tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37001306813558616222024-03-13T02:45:45.759-07:00The Space BetweenA personal blog about symbols, dreams, healing and the inner journey.Mia Lutschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868620066278974343noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700130681355861622.post-30103850313273195772021-10-02T06:48:00.000-07:002021-10-02T06:48:42.475-07:00Madness<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Madness is a
theme I was forced to look at due to mental health problems in my teens and
early twenties. Although I wanted to run
away from it, it continued to haunt me. I never wanted to be one of those crazy
people who lost touch with reality or lost control of my life, and I told myself it wouldn’t happen to me.
But the fear remained somewhere within me even though on the outside I mostly
looked fine.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="AF" style="mso-ansi-language: AF;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KDNtbcMmQe8/YVhiG0hnPZI/AAAAAAAABHg/bqfoPX22nQoCNBypBNrXk8IpuEH7FmsnwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Untitled-Artwork.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KDNtbcMmQe8/YVhiG0hnPZI/AAAAAAAABHg/bqfoPX22nQoCNBypBNrXk8IpuEH7FmsnwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Untitled-Artwork.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Art by Andre Koekemoer</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />When we see
something outside of ourselves as broken, quite often we’re projecting
something we don’t want to look at within ourselves. This was definitely the
case for me and, dare I say it, possibly within society as a whole. To be
clear, I don’t think mental health problems and the idea of madness necessarily
belong together, but in my case, mental health issues forced me to look at my
fears and explore what madness meant to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="AF" style="mso-ansi-language: AF;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Years of therapy
coupled with studies of ancient healing practices led me to discover that there
is a world of energy beyond physicality. Discover is maybe the wrong term – I
think it had always been part of my awareness, but I lived in a culture where
the invisible realms were located firmly within the confines of religion. The
psyche is connected to the physical body in ways we probably don’t fully
understand. The idea that mental illness can be ascribed to an imbalance in
brain chemicals formed a large part of the story I was told originally, but I
don’t think it’s that simple. My mental health symptoms called me to explore
the depths of my psyche and dive into the invisible world of energy where
archetypes live. Here I had to transform the destructive forces into something
beneficial. I use the word force deliberately, because the psyche can be
immensely powerful, be it in a harmful or a healing capacity. Although these
energies are not physical, we can see their effects in the physical world. When
we experience intense emotion and the effect it has on our lives and actions,
there is no denying that it is real, even though we can’t see it or touch it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="AF" style="mso-ansi-language: AF;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Facing my fear of
madness led me to understand and better relate to the world of energy. In a
sense, madness is crossing the bridge between the physical and the non-physical
realms through the imagination. We can get swept away by the dark currents or
learn to tap into the depths of the psyche for creativity and healing – there
is sometimes a fine line, and it can even be both. Moving outside of the
boundaries of the defined world can bring about creative or intellectual
genius. Those who dare to dream or embrace new ideas ultimately lead the way,
even though many have been told they’re crazy or stupid. But all of our
man-made reality started as a thought or a dream before it took form in the
material world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="AF" style="mso-ansi-language: AF;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I don’t think the
invisible is solely the domain of the dreamers, geniuses and those who are mad.
I think madness is an aspect of the self through which we create meaning and
experience life. I don’t know too many people who would admit to having strange
dreams or experiences that defy reality, but I think most of us have
experienced the madness of love, which can be beautiful, intense and
soul-destroying. Religious thinking lies at the dawn of human civilisation<a href="file:///C:/Users/lutsc/Documents/Writing/Blog.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="AF" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
and I consider this also a kind of madness. The world is simply too mysterious to
know everything or even anything and to make sense of life we have to find a
way of relating to the powers of creation that are beyond our understanding.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="AF" style="mso-ansi-language: AF;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An important
question to ask is perhaps who decides what kind of madness is acceptable or
even beneficial and what kind makes someone an outcast. I remember a fable
about madness I read in one of Paulo Coelho’s books, <i>Veronika decides to die</i>.
It was about a place where people lived happily under a just king, but an evil
magician wanted to destroy them. He poisoned all the wells so those who drank
the water would become mad, but he didn’t manage to poison the king’s own
water. The king found it impossible to lead with reason when his subjects were
mad, and he asked his wife for advice. She suggested they should drink some of
the poisoned water too if they couldn’t convert the people to sanity, and that
solved the conflict.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="AF" style="mso-ansi-language: AF;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">History has shown
that people can accept injustice or even commit atrocities when in the grip of
collective hysteria. In the real world of the present, mental illness is more
or less defined as a clinically significant behaviour or condition that is
considered abnormal within a person’s culture and it causes severe distress.<a href="file:///C:/Users/lutsc/Documents/Writing/Blog.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="AF" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
If there had been a psychiatrist in the story of the poisoned water, he may
have diagnosed the king with mental illness, but the reader would have known
the truth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="AF" style="mso-ansi-language: AF;">I don’t think we
can ever get away from madness, and I think we need it for personal growth.
When confronted with it, we have some important choices to make. On an individual
level, we may need to face our demons or listen to our soul’s calling. When at
odds with the world, we can either allow collective madness to steer us away
from our internal compass or we can stand strong in our truth and live
accordingly. Metaphorically speaking, if a dark magician poisoned the water, we
would have the </span>option<span lang="AF" style="mso-ansi-language: AF;"> of drinking
of it too just because it would be easier to get by in the world. But the
better alternative may be to call in the good kind of madness and imagine a
better world based on justice and love.</span></span></p><div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/lutsc/Documents/Writing/Blog.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> I
highly recommend <i>Supernatural</i> by Graham Hancock for an in depth analysis
of this topic.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/lutsc/Documents/Writing/Blog.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
This is my concise version of the more elaborate technical definition from the
DSM and reflects my understanding of what I learned when I studied psychology
in 2007. I did an internet search when writing this article and found there is
much debate around the concept.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>Mia Lutschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868620066278974343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700130681355861622.post-51421017300357110632021-02-14T07:50:00.000-08:002021-02-14T07:50:13.191-08:00Reflections on Myths and Abuse of Power<p><span style="font-family: arial;">My studies of mythology strangely originated in my teenage ambitions to be a lawyer. I chose Latin as a subject on the recommendation of the lawyers in my family. I fell in love with Latin literature, which I continued studying even when law turned out not to be the right choice for me. I also studied psychology, which complimented Latin literature in an unexpected way: through learning about the work of psychoanalysts such as Carl Jung, the myths I studied gained new meaning.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I became interested in the symbolism of gold in myths after I wrote my first novel, which can be described as a creative experiment guided by my subconscious. Gold is a symbolic theme in my novel and it also features in the title, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Search-Golden-City-Mia-Lutsch-ebook/dp/B01BAZBSWW">In Search of the Golden City</a></i>. When I resumed my studies of mythology after a hiatus of about five years, the mythical golden age which originated in some of the oldest Greek literature was the natural choice for a research topic. The author whose work I focused on was Ovid, a Roman poet from the first century B.C. whose work is well known for its wit, ambivalence, and political commentary. Even though I had never had much interest in the political side of history, I couldn’t avoid looking at it, because the myth of the golden age had become a political myth in the time of Augustus - the emperor was said to usher in a new golden age. My favourite poet poked fun at those in power by comparing them to angry gods who took advantage of defenseless humans.