Stagnation: A Natural State That Calls for Resolution

Endlessly exhausted? Work that never seems to move forward, yet never truly falls apart? Life feeling emptier with each passing day? If you recognize one or all of these signs, you may be experiencing what we call stagnation: a standstill in life's journey, where it is impossible to tell whether the pause is only temporary or destined to last.

Like many others, I have experienced it myself. It was not numbness or emotional freezing, but being stuck, unable to see what to do next to escape a situation that felt suffocating. Spending millions on shopping or travel could not shake the feeling of being trapped in what, at the time, seemed like an invisible prison. Working relentlessly only to earn enough to pay off debt, for example, only deepened that sense of entrapment.

In my own case, these delusions usually emerged after days or weeks of anger, envy, and resentment toward other people, including relatives. It felt as though hell had arrived long before I left this earthly life. Those were the moments when I unconsciously acted as if the world belonged only to me and everyone else was merely "tenants".

Illustration: Giant banyan tree in Punden Dusun Krajan, Dau, Batu.

No time for miracles

As painful as it is, stagnation is not a new "illness" to the world's many Indigenous beliefs. Difficult times can arise at any moment, something I have written about repeatedly. There is always a way forward, but for many reasons not all of us are able to see it. Sometimes the obstacle lies in circumstances beyond our control. At other times, it is the result of imbalances created by our own choices.

From the perspective of the Indigenous Siberian Faith, it is never too late to break free from the stagnation that grips an individual or an entire community. The intention to rise again and begin anew must be expressed through action, and presenting offerings is one of the primary ways practitioners embody that intention. For those who follow this path, the practice also helps cultivate character and resilience, both individually and collectively.

For most people, the mysterious and difficult-to-prove aspects of offerings attract the greatest attention. That is understandable. Many of us long for a miracle that can erase life's problems quickly and without much hardship.

Followers of the Indigenous Siberian faith have little time to speculate about miracles or wonder what kind of offering might please unseen powers enough to invite their help. For centuries, these related peoples have focused instead on finding practical ways to survive in one of the world's harshest climates. Such conditions demand clear thinking rather than wishful imagination, and disciplined judgment rather than impulse.

The journey to "surrender"

The idea of accepting reality as it is has often been condemned by modern societies, dismissed as a "comfort zone" that stands in the way of progress. Four, five, or even ten years ago, I probably would have agreed. Yet today, the world has unexpectedly returned to its own form of stagnation because many people hesitate to lower their standards of living. They remain stagnant while insisting, "We're doing just fine."

Until they recognize what is happening, that condition is likely to persist for an unknown length of time. The good news is that we do not have to remain there if we are willing to embrace approaches that have stood the test of time. (dswas)