The Fourth Value of The Everything: Strength of Mind – A Sacred Law Perspective
The following is an excerpt from Sacred Law School materials. For more information, see www.sacredlaws.com
The fourth value is ‘strength of mind’ and it is the most determinant value. The Great Spirit expresses it’s strength of mind through the Fourth Universal Law, the 0-9 Law, or constant interaction with the Everything. The 0-9 Law teaches us that all energy follows a pattern of movement from 0 to 9: all energy starts at 0, moves outward 9 times and then folds back in on itself. Between 0 and 9 are ten steps; each of these ten steps carries a particular energy that describes an aspect of energy movement: 1-Focus; 2-Substance; 3-Form; 4-Determination; 5-Understanding; 6-Imagination; Freedom; 8-Pattern; 9-Chaos; 10-Completion. In following the movement of the Everything to completion, we align our minds with Great Spirit’s strength. It is necessary to know which aspect of the movement of energy we are engaged with in order to apply our strength of mind, intent and intending with correct action. The 0-9 Law movement and the values inherent at each step create the pattern of the Universe. Understanding of the movements leads to the wisdom of the mind, the knowing when completion is achieved and the ability to catch the timing to begin the new focus (start again at 1). This teaching reminds us that there is value to everything including the process and that the attention we place on people, experiences, places and things must be deserved.
Strength of mind through the 0-9 Law teaches us how we as humans can align our will with Great Spirit’s will. Strength of mind leads to clarity and sobriety. Clarity, in this sense, means that the mind is not limited to puny and purely tonal attractions but that we are also able to put what is happening around us (mental coordination) into the perspective of the greater picture. We gain the ability to focus on the highest attractions, the highest possibilities once our minds are free to move at the speed of fast thought and not slowed down by the sludge of pretense and predetermined thought forms (inherited or cathected belief systems). Sobriety is gained through the determination to free the mind from pretense and projection allowing us to free think, gain the ability to solve problems with reason, have an open and unlimited imagination that stretches to see the potential in the future and the flexibility necessary to challenge the mind and to never stop learning.
The connection and degree of communication between the conscious and unconscious minds and the collective consciousness and the collective unconsciousness is an indicator of the strength of mind one possesses. In the years of the razor’s edge, we are all being challenged on every level on a daily basis. It is imperative that we learn to open our conscious minds to the downloads from the unconscious, collective consciousness and the collective unconsciousness and become wise and kind teachers to ourselves. One of our greatest challenges we face right now, is understanding what is happening in our everyday world, determining who we can turn to for ‘expert’ advice and how to discern what is real within the environmental, social and political arenas. We cannot afford to rely on outdated ideas, concepts or belief systems we inherited from our parents, peer groups and teachers – no matter who they are! This is a painfully edgy situation for many of us as we sift through years of action/reaction behavior searching for our own truths. We must remember that searching for strength of mind and our own truths is a part of our hero’s journey and a worthy endeavor. Keep in mind one of the basic tenets of this path: believe nothing! Gather information from all sides of every issue and take it into contemplation and ceremony. Filter and synthesize until you have built your own four-sided pyramid temple based on your four bottom line principle truths that form the foundation for your strength of mind.
If you look at the 0-9 Law in sigil form, it takes the shape of a triangle. The triangular structure underscores the non-linear nature of this law and the non-linear nature of your strength of mind. In a triangle, as in a circle, there is no beginning and no end. However, a triangle, unlike a circle, illustrates the inter-reliability of three structural components that make up the whole. If one of the sides is removed, the entire triangle collapses.
Your ‘baseline’ truth
Now imagine that the base of the triangle is one of your four principle truths that contains the entire movement of 0-9 within it. Test your truth by determining what the 0-9 steps are within this truth. Your truth will teach you what your focus should be, what the substance of the truth is, etc.
Once you have your four truths, marry them together to form your pyramid temple of your strength of mind. This pyramid of self-truth will allow you to navigate the razor’s edge with more grace. Inside the pyramid you will discover there is a secret fifth truth, which in sacred geometric sigil form, creates a tetrahedron inside your pyramid temple. The tetrahedron contains the secrets of the spirals of life. Work with it until you can See.
Two views of the tetrahedron
Here are some guidelines to help you build your temple of strength of mind truth.
Heart
Do those you care for help you to strengthen your emotions with balance and control?
Do you enjoy learning?
Do you enjoy teaching?
Do you love what you know?
Do you have a strong heart?
Do you carry loyalty ion your strong heart?
Are you loyal to your principles?
Whose principles do you carry in your heart?
To what or whom are you loyal? Yourself?
Finally, what is the truth of your heart? Your bottom line heart’s principle?
Run this truth through the 0-9 Law to learn as much as you can about your truth and how it can guide you.
Mind
Do you lead or follow? In which arenas?
How do you strengthen your mind?
What quality food do you feed your mind?
Can you reason clearly? Can you free think?
Do you see reality as it is or do you just see what you want to see?
Is your mind your friend or does it play "bad tapes" all the time?
What does your mind focus on? The big picture or the small one?
Can you access conscious, unconscious, collective conscious and collective unconscious mind?
