The Conscious Step Away From An Abyss

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on November 20, 2019 in collaborating, distraction issues, impediments, Inner Struggles, Matters of Faith, Personal Values, Spiritual, Striving

November 20, 2019-

So, it now happens that, if I want to truly understand what Jordan Peterson is trying to say, in his Twelve Rules for Life, I will have to actually read his book. The reason is the depth of Rule 9. A simple synopsis is: Understand Your Dark Side. Know exactly that of which you are capable, and resolve not to do it.

Each of us has a dual nature, which is exactly why Christ endured 40 days of temptation and His Crucifixion. He wanted us to know that the path away from self-destruction lay totally in following the Teachings of the Divine, which derive, essentially, from the Golden Rule. Not only acts of goodness, but consciousness and dismissal of, the darkness within. Baha’u’llah endured the indignity of His tormentors, who included many within His own family, that we may see the two paths down which we might each go, and that we may choose the Path of Light.

I have had struggles, all throughout this life, and only after enduring Penny’s disease, vicariously- and as her caretaker; only after wrestling with left-over baggage, following her passing, and making a conscious decision to turn aside from the darkness, have I ended up in a place of Light. So, I get the gist of what Dr. Peterson speaks here. Seeing the dark, and teetering on the edge of it, is debilitating. Seeing the goodness, and nurturing it, sends the spirit soaring.

Blamecasting

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on November 13, 2019 in distraction issues, impediments, Inner Struggles, Matters of Faith, Personal Values, Spiritual, Striving

November 10, 2019-

In examining Jordan Peterson’s remarks on what he sees as the Eighth Rule for Life, essentially “avoid vengeance”, it occurs to me that the basic issue stems from being other-focused, with regard to the quality of one’s life.

This is a recipe for disempowerment, in the sense that giving people, even those we love most, responsibility for what is good and bad in our lives. Christ used the construct He called “Satan”, or “the devil”, to illuminate the lower nature which leads people to act in ways that are of a disservice to self and others. People have taken that construct and used it as a scapegoat, as an actual being outside themselves, on whom to blame when they make bad choices. God, Himself, also gets blamed, when there is misfortune in the lives of many people.

The choice, that those who give others control over their affairs often make, following a misfortune that is laid at the feet of another, is taking revenge. This, of course, prolongs and most often deepens the agony. I can think of no problem that I ever faced, which was solved by blamecasting or looking outside myself for resolution. Indeed, when Jesus was tempted by His own human lower nature at Gethsemane, He gave us a road map for overcoming such weakness, with the words, “Get thou behind me, Satan!”

It is, simply put, up to each person to put the lower nature behind them-not often an easy task, but one which must be done.

Thoughts On Not Stepping On A Rake

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on November 9, 2019 in distraction issues, impediments, Inner Struggles, Inspiration, Personal Values, Striving

November 9, 2019-

One of the greatest gifts imparted to me, by my parents, is knowing not to make the same mistake twice. In his sixth Rule for Life, Jordan Peterson alludes to a yard full of rakes, with a slapstick comic going about, stepping on one rake after another, and whacking himself about the head repeatedly.

My difficulty with repetition of mistakes has come more from failure to generalize, to apply lessons learned from one set of mistakes to similar, but anomalous, situations.

Dr. Peterson speaks quite a bit, in this segment, about resentment. He goes through the points many of us know, as to how resentment eats away at the person who harbours it, unless he/she works through the feeling, and draws a self-improving lesson from the incident that led to the ill will.

I have learned, over the years, to work through the matter that caused me to resent a person or group. Without exception, my path has always led to determining, through the type of soul-searching recommended by Alexander Solzhenitsyn, what I may have done that led to the incident, and how I might not open the door to similar mishaps in the future.

Proactivity can eliminate a good many misfortunes. Avoiding self-aggrandizement can minimize resentment of those that do come our way. I learned this, the hard way, by being Penny’s caretaker, and not, once, thinking that the whole thing was brought on by me. Things I would better have done differently, came to mind and were fully processed. This has only made me a better person. Resentment of my lot, would not have done so.

The True Standard

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on November 5, 2019 in collaborating, distraction issues, impediments, Inspiration, Personal goals, Personal Values, Social, Striving

November 5, 2019-

Returning to Jordan Peterson’s “Twelve Rules for Life”, #4 states “Compare Your Present Self Only to Your Past Self, not to Anyone Else.”

As social animals, we so often give other human beings far too much credit, for perfection or superiority. I’ve heard from so many: “It’s cold and lonely, on the pedestal.”

