Awakening Zeitgeist in Berlin

To learn more: myzeitgeist.de

Zeitgeist:

means “spirit of the age” or “spirit of the time.” It is essentially the intellectual mode of thought during a particular time period, which in turn influences the art, the politics, the perceptions of the world, and of course, other greatly important aspects of culture that the era then becomes known for. Some argue that due to our socialization, we are all of the same spirit and play out the zeitgeist of our era together, as one. I can tap into the microcosm of me to know that I am a part of the greater whole, reflecting the bigger picture in all that I say, do, think, feel. That is not to say I believe I am not also, at least to some degree anyway, “unique.” I do have my own given circumstances in conjunction with the choices I am making, which are creating my story, my existence. Still though, it is a bit of a relief to know, I am not the only one.

The journey I am on is my own, but it is shared with all those whom I come into contact with. In turn, I have the privilege to watch, learn, and live vicariously through the lives of others, too. We each have something of our own cosmic potential to share with the world while we are here for our moment in time. Before long, our experience will be extinguished, and we will return to the Earth in whatever capacity we have chosen for our remains. However, I exist as I am RIGHT NOW. While I might fluctuate in who I am becoming from here on out, I would still like to remain an agent of change for the time that I AM here. I hope to change this world for the better. I will not always have the energy to make grand scale alterations that will impact all the billions of this world, but I can live day to day with intentionality toward our greater shared picture. I can inspire others to live toward offering the best of themselves, too…. But the best is not always what comes…

Berlin left a heavy imprint of warning across my heart, soul, and brain. People are capable of the best and worst of human potential. The concentration camp Sachsenhausen was an example of ONE in 2000 camps created at that time. Guantanamo Bay (and so many other prisons across the world) are occurring NOW, in this time. Have we learned? Perhaps to a degree, but certainly not to the extent that the lesson has sunk in as it needs to. The Germans do not hide their reality, their history, their truth. It is ugly and human in the most heart wrenching sense, but now, their generosity of giving is profound. The Germans themselves learned, and they attempt to offer to the rest of the world their example. We should listen and listen well, for we are headed toward a monumental humbling ourselves.

At first, Hitler only had 2% of the national vote for the Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (the German Workers’ Party), which then became the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei – NSDAP (National Socialist German Workers’ Party, commonly known as the Nazi Party). After a fire was set to the Reichstag (the building that housed the legislative body much like the House of Congress, or the Parliament), Hitler went to President Paul von Hindenburg insisting that the communists were trying to destroy Germany. The fire itself had four points of origin that all ignited at the same time, but only one man was blamed. That man was so drunk he could barely walk, but he did confess. Needless to say, there is a great deal of “mystery” about what actually happened, but it does not require one to be Sherlock Holmes in order to deduce that the fire was a successful set-up for Hitler to demand that he be given full authority to dispense at his will “for the safety” of Germany. President von Hindenburg was a very old man, and Hitler was diabolically charismatic. The combination resulted in the Enabling Act of 1933, granting Adolf Hitler a full suspension of Habeas Corpus as he began his true campaign in eliminating his enemies and all those who would speak out against him.

Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp execution trench

The Sachsenhausen concentration camp was not the first, but it was the most important. It was here that Hitler’s most prominent political prisoners were kept, SS guards were trained, and it was the administrative center for all of the concentration camps due to its key geographical location just outside of Berlin.  While Sachsenhausen was not originally intended as an extermination camp, there were about 30,000 who perished while there. Sachsenhausen was predominantly a work camp for the prisoners, which was a driving force for Hitler during his war efforts … “cheap” labor. There were also some now famous brands that had product testing done using the prisoners at the camp. For example, the German brand Adidas was created by Adolf Dassler (Adi Das), a Nazi party member who had his shoes tested on a marching strip at Sachsenhausen. The prisoners would run a marathon (26.2 miles) everyday, until they died. The men who were used for this sort of testing were often homosexuals. 