Finally, what is the truth of your mind? Your bottom line mind’s principle?
Run this truth through the 0-9 Law to learn as much as you can about your truth and how it can guide you.
Body
How much energy do you have? Do you wake up tired or eager?
Where do you get your energy from? Caffeine?
What loses you energy? And do you continue to engage in those activities?
Are you disciplined? In what arenas? Do have skills?
Do you have good instincts? Do you have common sense?
Do you use your intuition and introspection?
Does your memory function well?
Finally, what is the truth of your body? Your bottom line body’s principle?
Run this truth through the 0-9 Law to learn as much as you can about your truth and how it can guide you.
Spirit
Do you have hope? Do you have a vision?
Do you have bottom line principles? Do you stick to them?
Do your priorities get determined by your spirit?
What do you do to expand your spirit?
Does new knowledge make you feel more whole?
Are you awake aware and alert to what is really happening?
Do you have perseverance? Are you afraid of failure or success?
Are you afraid to stand out in a crowd?
Finally, what is the truth of your spirit? Your bottom line spirit’s principle?
Run this truth through the 0-9 Law to learn as much as you can about your truth and how it can guide you.
Sexuality &Passion
What guides and motivates you? What drives you to learn? To teach?
Does money play a role?
Do you have will power? Do you have an unbendable will?
Do you catalyze with clear intent and intending? How?
Finally, what is the truth of your sexuality? Your bottom line passion’s principle?
Run this truth through the 0-9 Law to learn as much as you can about your truth and how it can guide you.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
The Third Value
The Third Value of the Everything: Our Everyday Relationships From a Sacred Law Perspective
The following is excerpted from the Sacred Law manuals - for more information, visit www.sacredlaws.com
The third core value is our relationship to those in our immediate or everyday environment. There are many English expressions that show the importance of the people with whom we spend time and many are based on stereotypes and judgments. Like most stereotypes and judgments, they were built on a kernel of truth that is now long buried. “Birds of a feather flock together”, “By his friends ye shall know him”, “Like attracts like”, are a few examples. The third value peels the layers off these old bromides to reveal the original wisdom: by the Law of Contagion, it does matter with whom we surround ourselves and with whom we spend our lives. We gain and lose orende and energy in our daily interactions with others. When we are heavily focused on and involved with people that choose to focus on concerns and cares which are not valid, are small-minded, caught in pity stories or simply don’t hold the highest possibility in the moment, it drags us down, or contaminates our experience. This inhibits the full expression of our third Larien, - that of life force, chi and health - which is intimately involved in living the third value.
In extreme cases, surrounding ourselves with this type of contamination can lead to a break down of the Larien which in turn, causes disease. Healthy circulation of life force energy is an essential key to self-growth and development. The circulation of chi in our bodies is the nagual equivalent to the tonal blood circulation. At a basic level, this Larien allows us to develop intuition and empathy for the feelings of others, dump our self-importance and become sensitive instead of being at the effect of others. Developing this Larien further enables us to become aware of where our A-point is as well as find it in others so we can choose the quality of our life experience. When our heart is strong and healthy, our emotions run like water. It is very difficult to maintain emotional balance and control and energy in motion (rather than emotionality) when we are constantly besieged by the lowest sort of interaction with the people in our everyday lives. We weary!
The key to developing this Larien lies within the value of our relationship to those in our immediate environment including family, friends, peers, teachers, patients and students. The major area of concern is with our attention. We must always remember: Attention is Power! We need to make sure that those in our immediate environment are worthy of our attention, because when our attention is given we spend our life force energy and chi and it affects our health. If we are wasting a lot of energy on "no returns" or “suckers” then we must stop it by removing the attention or our health will suffer. We must do whatever is necessary to remove our attention from those which are not worthy of our attention from our daily environment and to focus on those people that bring us an increase of orende, an upsurge of energy and increased health and well-being.
This value encourages us to examine those in our everyday environment and make the changes that need to be made. One of the tools that we have is called the Seven Rings of Friendship. It is well worth our time to place the people in our lives in their proper rings, for in this way we can clearly see where we are out of alignment with people and how we gain and lose energy. Take a moment a draw a series of seven concentric circles on a large piece of papers. On another piece of paper write the names of all the people who are “important” to you. Now place them in the seven rings according to their roles. Notice when there is guilt or shame because a person doesn’t belong in the ring you think they “should” belong in. There are no have-to’s in this placement! Look for your own pattern to develop. Do you have a tendency to move people in too close? Before they have earned their position? Or do you keep people at arm’s length? Which rings are empty and which are full? This can be very revealing! Proper placement of people in these rings can avoid many heart-aches that arise through betrayal, disappointment and expectations. It is a No Pity analysis of your everyday environment! Do not be afraid to kick people out of your inner circles, clean house and re-start a healthy circulation.
First Ring- only your beloved, or absolute best friend belongs here. This is the person you trust with your life, whose core values are closely aligned with yours and walks your west shield. Your individuality is not sacrificed with this person and they too will die for you.
Second Ring- your best friends belong here. These are the people you can bring home, share the truth about yourself and place faith in freely. You have common ground and your values are mostly aligned and you feel love or like for them. Be selective!
