Simple Seekers

Without a dimmer control, the light is on or off. Is that how our libido works? Do you have, and use, a dimmer control to consciously measure the positive or negative quality and quantity of your energy, in response to any given situation or relationship? How to balance self-control and spontaneity?

There are Universal Laws of Life that we ignore at our peril.

Some very simple terms to the mystic can seem like nonesense to some rationally minded individuals (should there be any). For instance, “as within, so without” doesn’t mean that the inside is on the outside or that the outside is on the inside, and yet it means exactly that, but with a difference; the difference being that the inner (formless) world expresses itself in the outer (formed) world.

Take my mother (of course, it’s too late. She’s already gone to her reward), but she was raised with a religious belief system that adhered rigidly to form. She knew her Bible and all the rules of good behaviour, and what was expected of her. She complied, and yet she was not a happy camper. There was resentment.

Dad was totally different. Where he came from, they all seemed to have a zest for life, it’s wild (perhaps a bit too wild) essence. And yet, somehow, these two very different people; these two very different souls, were destined (or doomed) for each other.

The form of law is the letter of the law. how it is to be interpreted and abided by. The essence is the understanding and awarenes, the reason why certain forms are required for the benefit of peaceful and orderly community life.

As long as there are more than one of us (in form if not in essence) there will have to be generally accepted rules of order, or there is none. That situation is called ‘chaos.’ Is that where we are, now?

A simple seeker was meditating on her recent and strange discussion (if it could be called that) with Spirit.

“If it could be called what? A discussion? Strange? Or, a strange discussion?”

“I’m still trying to figure it all out, and any discussion with You has to be considered as strange, in that it’s not a generally accepted possibility. Added to that was the topic of spiritual philosophy.”

“Is spiritual philosophy also not generally considered to be possible?”

“No. On the contrary, spiritual philosophy is very much a part of New Age thinking.”

“What is New Age thinking?”

“It’s thinking about life and what it is, and about how we can learn to live in harmony with each other, and with the environment.”

“Hasn’t that always been generally accepted?”

“Yes, perhaps, but New Age thinkers are not restricted to a specific school of thought, such as religious beliefs, or other exclusive group thinking, such as a particular scientific theory as having a final answer.”

“A final answer to what?”

“To the origin, or possible purpose of life, gender, relationships, potential truths …”

“So, where are you in all of this so-called New Age spiritual philosophy thinking?”

“That’s the beauty of it all. I don’t have to be anywhere.”

“Why?”

“My thinking can adapt and change as I’m introduced to new ideas.That’s called being open-minded.”

“How does your open mind differ from an empty one?”

“An open mind is open to continuously accepting new thoughts, and then, possibly trading them for even newer thoughts that seem to make more sense.”

“And, an empty mind….?”

“With an empty mind, no new thoughts are …”

“Why?”

“There’s nothing in an empty mind to attract thoughts.”

“No foundation?”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

…..

A simple seeker’s note to herself

Thinking back on our discussion about New Age spiritual philosophy, I may have seemed a bit foolish to Spirit.

“How did you seem to yourself?”

“Upon reflection?”

“Yes.”

“I now understand that we need to be careful before trading old ways and ideas for new ones.”

“Yes. Times change and we need to learn to adapt to changing circumstances, and yet accepting that the old ways and ideas seemed to have served us well, if they did, while they did. Sudden change can create chaos. Caution can protect us.”

“So, to adapt to change without necessarily losing our faith in the past?”

“Yes. We can, if we will to, learn to see old issues from a newer perspective.”

…..

Has the taboo pendulum swung from sexuality to spirituality?

We follow the path of least resistance, and we call it free choice. Forward or backward.

We move into the future, or we slip back into the past and into old ways of being; old ways of living in a world that is changing, and calling for us to change with it.

We humans are creatures of habit, and yet, we’re also energy beings, and energy moves. Standing still is not an option. Which way to go? Is it easier to suffer the stress of today’s problems, or to attempt to change them, and in the process, change ourselves?

Perhaps it’s human nature to stay stuck in old patterns of response to whatever situation until we just can’t deal with it anymore, and choose to risk whatever it takes to move on.

Pairs of opposites – where do we fit, on a scale from one to nine?

Jung claimed that he’d rather be whole than good. Would that be as five on the scale?

Do we slide up and down on the scale of good to bad, or on any other so-called pair of opposites, such as happy/sad, excited/depressed, loving/unloving, wise/foolish, etc. or on our preferences for company or solitude?

Do we each have our own comfort zone on the scale, at different times and in different situations and/or relationships?

Would it be psychologically unhealthy to not be flexible with our thoughts and/or emotions, at least to some degree?

Something to think about, eh?

A generally reliable source tells me that plesure is a necessary food for the soul. It provides us with incentive to move forward.

Do you agree? disagree? and why?

Psychology is the study of emotions and thoughts in harmony with each other. Or not so? Do we each live in two (or more) different worlds of mind? “But when we come together … then those two different worlds will be one.” Or might be?

The Page of Wands looked strangley familiar, and yet … It was the image of a young boy dressed up in clothes that he didn’t seem to feel comfortable wearing.

“What does it say to us?”

“It wouldn’t say the same thing to me as it would to you.”

“How do you know? Or, do you?”

“What does that mean?”

“When anything, or anyone, speaks to our inner knowing, we’re receiving a message, and we know it.”

“Can it be an important message?”

“It’s always more than important. It’s vital to our self-interest, and to our personal world.”

“That would create inner tension.”

“Yes.”

“Who wants inner tension?”

“It’s not a case of wanting.”

“Then, needing?”

“Yes.”

“Why do we need inner stress?”

“There’s a difference between stress and tension.”

“In degrees?”

“In cause. The situation causes tension, and …”

“Ignoring the message of tension causes stress?”

“Yes.”

“So, if we feel stressed, then it’s not directly caused by the situation?”

“Exactly. Too many people seem to attempt to cope with stress with medication, instead of meditating on its possible cause, either alone or with a trusted and qualified teacher.”

“Are we talking about you and me?”

“Yes, and anyone else who cares to listen.”

…..

A simple seeker’s note to herself

Thinking back on my discussion with Spirit, what did I learn about tension and stress?

“You may have learned that tension is a necessary part of daily life.”

“Things don’t always go smoothly?”

“Exactly, and that’s a blessing.”

“How can tension be considered as a blessing?”

“Without tension, nothing can happen. Nothing can move. Nothing can get done. Nothing can grow or change.”

“What causes tension?”

“Opposing forces.”

“Such as?”

“The desire to learn more, to do more, and to become more than we now seem to be, and yet to fear change.”

“Why do we fear change?”

“Change is as the unknown. We don’t know what will be expected of us.”

“By whom? Or what?”

“Perhaps by ourselves.”

“Lack of self-confidence can keep us stuck in old ways of doing, thinking, and being?”

“Yes.”

…..

Jellybeans come in various shapes, flavours, and colours, and so do we. Is it a gift of the Gods? To help us learn that racial differences are only skin deep? Beneath social conditioning, humans are humans. As with jellybeans, it’s the inner quality that really makes a difference.