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Mythology remains a somewhat mysterious subject. Many think a myth is simply an untrue story, a concoction made up by ancient people who did not have science to explain the world. I don’t think myths are untrue in any way, provided they are not taken literally. To me, they reveal some truth about what it means to be human, coloured by the culture of its origins. Joseph Campbell, a mythologist whose work I respect very much, said that the inner landscape of humanity has not changed much in several thousands of years, even though our outside reality barely resembles the world humans lived in a few millennia ago. When I studied the Golden Age and its connections with political power through the words of Ovid, I learned something which I think is still relevant today. Personal power is an important theme to me because of its importance in healing. Much as I would like to separate it from politics, simply because I have no interest, it is impossible to do so.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2JRF6BXjO1s/YClFpTJAuCI/AAAAAAAABA0/YyzTFPxFNwgd-TbbQZNy_2G2oHAHpnuhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/Golden%2BAge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="1000" height="278" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2JRF6BXjO1s/YClFpTJAuCI/AAAAAAAABA0/YyzTFPxFNwgd-TbbQZNy_2G2oHAHpnuhQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h278/Golden%2BAge.jpg" title="The Golden Age by Lucas Cranach the Elder" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Golden Age by Lucas Cranach the Elder</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The myth of the golden age is possibly even older than the oldest known Greek literature and describes a fall from grace, much like the story of Eden. It first appeared in Hesiod’s <i>Works and Days</i>, which dates from about seven centuries B.C. Hesiod describes a progression from the golden age to silver, bronze and finally the iron age, which he laments having to live in because of all the injustice in the world. Interestingly, the myth of Pandora also features in this work as an alternative explanation for all the evils in the world. Although on the surface it may appear that women are made the scapegoat, I think it is a metaphor for that which we desire but cannot control. Perhaps it even points to the division between genders, which I think is more of a fragmentation within the individual and collective psyche than a battle between the sexes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Aratus was the next Greek poet to describe the myth in his <i>Phaenomena</i>, which dates from about the third century B.C. <i>Phaenomena </i>means “things that appear” and the work describes the constellations and how they came to be there, of course in mythical rather than scientific terms. Aratus connects the golden age with the constellation Virgo. The maiden is associated with justice and the golden age is described as an era when she still lived on earth and mingled with humankind. When the fall from gold to silver happened, she gradually withdrew from human affairs, until the race of bronze drove her to take abode in the sky, unable to cope with their wicked ways.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In Ovid’s version of the golden age in the <i>Metamorphoses</i>, the movement from gold to silver, bronze and then iron follows a similar trajectory. Two things stand out in his version of events. The first is that the iron age coincided with the discovery of gold in the material sense, reminding that desires if left unchecked can bring out the less desirable qualities in us, much like the Pandora myth. The second is that although it was ruled over by Saturn, there is no mention of the gods in the text at all until the fall is near. After this section of the work, the gods take centre stage, constantly ravishing helpless humans and interfering in their affairs.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I won’t go into all the details of the myth and the <i>Metamorphoses</i>, which is literally a work of epic proportions. My conclusion, however, was that there was a connection between the fall from grace and the rise of power in the imperial sense of the word. As soon as men started striving for dominion over the earth, they became the subjects of angry gods, or the political figures favoured by them. From a philosophical perspective, one could ponder about the meaning of the golden age and whether it truly meant the absence of all ills. What is striking to me, however, is the division between divinity and humanity associated with a fallen state.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Another course in my degree programme was agricultural slavery in the ancient world. We also looked at modern slavery, which was only finally abolished a few centuries ago, merely a fraction of time in the known history of humanity. Much as this was an unpleasant topic, I think it is important to look at one’s shadow to progress in any meaningful way, and the history of my species is part of what I need to look at within myself. One of the most hailed philosophers of the Western world, Aristotle, waxed lyrical about the existence of natural slaves. The Latin word for slave is <i>servus </i>and it is derived from the verb <i>servare</i>, which means to save. Slaves were those who had been spared from being killed when they lost a war. It is strange how even in those days domination of another human being was justified, even by intellectuals.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Closer to home, I lived in apartheid South Africa for the first ten years of my life. I now live in Scotland, and nearly three decades later I’m pretty sure most people I speak to would consider apartheid one of the most abominable institutions in recent history. But having lived with it, albeit not too long, I know that it was simply how things were. There were white people who questioned it, but I think most did not, or they did not want to share their views too loudly, or they felt powerless to change anything. I’m simply speculating because I was a child, and I can’t remember everything. But I do know that the Bible was used to justify apartheid, and few would dare to question God. Furthermore, questionable psychometric tests posing as science was used on black people to “prove” inferiority and thereby justify policies of unequal education. Of course, these studies were later discredited. When the regime ended, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established to help heal the wounds of the past. Many good-hearted white people were shocked and horrified by everything that emerged – they could not believe what the government had been up to.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">If there has ever been an era in human history where abuse of power did not occur, I would like to know about it – it seems as old as humanity itself. I find it surprising that we still hesitate to question those in positions of power, or even other forms of authority posing as people with lots of knowledge. I don’t intend to dismiss the expertise of those who are very knowledgeable in a given area, but I do think that there is always more than one way of looking at something. I find it somewhat ironic that after millennia of wars that probably did not need to be fought, human rights abuses that only benefited those in power and social inequality that seems completely senseless, few people have considered their own role in defining the collective reality.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">This is where I make the connection between personal power, which is so important in healing, and external power. I don’t think it’s completely accurate to assume that we live in a world where we are subject to laws and power structures decided by others. I think we <i>are </i>the reality, and each person contributes to it, whether they do so consciously or not. No leader or government structure, corrupt or otherwise, could ever wield power unless it is backed up by the beliefs of hundreds, thousands or millions of people. No abuse of power could ever happen if it wasn’t fuelled by the actions (or lack thereof) of subjects.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In Ovid’s version of the golden age myth, the absence of laws was an indication of the presence of justice. I think that gives us a clue on how we can find our way back home if we feel oppressed. If we claim full responsibility for our consciousness and live by our internally guided truth, there is no more externalisation of power. Each choice we have can be a powerful one and an expression of who we are, and we are free to revise it and do better next time if we miss the mark. When external forces attempt to impose their will on us, we can see it as an opportunity to claim our sovereignty. I’m not suggesting we will all suddenly be enlightened and the world’s problems will disappear, but I think it’s a good place to start.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The question remains of what exactly is the golden age, and to me the beauty of myth is that we can interpret it in a way that we find meaningful. The common theme between the various versions of the golden age myth and Eden is the presence of divinity among humanity. There is reference to abundance in Aratus’s treatment of the myth, and the garden of Eden to me suggests harmony with nature and an interconnection between all living things. Perhaps the topic is too deep to fully capture through something as mundane as words. I don’t want to discount the idea of a true paradise on earth, but I think it could be as simple as knowing we are connected to the source of all life and the universe is in us as much as it is around us. Perhaps from that place of knowing, power over another seems absurd, because we are not separate from them. When we let go of relying on a saviour and the fear of death no longer haunts us, perhaps we can begin to explore the true power of love.