Third Ring – the friends you can rely on belong here. These are the folks that share some of your values, with whom you can confide some things and have earned a measure or your respect. You may lose individuality if you let these people in too closely before they have earned your respect and faith. We tend to make lots of mistakes within this ring.
Fourth Ring): on and off acquaintances belong here. A little faith may be placed in these people but it is not yet determined how much respect is present. This group may include those with whom you study and learn, for example in a dojo or in a lodge. This ring is the determinative testing ground for friendship.
Fifth Ring - casual acquaintances belong here. This includes people with whom you have interacted one-four times.
Sixth Ring – your antagonists belong here. The people who irritate you but perhaps also teach you!
Seventh Ring – your enemies belong here. These folks may also have something to teach you but do not mistake them for friends.
Having placed people in their appropriate ring of friendship (and perhaps removed people from your sphere of influence), it is time to look more closely at the relationship of your five aspects to the third value. I have prepared a series of questions to open this matrix. Have fun and be honest with yourself.
Heart
Do you love yourself when you are with others?
Do you care about the quality of the environment you are in?
What quality of people do you love and love you?
Do you have a lot of mood swings based on whom you are with?
Who do you care about? Who cares about you?
Are they worthy of your time, energy and attention?
Who don't you love or care about?
What decides whom you love and care for?
Are you lazy and take more than you give?
Do you give too much? (Hoping to be important?)
Who comforts your heart?
Whose heart do you soothe?
What are the emotional concerns of those closest to you?
What are your emotional concerns?
Mind
Do the people you hang out with support who you really are?
Are you aware of your surroundings?
Do you receive or give knowledge from those around you?
What quality of intellectual life do you live?
Do the people around you have any interesting ideas that spark you?
Are you open minded?
Are the people you hang around open minded?
Do you have friends with varying opinions or are your friends uniform?
With whom do you dream the biggest dreams?
Body
Do you dress to fit in with your environment and peers?
Do you present yourself differently under different circumstances?
Do you choose certain types of foods based on what your peers choose?
Who influences your food choices, your health choices, your work choices, your abundance?
Do you influence others?
Do you try and change your body based on peer approval?
Spirit
Do you respect the people you are around?
Do they respect you?
Are you trusting?
Are you trustworthy?
Are your friends/loved ones trustworthy?
Do you have faith in them?
Are you often betrayed?
Do you betray others? Or Yourself?
What are the spiritual concerns of those around you?
What are yours?
Do the people who are closest to you support your Path?
Sexuality
Do you respect yourself based on whom you hang out with?
What excites you in others?
Who attracts you?
Who is attracted to you?
Which rings of friendship contain your lovers?
What are the sexual concerns of those around you?
What are yours?
How do you choose those who are close to you?
What are your priorities in choosing close people?
The following is excerpted from the Sacred Law manuals - for more information, visit www.sacredlaws.com
The third core value is our relationship to those in our immediate or everyday environment. There are many English expressions that show the importance of the people with whom we spend time and many are based on stereotypes and judgments. Like most stereotypes and judgments, they were built on a kernel of truth that is now long buried. “Birds of a feather flock together”, “By his friends ye shall know him”, “Like attracts like”, are a few examples. The third value peels the layers off these old bromides to reveal the original wisdom: by the Law of Contagion, it does matter with whom we surround ourselves and with whom we spend our lives. We gain and lose orende and energy in our daily interactions with others. When we are heavily focused on and involved with people that choose to focus on concerns and cares which are not valid, are small-minded, caught in pity stories or simply don’t hold the highest possibility in the moment, it drags us down, or contaminates our experience. This inhibits the full expression of our third Larien, - that of life force, chi and health - which is intimately involved in living the third value.
In extreme cases, surrounding ourselves with this type of contamination can lead to a break down of the Larien which in turn, causes disease. Healthy circulation of life force energy is an essential key to self-growth and development. The circulation of chi in our bodies is the nagual equivalent to the tonal blood circulation. At a basic level, this Larien allows us to develop intuition and empathy for the feelings of others, dump our self-importance and become sensitive instead of being at the effect of others. Developing this Larien further enables us to become aware of where our A-point is as well as find it in others so we can choose the quality of our life experience. When our heart is strong and healthy, our emotions run like water. It is very difficult to maintain emotional balance and control and energy in motion (rather than emotionality) when we are constantly besieged by the lowest sort of interaction with the people in our everyday lives. We weary!
The key to developing this Larien lies within the value of our relationship to those in our immediate environment including family, friends, peers, teachers, patients and students. The major area of concern is with our attention. We must always remember: Attention is Power! We need to make sure that those in our immediate environment are worthy of our attention, because when our attention is given we spend our life force energy and chi and it affects our health. If we are wasting a lot of energy on "no returns" or “suckers” then we must stop it by removing the attention or our health will suffer. We must do whatever is necessary to remove our attention from those which are not worthy of our attention from our daily environment and to focus on those people that bring us an increase of orende, an upsurge of energy and increased health and well-being.