So, I have made it my business to measure my progress, compared to where I was-six months ago, twenty, thirty or forty years ago. Then (1970), I hid from my peers. Now, I am in the world, but not of it. Then (1977), I found solace in the bottle. Now, I find peace and tranquility in service, in meditation and in standing up for the downtrodden. Then (1982), I handed out money on demand. Now, I contribute reasonably, without caving in to every demanding voice or thrust-out hand. Then (1981), I viewed different people with different lenses. Now, every human being is seen in the light of their character. Then, (1954-1986), I looked upon myself as essentially unworthy of love, as damaged goods. Now, I am proud of what I have achieved, no matter what others might view as inadequate. Then, (until 2010), I saw myself as a frequent victim of “politicians”, “the Elite”, “the Establishment”. Now, I see those in positions of power as basically living out their own life plan, without seeing myself as a pawn on their chessboard. Then, (prior to 2012), I had no idea why I behaved atypically, so often. Now, I know I have a place on the Autism/Asperger’s spectrum-and that’s okay.

The only true standard we have is our own life.

Random Observations, on A Quiet Sunday

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on November 3, 2019 in collaborating, distraction issues, impediments, Personal goals, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual

November 3, 2019-

I see that my recent posts have led quite a few people to delete my site. All the best, but my writing is, first and foremost, sharing my thoughts, not pandering to yours. If I have ten followers left, so be it.

People who stand up for themselves very often have to get past the trolls and pundits. I notice that, in the current presidential campaign. Anyone who crosses the Establishment is attacked as “weird”. That will never change their truth.

We had a great day, yesterday, as 65 people observed the Bicentenary of the Birth of al-Bab, at Prescott Senior Center.

I heard a Roman Catholic say, this morning, that all Muslims should be killed. The Quran mentions Jesus, in a reverent way, countless times-and more often than the New Testament. Fighting extremism is one thing, blind genocide, quite another. By the way, anyone interested in mass slaughter, of any population, will have to include me among their victims. God willing, I’d be standing in front. (Yes, that includes Christians being persecuted by Muslims and Hindus. Wrong is wrong.)

The most important thing facing me, this month, is setting up a safe, comfortable place for my daughter-in-law, who will be here for several weeks in December, while her husband is separated from the Regular Navy. Happily, he will have six years of Reserve duty, to help them get established in civilian life.

Equity/Equivalence

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on October 27, 2019 in children, Community, distraction issues, Education, impediments, Inner Struggles, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving

October 27, 2019-

There is no inherent tie, between being in touch with femininity and emasculation.

On a visit to one of my best friends, here in Home Base, I enjoyed another of her unfailingly fine meals, followed by plenty of food for thought. The fare, this evening, included a thorough look at the effects of excessive social policing on the male psyche.

I am a fairly sensitive soul, who notices people’s feelings and reactions to their surroundings. As such. weighing my words and actions has been a much higher priority, in my life, especially these past ten years. Yes, I have had relapses, during the low water marks of grieving and recovery, not so many years ago. Said friend has had much to do with the movement away from that low state, as has my personal faith.

I thoroughly enjoy the company of peaceful people, especially of women who have arrived at a state of personal peace. The higher goals of one’s existence are far more achievable, when one is not pre-occupied with a set of self-conscious, other-imposed expectations.

All this underscores that emasculation, depriving boys and men of their pursuit of meaning, in the name of gender equivalence, is the source of much of the violence and aimless behaviour, which we see increasing in some quarters of the populace. It cuts across all sectors of society, and its fingers may be found in the areas of drug abuse, domestic violence, unemployability, and general listlessness.

Emasculation does NOT proceed from giving women and girls the wherewithal to process their goals and pursue their dreams. It does derive, though, from making gender equity a societal seesaw. When Penny was alive, there was no time when her pursuits meant that mine did not matter, and vice versa. My son’s dreams and goals matter no less than do those of my daughter-in-law, and vice versa.

Equity of opportunity and encouragement under the law does not mean equivalence of function, any more than any group of men or women must all do the same things.

Jordan Peterson calls for less political correctness, in the overall course of civic life. To the extent that one group does not actively work to diminish another, I see his point. I don’t really believe that there are all that many women who wish to emasculate the men and boys in their lives. There is, though, an urgency that people attend to those who feel cut off from their hopes and dreams- regardless of the social inequality that led society to turn aside from their needs. Again, gender equity is NOT a social seesaw.

The Missile of Truth

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on October 26, 2019 in distraction issues, impediments, Inner Struggles, Inspiration, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving

October 26, 2019-

I got where I am now,

not through glad-handing

and sweet talk..

There have been

times that I needed

to learn from setbacks,

and course corrections.

The Universe made sure that

those things happened.

The lessons were learned.

There were times when

I could have fudged

the truth, but didn’t,

and took the heat

for it.

There were times

that I left things

unsaid,

and just made

matters worse.

So often,

the road to solace.

is manned by

the vicious.

So often, one

must get past

those of unsound mind,

who see things

that are white

and pronounce them

black.

