Lightworkers in Positions of Power

[gypsyrose]

So funny. I decided to create a Guru Wall of people who are inspirational. Each week I'll change the Guru and set the picture by my computer so I can honor and absorb their energy. This way I'm always searching for the next 'Lightworker.'
And here's this great thread!

My 1st Guru is Salman Khan of the Khanacademy.org. He has set up 900 Youtube tutorials on subjects from banking, statistics, algebra...His goal in his words, "I see Khan Academy becoming the world's first free, world-class virtual school where anyone can learn anything--for free."
He is a Lightworker to admire!
Here's some more:

Jane Goodall
Ray Kurzweil-author of "The Singularity is Near" and creator of Singularity University in the San Francisco Bay Area
Ernest Holmes-founder of Religious Science
Richard Saul Wurman-architect and founder of TED
Karen Armstrong-religious teacher and creator of the Compassion Charter

If you want a daily dose of powerful Lightworkers, listen to TED talks. I go to the site a few times a week and listen to 15 minute talks on "tribal leadership, how food shapes our cities, the web as random acts of kindness..."

The speakers may not be perfect, but they are working in the Light so I call them Lightworkers.

Thanks for starting this thread!

[cacheborn]

Linus Torvalds is definitely a lightworker. About Rockefeller, can someone be darkeworker in some areas and lightworker in others?

[rei]

Jane Addams
Saul Alinsky

both were involved in the origins of social work. the first one (Addams) created the Hull House in Chicago, which was basically about equality of people and dignity of fellow human beings. Alinsky engaged in and trained others in community organizing, the idea was for regular citizens to display power through using the democratic process, by being organized they could more easily accomplish their goals (things like fair wages and removing corrupt mayors from power).

i actually think the majority of social workers and counselors are lightworkers or lightworkerish, especially those who side-step burnout or the effects of a toxic work environment. most at least start out with lightworkerly intentions. (the public child protective workers are not the real problem, they are overworked by an unintuitive system steeped in bureaucracy).

[Michelle]

Do you feel Obama should stay where he is on the list in light of his Nobel Peace Prize? Please make your case. Am interested in hearing opinions.

Lightworkers

Oprah Winfrey
Louise Hay
Mother Teresa
Renee Fleming
Clara Barton
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Gandhi
George Washington
Deepak Chopra
Common (the MC)
Nelson Mandela
Elie Wiesel
Albert Schweitzer
Oskar Schindler
Helen Keller
Florence Nightingale
Peter Gabriel
Marianne Williamson
Byron Katie
Paul Newman
Dalai Lama
Bobby McFerrin
Jane Goodall
Ray Kurzweil-author of "The Singularity is Near" and creator of Singularity University in the San Francisco Bay Area
Ernest Holmes-founder of Religious Science
Richard Saul Wurman-architect and founder of TED
Karen Armstrong-religious teacher and creator of the Compassion Charter
Steve Jobs
Linus Torvalds
Jane Addams -created the Hull House in Chicago
Saul Alinsky

Lightworkers-ish

Albert Einstein
Barack Obama
Al Gore
Ralph Nader
John D. Rockefeller

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by Michelle

Do you feel Obama should stay where he is on the list in light of his Nobel Peace Prize? Please make your case. Am interested in hearing opinions.

Remember, a lightworker is defined by how they use their energies and how they act based on that. It's not based on whether a group of person decide to give him a prize. Remember, Arafat won the Novel Peace Prize too, and he certainly was no lightworker.

[Michelle]

Originally Posted by seeker5

Remember, a lightworker is defined by how they use their energies and how they act based on that. It's not based on whether a group of person decide to give him a prize. Remember, Arafat won the Novel Peace Prize too, and he certainly was no lightworker.

I do remember, but thought it would make for interesting discussion.

I think comparing Arafat to Obama is another really long shot.

However, the Nobel Committee had their reasons.

They stated they wanted to give important encouragement to Obama to continue on the path he has started. They recognize the valuable seeds he is planting all over the world in terms of diplomacy and international cooperation.

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by Michelle

I think comparing Arafat to Obama is another really long shot.