This value encourages us to examine those in our everyday environment and make the changes that need to be made. One of the tools that we have is called the Seven Rings of Friendship. It is well worth our time to place the people in our lives in their proper rings, for in this way we can clearly see where we are out of alignment with people and how we gain and lose energy. Take a moment a draw a series of seven concentric circles on a large piece of papers. On another piece of paper write the names of all the people who are “important” to you. Now place them in the seven rings according to their roles. Notice when there is guilt or shame because a person doesn’t belong in the ring you think they “should” belong in. There are no have-to’s in this placement! Look for your own pattern to develop. Do you have a tendency to move people in too close? Before they have earned their position? Or do you keep people at arm’s length? Which rings are empty and which are full? This can be very revealing! Proper placement of people in these rings can avoid many heart-aches that arise through betrayal, disappointment and expectations. It is a No Pity analysis of your everyday environment! Do not be afraid to kick people out of your inner circles, clean house and re-start a healthy circulation.
First Ring- only your beloved, or absolute best friend belongs here. This is the person you trust with your life, whose core values are closely aligned with yours and walks your west shield. Your individuality is not sacrificed with this person and they too will die for you.
Second Ring- your best friends belong here. These are the people you can bring home, share the truth about yourself and place faith in freely. You have common ground and your values are mostly aligned and you feel love or like for them. Be selective!
Third Ring – the friends you can rely on belong here. These are the folks that share some of your values, with whom you can confide some things and have earned a measure or your respect. You may lose individuality if you let these people in too closely before they have earned your respect and faith. We tend to make lots of mistakes within this ring.
Fourth Ring): on and off acquaintances belong here. A little faith may be placed in these people but it is not yet determined how much respect is present. This group may include those with whom you study and learn, for example in a dojo or in a lodge. This ring is the determinative testing ground for friendship.
Fifth Ring - casual acquaintances belong here. This includes people with whom you have interacted one-four times.
Sixth Ring – your antagonists belong here. The people who irritate you but perhaps also teach you!
Seventh Ring – your enemies belong here. These folks may also have something to teach you but do not mistake them for friends.
Having placed people in their appropriate ring of friendship (and perhaps removed people from your sphere of influence), it is time to look more closely at the relationship of your five aspects to the third value. I have prepared a series of questions to open this matrix. Have fun and be honest with yourself.
Heart
Do you love yourself when you are with others?
Do you care about the quality of the environment you are in?
What quality of people do you love and love you?
Do you have a lot of mood swings based on whom you are with?
Who do you care about? Who cares about you?
Are they worthy of your time, energy and attention?
Who don't you love or care about?
What decides whom you love and care for?
Are you lazy and take more than you give?
Do you give too much? (Hoping to be important?)
Who comforts your heart?
Whose heart do you soothe?
What are the emotional concerns of those closest to you?
What are your emotional concerns?
Mind
Do the people you hang out with support who you really are?
Are you aware of your surroundings?
Do you receive or give knowledge from those around you?
What quality of intellectual life do you live?
Do the people around you have any interesting ideas that spark you?
Are you open minded?
Are the people you hang around open minded?
Do you have friends with varying opinions or are your friends uniform?
With whom do you dream the biggest dreams?
Body
Do you dress to fit in with your environment and peers?
Do you present yourself differently under different circumstances?
Do you choose certain types of foods based on what your peers choose?
Who influences your food choices, your health choices, your work choices, your abundance?
Do you influence others?
Do you try and change your body based on peer approval?
Spirit
Do you respect the people you are around?
Do they respect you?
Are you trusting?
Are you trustworthy?
Are your friends/loved ones trustworthy?
Do you have faith in them?
Are you often betrayed?
Do you betray others? Or Yourself?
What are the spiritual concerns of those around you?
What are yours?
Do the people who are closest to you support your Path?
Sexuality
Do you respect yourself based on whom you hang out with?
What excites you in others?
Who attracts you?
Who is attracted to you?
Which rings of friendship contain your lovers?
What are the sexual concerns of those around you?
What are yours?
How do you choose those who are close to you?
What are your priorities in choosing close people?
Saturday, November 22, 2008
The Second Value
The Second Value of The Everything: Refinement of Character – A Sacred Law Perspective
The following is an excerpt from Sacred Law School materials.For more information, go to www.sacredlaws.c om
The Second Value, Refinement of Character, holds the key to living with respect: self-respect, respect for others, respect for Grandmother Earth’s children and respect for all life. True character development demands respect and the integrity of the process lies in the hands of those who seek respectfully. Here, as in so many dharmic courses of action, we see the absolute need for the how of the journey, not just thewhat of the journey. It matters a great deal how we go about refining our character, not just that we do it. We can gain insights into how we might proceed respectfully on our journey from the three Sacred Laws that sit in the West with Refinement of Character: the Second Universal – All Things Are Born of Woman and Seeded by Man; the Second Magickal Law of Absolute Interconvertability; and the Second Ecological Balance Law of the Earth and the Sanctity of Organic Matter. These Sacred Laws teach us that we must understand the beauty and power of both the egg and the seed of creation and how the union of the two produces infinite variation of sacred life. Respect for the roles of the egg and the seed, the womb space and the spark and the children born from the union is the physical foundation of the substance of our journey. The journey itself is the converting of our raw, unformed character into something fine and shiny. This journey is the age old Hero’s Journey, the Alchemist’s quest to turn the base soul of man (lead) into brilliant, incorruptible worth (gold).
