I have never been one to really get into science fiction. I guess that's because once you experience living in a haunted house, learn about how to communicate with spirit guides and power animals, and channel the messages of an angel, there is very little that seems to be unimaginable.
So when I come across science fiction that really tries to delve into the circumstances of what can be created by the real-life energies of love and fear, and does it well, I want to shout it from the rooftops. Such is the case for the TV show "Haven," which is about to wrap up its third season on the Syfy network this coming Thursday (1/17). If you haven't heard of it, don't feel bad. Neither had I until a few weeks ago, and most people I speak to haven't heard of it -- despite the fact that it has the best ratings in its time slot!
The creators of the series refer to the story of "Haven" as its "mythology," and it takes place nowadays, in a small town in Maine that shares its name with the series. This town is rather unique however because a major portion of its residents suffer from intermittent afflictions that have been handed down through the generations. While many would call their experience a curse, in the town of "Haven" they are said to be "troubled." In fact, many of the people moved to the town because they believed that it was in a safe place -- a "haven" from the judgmental eyes of the rest of the world. Their "troubles," while generally dormant, may return if they go through a traumatic experience and since most of the town is troubled and "like energy" attracts "like energy," everyone can potentially get sucked into the troubled experiences. Everyone except for Audrey, the heroine of the story! While she does seem to have her own trouble -- namely, she seems to have other people's memories and really isn't sure who she is; oh, and she disappears and comes back every 27 years -- the troubles of other people do not seem to affect her. This allows her to help them to step away from the emotions that stimulate the troubles so that they can "get a grip" and control them.
The story follows three main characters: Audrey, an ex-FBI agent who is now a Haven Police Officer; Nathan, the young Police Chief whose trouble is that he can't feel pain or touch -- except where it pertains to Audrey; and lastly, my favorite character, Duke Crocker. Duke is a classic anti-hero. A smuggler -- who is not a big fan of police and yet has formed an unlikely bond with these two -- Crocker finds that his trouble is that his family has been the unofficial healers of the troubled, helping to end the curses once and for all by killing the afflicted! Problem is, although he might think he's a heartless bad-ass, Duke has too much moral character for the job.
What I love about this story, is that while the troubles of the town of Haven may be so extreme as the whole town falling into a coma because of the fear of a single coma patient who is about to have the plug pulled -- the basis of the story is one that plays out in every town and city across the globe. There are no black and white stories here. Every character, even the bad guys believe they are doing what is best for everyone.
And just like all of the characters in the story, the reality is that we carry our own "troubles." We are a sum total of the "generational curses" that have been handed down from our families. We tend to inherit their fears, their judgments and the health conditions that are often based on the beliefs that are tied into the first two legacies. We do our best to deny this, but these are cellular connections. They are literally memory cells that are handed down from one generation to another -- just like hair and eye color and the likelihood of having twins. We recognize something as being "generational" when it demonstrates some type of physical characteristic, but it's just as strong when it manifests itself in "troubles" like addiction, multi-generational abuse and even eating disorders.
The truth is that, just like in Haven, we all have "troubles" that lie beneath the surface that we have inherited from the fears and sometimes even the shame of our ancestors, and its emotions that will always bring them to the surface. That's why you keep getting into bad relationships with the same type of person, or can't muster the courage to follow your dreams, or feel like your being followed by a dark cloud. But before you take this as blanket permission to blame your life on your parents or grandparents, recognize an important fact: They were "troubled" too! And they did the best they could while stuck with energy passed down from their families. Your troubles might not put a town into a coma, but we all have caused or been on the receiving end of enough broken hearts to be an international cardiac epidemic.
So what then is the cure for these troubles? If you follow Audrey's method in "Haven," it's recognizing them first and then not blaming, but forgiving yourself and your family for the damage that your troubles have caused and finding some positive thing to replace them. In essence, recognizing your fears and replacing them with love. Love for yourself, love for others and ultimately love for the greater good!
If we can do the same, forgiving and moving past the generational curses that have been created by our families, our governments and even our churches, we will expand our love for ourselves and our friends and families and ultimately for those we don't know -- all over the planet.
Then we truly could create a "Haven" right here on earth!