The surest way past them

is to stay one’s course,

and not bend,

in the face of illogic,

no matter how loudly

or brashly

it is expressed.

The surest weapon

remains the missile of truth.

(These thoughts came to me, upon watching a program about a man who reminds me of myself.)

The Myth of Beyond

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on October 22, 2019 in Community, distraction issues, impediments, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving

October 22, 2019-

No one is truly an outsider.

In a recent online discussion about a purported conflict, between two public figures, one of the participants made the valid point that the whole thing is contrived. Many public spats, and not a few private ones, are indeed straight out of WWE.

I am what is known as an ambivert. I live alone, though that is likely to change, if a relative shows up, in December, for a month’s stay. I live alone, mostly hike alone and, when I go to a restaurant for a meal, I usually sit alone-unless I’m at the counter. I do, for the most part, travel alone, preferring to set my own schedule.

I do not, however, regard myself as an outsider. True, I am not in very many “inner circles”- my Baha’i community, groups with which I volunteer and a handful of friendships being the exceptions. Camaraderie, with both men and women, is important in my life. If I am at an event, conversation with those around me tends to be organic and fluid. If I am in nature, I also find myself speaking, quietly, to animals, plants and even the elements. The reason is, communication is a thing of joy.

My sense is, even a hermit needs to interact with some humans, every so often. So, to say a person is an outsider is something of a chimera. We can be isolated by circumstance, and that is temporary. We can be isolated by choice, yet sooner or later, there will be a knock on the door, a phone call, a postal letter or a message of some kind on an electronic device. People in institutional settings are a serious concern, yet even they face multiple interactions with staff, volunteers and, hopefully, loved ones.

These are some thoughts that came to mind, after reading the above-mentioned participant’s rebuttal of the public figure’s claim of being an outsider.

The Peak of the Canyon- Part I

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on October 10, 2019 in distraction issues, Hiking and Nature, Social, Travel

October 6, 2019, Jacob Lake, AZ-

Sitting at the counter of the restaurant, in this gateway community to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, I enjoyed a sandwich of “Leftover Jalapeno Meatloaf”-(a tongue-in-cheek expression, as the dish was freshly prepared) and bantered a bit with a somewhat surly young man, who definitely wished I wasn’t there. Once he left, the waitresses seemed to relax and there was a light-hearted rest of my visit. The food was very good.

It had been that kind of day, a blend of dealing with surly people and those who relaxed when the angry ones left. A screaming woman, berating the disabled manager of the motel where I had stayed in Flagstaff, last night was replaced in my view by his head housekeeper, who helped the poor soul get his bearings.

This evening, just before sunset, I was being tailgated, at ten miles over the speed limit, on the narrow road leading to Cape Royal, where I was heading to take a photo of the sunset. Turns out, the motorist with a hair-trigger temper was also heading to the Cape, to take a professional photo or two. Once we got there, and he realized there was still time for his shoot, all was well.

In between, there were genuine moments of peace: A crew of high school soccer players washed my car, as part of their fundraiser. Then, it was off towards the North Rim, via a trio of scenic wonders, majestic in their own right.

Here are a few scenes of Marble Canyon, where I walked around Navajo Bridge, a New Deal project which replaced the ferry across the Colorado River.

Above, is Navajo Bridge, now a pedestrian walkway between Marble Canyon Lodge and a Navajo Artists’ Market. Below, is the Colorado River.

After a Thor Burger, at Marble Canyon Cafe-and pleasant conversations with the mostly Dineh staff, I headed up the road a bit, to Cliff Dwellers, also mainly a place for Navajo jewelry to be sold. It does have an astonishing series of boulders and rock formations, near what once was a settlement of Fremont people, who were mainly hunter-gatherers.

Vermillion Cliffs came next. There are an unusually high number of retired people traveling, this time of year. The warm weather has helped, as has the political tension in the country, which leads people to seek an outlet. We know that travel is one of the best outlets for relieving tension. There was certainly a time in my life, when that was so. Vermillion Cliffs is one of the most popular areas for many seniors to visit. A Road Scholars bus had just left the area, as I pulled in.

Here are some views of the cliffs and of a canyon that has been cut by the Paria River.

This sandstone spire reminded me a bit of Spider Rock-or maybe Darth Vader.

All of this set the stage for my second-ever visit to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, as an homage to the national park’s centenary. Having visited the South Rim in April, it was an equal time matter.

The aspens and oaks are turning colour, so the approach to the Rim, itself, was a treat. The area had been populated mostly with Ponderosa pine, but a fire in 2000 created a swath, into which aspen trees have taken root.

It was now time to take a look at the highest points of the Grand Canyon.

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A Sagittarian Seeker

Sharing a life of inner and outer journeys

Category Archives: distraction issues

The Conscious Step Away From An Abyss

Blamecasting

Thoughts On Not Stepping On A Rake

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