There are so many stumbling blocks that trip us and trick us into living disrespectfully. One of them that heavily impacts this illusive journey into character is the block of doubt. When doubt sits in the body, there is no room for respect. Doubt is like a chasm across which you cannot jump to continue your quest for character. There must be a certain amount of faith in yourself and your journey to continue. There must be trust in the process of refinement, guided by Sacred Law. When doubt grabs a hold of your belly you see things in dismal black and white and are unable to see the nuances of spirit joy (sanctity of organic matter) that are all around. These nuances are like the cheerleading crowd standing on the sidelines applauding your progress and providing much-needed support. They are small things - smiles from strangers, rustling leaves, the color of a petal, the feel of sun-soaked cat fur, and the smell of coffee - but they are all-important as fuel for your journey. It is necessary to learn the roots of your doubt and exorcise it from your being. The roots are deep in karmic patterned thought and action. How does doubt sneak in? A few examples: When you ascribe the worst possible motives to people in your everyday environment; when you make scenarios in your heads and put words in others’ mouths; when you turn away from opportunities for kindness; you refuse to respect the egg and the seed; when you refuse to see your own beauty; when you fail to recognize that how you do something matters; when you fail to see the beauty of life; when you refuse to recognize the possibility of interconverting your soul’s garbage into compost. Above all, when you allow yourself to act in a way that is beneath your dignity, below your level of awareness, underneath your bottom line of respect, your self-doubt becomes unbearable.
The Hero’s Journey into refining the character is the most worthy journey we can undertake. Armed with respect, recognition of our own self-worth (and that of others), integrity, courage, willingness to stumble and get back up, a thoughtful approach to our own individually held principles, dedication to the sacredness of life and the determination to get down to the substance of ourselves, we can and will find ourselves inside the refinement process, leaving a legend behind that is worthy of our give away of beauty.
What you are thunders so loudly that I cannot hear what you say to the contrary.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson
Heart
What stories do others tell about you?
What stories do you offer about yourself? This is key!
Do you truly feel like the hero in your story?
Are your emotions and actions controlled?
Is there an emotional male female balance in your heart?
Do you doubt that you have enough heart for your journey?
Do you doubt others?
Do you doubt the value of life?
Do you doubt you are loved?
Do you offer love to yourself? Others? Life?
Do you hold the sanctity of life in your heart?
Mind
Do you make mistakes and learn from them?
Do you doubt you have anything left to learn?
Are you creating a legend about yourself?
Do you speak your mind? Or do you doubt you will be heard?
Are you a follower or a leader?
Are you flexible or rigid?
Are you at your best when doing things? What things?
When do you shine?
Do you doubt you can shine?
What concepts do you hold about your character?
Body
Do you try to look like someone else?
Do you like how you look?
Do you doubt you can transform your body?
Do you do anything to change your looks?
Do your features express who you really are?
Do your actions match your words?
Do you walk your talk?
Do you doubt your talents. skills and abilities?
Spirit
Are you searching?
What are you searching for?
Do you doubt there is anything to search for?
Where do you want to be in life?
Do you change yourself to conform?
Do you have strong desire for self-growth and improvement?
Do you live by your principles?
Do you doubt your connection to spirit?
Do you doubt your path? Your journey?
Passion
Are you fulfilling your curiosity?
Are you willing to try new things?
Are you experimental?
Do you feel you have anything to gain by refining your character?
Do you doubt your own passion?
Do you doubt that life is wonderful and full of joy?
The following is an excerpt from Sacred Law School materials.For more information, go to www.sacredlaws.c om
The Second Value, Refinement of Character, holds the key to living with respect: self-respect, respect for others, respect for Grandmother Earth’s children and respect for all life. True character development demands respect and the integrity of the process lies in the hands of those who seek respectfully. Here, as in so many dharmic courses of action, we see the absolute need for the how of the journey, not just thewhat of the journey. It matters a great deal how we go about refining our character, not just that we do it. We can gain insights into how we might proceed respectfully on our journey from the three Sacred Laws that sit in the West with Refinement of Character: the Second Universal – All Things Are Born of Woman and Seeded by Man; the Second Magickal Law of Absolute Interconvertability; and the Second Ecological Balance Law of the Earth and the Sanctity of Organic Matter. These Sacred Laws teach us that we must understand the beauty and power of both the egg and the seed of creation and how the union of the two produces infinite variation of sacred life. Respect for the roles of the egg and the seed, the womb space and the spark and the children born from the union is the physical foundation of the substance of our journey. The journey itself is the converting of our raw, unformed character into something fine and shiny. This journey is the age old Hero’s Journey, the Alchemist’s quest to turn the base soul of man (lead) into brilliant, incorruptible worth (gold).