</span></p>Mia Lutschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868620066278974343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700130681355861622.post-58322878850399118642020-05-24T07:27:00.001-07:002020-05-24T07:27:39.325-07:00Of Bees and a Bucket of WaterI recently remembered an encounter I had with a bee when I was five years old, which resulted in my first inkling that I wanted to be a writer. Like most children growing up in warm climates, I walked around barefoot most of the time. I was mildly allergic to bees, so when I stepped on one, I couldn’t walk due to the pain and swelling. My mum’s remedy was to soak my foot in a bucket of ice cold water.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5tTFMIV0zdU/XsqDhXHMjoI/AAAAAAAAA4g/0wkDKT6ENpMWFGU3_zlwyGRrDOEfm8GuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Bee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5tTFMIV0zdU/XsqDhXHMjoI/AAAAAAAAA4g/0wkDKT6ENpMWFGU3_zlwyGRrDOEfm8GuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Bee.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@metanephros?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">sebastien rosset</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/bee?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I still remember the scene – it was in my parents’ bedroom in the home where we lived just before they got divorced. I was feeling confined and rather sorry for myself, hoping the cold water would do its job so I could again move around. I can’t remember feeling much else, but like all children I must have been subconsciously aware of all the emotional undercurrents, the tears that were not being shed and the fears surrounding the end of a chapter. A thought popped into my head that I wanted to write a story about a bucket of water one day. I didn’t know the plot, but the emotional thread had something to do with a little girl who lost her way and found it back home again.<br />
<br />
I dismissed the idea as silly almost immediately, but the thought stayed with me for a few more years even though I felt embarrassed at the mere memory. In my immediate reality, the world around me crumbled and was rebuilt as two separate worlds, both of which still formed part of my life. It wasn’t perfect (when is anything ever), but everyone involved got on with their lives and found some sort of resilience.<br />
<br />
A few years down the line I was forced to deal with my personal darkness, because my subconscious mind urged me to do so. It is impossible to say how much of my anxiety was linked with wounds from childhood, but the road to better well-being was long, arduous and intermittent.<br />
Although I expected the healing journey to help me return to “normal”, or rather, help turn me into a normal person, it wasn’t the case. Instead, I opened Pandora’s box and a plethora of monsters attacked me, but they eventually turned into allies. I discovered pieces of myself I had forgotten existed, or perhaps had never been aware of. Along with the archetypal realm of vivid, confusing and sometimes terrifying images, I also re-discovered my ability to love, something I felt I had lost. My dreams had been hiding in the same closet as my monsters. Through my fear of unleashing my shadows in the world, I had also been suppressing my gifts.<br />
<br />
It may not be obvious what bees and a bucket of water have to do with healing and it wasn’t obvious to my five-year-old self either. But now that I have an understanding of symbols, I think it was the universe’s genius way of showing me something about my path in life. Time and again, whenever I was incapacitated due to physical illness, injury or emotional turmoil, creative expression was my great saviour. Water is symbolic of the unconscious, and through plunging into this realm and turning the archetypal images into stories, the poison in my system lost its potency. Through turning to the healing waters of my soul, also known as tears, my pain gained a purpose.<br />
<br />
The incident came to mind again only recently, about three decades later, when I was reading about an encounter with bees of another author whose work I admire. The book is <i><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Supernatural-Meetings-Ancient-Teachers-Mankind/dp/0099474158">Supernatural </a></i>and the author is Graham Hancock, who was born in Edinburgh where I currently live and the incident coincidentally happened in South Africa, where I was born. Hancock ventured into the Drakensberg mountains to find and examine ancient rock art. The hypothesis he puts forward in the book is that encounters with supernatural beings inspired the oldest forms of creative expression and indeed brought about the origins of civilisation and religious thought. While he was studying the ancient art, he became aware of a beehive, which was very dangerous considering he had had severe allergic reactions to bee stings in the past. When he was stung, he had no serious reaction, but he remembered that bees had spiritual significance in the mythology of the San people of Southern Africa. To him the experience was meaningful and may have led to insight into the inhabitants of other non-physical realms and our relationship to them.<br />
<br />
Hancock’s story encouraged me to again look at the experience of inspiration my bee sting brought about when I was five years old. My journey to mend the wounds in my soul brought me in touch with the wounded healer archetype, a phenomenon that occurs across cultures where healers find their calling through an experience of physical or mental illness. Through plunging into the depths of their soul, they meet helpers in other realms, who assist them in healing others. My efforts to heal certainly opened doors to other realms and led me to learn about shamanic healing. In my case, healing and creativity go hand in hand.<br />
<br />
As little as bees are, if the San people had it right, they could be the soul’s messengers even when they are threatening. At such a significant time in my young life, these tiny helpers came to whisper in my ear how I could move beyond pain to claim the power in my soul. When I had all but forgotten about my aspirations, they reminded me, through literature, what my original dreams were.<br />
<br />
The universe is teeming with life and intelligence, expressed in the smallest and largest of ways. My story about a bucket of water is maybe not the original one I had in mind, but thirty years later I am writing it to honour the little girl’s dreams. Because regardless of how small and insignificant she felt, and often still does, the universe was in her as much as in everything else. Although she didn’t know it at the time, she was capable of wisdom.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Mia Lutschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868620066278974343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700130681355861622.post-64633945138439022042017-05-03T10:33:00.003-07:002019-11-17T01:44:03.898-08:00Desire and the Greater WillWe all need guidance at times, and everyone deals with uncertainty in different ways. Some people do research or ask the input of others. Some turn to ancient religious scriptures or modern spiritual practitioners. Some of us listen to our gut, but occasionally the answers are not clear. I have a habit of interpreting my dreams, in addition to some of the above.<br />
<br />
My question a few nights ago was one of the more profound questions of human existence. What is the will of God? I asked because I believe we have an extent of free will as humans, but I also believe in destiny and a Greater Power. I think many great acts have been done because people chose their divine destiny rather than personal gain or whatever was convenient at the time. It is difficult to put into words, but at times there is power in a decision or experience that I don’t always feel in everything that I do. My question was how to align with this power through the choices I am currently faced with.<br />
<br />
My dream material surprised me, because they showed things about my past experiences that were less than desirable. In the dream were two people I have felt a connection with in the past. One was a romantic encounter that did not work out and the other was someone I wished I could get to know better, but I never really had the opportunity.<br />
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The first encounter was a highly confusing experience I had as a teenager. I desired someone even though my friends told me to stay away from him if I wanted to avoid getting hurt. They were right, but nonetheless I valued the experience because I learned something about unconditional love. Much as we would like infatuation to be safe and comfortable, it is usually not the case. Still we can respond to the feeling and learn through our choices. In my dream I spent time with this person and the contact was amiable. I even defended him when another woman, presumably rightly, made demands on him and expressed her frustration.<br />
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The second person in my dream showed up and we had a friendly conversation while others around us were fighting. The chat was nice, and perhaps expressed something about wishes that were never fulfilled.<br />
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A third symbol in my dream was a grey house-cat which was confined to the kitchen of the house where I used to live. Genetically the cat was from a wild place in the far north, such as Lapland. It wanted to escape the kitchen and explore its wild origins, and I knew I could learn from its journey. On waking in the morning I felt that the cat represented something about belonging. In its domestic space it was not quite at home regardless of appearances. The wild space was less safe and perhaps not suitable for a tame cat, but nonetheless it instinctively felt drawn to its origins.<br />
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I had to think about what these themes of desire, belonging and exploration meant to me, especially considering that everything was not perfect in the dream. We often think of divine will as those moments when everything falls in place, but maybe that is not the case.<br />
