Shikasta: Re, Colonised Planet 5: Personal, Psychological, Historical… | Themes

Shikasta: Re, Colonised Planet 5: Personal, Psychological, Historical Themes

Natural Harmonies

There is a very strong theme of natural harmonies in Shikasta. The natural state of all beings in the Canopean empire is to be in harmony with one another. The Canopeans aid the process of linking together. They attempt to impose a "Lock" on all of their colonies that brings together the SOWF - or the "substance-of-we-feeling" which binds all planets and beings on those planets in harmony with one another. The idea of harmony in Shikasta, however, is complicated. It appears that harmony among humans means that individuals never use violence against one another and naturally cooperate. They do not consider their interests as individuals but only the common good. Thus "harmony" appears to mean that individual interests do not conflict in societies in harmony. There is peace, prosperity, love and long life. Another sense of harmony is love, and in fact Shikasta begins on this theme. The SOWF...
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