I was simply bringing it up to showcase that a Nobel Peace Prize doesn't automatically translate into lightworker. I don't mean any comparison beyond that.

They stated they wanted to give important encouragement to Obama to continue on the path he has started. They recognize the valuable seeds he is planting all over the world in terms of diplomacy and international cooperation.

So, they recognize him for the potential of what he's said so far, not for the actual result. Do you want to include him on this list to encourage him to go on the full lightworker path?

[Michelle]

This is the official reason given by the committee:

for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.

Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future, the committee said. His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population. The committee also said Obama has "created a new climate in international politics."

Former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, last year's Peace Prize laureate, said it was clear the Nobel committee wanted to encourage Obama on the issues he has been discussing on the world stage "I see this as an important encouragement," Ahtisaari said.


Full Story at CNN.com

[seeker5]

I think it's good they are encouraging him to continue his diplomacy ways, we sure need more of that. We could give him the Steve Pavlina Higher Consciousness award too if you feel it would encourage him to further his peaceful diplomatic ways. It's a little short on money right now, but it's the thought that count.

[Michelle]

Originally Posted by seeker5

I think it's good they are encouraging him to continue his diplomacy ways, we sure need more of that. We could give him the Steve Pavlina Higher Consciousness award too if you feel it would encourage him to further his peaceful diplomatic ways. It's a little short on money right now, but it's the thought that count.

It is a little short on influence, too.

Too bad there is no smiley for blowing raspberries

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by Michelle

It is a little short on influence, too.

Inconceivable!

Too bad there is no smiley for blowing raspberries

Yeah, thank goodness, wouldn't want to be attacked on the forum by a bunch of raspberries!

[Andrew Gubb]

Anyone think Obama is a lightworker?

NO.

Al Gore doesn't look like a lightworker to me either. I don't know what his game is, but I don't think he really cares about people.

I wrote about Richard Branson a while back. I think he's a lightworker, or at least, a person of mixed polarity with a big heart and a strong slant towards contributing to the greater good.

Do you know, I heard Ghandi used to beat his wife? I don't know him but his photos don't talk to me. Maybe that's superficial, but he looks like a mean person. I do like what he stands for though.

[TiffyLove]

I have to disagree with the people who believe lightworkers can't hold a position of power. I believe with the shift in consciousness happening, I believe we will see more and more lightworkers in positions of power.

People are starting to distrust people who are cold and ruthless. Doing good and being a good person is becoming a huge part of big companies.

[Strangemagik]

What about Angelina Jolie? Or am I way off?

Originally Posted by aquamarine

Michelle,

Do you think it's important to distinguish between those that came into their positions through being a lightworker? If so, I'm not sure I agree with listing Oprah. She changed her mission, I think, only after she was very successful.

You mean you think she changed her mission to lightwork after success? if so what makes you think she only changed afterwards? When I think of Oprah in the early days I think of someone that probably held a lot of self doubt and self consciousness. Just to confront her weight issues alone. I know I have weight issues and self doubt is a big one on changing that. Maybe success did give her the push to change her mission or maybe she had it all along but found the courage to do it.

[Strangemagik]

Originally Posted by Michelle

I am against excluding a whole group of people from being considered as lightworkers because of their profession. Using the political system is how things get done in most civilized countries and frankly, because so many lightworkers are weak and afraid of doing anything powerful, many systems are suffering - not only the political. We need lightworkers willing to stand up and take charge everywhere especially in those areas where lightworkers are few and far between. At least IMHO, the lightworking world has much less need for another reiki healer than for more enlightened economic and political leaders willing to step up.

And, anyone who thinks Obama isn't a SAINT compared to Bush is blind. This doesn't mean he is perfect, but he is a big good step in the right direction.

I agree 100% We need more strong outgoing/charismatic lightworkers and just like I said in my reply on Oprah. That is seemed she changed later but many lightworkers are quiet.

And yep i agree Obama even if he doesn't get the changes in will have us shifting in the right direction. The country didn't get screwed up in a year its not gonna get fixed in a year. Just like someone that is overweight most don't get that way overnight it surely isn't coming off overnight either.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by Strangemagik

And yep i agree Obama even if he doesn't get the changes in will have us shifting in the right direction. The country didn't get screwed up in a year its not gonna get fixed in a year. Just like someone that is overweight most don't get that way overnight it surely isn't coming off overnight either.