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Desire is an invitation to love. Without responding to desires we don’t deepen our understanding of life. It may be the safe option to steer away from where our hearts lead us, but it may not bring us closer to our destiny. Desire is usually not an experience of wholeness or perfection. The disappointment we feel when things we care about don’t work out is a painful reminder that in the human condition we cannot control everything.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DmEB0mRVJm8/WQoSuhCx7mI/AAAAAAAAAfw/2TghK4Pak_Mwk-ePWDeHg7tU6EdNQFVyQCLcB/s1600/AdamEve2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DmEB0mRVJm8/WQoSuhCx7mI/AAAAAAAAAfw/2TghK4Pak_Mwk-ePWDeHg7tU6EdNQFVyQCLcB/s320/AdamEve2.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Adam and Eve by Lucas Cranach the Elder.<br />Public domain via Wikimedia commons.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The grey cat encouraged me to think about our true origins as humans. When I look for divine will, the underlying motivation is usually the need to reconnect with Source/creativity/love. Like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, the cat in my dream demonstrates something about the tension between wild nature and tame nature. Adam and Even became self-conscious and started wearing clothes when they became distant from God. Likewise the cat was frustrated in its domestic condition. Its desire to return to the wild, of which it only had instinctive memory, raises the question of where the cat’s true home is. As humans then, is it our nature to be broken but cultivated, able to make rational decisions or at least be under the illusion of free will? Or do we still have our wild naked identity underneath everything we cover it up with? Can we recover a lost paradise within ourselves?<br />
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I don’t think that these questions will be answered in my lifetime. But I think the dream told me that desire is the gateway to paradise. Through desire we can know what it means to be human, including feeling broken. If we embrace our humanity, we may find something of the divine in mundane reality.<br />
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Mia Lutschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868620066278974343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700130681355861622.post-61190698083533554582017-03-16T05:57:00.001-07:002017-03-16T05:57:52.507-07:00Conforming to Non-ConformityThrough my life I have gained a reputation among some as being non-conformist. More often than not I don’t intend to be unconventional, but I have at times felt rebellious towards tradition. My drive to break free from mainstream modes of thought has largely been motivated by existential questions, but I have wondered if I am just making things difficult for myself.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c11AnLeEY-8/WMqKlkpCNbI/AAAAAAAAAeo/i12jCEwYYiUJP9j8-qiuVjJLXjcKhE_hgCLcB/s1600/AndrePrent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c11AnLeEY-8/WMqKlkpCNbI/AAAAAAAAAeo/i12jCEwYYiUJP9j8-qiuVjJLXjcKhE_hgCLcB/s320/AndrePrent.jpg" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Image by André Koekemoer</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At times I have looked for connection among the marginal, hoping to find some freedom to express myself there. What I have discovered is that there are expectations even among the peripheral. In very liberal company I have felt hesitant to admit my thoughts and feelings as much as in conservative company. If one has to conform to a new set of rules within a given paradigm, one does not escape the restrictions of social order, no matter how non-conformist it may be.<br />
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My search has led me to the insight that structure is valuable. Even when I don’t always like the notions on which it is built, there is a price to pay for leaving it behind. All traditions have their pros and cons, much like all kinds of freedom have benefits and disadvantages. In fighting paradigms that are perceived as a hindrance to freedom, a new kind of expectation can arise of conforming to non-conformity.<br />
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The best way for me to reconcile myself with tradition is to recognise the humanity in it. The rigidity I feel subversive towards comes from a need for security which I also share. I comply with many standards even though it might not stand out as much as the ways in which I don’t conform. Likewise, people with a more traditional mind-set certainly have many ways in which they don’t follow the rules. We all have things to learn from one another.<br />
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Mia Lutschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868620066278974343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700130681355861622.post-47226953376053002632017-02-17T01:05:00.001-08:002017-02-17T01:05:09.378-08:00Self-love is not Always ConvenientThe matter of self-love comes up time and again. Being on any kind of healing journey requires patience and kindness towards the self. I believe that this forms the basis of a balanced relationship with others. But what does it really mean to love the self? I think it requires more than thinking positive thoughts.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tVgh5jaV75A/WKa8P6HVoeI/AAAAAAAAAd0/D3ytMLWtEKs45GCettEmYfLC4KJLP_RegCEw/s1600/Heart3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tVgh5jaV75A/WKa8P6HVoeI/AAAAAAAAAd0/D3ytMLWtEKs45GCettEmYfLC4KJLP_RegCEw/s320/Heart3.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
The parts of ourselves that we reject are those aspects we see as weak and a hindrance. Trying to remedy it by thinking positive thoughts is merely another way of suppressing it. In this way we separate our thoughts from emotions. Dividing the self into desirable and undesirable or strong and weak does not facilitate wholeness.<br />
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It is easy to love the self when life is flowing. It is a lot trickier when one is in conflict with the world. I have asked myself if loving myself means sticking to my way when I truly think it is best even though it might be wiser to be open to feedback. My fear of lacking self-awareness is a mask for fear of isolation. Here begins inner conflict, and this is where the matter of self-love becomes complicated. Standing up for one’s convictions is one thing, but at the expense of the need to be loved it can cause more fragmentation.<br />
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Love is not always convenient. It sometimes asks us to make sacrifices or go through darkness. The same goes for self-love. It would be nice if self-love were always straightforward and asked us to favour one way above another. But in the midst of confusion there is no such clear remedy.<br />
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Self-love requires presence to all aspects of one’s being even amidst turmoil. That is the best I can come up with.<br />
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Mia Lutschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868620066278974343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700130681355861622.post-10795863632111907592017-02-09T05:18:00.002-08:002017-02-13T06:24:30.713-08:00Spider Symbolism: Resistance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Recently when I was feeling very stuck I had some imagery coming to me and I turned it into a poem (loose definition). I then made a drawing to accompany it. The spider and her web were apt symbols because of the association with danger and bondage but also creativity.<br />
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I am reminded of the classical myth of Arachne, a female personification of the spider. In Ovid’s <i>Metamorphoses </i>there is a weaving contest between a mortal woman, Arachne, and the goddess of crafts and wisdom, Athena. Not only was Arachne extremely skilful, but she also exposed the crimes of the gods through her weaving. The infuriated goddess turned her into a spider as punishment. As a remnant of her human gift, the spider still spins her web.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Solg4-cORPc/WJxgF3jGKPI/AAAAAAAAAco/VJnfmfcvpEkVlT8RB_7cW7TXNWZO8aAjwCEw/s1600/Resistance1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Solg4-cORPc/WJxgF3jGKPI/AAAAAAAAAco/VJnfmfcvpEkVlT8RB_7cW7TXNWZO8aAjwCEw/s320/Resistance1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Shelob & Me</b></td></tr>
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The mortal and the divine are both present in the story. I would contend that Arachne and Minerva are mirror images of one another. Suppressed creativity can turn into darkness, as symbolised by the lonesome spider. The feeling of oppression, although inconvenient, often would not leave us alone until we claim our creative gifts. My poem is called “The Resistance”.<br />
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<b>The Resistance</b><br />
Like a shadow of the night she comes<br />
Enfolded in darkness<br />
In her hand is a scythe<br />
Gleaming in the moonlight<br />
The door is closed, but she comes in uninvited<br />
Takes a seat on my bed.<br />
I pretend not to be afraid, but my throat constricts.<br />
I ignore her, waiting for the sun to come up.<br />
But time stands still. She is not going anywhere.<br />
She makes me cry.<br />
Why are you holding me back? I hear myself moan.<br />
Why are you making me weak?<br />
The room fades out as her presence turns into a nightmare<br />
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A spider she is, and I the moth stuck in her web<br />
The sticky strands clamp wilfully around my wrists.<br />
I try to scream, but my throat is tight<br />
Blue fangs, red eyes<br />
Coming in for the attack<br />
She wants to prey on me, paralyse me<br />
Turn me into an empty shell<br />
Poison moves closer, the end is nigh<br />
Her foul mouth leans in for the kiss<br />
The red eyes connect with mine, become larger<br />
They show me gaunt figures<br />
Lifetimes of suffering<br />
The unloved ones know not how un-alone they truly are<br />
Despairing, they look as trapped as I feel<br />
So many gifts going to waste.<br />
I sympathise with the spider, and surrender<br />
She bites, and my mind is lulled into a soporific sleep<br />