There are so many stumbling blocks that trip us and trick us into living disrespectfully. One of them that heavily impacts this illusive journey into character is the block of doubt. When doubt sits in the body, there is no room for respect. Doubt is like a chasm across which you cannot jump to continue your quest for character. There must be a certain amount of faith in yourself and your journey to continue. There must be trust in the process of refinement, guided by Sacred Law. When doubt grabs a hold of your belly you see things in dismal black and white and are unable to see the nuances of spirit joy (sanctity of organic matter) that are all around. These nuances are like the cheerleading crowd standing on the sidelines applauding your progress and providing much-needed support. They are small things - smiles from strangers, rustling leaves, the color of a petal, the feel of sun-soaked cat fur, and the smell of coffee - but they are all-important as fuel for your journey. It is necessary to learn the roots of your doubt and exorcise it from your being. The roots are deep in karmic patterned thought and action. How does doubt sneak in? A few examples: When you ascribe the worst possible motives to people in your everyday environment; when you make scenarios in your heads and put words in others’ mouths; when you turn away from opportunities for kindness; you refuse to respect the egg and the seed; when you refuse to see your own beauty; when you fail to recognize that how you do something matters; when you fail to see the beauty of life; when you refuse to recognize the possibility of interconverting your soul’s garbage into compost. Above all, when you allow yourself to act in a way that is beneath your dignity, below your level of awareness, underneath your bottom line of respect, your self-doubt becomes unbearable.
The Hero’s Journey into refining the character is the most worthy journey we can undertake. Armed with respect, recognition of our own self-worth (and that of others), integrity, courage, willingness to stumble and get back up, a thoughtful approach to our own individually held principles, dedication to the sacredness of life and the determination to get down to the substance of ourselves, we can and will find ourselves inside the refinement process, leaving a legend behind that is worthy of our give away of beauty.
What you are thunders so loudly that I cannot hear what you say to the contrary.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson
Heart
What stories do others tell about you?
What stories do you offer about yourself? This is key!
Do you truly feel like the hero in your story?
Are your emotions and actions controlled?
Is there an emotional male female balance in your heart?
Do you doubt that you have enough heart for your journey?
Do you doubt others?
Do you doubt the value of life?
Do you doubt you are loved?
Do you offer love to yourself? Others? Life?
Do you hold the sanctity of life in your heart?
Mind
Do you make mistakes and learn from them?
Do you doubt you have anything left to learn?
Are you creating a legend about yourself?
Do you speak your mind? Or do you doubt you will be heard?
Are you a follower or a leader?
Are you flexible or rigid?
Are you at your best when doing things? What things?
When do you shine?
Do you doubt you can shine?
What concepts do you hold about your character?
Body
Do you try to look like someone else?
Do you like how you look?
Do you doubt you can transform your body?
Do you do anything to change your looks?
Do your features express who you really are?
Do your actions match your words?
Do you walk your talk?
Do you doubt your talents. skills and abilities?
Spirit
Are you searching?
What are you searching for?
Do you doubt there is anything to search for?
Where do you want to be in life?
Do you change yourself to conform?
Do you have strong desire for self-growth and improvement?
Do you live by your principles?
Do you doubt your connection to spirit?
Do you doubt your path? Your journey?
Passion
Are you fulfilling your curiosity?
Are you willing to try new things?
Are you experimental?
Do you feel you have anything to gain by refining your character?
Do you doubt your own passion?
Do you doubt that life is wonderful and full of joy?
Friday, November 21, 2008
The First Value of The Everything: ARTISTIC ORIGINALITY – A Sacred Law Perspective
The following is an excerpt from Sacred Law School materials. For more information, see www.sacredlaws.com
We know that the most essential art project we will ever create is the assemblage of our own true natural self. Artistic originality in the sense of the Seven Values, does not exist solely outside of ourselves to be praised or panned; it rather exists in the deepest interior spaces of our core, waiting to be brought out and realized in its individual shining glory. Artistic originality is the pride with which we present ourselves to the world, aware of our effect on the world but not at the effect of the world.
In designing our own selves as an artful creation, there are of course many pitfalls to be avoided. Looking at the Blocks Wheel provides us with one clue. The block that sits in the East, along with artistic originality is repression. Repression squelches the inner and outer light, smothers illumination and shuts down the forward motion of our own evolutionary excellence. But what does it look like in every day life? It plays out as cruelty, small and large. I have thought a lot about cruelty this past season, in all its forms and have come to recognize that cruelty is the world’s face of our repressed shining naturalness. Repression expressed as cruelty makes it impossible to manifest our artistic originality. In other words, cruelty is the result of our repressed shining artistically original natural self.
Cruelty shuts off our own natural kindness and our own natural sense of one-ness leaving us bereft of our connecting link both to spirit and to our inner selves. Cruelty comes in so many forms and has so many faces: gossip that is destined to reach the ears that it shouldn’t, judgments and misunderstandings, pity –driven reactions, senseless criticism, lack of respect for others- including our teachers - and their own expressions, an inability to speak the unspeakable with measured intent, an inability to walk our talk, an inability to dream ourselves forward, seeking revenge for perceived wrongs, lack of support for friends in need, and plain old unpleasantness and the sloppy way we speak to one another or about one another.
