Consensual Paranoia
We can't destroy the parts of ourselves we hate by destroying others.
I'm a sinner. I am guilty of hating others, and hating myself. I feel envy and resentment at times, but the most egregious sin of which I am guilty of is living in fear. Fear is a negation of the life force. Fear envelopes you in a cocoon that prevents love or light from going in or out. Giving in to fear is letting evil triumph.
I was outside the MSG rally and felt the energy of love coming from the power of belonging to a community but I also saw the hate between the opposing communities. Paradoxically, our need to belong to a close knit tribe and feel loved and understood leads us to hate those who pose a threat to our group. We are at a crossroads. Will love or hate guide us ?
There are civil wars between parties and internecine battles within the parties. This is a time of conflict. Maybe the only path to resolution is combat. If history and human nature are understood, then perhaps it’s inevitable.
We used to see ourselves as members of two separate tribes within a greater nation. We now see the opposition as our Jungian Shadow partners in self-destruction. We project the things we hate about ourselves and the country onto the other in the belief that their destruction will bring us to redemption. Like these warring Siamese Twins, we will destroy ourselves in the process.
Is there really an objective reality? People look at the election and come to completely opposing conclusions. The solution is spiritual, not political. We all want to change the world, but we don't change ourselves. The former is impossible unless we start with the only things we do have control over. Ourselves.
My daily mantra: Find the joy in creating and loving without expectations of any outcome.
Pray with faith, not fear. Pray for your enemies. Forgive all, including yourself. Counter any automatic negative self-talk with positive self-talk (even if you don’t believe it) Counter any negative thoughts about your adversary with love. (It is the hardest thing you will ever do.)
.Magazine cover for Bucknell.
So great and so helpful as I try to ignore the madness swirling all around us and focus on the joy - but not the Joy(™)! - and the love. Thank you Anthony!
What a wonderful, honest post, Anthony. Your level of self awareness is pretty amazing. And, well, awareness is half the battle. Many years ago I got a weird image of two little monsters perched on my shoulders - named Judgment and Blame - and whenever those negative forces rear their ugly heads (even when directed at myself) I'm reminded to try and do better. They probably showed up because my sun sign is in Sagittarius and those are shadows of Sag. We live for Truth and it can lead us into righteousness if we're not careful. Hence, Judgment and Blame.
As for fear, well I've been able to let go of so much of that. I don't live in fear of a disaster striking and yet I'm still terrified of the mice in the barn. Not, however, the bears in my yard. Go figure.