all of the power and none of the wisdom necessary to use it responsibly."
"I feel like I can't talk to my husband because he's got all of the power in our relationship and he lords it over me," said a woman named Anne.
"Let's zero in on that," said Greg. "Would you be willing to share with us how exactly your husband lords his power over you?"
"He does it in all sorts of ways," said Anne. "To start with, he acts like he can't hear me whenever I'm saying something that conflicts with his ideas. And afterwards, he selectively forgets all of the things that are important to me. I don't think he's faking. I think he does it unconsciously."
"Ahh yes," said Greg. "Both of those things are classic examples of power games people play. Requiring you to repeat yourself is a power game to force you to expend more energy than you otherwise would. This game is just as common as gaslighting and victim-blaming, but it isn't talked about as much."
"Well, what can I do about it?" asked Anne. "I'm already leaving him, but I'd still like to improve our communication. I hate the idea of his toxic cloud hanging over our divorce forever."
"There's nothing you can do about his toxicity," said Greg. "No one really has power over others. But where you do have power is in where you place your attention. Would you like to hear a couple of techniques that I've found helpful in dealing with interpersonal power abusers?"
Several group members nodded.
"Great," said Greg. "The first one might not sound very impressive, but I assure you it can work wonders. It is simply taking a step back. This can be done physically, in person, or metaphorically when you're on the phone. All you have to do is stop, create some distance between you and the interaction, and don't step back into the conversation until you feel like you're in complete control of your attention."
"Derek would absolutely hate that," said Anne.
"Power abusers do hate that, but not as much as they hate the next technique," said Greg. "You see, the unconscious goal of the power abuser is to be in control of your attention, your energy. They'll keep you waiting or make you feel small or treat your needs as unimportant, all to achieve this goal. Calling attention to their games only leads to more games, but if you laugh at them and give them nothing, you'll keep all of the energy that you would've given them, and you can do what you wish with this freed up energy."
"So I should laugh at Derek and give him nothing?" asked Anne.
"Laugh at the antics, not the man," said Greg. "And be as respectful as you want to be, not as respectful as he expects you to be."
"But if I do that, I'm afraid he'll make the divorce harder on me," said Anne.
"He might," said Greg. "Power abusers will go to great lengths to make the lives of others harder. But again, that's not up to you. Your power lies within your own self, not in his actions."
"Are there any other techniques?" asked a woman named Judy.
"At this time, I'll share one other technique that's a little more advanced," said Greg. "It requires involving your whole body. First, breathe deeply into your abdomen, ideally so you can feel the breath all the way down in the soles of your feet. Next, hold a meaningful image in your mind's eye. I prefer a flower, but it can be anything, so long as you can hold it there. The point is to keep your mind from being pulled into the endless labyrinths of interpersonal games. Finally, no matter what else is going on, speak only your truth, or be silent. These three things together can create profound shifts in interactions, if you're open to them."
(Feature image from Pixabay.)
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