The lack of artistic expression and the manifestation of repression as cruelty is sometimes more easily recognized in others than in ourselves. When we experience someone or something as cruel, what we are really experiencing is the attempt to repress or muffle a part of our shining expression of self. Somehow, the artistic originality of our natural self becomes the object of ridicule and repression. It is our task to recognize this for the pettiness that it is and not allow this repression to become our reality. In this way, we can gain a greater understanding of our own sense of self worth without being at the effect of others. It becomes, then, an excellent opportunity to reflect upon the ways in which we repress our own naturalness and the ways in which our path is not guided by our shining..
As Thunder Strikes said in his address to the 23rd SunDance, paraphrased here “Just because you are on a path with heart or in an upper gateway, doesn’t make you a nice person.” I think this statement is a direct reflection of our tendency to repress our natural goodness, our natural spirit’s desire to create ourselves as a healthy, artistic original cell in Great Spirit’s body. We can’t be natural if we are being cruel and repressive.. As committed apprentices and upholders of our SunDance Vows, our natural, artistically original selves must be Rainbow Warriors, shining with the light of the East and for whom repression and cruelty must be below our collective and individual bottom lines. Perhaps as we delve more deeply into our own naturalness we can also delve more deeply into kindness!
The questions are designed to really get to the core of what artistic originality is for the individual. Not every question applies to every person, of course, but at least one or two questions in each aspect should help you probe more deeply. Follow the thread into your own core.
Questions to explore to understand and develop your Artistic Originality….
Heart
Do you express your emotions? At appropriate times? How?
Name the style of your emotional expression.
Are you the controller or are you controlled? Controlled by what?
Are you giving? To whom? Where? How? When? With conditions?
Are others more giving that you? Are you a taker?
What do you do to be liked? To fit in? To belong?
Do you act based on your emotions? What buttons get pushed?
Are you kind? To whom? What does it fulfill inside of you?
Are you unkind or cruel or thoughtless? In what circumstances?
What is your heart’s style? Name it.
Mind
Do you judge yourself on your looks? How? When?
Do you judge others on their looks? How? When?
Do you judge yourself and others in general? Where and when?
Do you see the world in a certain way? Are you ‘right’?
Are you open to discussion about your originality?
Do you expand your mind to expand yourself?
Do you rebel to be different?
Do you believe only in your little world?
How was your world view formed?
Where did the rules you live by come from?
Are these rules really yours?
How are these rules and laws expressed in the world?
How did you decide what was right and wrong?
Where and when do you allow yourself to be unkind or cruel?
Is your cruelty funny? Or clever?
How does your mind express itself? Name its style.
Body
Does your body reflect who you truly are?
What is your body’s style? Name it.
What do you wear that represents who you are?
What do you wear that represents who you desire to be?
Do you put on masks? Where and when?
Do you know you are wearing a mask?
Do you wear different masks under different circumstances?
Can you take off all the masks or put them on at will?
When and where are you maskless – at your most relaxed natural self?
What style is yours? Give it a name.
Does your home reflect who you are? Does it reflect your style?
Name your home’s style.
Do your physical surroundings reflect back to you what you most desire?
Spirit
What do you ‘believe’ in?
What do you have faith in? (Or in whom do you have faith?)
What guides your vision?
Do you believe in energy forces other than the visible ones?
Do you seek guidance? Where? When?
What have you created that is original?
How free are you inside to dream big dreams?
What is your biggest dream?
Do you seek beauty and surround yourself with beauty?
What inspires you?
What feeds your hope?
Are you headed in the ‘right” direction?
Do you do something everyday that moves you towards your dream?
How much time do you spend wishing you could be different?
Where do you shine? How is it expressed?
What sort of style does your spirit have? Name it.
Passion
Where does your drive to be yourself come from?
How free are you to express your sexuality?
Where do you shine sexually? How is it expressed and how often?
Are you embarrassed? By what?
Are you ashamed? Of what?
Are you guilty? About what?
Are you comfortable with who you are?
Have you created yourself in your own image?
What do you desire to create artistically?
How much time do you spend criticizing and analyzing instead of living?
How much unkindness do you spread around every day? How? Where?
How much pleasure do you gain every day? How?
How much pleasure do you give everyday? How?
What is your sexual style? Name it.
The following is an excerpt from Sacred Law School materials. For more information, see www.sacredlaws.com
We know that the most essential art project we will ever create is the assemblage of our own true natural self. Artistic originality in the sense of the Seven Values, does not exist solely outside of ourselves to be praised or panned; it rather exists in the deepest interior spaces of our core, waiting to be brought out and realized in its individual shining glory. Artistic originality is the pride with which we present ourselves to the world, aware of our effect on the world but not at the effect of the world.
In designing our own selves as an artful creation, there are of course many pitfalls to be avoided. Looking at the Blocks Wheel provides us with one clue. The block that sits in the East, along with artistic originality is repression. Repression squelches the inner and outer light, smothers illumination and shuts down the forward motion of our own evolutionary excellence. But what does it look like in every day life? It plays out as cruelty, small and large. I have thought a lot about cruelty this past season, in all its forms and have come to recognize that cruelty is the world’s face of our repressed shining naturalness. Repression expressed as cruelty makes it impossible to manifest our artistic originality. In other words, cruelty is the result of our repressed shining artistically original natural self.
