The news of George Clooney's recent engagement to Amal Alamuddin seemed to ripple into the far corners of the Western world shocking everyone, including myself. I mean, could it really be true? Could the ultimate bachelor suddenly have decided that "forever love" was now in fact for him?
It seems as though it is true.
But hold on, because I'm about to shock you further. You see, I am quite certain that Clooney's recent engagement is not just about Clooney. In fact, I have a sneaking suspicion that it has meaning for every single one of us in the Western world. So stick with me here, this theory might not be as crazy as you think.
Below is my take on why George Clooney's engagement is a win for all of us:
1. Clooney represents the archetypal energy of what it means to be masculine in our culture. Think about it: Clooney represents what those in our culture consider the standard when it comes to being masculine. He's cool, calm and collected -- seemingly under all circumstances, good-looking, charming, sexy, confident, un-tie-down-able, ambivalent about commitment, intelligent, rich, always in control and dates much younger women. Over time, his grey hair and wrinkles have actually made him sexier. When it comes to an icon of what it means to be a man -- Clooney rules in our culture. And he has been revered as not only the sexiest man but also the sexiest life-long single man. That's a huge message to men and women everywhere. Clooney's choice to shift out of forever-bachelorhood into a committed, long-term marriage is a signal to all of us about the turning tide of the role of the masculine in our culture. That's how powerful Clooney's energy is. Expect more "single-forever" men to follow suit and go Clooney on us! Win!
2. Clooney's choice of a successful, yet feminine woman is a sign of a huge cultural shift in the masculine and feminine coming together. Let's face it: Clooney can have any woman he desires. The tiniest, shiniest lady on the planet if he so chooses. Instead, he chose a woman who is a human rights lawyer, who has a successful career that supports the bettering of the world and who is also a very beautiful, feminine woman. When a masculine archetype chooses an equally powerful divine feminine to be his partner, it creates a more solid and stable partnership that has a ripple effect throughout our culture. Two powerful people with a focus on creating a better world can have far more impact than just one. It also serves as an inspiration for more of us to come together with equally powerful partners to support the enhancement and betterment of our world. Success, for everyone!
3. Single and partnered folks everywhere need to celebrate -- committed partnership is the new single. Up until now, Clooney's freedom as an eternally single man was esteemed both by him personally and in the media. What he and many have discovered is that the greatest freedom occurs through and from deep loving. The only way to truly be free is to open our hearts to another in total vulnerability and love. Everyone from Jesus to Paulo Coelho has been telling us this for centuries. Yet still, an immature part of our culture hung on to a fantasy that being unattached in heart meant greater play and freedom. When one of our main masculine archetypes who loved to proclaim his power as a single man now chooses greater and deeper loving and commitment -- watch for the rest of the Western world to follow. Married people can relax into a greater commitment with their partners while single people can open their hearts to allow true commitment in. Everyone wins!
Our cultural icons are our cultural icons because they have important messages to reflect back to us. Think of them as our modern-day royalty. They show us what we believe and where we're at, good, bad or otherwise, and they give us an opportunity to shift into a higher frequency of alignment with who we really are. George Clooney is simply one example of this. Having made such a name for himself as a forever bachelor, his choice for marriage can have a wonderful, positive impact on all of us.
So go out there and pull a Clooney. Propose to that man/woman you love, spend more time in heart-centered connection with your partner, allow yourself to see the gifts that truly loving another brings. Relationships are our most important containers for spiritual growth. Looks like even Clooney knows this now.
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