Of course, there were many ways in which people were executed at Sachsenhausen, including by firing squads, gas chamber “showers,” traveling gas chambers, and “neck shots.” The firing squads left too much of a mess, so the Nazis tried to find new ways of mass

Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Crematorium

execution that had minimal clean-up afterwards. One of the preferred ways was using a mobile gas chamber in which prisoners were herded into the back of truck that was sealed and had a hose connected directly from the exhaust pipe into the “chamber.” The driver was

“There is a way to freedom, but only through this chimney”

instructed to go for a forty-five minute loop in which the prisoners would be dead upon re-entry into the camp and then incinerated or thrown into a mass grave. “Neck shots” were performed on at least 1/3 of the prisoners who died at Sachsenhausen, which was a quick and clean way to kill mostly large Soviet men prisoners. The men were told they were being fitted for a uniform and to stand up straight, which unbeknownst them was when a small gun would shoot directly into the back of the neck severing the brain and spinal cord. The bodies would then be searched for all valuables including golden teeth or hidden jewelry, and then dragged into the crematorium to be disposed of.

To say something that another human being did was “inhuman” is inherently untrue if a human did in fact commit the atrocity. Each and every person is capable of the fullest negative and positive human essence. It is our choice of expression that separates us.

The Holocaust resulted in the mass genocide of somewhere around SIX MILLION Jews, as well as Soviets, Homosexuals, Anti-Nazi activists, those were not of the Aryan race, and mentally or physically challenged men, women, and children. It did not happen over night, but it occurred in stages. Hitler was systematic in his executions, but he NEVER went to any of the concentration camps that he had created. Rather, hisdirty work was carried out by his soldiers and those who could find a way to live with themselves for committing the atrocities asked of them.

Victor Frankl, the creator of Logotherapy, or “Meaning” therapy, and one of my greatest personal existentialist therapeutic influences, was a prisoner at the Auschwitz concentration camp. In order to survive, he learned that he must create meaning and purpose for himself. He saw the best and the worst of humanity displayed amongst both the guards and the prisoners. In both positions, people still had choices to make. At no point was a guard forced to commit the despicable acts that they did. However, while there most certainly were guards who chose to be sadists, there were also some who chose to do what they could to help if possible. There were also prisoners who chose to turn against their fellow inmates in order to get an extra slice of bread, and there were those who gave their dying breath to help a complete stranger. Even in the worst of circumstances, people maintain choice.

             Each and every person has the whole spectrum of potential human emotion to express, but as to HOW we will each choose to do so is in fact upon us to decide for ourselves. Adolf Hitler was not alone in his persecution and hate campaign, but he could not have done what he did without the choice of millions to stand by and watch, silent tears possibly streaming down their faces, but silent nonetheless. There are many ways in which people can turn their backs on one another, including family, friends, and passing strangers. Each day, we can do one thing, even as simple as smile at another or give a compliment, in order to do our part in making this world a better place.   Today, I am choosing to hopefully inspire others to make choices that will resonate for generations to come. Our generation has an opportunity to learn, to build, to give, to hope, to BE. Please stand with me in making your own choices from here on out now that you are aware and “superconscious” of our impact in this world. There are indeed parallels to be made with events occurring now, and I encourage you to have courage to look further into that which comes to mind for YOU. I have my opinions, but I invite all of you to take a moment to ponder, to feel, to BE with what I have simply shared. History offers itself to revisions, but with the generosity of revealing their shame to the world, the Germans offer a rare and raw opportunity to examine our human nature of which we are each capable if we so choose, OR we could choose to be otherwise. 

Holocaust Memorial in Berlin

To be fair, I cannot say with any degree of certainty what our era’s zeitgeist is, but it is my belief that existentialism is a major component. We are becoming more conscious of the vulnerability of our existence, and the uncertainty of our possible non-existence. Each person has a moment of expiration in which he or she will no longer have an opportunity to do more, but we do have THIS moment, here and now, to do something for more than just ourselves. I hope to leave a legacy for the generations that will come after me. That is the essential mission of Sierra Sunrise Wellness Group. Change begins with local uplift but in the broader sense, I hope for my company’s impact to eventually reach a global forum in which lower socioeconomic brackets will be able to find hope and promise… food, water, shelter first and foremost, and from there, working our way up Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in order to eventually facilitate the opportunity of self-actualization as individuals and as a collective. I think our generation has so very much potential, and we COULD change the world for the better. Perhaps we will not change the world over completely, but generations from now, our impact will still have left its tell tale traces. I hope to

Holocaust Memorial in Berlin

leave a legacy others quite literally can live with.

Thus, I ask of you, what will YOU choose?  Today, tomorrow, in your time to come… I choose hope.

With love and the utmost respect and gratitude,

Nora Ann