Psychologically Speaking

with Stewart Hase

The Agapantha Revolution

I, and my much better half, have had lots of people asking about how the white agapantha is amongst its sea of blue siblings. It seems to be coping well but given its independent streak it might thank you for asking while politely looking over your shoulder. I'm not sure what is happening on hell's acre (what I call my garden) but we have a hibiscus bush that has a grand display of white blooms. And one pink flower, proud and defiant, poking its little stamen out into the sun, surrounded. Honestly, I kid you not.

So, what is it about these independent minded souls that they defy the trend, buck the system, go against the flow? And why are they creating chaos in my garden?

We see them in the human race too. These are the people who just don't quite move in time to the beat of the drum. Apparently out of step. They are the ones who ask the difficult questions and the best question of all is, 'Why?'. These are the people who search for and sometimes see something different to the rest of us. They are restless souls, not quite content with the course that the crowd is following. Instead they are thinking that there might be a better way, a way that is more enlightening. Not accepting the status quo. Not trusting the spin doctors.

However, I have a couple of observations about this. The first is that these white agapanthas and pink hibiscus are annoying, messy. They get in our way, challenging us all with their silly ideas and wanting to be different. However, these are the people that are truly creative. They make us think even though it's hard work.

The second, and more important observation, is that I have the sneaking suspicion that many of us want to break the trend, escape and do something different. I meet so many people who are sick and tired of the illusion that has been foisted on us. Work hard all your life for the gold watch and chain (apologies to Donovan), consume and be happy, be hypnotised by the illusion of success. As a colleague said to me last week, there are more and more means by which we can become unconscious rather than conscious in life. Television, computers, multitasking, frantic activity, being everywhere and everything, all stop us from being aware, from being awake.

I think people liked the story about the white agapantha because that's what they'd like to be. They want to be more conscious rather than hypnotised. And I sense a revolution in the air. I suspect that many are not prepared to be conned anymore and want to jump ship. Rebel. Live life!

Join the agapantha revolution. Go on, just for one day!