A goddess is holding me, takes me up into the night sky<br />
I sit on the moon and look down on a beautiful creation<br />
A woven tapestry<br />
Magical story created from the self-same strands that held me<br />
This is why I won’t leave you alone, she whispers,<br />
Know yourself.Mia Lutschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868620066278974343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700130681355861622.post-39573860222717171202017-01-25T06:19:00.001-08:002017-01-25T06:19:30.288-08:00An Interpretation of a Dream of SuccessI pay careful attention to dreams and often find that they give me valuable information. As an example, I have received a warning of a forthcoming injury, which I sadly ignored and had to pay the price. My dreams also give me information on unresolved issues and how they play out in my life and relationships. After several years of diligent dream journaling, I am disappointed on those rare nights when I don’t remember my dreams. I shall also confess that some of my dream material still seems like mumbo jumbo.<br />
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Sometimes I have special vivid dreams that I can clearly connect with a theme that is going on in my life at present. This was the case a few nights ago, when I dreamed about people and places of my past as well as someone I have never met.<br />
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A very central person in the dream was a successful author whose work I love. This person came to visit and owned a café in a town where I used to live. The café was supposed to be popular because of the association with the writer’s name, but somehow it was very quiet. I knew that I would meet the writer later and was excited about it. Before I relate the encounter with the famous man, there is another part of the dream I want to share first.<br />
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A person who used to be close to me was in the dream, and we were together in a group meditation. The person is still in my life, but very much on the periphery. In real life, the change in my relationship with this person was quite painful as I had to let go of the good times but knew we were outgrowing each other. In the dream this person denied having any association with me. In addition, I felt excluded due to the actions of the group leader, who I felt could sense that my heart was not in it. Even though I learned that my friend was going through a difficult time, I left the gathering, feeling rejected.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dYcPM4W7haY/WId8Ij4a47I/AAAAAAAAAb8/majIkb2ENVILRhlRKG-CheXZjMddPcyDACLcB/s1600/Rapids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dYcPM4W7haY/WId8Ij4a47I/AAAAAAAAAb8/majIkb2ENVILRhlRKG-CheXZjMddPcyDACLcB/s320/Rapids.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A river in Scotland, not quite as dangerous as the Zambezi.</b></td></tr>
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Back to the main thread of the dream, and I find myself sitting in a small boat with the famous writer. We are about to go through rapids à la Zambezi River in Africa, but it is also in Scotland where I currently live. Only in dreams can you be in two places at the same time.<br />
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Famous author to me: “So you are also a writer. What is the name of your book?”<br />
Me: “<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Search-Golden-City-Mia-Lutsch/dp/0996663428">In Search of the Golden City</a></i>.”<br />
Famous author: “Ah. You’re deep.”<br />
Me: “How do you know that?”<br />
Famous author: “I can tell by the title of your book.”<br />
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I am somewhat flabbergasted, but I think to myself that of course he knows something about the symbolism of gold. He talks about his café, and says that actually it is not as successful as expected. He adds that there is tension in his business due to politics. I think to myself that it cannot possibly dim his prosperity, but it is a valuable reminder that nobody’s life is perfect, and nor should I expect mine to be.<br />
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Reflecting on the dream in the morning, I felt that it was telling me something about the changes I made in the last few years, with the result that some doors closed. The old friend in the dream represents the structures of my past and my relationship to it. There is a reason why some people and situations that used to be stable fell away. Some of it had to do with my own attitude, but the point is that I cannot retrieve what has gone lost.<br />
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I thought about the meaning of the Zambezi River and the rapids. As a child I was fortunate enough to go into remote places in Africa. Some of these trips were rather difficult, but until today I remember the animism I felt in nature. I didn’t understand it at the time, but those experiences stayed with me and became very meaningful.<br />
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Being in a boat in white water with a person whose work I admire and who engages with me refers to the uncertainty of following my dreams. I am in a risk zone with only the forces of nature to guide me. Yet I feel connection regardless of where I might end up. Considering the famous writer’s struggles, I felt that the dream told me that I have to let go of archaic ideas of success. According to the world’s definition, I will always fall short and it is risky anyway, even for those who make it work. The things I value have found me and will continue to do so. Whatever price I have to pay for not “fitting in” will be worth the satisfaction of following my heart.<br />
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A day or two after the dream I saw a real quote on social media by the author I dreamed of about closing doors on the past. I don’t think it’s a coincidence.<br />
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Mia Lutschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868620066278974343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700130681355861622.post-31392202217732055492017-01-16T02:39:00.002-08:002017-01-16T06:15:36.662-08:00SacrificeSacrifice is not a pleasant word to many. It implies we need to give up some things we love for the sake of hopefully gaining something else we need or want. The everyday reality for most people contains a mixture of pleasure and pain. Nobody can do everything, and where we need to make choices there is often a sacrifice involved.<br />
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In modern spirituality I find a prevailing notion that we can have and be everything we want if we apply the spiritual “laws” of the universe. I don’t agree with this, because it denies so many aspects of the human experience. In this context sacrifice is shunned as something negative. Since sacrifice is a prominent theme in religion and mythology, I want to look at the deeper meaning of the concept and what it can teach us.<br />
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I grew up in the Christian religion, and one of the main tenets was the sacrifice of Christ, the son of God, for the sake of humanity. In the Old Testament we read about God demanding Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac. The son and father are saved in the last minute due to the love of God and the faith of Abraham. The New and Old Testament examples of sacrifice both involve divine love and the threat of death. In both cases human death is not the final outcome as Christ is resurrected and Isaac is saved with a ram sacrificed in his place. In the New Testament story God sacrifices his son for the love of humanity, while in the Old Testament example human sacrifice is needed to please God. As a child I found the idea of sacrifice vindictive and I never understood why Christ had to suffer for the sins of others. A symbolic interpretation however may shed light on what the sacrifice means.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MHRpOeaRx0s/WHyegQOqxHI/AAAAAAAAAbg/2P2I5ehNUncBkxxDCfhOqu8lHT5ya5mFQCLcB/s1600/The_Sacrifice_of_Iphigenia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MHRpOeaRx0s/WHyegQOqxHI/AAAAAAAAAbg/2P2I5ehNUncBkxxDCfhOqu8lHT5ya5mFQCLcB/s320/The_Sacrifice_of_Iphigenia.jpg" width="235" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Sacrifice of Iphigenia by François Perrier.<br />From Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain.</b></td></tr>
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In Greek mythology there is Iphigenia, daughter of the Greek king Agamemnon in the war between the Greeks and the Trojans. Her sacrifice to the goddess Artemis was required for the king’s war pursuits to be successful. An animal was also involved as according to some sources the king offended Artemis by killing a deer, which was sacred to her as a goddess of hunting and wild animals. In some versions Iphigenia was saved and replaced by a deer. Iphigenia also appears as a priestess of Artemis. It is worth noting that Artemis is a virgin goddess, and the sacrifice was planned to take place on Iphigenia’s supposed wedding day. (Source: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iphigenia">Wikipedia</a>)<br />
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In <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Undying-Stars-Unites-Ancient-Conspiracy/dp/0996059016/">The Undying Stars</a></i> by <a href="http://www.davidmathisen.com/">David Mathisen</a>, the theme of sacrifice in religion and mythology is discussed in detail. One of the theories presented in the book is that ancient myths, including those found in religious texts, point to the heavens and are an allegory for the movements of the stars and planets. The movement of the sun is used as a metaphor for the (recurring) journey of the human soul in corporeal existence. It is suggested that the theme of sacrifice is connected to the equinoxes and the animal symbolism is associated with the signs of the zodiac. In the case of Isaac, the ram is clearly Aries, the sign of the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere or autumn in the southern hemisphere. It is suggested that the deer in Iphigenia’s case represents the constellation Centaurus, which is near Virgo and the crossing of the celestial equator at the September equinox.<br />
