| Quantum Theory and Despair |
[Oct. 9th, 2007|12:11 pm] |
Recently I was forwarded a link that has been circulating among various astrology bloggers for a book explaining various aspects of quantum theory. The excerpts from the book on this site are excellent and lay out progressively the high points of many ideas I've encountered before in my own studies. It also includes a link to this site, which follows an understanding of dimensional thinking related to quantum mechanics. It got me thinking deeply about spiritual knowledge and a recent conversation on another blog inspired me to write the following:
I often struggle with the elusive qualities of spiritual thought, but recently I've begun to contemplate the notion that spiritual knowledge is part of a larger dimension of empirical knowledge, persistent and constant with the physical dimensions we experience. Like Time, which we only notice by its progressive effect, all knowledge is experienced through the mind but affects our physical world when we learn to apply it. Emotion is another form of knowledge, but requires a more intuitive application. We can posit these two forms of knowledge as different extremes: one structured the other chaotic.
As I have learned by studying the Tao, the only way we can effectively apply both extremes is by centering ourselves between them so that they swirl around and away from us. If we attempt to follow only one or the other, we will move away from our authentic self; but if we follow both structure and chaos at once, say by following a spiritual discipline such as cultivating a balanced understanding of astrology; we can expand our consciousness outward from one of self-consciousness to one of universal consciousness.
Despair is an emotional reaction to confusion. It moves one away from centeredness exposing the underbelly of society and revealing the inauthentic in life. It develops from loosing perspective on the universal by leaving individual responsibility out of the equation; only when self-responsibility is maintained and spiritual knowledge applied can one move away from emotional responses of confusion toward a more authentic and balanced way of being. |
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| Storytime: a memory revisited |
[Jul. 19th, 2007|11:55 am] |
Dear friends, I've managed to post another story on my website originally written back in 1994. Although it isn't my first attempt to write a horror story, I feel it is my most successful because it became a counterpoint in my zine (Gae-raj, issue B) to the grief I was feeling that year from the recent passing of my friend Tod Streater (January 17, 1963, Vancouver, WA--July 11, 1993, Seattle, WA). It perhaps reveals more about myself, but I like to think of it as a snapshot of an era of transitions, when the restrictions of the past were falling away and my peers and I were willing to experiment more with life than we'd been able to before with our parents. I bid you carry your mind, like your umbrella, usefully open as you brave this following word torrent.
Helen, WITH-EYES-OF-THE-DEVIL
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| Astrology as a basis for self enlightenment |
[Mar. 6th, 2007|03:38 pm] |
Astrology is a language of metaphor and symbolism and can be understood best as a tool for self-reflection and inspiration. Its foundation sits firmly on the universal idea that everything is connected, relative and interdependent with the circumstances that create them. Therefore, the knowledge of Astrology begins with the Macrocosm of the solar system and points directly to the inner world of your own psyche.
Your experience of life begins with a child's openness and ability to merge with the whole of humanity. But soon, as you begin to learn about your environment, you pick up clues that the world isn't always what it seems. You quickly loose that child's openness the moment you experience the lessons of pain, deprivation and suffering. You can easily become fixated upon the notion that certain things, like family, are permanent and that change seems out of your control.
The careful observer will of course understand these are illusions and that all things change and interact interdependently with everything else. A scientist will describe this as the law of cause and effect: every action causes an equal and opposite reaction. Other people call this karma, but whatever you call it, it is really just the idea that nothing is permanent and everything affects everything else.
So, when things change that you think of being permanent, your realization may come as a nasty shock. You may become angry and upset when things don't meet your expectations. You may react negatively, but doing so emphasizes the gap between reality and your expectation. Stepping back from this state, you may come to understand you are attached to a belief that everything is isolated and permanent, and grasping at these illusory beliefs only confirms your experiences of pain and frustration.
Albert Einstein is attributed to have once defined insanity as "doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results." Grasping at beliefs that you know are false, even when they are convenient or form a foundation for unrealistic expectations, will eventually lead to a life of quiet desperation and unhappiness. Astrology, being based on the notion of change, can be a way to reflect and analyze your behavior, learning through self-awareness to open yourself to new unexplored potentials.
Despite popular yet mistaken beliefs about it involving prediction and fortune telling, Astrology can only emphasize the influences of the present and point to how these change in the future. Prediction can only be developed from looking at the past and judging how human nature in the present may play out in the future. So what is contained in your birth chart isn't really what is important, that only represents the basis that you've built your personality upon. What is important is who you are now and how you project the knowledge that you find in the past of your birth chart on the influences of your future. What you do now has more of an effect on your future than where you began your life.
Memories are important to Astrology in that they contain the life lessons that shaped who you are today. For example, if your daddy spanked you as a child, then you know not to trust and to withhold your love from those who hurt you, especially those in authoritarian positions, which can further determine how you socialize in the world. Likewise, if your mama worked outside the home you may feel that you are not worthy unless you contribute to the financial well being of your family, also determining your work ethic and ability to meet your family's needs. While these are somewhat complex assumptions they are supported by psychological assessment, which is a direction Western Astrology has been leaning for several decades now.
