Recently events unfolded that disclosed to me the stages of developing self-empowerment.
1. Be very honest to yourself about who you are (don't blind yourself or skew your truth)
2. Learn from around AND within you
3. Be respectful to the universe and to the world around you; understand the interconnectedness.
4. While being respectful, be true to your own nature (in other words, be wild and free within reason of respect to others and the world)
5. LEARN AND KNOW your own value, your self-worth
6. Believe in your self-worth
7. OWN your true nature and your self-worth
8. Emote your value, your truth, your self-worth--- and NUTURE it with unconditional love to yourself, the world and the universe.
9. Face your life challenges while truly OWNING all of the above.
This, is the core to self-empowerment. It will evolve, it will shift, it will remain flexible. But the grounded center of all of this, remains as our inner guide that no other living being may shed from who we define as our soul and persona. That is our "raison d'etre", our choice, our free will.
26 July 2009
the 'chi' factor
In studying 'chi' energy recently-- (or call it prahna, soul, etc.), the thought occured how rapidly we feel drained of personal chi in this world. The need to recoup our strength is constant-- the rush of losing time is constant-- the feeling of 'lostness' is constant. When our chi is healthy- we are intertwined with the universe, at one with the rhythm it offers and the cycles of nature-- and it is easy to feel contentment.
Taking the observation further-- it seems the entire 'new western' society is set up to drain our chi. Centuries past, humans created all things necessary as though it were a special work of art, as quality meant long term use, pride, respect and, in those times-- efficiency. The time to gather materials and recreate a bow and re-tool arrows would be enormous and they might miss their opportunity to hunt for food or protect themselves during attack. A good bow and good arrows, built to last, meant survival. A well made piece of clothing or jewelry, showed admirable skills and display of such God gifted talent often received respect from others. And such talent would often be a reminder of the generosity of the Great Spirit and the Universe-- to bestow upon us the tools and the muses of creativity.
However, then came the new rules of economics. Enforce capitalism by laws of supply and demand. The most successful companies also learned to market a supposed 'demand' to a populous who did not even require the goods they produced. Before long, comparative envy became another tool in the evolving layers of the 'new rules of business engagement'. And then, a marvelous theory called 'mass production'.
In mass production, a single creator (or small creative team) -- would focus all their chi into a project and design. Every detail would be pre-conceptualized into the theory, then the best points of the theory, created into a real design. But, that prototype would suddenly have to be made into large replications, to 'supply' the 'created demand' for that item. Interestingly, to 'capitalize' on the extended potential income, competing companies, even in other countries, would stamp out 'knock-offs' of the original design to attempt to fulfill more of the 'created demand'.
With each step of urgency-- the originally intended 'chi' becomes diminished into the ever growing pyramid that re-distributes the delicate weave of the chi branches into more and more sub-chains. Like a single drop of red dye turning a cup of water red, then pouring the cup into a pitcher, then pouring that into a lake, and so on. Eventually, the red dye that might represent the original chi is so diminished, there is no trace of the life giving force at the point of origin.
Then as the mass produced items are purchased, one might recognize how much weaker and less sturdy each generation of production becomes. The company, in order to become more efficient, may even order 'stream-lining' cuts to cost of production each quarter or year-- eventually, further reducing any initial chi. Quality and pride suffers--- and at the end, there is no respect or life left in the product. The consumers who purchase them might find a fickle moment of joy in owning the item, then toss it the month as much in the behavior of the convenience store society we have become. And the employees who produce the item see more of it in the garbage, and feel more pride and more chi drained from their system as the realization of producing eventual garbage becomes a reality.
The most dangerous underlying factor is, with each low cost produced fanciful item we purchase and toss, we must devise a means of making up for it's lack of chi by losing more of our own chi. We will need more time to find a replacement-- more earnings and money to pay for its replacement -- less joy (draining of chi) after gaining the 'trash' and having to clean up -- and even give up more chi as we must spend time to properly dispose of the 'garbage'. Environmentally, we must rob the earth of resources and elements and its chi to make further replacements and then we are robbed of even more time so more chi is lost. We become the hamsters in the wheel-- trapped by the ever diminishing returns of power failure in a system that continues to break down with the multiple weak links due to lack of chi to support life in the system.