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Because the equinoxes signify a turning point from longer days into longer nights or vice versa, they are a metaphor for the process of birth and death, or the journey into or out of the human body. The book provides a far more comprehensive explanation, and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in the topic. For the purpose of this article the idea is meaningful as it demonstrates the cosmic significance of myths. In the case of sacrifice in particular it tells us something about the balance between the spiritual and material sides of our existence, as signified by the balance between day and night on the equinoxes.<br />
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Going deeper into the notion of traversing the boundary between spiritual and physical, I think sacrifice has to do with how we create ourselves. I have written before on <a href="http://mialutsch.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/the-gift-of-limitation.html">the gift of limitation</a>. To know the individual self it is necessary to leave behind the realm of infinite possibilities. We retain some creative potential which we can work with in a world constrained by matter. To return to infinite love, the body and ego must be left behind. Of course nobody really knows what happens after death, but some research, such as the work of <a href="http://newtoninstitute.org/">Michael Newton</a>, suggests our souls contain memories of lives on earth even after leaving our bodies. Connecting this with the movement of the sun as a metaphor for the journey of the soul, it is worth noting that there is day and night at all times of the year in most places on earth. Sometimes there is more of the day and sometimes more of the night, but the two polarities exist side by side.<br />
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In the story of Iphigenia the sacrifice to a virgin goddess is meaningful if we consider that her (possible) death happened on her wedding day. To me this says something about the sacrifice required in partnership. To be committed to someone else, a person inevitably gives up some of their freedom and independence, perhaps symbolised by virginity. If we go with the version of events where Iphigenia was saved and became a priestess of the goddess, this could indicate a different kind of devotion to an ideal. The benefits of partnership are forfeited by those who choose the path of chastity. If chastity signifies inner development, it could perhaps point to the solitude involved in embarking on a spiritual journey.<br />
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The word sacrifice comes from the Latin <i>sacrificium</i>, which is a contraction of <i>sacer</i>, which means sacred, and <i>facere</i>, which means make. To make the experience of giving something up sacred, we could perhaps adjust our understanding of sacrifice. Between the polarities of humanity and divinity where sacrifice usually takes place, there is a tension that cannot be resolved. I believe this points to the yin and yang in the universe, the sacred dance of opposites where new things are created. This is also illustrated through the sexual unity between man and woman resulting in the birth of an offspring.<br />
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Love is a theme in all these examples of sacrifice, although in the example of Iphigenia there is also conflict and self-interest that could lead to death. In each case the victim is saved through love, devotion and mercy. The wisdom of sacrifice could be that when we adopt the perspective of the soul in our human endeavours, suffering can be transcended. The need to choose what we dedicate ourselves to is highlighted. The journey in the human body with all its trials can be understood as a gift when considering the bigger picture of our spiritual origins.<br />
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Mia Lutschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868620066278974343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700130681355861622.post-68235116593849393912016-11-11T05:53:00.001-08:002016-11-11T05:53:18.071-08:00Book Review: Hopatcong Vision Quest by Steve Lindahl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sH-7Mhnc5FQ/WBCr5h5pZWI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/IyREybnMbBo0U46iWwos5X_dFq5VBLERACLcB/s1600/Hopatcong%2BImage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sH-7Mhnc5FQ/WBCr5h5pZWI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/IyREybnMbBo0U46iWwos5X_dFq5VBLERACLcB/s200/Hopatcong%2BImage.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
My rating: 5 stars.<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hopatcong-Vision-Quest-Steve-Lindahl/dp/1625264496/">Hopatcong Vision Quest</a> is an interesting combination of psychology, spirituality and crime with the added bonus of a riveting plot line. The story takes the reader into two different eras through the lives lived by the same souls in different bodies.<br />
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Diane, a woman in the 21st century, wants to solve the riddle of her mother’s drowning in Lake Hopatcong. She believes it is connected to the death of another woman and approaches Ryan, the woman’s husband, for help. With her mother’s friend Martha, they consult a hypnotherapist, who takes them into memories of their past lives in the 17th century in the same location, where similar incidences occurred. Diane’s 17th century counterpart was a woman called Oota Dabun, who wanted to go on a vision quest even though the rite was reserved for boys in their journey into adulthood. The two women share the desire for understanding.<br />
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This book engaged me right from the start and a few pages in I did not want to put it down. The characters, both in the present and their past lives, are relatable, yet enigmatic enough to make the reader wonder about what drives them. Some of them were of different genders and races in former lives, inviting the characters themselves and the reader to consider their motivations. The philosophical question of what impacts the human psyche, and whether nature or nurture has the strongest effect on our actions, comes to the fore. Even the dark characters are not entirely undeserving of empathy.<br />
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Since this book is rich in spiritual lessons, it inspired contemplation on how I responded to the characters and the plot lines. True to my personality, I felt drawn to the traditions of the 17th century Lenape tribe, where nature had things to teach people. In the thread of the present, I felt most judgemental towards the character who abuses authority for personal gain.<br />
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The story looks at themes of anger, justice and love from the perspective of the soul. In line with the cross-generic nature of the novel, resolution happens in a manner different from merely cracking the clues. The insight gained by the characters invites the reader to reflect too.<br />
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I have highlighted two powerful quotes that captured my attention:<br />
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“The earth was a minuscule spot among the stars in the universe, yet there were more kinds of love in this tiny world than anyone could count.”<br />
“I like to sit by the lake. I like the quiet days when the water appears solid, with only ripples raised by the wind. But sometimes people bring conflict, sometimes a powerboat breaks the surface, creating waves larger than the ones the wind made. When that happens, the wind seems to say, ‘Just wait. I can do better.’ And before too long, there’s a storm with even taller waves. So to me the water says, ‘I am you. And like you I can be love or hate, forgiveness or anger, peace or war.’ I choose love, forgiveness, and peace, then go on sitting by the water.”Mia Lutschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868620066278974343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700130681355861622.post-50920469771780802372016-10-19T07:24:00.001-07:002016-10-19T08:22:45.452-07:00Looking for One’s Other HalfI have often felt like a misfit due to my views being different from the values of the culture I live in. One prominent example is my attitude towards romance. In my twenties especially, most people I knew were looking for the “right person” and many expected me to do the same. I remember many frustrating conversations where the topic came up and I was asked why I did not want to get married. My answer quite often provoked more questions, and despite my best efforts I usually felt that I could not get the person to understand that like there are some things they would not choose for themselves, I simply did not feel inclined. I don’t remember ever asking anyone why they <i>did </i>want to get married. It’s not because I wasn’t interested in their views, but because I thought the answer was personal, like a choice of career or hobby.<br />
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Marriage aside, the idea of an intimate relationship was not a non-issue for me. I felt that the concept of looking for another person as one’s other half was ingrained in the collective mind-set, but it did not work for me. When I looked for someone as a potential relationship partner, I felt lacking because I was not in a relationship. The biggest problem for me was knowing how much people revere the idea of the right person, and feeling that in my flawed human state I could never live up to someone’s expectations. An obvious challenge was the truth of my feelings about marriage when there seemed to be consensus among the people I knew that the point of any relationship was finding the right marriage partner. I could not be close to someone and cover up my truth.<br />