I think the country did not get screwed up in the last ten or twelve years and will not be fixed in the next ten let alone overnight.

[Cristal Lilly]

firstly, I really like the idea that started this thread. I think it's important to point out examples that inspire us to shed those limiting beliefs of it being a cutthroat world and those that assure us that being a cutthroat is the only way a person can get into a position of power.

secondly, can someone explain to me how come they see steve jobs as a lightworker? I ask because I've read many articles describing him as a very negative person towards his employees, with all his yelling and similar stress-inducing, make-the-other-person-feel-so-very-small ways, it just led me to think he's not very love based person. sure, I'll give him that he shows a big love for ideas and products, but I just don't see the human factor here. maybe I'm wrong, but for me, acting out of love means being that way to your fellow man first. so enlighten me, people, you seem to know something I don't.

also, I would like to nominate gloria steinem. she is an intelligent hot blonde who could've gotten power and her way in life through manipulation and similar (easier) ways, yet she chose to be an empowering example for women and tried to show that discrimination hurts both genders. she also wrote a very empowering book, revolution from within, that I thought was a wonderful piece on the role of personal responsibility of women, and she handled the somewhat bitter response of the media and some other feminists (they attacked her saying she betraying feminism by suggesting that women have a personal responsibility and are not just the helpless victims of a mean cruel world) in what seemed to me a very loving way.

[Michelle]

An updated list! Those with question marks are still being debated ...

Lightworkers

Oprah Winfrey???
Louise Hay
Mother Teresa
Renee Fleming
Clara Barton
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Gandhi
George Washington
Deepak Chopra
Common (the MC)
Nelson Mandela
Elie Wiesel
Albert Schweitzer
Oskar Schindler
Helen Keller
Florence Nightingale
Peter Gabriel
Marianne Williamson
Byron Katie
Paul Newman
Dalai Lama
Bobby McFerrin
Jane Goodall
Ray Kurzweil-author of "The Singularity is Near" and creator of Singularity University in the San Francisco Bay Area
Ernest Holmes-founder of Religious Science
Richard Saul Wurman-architect and founder of TED
Karen Armstrong-religious teacher and creator of the Compassion Charter
Steve Jobs???
Linus Torvalds
Jane Addams -created the Hull House in Chicago
Saul Alinsky
Richard Branson???
Angelina Jolie???
Gloria Steinem -

an intelligent hot blonde who could've gotten power and her way in life through manipulation and similar (easier) ways, yet she chose to be an empowering example for women and tried to show that discrimination hurts both genders. she also wrote a very empowering book, revolution from within, that I thought was a wonderful piece on the role of personal responsibility of women, and she handled the somewhat bitter response of the media and some other feminists (they attacked her saying she betraying feminism by suggesting that women have a personal responsibility and are not just the helpless victims of a mean cruel world) in what seemed to me a very loving way

Lightworkers-ish

Albert Einstein
Barack Obama
Al Gore???
Ralph Nader
John D. Rockefeller

[Coffeesmurf]

Originally Posted by Michelle

An updated list! Those with question marks are still being debated ...

Lightworkers

Mother Teresa

Personally, I think you can add question marks to her as well. A lot of people think she caused a lot more suffering in this world than she alleviated.

This is just one article on the subject.. and a quote from it:

The most significant challenge to the reputation of Mother Teresa came from Christopher Hitchens in 1995 in his book The Missionary Position. "Only the absence of scrutiny has allowed her to pass unchallenged as a force for pure goodness, and it is high time that this suspension of our critical faculties was itself suspended," he wrote, questioning whether the poor in her homes were denied basic treatment in the belief that suffering brought them closer to God

You gotta love the title of that book, though

[Michelle]

I don't know.

Not one person on that list, if examined under a microscope would come away clean.

Perfection is not the requirement for being a lightworker.

Having dealt with all of one's own issues perfectly and being enlightened is not either.

Being free of mistakes or faults is not a requirement either.