In the end, the earth is robbed, the air and water become polluted, we become ill and stressed and all of the efficiencies of mass production and mass economy become the ever enlarging black hole with no exchange of chi returned to us. The temporary spurts of energy felt become a disappointing facade that only lures to embrace the last of our chi from us.
Perhaps then, the old crafters and Amish farmers that spend the extra hours whittling with a small blade, or tilling soil with a stubborn mule --- but with inventions and crafts that last decades without fail, or bountiful harvests in unforgiving conditions---- do indeed have a secret to share. Perhaps their silent exchange of chi gives respected life to the impossible, only to mock the convenience store lifestyles with an assured efficient lifestyle of simplicity with things that never fail and are always dependable?
Taking the observation further-- it seems the entire 'new western' society is set up to drain our chi. Centuries past, humans created all things necessary as though it were a special work of art, as quality meant long term use, pride, respect and, in those times-- efficiency. The time to gather materials and recreate a bow and re-tool arrows would be enormous and they might miss their opportunity to hunt for food or protect themselves during attack. A good bow and good arrows, built to last, meant survival. A well made piece of clothing or jewelry, showed admirable skills and display of such God gifted talent often received respect from others. And such talent would often be a reminder of the generosity of the Great Spirit and the Universe-- to bestow upon us the tools and the muses of creativity.
However, then came the new rules of economics. Enforce capitalism by laws of supply and demand. The most successful companies also learned to market a supposed 'demand' to a populous who did not even require the goods they produced. Before long, comparative envy became another tool in the evolving layers of the 'new rules of business engagement'. And then, a marvelous theory called 'mass production'.
In mass production, a single creator (or small creative team) -- would focus all their chi into a project and design. Every detail would be pre-conceptualized into the theory, then the best points of the theory, created into a real design. But, that prototype would suddenly have to be made into large replications, to 'supply' the 'created demand' for that item. Interestingly, to 'capitalize' on the extended potential income, competing companies, even in other countries, would stamp out 'knock-offs' of the original design to attempt to fulfill more of the 'created demand'.
With each step of urgency-- the originally intended 'chi' becomes diminished into the ever growing pyramid that re-distributes the delicate weave of the chi branches into more and more sub-chains. Like a single drop of red dye turning a cup of water red, then pouring the cup into a pitcher, then pouring that into a lake, and so on. Eventually, the red dye that might represent the original chi is so diminished, there is no trace of the life giving force at the point of origin.
Then as the mass produced items are purchased, one might recognize how much weaker and less sturdy each generation of production becomes. The company, in order to become more efficient, may even order 'stream-lining' cuts to cost of production each quarter or year-- eventually, further reducing any initial chi. Quality and pride suffers--- and at the end, there is no respect or life left in the product. The consumers who purchase them might find a fickle moment of joy in owning the item, then toss it the month as much in the behavior of the convenience store society we have become. And the employees who produce the item see more of it in the garbage, and feel more pride and more chi drained from their system as the realization of producing eventual garbage becomes a reality.
The most dangerous underlying factor is, with each low cost produced fanciful item we purchase and toss, we must devise a means of making up for it's lack of chi by losing more of our own chi. We will need more time to find a replacement-- more earnings and money to pay for its replacement -- less joy (draining of chi) after gaining the 'trash' and having to clean up -- and even give up more chi as we must spend time to properly dispose of the 'garbage'. Environmentally, we must rob the earth of resources and elements and its chi to make further replacements and then we are robbed of even more time so more chi is lost. We become the hamsters in the wheel-- trapped by the ever diminishing returns of power failure in a system that continues to break down with the multiple weak links due to lack of chi to support life in the system.
In the end, the earth is robbed, the air and water become polluted, we become ill and stressed and all of the efficiencies of mass production and mass economy become the ever enlarging black hole with no exchange of chi returned to us. The temporary spurts of energy felt become a disappointing facade that only lures to embrace the last of our chi from us.