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A lot of people gave advice on finding the right person. Some of them were single or divorced, and although logically I knew that they did not have it all figured out, I was confused by the fact that everyone seemed to have answers even when they didn’t, and I had none. In theory I understood that another person could not fulfil me, and that I had to make myself happy first before I could think about being happy with another. Of course I was aware that if one tries to be happy for the sake of finding someone, one is missing the point. Still, I did not always recognise that inner work aimed at self-improvement was still putting pressure on myself to do better than just where I was. Striving to improve sounds admirable, but there is the danger of rejecting unwanted aspects of one’s person.<br />
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I only really stopped feeling powerless about relationships and my ineptitude when I went beyond rational thought and started dealing with my true feelings. Even though I reprimanded myself for it, there was the fear of the unknown if I never got into a serious romantic relationship. In my mind there was a social stigma around being an unmarried older woman. Worse than being unworthy of any man’s attention or failure at what nearly every person could do at some point or another, i.e. be intimate with someone, was my fear of falling through the cracks in society. I felt that I would be judged as abnormal if I didn’t live up to this expectation. The fear boiled down to being an outcast, but when I realised I was comfortable with my circumstances, I could have conviction in my own choices regardless of society’s standards.<br />
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Even though I am in a stable relationship now, I still think that the right person is a myth. When we look for our "other half" it is based on an illusion that the light in me needs the light in another to be whole and complete. Instead I think that the other half we are looking for is our own darkness. Our fears and weaknesses give us important information. When we own and acknowledge those unwanted aspects of our being, the light in us is more powerful. Finding a special connection and possibly sharing one’s life with another is a mystery I will not pretend to understand.Mia Lutschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868620066278974343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700130681355861622.post-31097620167695794532016-07-21T04:12:00.001-07:002016-07-21T04:12:49.552-07:00Privilege and Its PitfallsPrivilege is generally seen as a positive aspect of life, but the idea could be a hindrance to personal freedom and promote social inequality. In my middle class Protestant background, as children we were made aware of our privilege from an early age. We were taught to be grateful for having our survival needs met and having access to the best facilities, which would enable us to continue the legacy provided that we devoted our efforts to society’s notion of success. Quite often the idea was at odds with religious doctrine of love, service and the insignificance of material possessions. While I think gratitude is a most valuable tool to navigate the waters of life, I don’t see any reason why it should be adopted against the misfortune of others, however subtly it is brought into the equation.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Wheel of Fortune as a symbol<br />illustrates that everyone is subject<br />to the ups and downs of life.</b></td></tr>
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Within the idea of privilege I find a subconscious assumption that only some people can have good fortune while others have to be underdogs. This is problematic on so many levels, especially when it is accepted that that is just the way the world works. To begin with, those in “privileged” positions might not be happy with their circumstances, because the set-up does not suit them. They might not be content for whatever reason, and within our rigid social structure that classifies people according to their wealth, there might be little escape for the privileged in misery. Making changes could compromise their relationships, finances and social position, which could lead to even more suffering and disconnection from others. From a different perspective, regarding some people as under-privileged because of the absence of financial riches could deny their competences. We limit ourselves when we define people according to their financial capacities. There is light and darkness in everything, and in reality human nature cannot be confined within social categories.<br />
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Our notion of privilege also encourages me to think about where basic rights end and where special rewards begin. In a truly humanitarian society, having one’s survival needs met would be a right unless Nature decides otherwise. The same goes for access to education in a chosen area of interest when it is available. I do not propose that anything should be taken for granted, but I think an attitude of appreciation is a personal choice that benefits the one who adopts that mind-set. Clinging to stale notions of privilege makes inequality easier to justify as it is convenient to argue that working in harsh circumstances or being underpaid is preferable to having no income. It is inevitable that those in privileged positions are the benefactors giving the under-privileged the means to survive. A power imbalance can thereby easily be disguised as charity.<br />
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Something I find ironic is seeing how often misery results from clinging to superior positions. It might be my own projection, but I have often felt that in highly privileged environments there is little room for hilarity or genuine connection. Some of the wisest and kindest people I have known didn’t have money or status, and I have been to places where people showed warmth to me despite difficult political and economic circumstances. I do not wish to deny the challenges faced by those who struggle financially, or claim that everyone who is rich or successful is miserable. I do however suggest that we look deeper into our notion of privilege and question whether it is useful in any way unless we can have compassion while there is still social inequality.<br />
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Ultimately privilege is a matter of perspective. Life can be seen as a privilege with all the ups and downs, even though it might not always be obvious in dark times. Sharing with and learning from others, no matter what the differences in background, can enrich us if we look past appearances.Mia Lutschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868620066278974343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700130681355861622.post-41934855056625442732016-04-20T05:44:00.001-07:002017-03-16T05:11:52.492-07:00The Hero’s Journey and the Collective UnconsciousI started writing my first novel, <a href="http://mialutsch.blogspot.co.uk/p/books.html">In Search of the Golden City</a>, when I was ill with hepatitis. I had wanted to write an actual full book of fiction (as opposed to poetry, essays or academic writing) for more than a decade, but I didn’t have inspiration, or I was busy, or afraid although I didn’t know it back then. Being spiritually oriented, I asked for an idea and I received one, and still I postponed the actual writing. I set a deadline, or rather a starting line, for myself, but the day came and went and still I hadn’t done anything. Two weeks later I fell ill and was booked off work for three weeks. I still believe that it was the Universe’s way of nudging me forward.<br />
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The story took shape as I continued, and I finished the book by being committed to writing a certain number of hours a week. During the process of writing I let myself go and allowed whatever wanted to emerge. The end product was a very symbolic tale filled with mythical elements. I was fascinated to discover similar themes in myths or stories written by others. As an example, a friend with whom I share an interest in mysticism, spirituality and healing introduced me to her friend who is also a writer, <a href="http://blog-eva-lara.blogspot.co.uk/">Eva Lara</a>. I learned that she had written a book in Spanish called <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/guardian-del-umbral-Eva-Lara/dp/1492353965">El Guardián del Umbral</a>, English translation The Guardian of the Threshold. I have not read her book because I do not understand Spanish, but just going on the title, the book I had already written contained the same theme verbatim. I also read about the concept of the Hero's Journey as identified by Joseph Campbell in The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Although I had no knowledge of the concept prior to finishing my book, I found that there were many parallels in my novel.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The fool in the Tarot can be a symbol<br />of embarking on a personal journey.</b></td></tr>
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When I studied psychology at university, I was introduced to the work of Carl Jung and the theory of the collective unconscious, a realm of archetypes that take expression in myths, connected to the human psyche. When I learned about shamanism, I could equate it to the spirit world. I believe that this aspect of our being is universal to humanity, and even though we have become profoundly disconnected from it in our modern society, it still shows up in our art, religion and even science. From this perspective, the Hero's Journey perhaps tells us something about being human that we all know deep down although we are not always aware of it.<br />
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For the purpose of this article I will focus on my understanding of the Hero’s Journey as it features in my own writing. Broadly speaking, the Hero's Journey is one of personal transformation. The hero receives a call to go on an adventure, much like Bilbo in Tolkien’s work The Hobbit. He receives supernatural help or guidance and at some point crosses a boundary between the known and the unknown, where he enters a magical landscape. Here he faces challenges and finds wisdom, sometimes through dying and being reborn. He can then return to the known world or material reality to apply what he has learned. (Source: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monomyth">Wikipedia</a>.)<br />