And being a lightworker does not free one from being publicly criticized in the media. There are always people ready and willing to find fault with someone or something. And yet contrast of perspective and point of view is what makes living on planet earth so delicious and exciting.

There is a difference between disagreeing with someone's approach while still appreciating its validity and completely rejecting someone as a human being because they may have done something differently than you would. Each lightworker has their own approach, their own calling so to speak.

And in my view, the best lightworkers often have the shadiest pasts from which they chose to learn and rise above. They do not let their mistakes prevent them from living a life of love to the best of their ability. They practice forgiveness even in relationship to themselves. They live, learn and move on.

In any case, having done something at some point that another person considers "wrong" does not automatically exclude someone from Lightworkerdom. Morality is trendy and changes with the times.

[cacheborn]

Okay, I am a little confused now. Steve Jobs a light worker?? He is a very capable CEO but I don't think he has gotten this far by being a light worker. Microsoft will eat him alive if he was.

Perhaps, we could have a list of qualities a person must have in order to be a light or a dark worker?

[Michelle]

Originally Posted by cacheborn

Okay, I am a little confused now. Steve Jobs a light worker?? He is a very capable CEO but I don't think he has gotten this far by being a light worker. Microsoft will eat him alive if he was.

With your logic there could be no lightworkers in power.

[Hunter Swart]

In a music genre where most artists write music glorifying pain and suffering (it is death metal) these guys choose to instead create melodies asking the listener to question their ways and wake up to the world around them. In Flames has indubitably caused me to gravitate away from self-centered thinking, and they continue to do so. Being one of the most popular bands in metal, they have a lot of sway with a lot of people and I think it's great that they are responsible with that Power. I've included snippits of their lyrics to give you a taste of their focus.

REROUTE TO REMAIN

It started as a whisper
Now try to dodge this roar
Unified, the most forceful way to go
Waste this one? It’s up to you!
We need this revolution
Destroy the pattern, anything that separates
Across the times, who dares to follow?

For years we wandered these circles
Hold on to whatever lie gets us through

Design new latitudes
Find ways to channel bliss
Us defined is too fragile to neglect
Reroute to remain!
Reroute to remain!

Never want to look back in greed
Can I please have your attention?
There are mountains to cross
For all that are willing
There are never ending treasures that awaits you

EMBODY THE INVISIBLE

I demand nothing, but I want it all
what privilege do we have under the sun,
that gives us the right to the throne?

species come and go, but the earth stands forever fast
all river runs towards the sea, but the sea is never full

to discover the loneliness and be too proud to show the wounds
will forever wander alone through the years

but I won't let you near
begging for you to understand
the fear that lives in my soul
which is an untouched spring

read, what is written on the silent mouth
what is written in the soul
for which is written in the shining silence
we all have to read

They even have a song about polarity! BLACK & WHITE

I leave all of the grey behind I see clear,
I know that I’ll find
You claim that you are innocent
But tell me who aint
You think that you’re going to be saved
There’s no such thing as a saint

I’ve come to the conclusion -
yes, I know That between black and white,
there is no room for two
The scale might be wide,
but there is no need to be blind
Between black and white,
there is no room for two
no!

black and white theres nothing in between
black and white theres nothing what it seems

[Andrew Gubb]

Cool lyrics!

[cacheborn]

Originally Posted by Michelle

With your logic there could be no lightworkers in power.

Good point. Actually that is why I was wondering how would one define a lightworker in power. IMO, if you are coming from a position of love and caring for all, you are a lightworker.

In case of Steve jobs, he was very forceful in implementing his plans without caring about anyone else. (At least that what I have read.) Maybe in today's corporate world, you would find very few lightworker CEO's.

[Michelle]

Originally Posted by cacheborn

Good point. Actually that is why I was wondering how would one define a lightworker in power. IMO, if you are coming from a position of love and caring for all, you are a lightworker.

In case of Steve jobs, he was very forceful in implementing his plans without caring about anyone else. (At least that what I have read.) Maybe in today's corporate world, you would find very few lightworker CEO's.

Here ya go! Definition of a Lightworker

[cacheborn]

Originally Posted by Michelle

Here ya go! Definition of a Lightworker

Thanks! First I thought you are going to give me the answer, then I saw that we have to figure it out.