Perhaps then, the old crafters and Amish farmers that spend the extra hours whittling with a small blade, or tilling soil with a stubborn mule --- but with inventions and crafts that last decades without fail, or bountiful harvests in unforgiving conditions---- do indeed have a secret to share. Perhaps their silent exchange of chi gives respected life to the impossible, only to mock the convenience store lifestyles with an assured efficient lifestyle of simplicity with things that never fail and are always dependable?
when business became bad....
It seems business too was an invention of mankind born out of necessity to communicate--- and initially managed by compassion and humanity for the good of humanity (equalizing distribution, equalizing shares, provisions for necessity means) ---
But... then the idea of power and greed devised a means of creating a sense of 'scarcity' and 'insecurity', or at least, projecting it through examples of natural disasters that 'might' come. How interesting it was for those few who displayed their desire to control as a creator would and founded the means and ways to attempt to control mass numbers of humans through business. These souls of discontent who seat in themselves an empty space without grounding have evolved to control our necessities, to try to control what we think as 'necessities' - and even, when we are allowed to sleep, eat, etc--
These sadly impoverished souls who know not alternative sateity seem only to know to seek power--- by means of attempting to control our individual internal rhythms-- to control our spirit through forced behavior and then 'they' can take our minds to justify themselves as being 'right' when taking advantage of the eager ones who would contribute and interact out of joy--
Because for a moment- these lost ones feel as though stealing some 'chi' (by making another person afraid, hungry, lost, or in loss) from another would satisfy them-- only to find an inner emptiness again- and lonely and at another loss---
So the cycle of the fickle business machine devised from this became at best-- a revolving door of throw away moments and destructibles based on extraordinary short time production without concessions for quality or thought to the beauty of the chi in crafting such inventions. Business and math were made to create a time clock to force an alternate necessity- to remove the human factors that were so foreign to the lost ones in the new political machines.
And it was only for several centuries of human history, as is now- business became bad as it has no longer the purpose to serve, it is has become the means for those who wish to be served.
Perhaps we must discuss the 'chi factor' and reclaim our humanity?
But... then the idea of power and greed devised a means of creating a sense of 'scarcity' and 'insecurity', or at least, projecting it through examples of natural disasters that 'might' come. How interesting it was for those few who displayed their desire to control as a creator would and founded the means and ways to attempt to control mass numbers of humans through business. These souls of discontent who seat in themselves an empty space without grounding have evolved to control our necessities, to try to control what we think as 'necessities' - and even, when we are allowed to sleep, eat, etc--
These sadly impoverished souls who know not alternative sateity seem only to know to seek power--- by means of attempting to control our individual internal rhythms-- to control our spirit through forced behavior and then 'they' can take our minds to justify themselves as being 'right' when taking advantage of the eager ones who would contribute and interact out of joy--
Because for a moment- these lost ones feel as though stealing some 'chi' (by making another person afraid, hungry, lost, or in loss) from another would satisfy them-- only to find an inner emptiness again- and lonely and at another loss---
So the cycle of the fickle business machine devised from this became at best-- a revolving door of throw away moments and destructibles based on extraordinary short time production without concessions for quality or thought to the beauty of the chi in crafting such inventions. Business and math were made to create a time clock to force an alternate necessity- to remove the human factors that were so foreign to the lost ones in the new political machines.
And it was only for several centuries of human history, as is now- business became bad as it has no longer the purpose to serve, it is has become the means for those who wish to be served.
Perhaps we must discuss the 'chi factor' and reclaim our humanity?
13 July 2009
Symptoms of a Flawed Value System
During the dawn of modern man when survival was a day to day ritual, perhaps humans found no need for commerce and trade. Food was from hunt, as was warmth and clothing-- and shelter, provided by nature. But somehow, perhaps about 45,000 years ago or so--something changed. We 'evolved' into a new state of self-realization. We began to discover ourselves, to compare, to store supplies after gathering and organized our 'wolf-pack' demeanors into a different hierarchal society structure. When faced with the first thoughts of coveting, we discovered envy. Not the justifiable envy of survival-- when a hungry beta pack animal salivates as the alpha enjoys the first draw after the hunt--- but rather--- one in which we found an insatiable desire for things we might determine as extraordinary.