Cruelty shuts off our own natural kindness and our own natural sense of one-ness leaving us bereft of our connecting link both to spirit and to our inner selves. Cruelty comes in so many forms and has so many faces: gossip that is destined to reach the ears that it shouldn’t, judgments and misunderstandings, pity –driven reactions, senseless criticism, lack of respect for others- including our teachers - and their own expressions, an inability to speak the unspeakable with measured intent, an inability to walk our talk, an inability to dream ourselves forward, seeking revenge for perceived wrongs, lack of support for friends in need, and plain old unpleasantness and the sloppy way we speak to one another or about one another.
The lack of artistic expression and the manifestation of repression as cruelty is sometimes more easily recognized in others than in ourselves. When we experience someone or something as cruel, what we are really experiencing is the attempt to repress or muffle a part of our shining expression of self. Somehow, the artistic originality of our natural self becomes the object of ridicule and repression. It is our task to recognize this for the pettiness that it is and not allow this repression to become our reality. In this way, we can gain a greater understanding of our own sense of self worth without being at the effect of others. It becomes, then, an excellent opportunity to reflect upon the ways in which we repress our own naturalness and the ways in which our path is not guided by our shining..
As Thunder Strikes said in his address to the 23rd SunDance, paraphrased here “Just because you are on a path with heart or in an upper gateway, doesn’t make you a nice person.” I think this statement is a direct reflection of our tendency to repress our natural goodness, our natural spirit’s desire to create ourselves as a healthy, artistic original cell in Great Spirit’s body. We can’t be natural if we are being cruel and repressive.. As committed apprentices and upholders of our SunDance Vows, our natural, artistically original selves must be Rainbow Warriors, shining with the light of the East and for whom repression and cruelty must be below our collective and individual bottom lines. Perhaps as we delve more deeply into our own naturalness we can also delve more deeply into kindness!
The questions are designed to really get to the core of what artistic originality is for the individual. Not every question applies to every person, of course, but at least one or two questions in each aspect should help you probe more deeply. Follow the thread into your own core.
Questions to explore to understand and develop your Artistic Originality….
Heart
Do you express your emotions? At appropriate times? How?
Name the style of your emotional expression.
Are you the controller or are you controlled? Controlled by what?
Are you giving? To whom? Where? How? When? With conditions?
Are others more giving that you? Are you a taker?
What do you do to be liked? To fit in? To belong?
Do you act based on your emotions? What buttons get pushed?
Are you kind? To whom? What does it fulfill inside of you?
Are you unkind or cruel or thoughtless? In what circumstances?
What is your heart’s style? Name it.
Mind
Do you judge yourself on your looks? How? When?
Do you judge others on their looks? How? When?
Do you judge yourself and others in general? Where and when?
Do you see the world in a certain way? Are you ‘right’?
Are you open to discussion about your originality?
Do you expand your mind to expand yourself?
Do you rebel to be different?
Do you believe only in your little world?
How was your world view formed?
Where did the rules you live by come from?
Are these rules really yours?
How are these rules and laws expressed in the world?
How did you decide what was right and wrong?
Where and when do you allow yourself to be unkind or cruel?
Is your cruelty funny? Or clever?
How does your mind express itself? Name its style.
Body
Does your body reflect who you truly are?
What is your body’s style? Name it.
What do you wear that represents who you are?
What do you wear that represents who you desire to be?
Do you put on masks? Where and when?
Do you know you are wearing a mask?
Do you wear different masks under different circumstances?
Can you take off all the masks or put them on at will?
When and where are you maskless – at your most relaxed natural self?
What style is yours? Give it a name.
Does your home reflect who you are? Does it reflect your style?
Name your home’s style.
Do your physical surroundings reflect back to you what you most desire?
Spirit
What do you ‘believe’ in?
What do you have faith in? (Or in whom do you have faith?)
What guides your vision?
Do you believe in energy forces other than the visible ones?
Do you seek guidance? Where? When?
What have you created that is original?
How free are you inside to dream big dreams?
What is your biggest dream?
Do you seek beauty and surround yourself with beauty?
What inspires you?
What feeds your hope?
Are you headed in the ‘right” direction?
Do you do something everyday that moves you towards your dream?
How much time do you spend wishing you could be different?
Where do you shine? How is it expressed?
What sort of style does your spirit have? Name it.
Passion
Where does your drive to be yourself come from?
How free are you to express your sexuality?
Where do you shine sexually? How is it expressed and how often?
Are you embarrassed? By what?
Are you ashamed? Of what?
Are you guilty? About what?
Are you comfortable with who you are?
Have you created yourself in your own image?
What do you desire to create artistically?
How much time do you spend criticizing and analyzing instead of living?
How much unkindness do you spread around every day? How? Where?
How much pleasure do you gain every day? How?
How much pleasure do you give everyday? How?
What is your sexual style? Name it.
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