From Division to Oneness: A Modern-Day Sneetches Journey Through the Chakras

In 1961, Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel) published The Sneetches and Other Stories, a book that, on the surface, appeared to be a whimsical children's tale but was, in fact, a profound social commentary on discrimination, division, and the absurdity of exclusion. The world in which Seuss wrote was still reeling from the devastation of World War II, where fascism, racial purity ideologies, and genocide had exposed the ugliest forms of human separation. The Civil Rights Movement in the United States was gaining momentum, pushing against segregation and systemic oppression. Globally, the Cold War raged on, dividing nations into strict ideological camps of democracy versus communism.

Seuss, who had been an outspoken critic of racism and anti-Semitism, sought to craft a story that illustrated how arbitrary divisions were and how easy it was for those in power to manipulate identity for profit. Much like humans, the Sneetches clung to external markers to define their worth, and a clever salesman—Sylvester McMonkey McBean—capitalized on their insecurities.

Today, more than sixty years later, The Sneetches remains as relevant as ever. We still live in a world obsessed with labels—racial, gender, political, religious—dividing us into "us" and "them." We still seek external validation, allowing corporations, politicians, and institutions to dictate our worth. We still fall prey to the McBeans of the world, who profit from our divisions. But suppose we trace this journey through the chakras, from fear-based separation to enlightened oneness. In that case, we can move from a dystopian present into a utopian possibility.

Root Chakra – The Illusion of Separation & the to Which We Cling

The Root Chakra (Muladhara) is the foundation of our identity, security, and survival. It is where we first begin to define ourselves—but in doing so, we often fall into the trap of external labels.

In The Sneetches, identity is boiled down to a simple mark: a star or no star. This mirrors how, in our society, we cling to external definitions—what we do for a living, our political affiliation, and our family roles. We introduce ourselves by saying, "I am a teacher," "I am a parent," "I am a (Political Party)," and "I am a (Religion)." We attach our worth to job titles, social status, and affiliations. But what happens when those labels disappear? What happens when we lose a job, a role changes, or a system fails us?

This fear of losing identity is what makes division so powerful. People cling to political parties even when they no longer serve them and fear those who look, love, or believe differently. We fear the unknown if we are not grounded in our intrinsic worth. And when we fear the unknown, we can be easily manipulated.

To read further, please head to my new Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/lstheflash/p/from-division-to-oneness-a-modern?r=1s09u6&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Namaste, and thank you for reading!

Lauri

©Lauri Stern - Custom Designed Wellness

Permissions: No part of my publications may be reproduced or distributed in any forms or any means, without prior permission from Custom Designed Wellness or Lauri Stern.

You must not:

• Publish material from this website without prior written consent.

• Sell or rent material from this website.

• Reproduce, duplicate, download, create derivatives, copy or otherwise exploit material on this website for any purpose.

• Redistribute any content from this website, including onto another website.

Requests for permission should be directed to lauri@customdesignedwellness.com