Ah-- but how to communicate such a description? How does one compare perceived value?
Then on another day in another century-- human-kind invented a scoring system we now call math. Numbers to assign value. Numbers that would categorically add, subtract, multiply and divide, even project, extrapolate and predict, with 'derivatives', a future system of values. Humans began to self-judge, and then judge others, based on this assigned value system, as invented by humans.
Yes--- it was necessary to create communications and order, to be able to communicate what was observed to a stranger. Numbers had no emotion and was easily non-intimidating as it became a black and white system without colours. After all, most humans have five digits on each hand and foot, then, symmetry in two, and are often 'paired' by two. Yin and yang, black and white, male and female, day and night all made 'sense' in an orderly fashion with the use of numbers.
Then suddenly, as the pride of humans grew while entering the journey of unraveling some of the mysteries of nature and the universe-- the desire of man to become immortal through an invention to create an even greater self-worth became a paramount drive. Somehow still, these same men grounded themselves with an undeniable spirituality (whether fraught with human assigned value errors or not) --- that God (or a universal Great Spirit) had ordained them with a destined pre-existing self-worth that could not be denied by any other man. Their grounded faith found them a unique confidence to interpret a new vision of invention to become glorious within their place in the universe.
Then there is today.
After world wars and globalization of economies, as the hierarchy status of each individual has become diminished and removed from the grounding each once enjoyed--- it seems, we have created a new numerical based value system within our spiritual core, forgetting the pre-existence of our individual value. Many governing systems seemed to find this 'necessary' to maintain social order, as the populations exploded beyond their control. Thus, we no longer seem to exist to fulfill our destiny; instead, our confidence is crushed if we do not 'covet' enough or possess enough. We are no longer valued for ourselves, but rather, for the amassing of alternatively valued items that hold nothing more than a temporary decor of our physical bodies in our short lifetimes.
Perhaps--- if we try to realize an alternate perception of ourselves and our surroundings--- we might recall how we 'invented' this value system that came after the beauty of the creation that existed before us?
Ah-- but how to communicate such a description? How does one compare perceived value?
Then on another day in another century-- human-kind invented a scoring system we now call math. Numbers to assign value. Numbers that would categorically add, subtract, multiply and divide, even project, extrapolate and predict, with 'derivatives', a future system of values. Humans began to self-judge, and then judge others, based on this assigned value system, as invented by humans.
Yes--- it was necessary to create communications and order, to be able to communicate what was observed to a stranger. Numbers had no emotion and was easily non-intimidating as it became a black and white system without colours. After all, most humans have five digits on each hand and foot, then, symmetry in two, and are often 'paired' by two. Yin and yang, black and white, male and female, day and night all made 'sense' in an orderly fashion with the use of numbers.
Then suddenly, as the pride of humans grew while entering the journey of unraveling some of the mysteries of nature and the universe-- the desire of man to become immortal through an invention to create an even greater self-worth became a paramount drive. Somehow still, these same men grounded themselves with an undeniable spirituality (whether fraught with human assigned value errors or not) --- that God (or a universal Great Spirit) had ordained them with a destined pre-existing self-worth that could not be denied by any other man. Their grounded faith found them a unique confidence to interpret a new vision of invention to become glorious within their place in the universe.
Then there is today.
After world wars and globalization of economies, as the hierarchy status of each individual has become diminished and removed from the grounding each once enjoyed--- it seems, we have created a new numerical based value system within our spiritual core, forgetting the pre-existence of our individual value. Many governing systems seemed to find this 'necessary' to maintain social order, as the populations exploded beyond their control. Thus, we no longer seem to exist to fulfill our destiny; instead, our confidence is crushed if we do not 'covet' enough or possess enough. We are no longer valued for ourselves, but rather, for the amassing of alternatively valued items that hold nothing more than a temporary decor of our physical bodies in our short lifetimes.
Perhaps--- if we try to realize an alternate perception of ourselves and our surroundings--- we might recall how we 'invented' this value system that came after the beauty of the creation that existed before us?
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