Life lessons, though, are not an immediate knowledge; they develop over time with the accumulation of positive and negative experience. These can be developed in many ways, like working with an astrologer to develop a personal philosophy of one's own, therapy with a psychologist or psychiatrist, meeting with an astrologer, or learning from a spiritual or religious authority. Organic wisdom allows you to reflect on events of your life and transform them into a realization of self-compassion and personal enlightenment. Applying self-wisdom in a skillful manner can lead eventually to the beneficial experiences of happiness, liberty, love, empathy and deeper wisdom.
Why get upset when life forces seem against you? Patience is essential, especially with interpersonal experiences; but applying self-knowledge skillfully allows you a chance to change things to your benefit. Self knowledge reflects on past experiences, recognizing the growth process and interdependence of your own identity. Developing external wisdom leads to inner insight; inner wisdom generates greater freedom. Eventually the irrational reactions and responses that are self-detrimental will slow and then stop. And that is when you wake up and realize it is good to be alive. |
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| On the Magic of Masks... |
[Nov. 12th, 2006|05:20 pm] |
Back in 2003 I'd been invited to attend a men's spirituality event in Canada. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend, instead wrote this article with the research I'd done for a workshop in which I'd been asked to participate. |
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| I bring you poetry... |
[Aug. 17th, 2006|07:51 pm] |
I've re-posted poetry that once existed on my website. I took it all down because much of the emotion is raw and didn't relate to where I am now in my life. So many of my poems are conversations within my relationships and describe where I process emotions to enable communication. Sometimes this works, but more often it doesn't. So this is expression I now share with you, knowing you will approach it with care and feeling.
Also, there is a link on the menu which will take you to my friends at Pistilbooks where you can purchase my most recent chapbook of poetry.
Please enjoy!
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| Personal Memories |
[May. 8th, 2006|10:51 am] |
I've been meaning to post this story on my web pages since 2004 when I first wrote it. It is a paper I wrote for a college English class, and I've often felt funny about posting school work, but I'm rather proud of this particular story and soon I will post another story I wrote years before that it resembles.
Childhood Phenomenon |
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| Storytime: Greta |
[Aug. 9th, 2005|05:05 pm] |
I've always wanted to write my version of "Myra Breckinridge" which would be more about gay men living in the city than the silly thing Raquel Welch played so divinely. Here is maybe my second attempt.
“You just have to adore Gaultier!” said Greta working her way around the barber’s chair I was sitting in, wielding her scissors and comb casually like silverware, gently combing and clipping hairs which fell to the floor or alighting on my shoulder. “There is nothing else in Paris, save Gaultier!”
( Read more... ) |
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| Storytime: a riff on a nixed idea |
[Aug. 8th, 2005|10:36 am] |
Jack S. crossed the intersection of Truth and Consequences casting an eye through the forbidding iron work fence that surrounded toward the large black brick mansion dominating the block. He'd watched this corner for years largely because he'd never seen anything as common as a light in a window that might suggest the mansion was inhabited save for the large black Lorries, solemnly entering and exiting the back entrance as if there was some giant delivery bay below. Jack could slip through the open gate easily enough.
( Read more... ) |
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| Storytime: a periodic feature |
[Aug. 8th, 2005|08:43 am] |
I am inspired by inkshadow, who occasionally solicits ideas from his subscribers and then posts stories based on them. I'm not in such a collaborative mood, but it is to inkshadow's credit that I often find myself posting more to his LJ than my own. I have plenty of story ideas, I just haven't done anything with them. So, here is the challenge:
When I put "Storytime" in a subject line what follows is a short story. The emphasis is on plotting, not style, although I may experiment with that. These are snapshot stories: quickly written, quickly read, although I'll probably do a LJ-cut when they turn out long. Mostly this is to encourage me to write daily, which I admit I've tried to do in the past with only a few entries. Although the emphasis is on plotting, I may not get very far or even work out enough of the details to present a complete story, so bare with me. I'm going for volume here, not quality.
Comments are always welcome. |
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| Moving notes |
[Jun. 27th, 2005|11:04 am] |
Just a quick note in reference to a previous post about moving to Vashon, as well as news to anyone who might care:
Bruce and I moved the last of my belongings out of storage and into the garage last week. This is a step in the right direction, partly because I've patched a $56/month hole in my finances and I soon will have access to my books which has been difficult over the past year. With the completing of the day room/breakfast nook adjoining the kitchen we now have more room in the upstairs office where we've placed the grey metal file cabinet so I have a place to store important paperwork. Bruce has agreed to set up my roll-top desk in the main entryway so I will soon have another place to sit and work, right now I've been enjoying sitting at the table in the day room. Our goal is to reclaim the living room for living and the dining room for dining again, because they have been used for storage all winter. There is a lot of organization to do because Bruce has lots of items he intends to place on Ebay currently in the living and dining rooms, which will have to be boxed, organized and stored in the garage until as such time we sell them. Oi!
Meanwhile I'm working on my novel playing around with the outline so that I will have a goal with my writing. If you are interested in finding out what I'm doing here I'm happy to share. I'm looking for continuity issues and reality checks. Also, I'm looking for objective criticism from people unfamiliar with Science Fiction and Fantasy stories, so if you care about what I write and don't think Science Fiction and Fantasy is your game I still want your opinions and advice. I have to say I've never been more excited about my writing than I am right now. Ciao! |
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