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The protagonist in my book is a healer called Akim, who goes in search of a legendary Golden City because he wants to be with the woman he loves. There are no directions to the Golden City, and his clues are stories of others who have made it there by remaining true to themselves:<br />
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“… what they had in common was an almost desperate desire to reach the Golden City. Some of them had it easier than others; some were courageous, but most of them were far from perfect. A few were rather bad, but they were redeemed through introspection and love for something or someone outside themselves.”<br />
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As individuals we vary in our goals and ideas, but the similarities between the stories we come up with lead me to the idea that perhaps collectively we have a common purpose that is mysterious and veiled, but without which life has little meaning. Could the Hero’s Journey be about the will to grow? Could it tell us something about a soul’s journey in a corporeal existence and the drive to know and create the self through transcending ordinary reality? I am reminded of the Biblical Paul’s words in his letter to the Corinthians: “For now we see in a mirror, dimly; but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then shall I know just as also I am known.” (Translation from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1_Corinthians_13#English_version">Wikipedia</a>.) I no longer go to church, but having grown up in a Christian environment I remember 1 Corinthians 13, about love, as one of my favourite passages in the Bible.<br />
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As a final note I will add that the experience of illness as a call to purpose or healing through engaging with the spiritual realms is a universal concept of shamanic initiation. In this case, I needed to keep my commitments and act on what I had been given. As soon as I did, I recovered faster and in the end went back to work after only a week and a half. The writing must have healed my body and soul.<br />
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Mia Lutschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868620066278974343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700130681355861622.post-26414231396716632432016-01-13T07:45:00.001-08:002016-01-13T07:45:40.240-08:00Creativity and our Connection with the Universal MindCreativity is an interesting thing because nobody can really tell another person how to be creative. Many people have told me that they are not creative at all, but I don’t believe them. Some people express their creativity more than others, while many people prefer to think of themselves as analytical thinkers. But all of us have creative imagination as well as the ability to think logically. I think that creativity is intrinsically a part of every human being as much as the capacity to love.<br />
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Many people don’t develop their creative faculty, or they lose touch with it because they are not encouraged to use it. Although I have always written poetry and/or kept a journal, I put less effort into it in the time when my office job consumed most of my time and energy. The most useful advice I got to help me actually start writing fiction, something I had dreamed of doing for 14 years before I started, was from reading interviews with established authors like Neil Gaiman and Paulo Coelho. I learned that an author doesn’t need to have everything exactly worked out before starting to write, and that the unconscious is a valuable tool. Having gathered enough courage and filled to the brim with frustration with my circumstances, I started writing without really knowing what I was doing. What emerged was at times unexpected, and it intrigued me.<br />
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The creative process is fluid, and reflecting on it I cannot say that I truly know what the relationship between me, the story and the characters is. I used to think that an author invented a story, and for me the idea was a barrier as I felt that it was too difficult to think of something as brilliant as some of the stories I have read. Things changed when I asked for a story, and met the characters in another realm, and asked them to tell me their story. In that way, something sincere started to unfold. Rather than achieving something, I felt that my first novel, <i><a href="http://mialutsch.blogspot.co.uk/p/books.html">In Search of the Golden City</a></i>, was a journey through which I learned a lot about myself and my personal path. The creative process is all the more spell-binding when I work with it even though I don’t understand it.<br />
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Through creativity I feel a connection with the universe, and this brings to mind the mysterious Source of everything we know. The idea of the universe as a creation has been in dispute by mainstream religion and mainstream science, as if our human minds could know the answers to something as profound and impenetrable as universal origins. I have at times felt that talking about “creation” is heretical in the eyes of supporters of the science paradigm, because it presupposes the idea of an intelligent force behind everything. To some people it smacks of religious dogma, and to combat it, they would rather embrace the idea of an accident without purpose. Religious and scientific dogma aside, I do feel that there is a Creative Source that I am sometimes more in touch with than others, and that magic and healing start happening through communion with this Source.<br />
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As an artist, when I create something, it doesn’t always come out as planned. What I create has a will of its own, and the process is most powerful when I allow that will to come through me. In that sense, I don’t feel like a creator at all, rather an instrument. Although my characters are sometimes in conflict with one another, they are part of the same story, and they learn from one another since each expresses an aspect of something that is buried within me.<br />
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Suppose then, we wove our own stories through the universe as a work of art, what would our relationship with the Creator be? I think that question is as open for interpretation as the one of what my relationship with the characters in the stories I write is. In my opinion, the conventional idea of intelligent design falls short when it advocates a creator that made the universe a long time ago but is essentially separate from it. The idea of accident without purpose doesn’t ring true either. Without pretending to know anything, I could imagine that we are all part of the same dream, and that each person or thing is an aspect of the dream. As we live, we could strive towards creating bright, powerful stories with the full magic of being a facet of a glorious and unfathomable dream. Or we could play a part in a dull story directed by those who deny the spectacular life force, if we believe in their power rather than our own.Mia Lutschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868620066278974343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700130681355861622.post-45694875903297037662015-12-08T09:08:00.001-08:002015-12-10T03:48:27.559-08:00Forests, Competition and the Circle of LifeI recently spent a week up in the Scottish highlands for a conservation project with an organisation called <a href="http://treesforlife.org.uk/">Trees for Life</a>. The main focus of the charity is replanting the Caledonian forest, which has been destroyed by human activities through the course of centuries. Some of the destruction was due to material needed for warfare, while farming, commercial hunting and the disappearance of large predators also played a role. On this week I was in training to lead conservation volunteers, and I had to assist with planting demonstrations and other conservation activities. Talking to the land and the trees is habitual for me, but my practical conservation knowledge is limited. So when I led the planting demonstration, I mostly did it by the book.<br />
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During the activity, a volunteer asked whether it is necessary to remove grass from the surrounding turf to eliminate competition and give the newly planted tree the best chance to survive. I passed the question on to another facilitator, and he said that because machine mounding had been done, the terrain was prepared. The practice of removing the top layer of vegetation around the tree might have been required if this weren’t the case. In the meantime, however, I have learned that results are poorer when this is done.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The plantation in the distance and clear land in the<br />foreground. It is difficult to imagine that most of<br />the land was once covered by natural forests.</b></td></tr>
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We were working in the heart of a plantation. Looking around at the imposing non-native trees planted in rows with almost militant precision, our task of recreating a near-natural forest was daunting to say the least. Those small native trees have to be given the best chance to survive, and planting is hard work and time-consuming. I find it almost heart-breaking to think of the beauty and tranquillity of natural forests that could be destroyed so easily through aggression, greed and short-sightedness. The effort to rebuild is painstaking, and the irony is that if we left Nature to her own devices she would create a majestic work of art, without being paid for it and seemingly with no effort, just <i>because life</i>. If only we could learn how to work with nature, how to <i>be</i> nature, then maybe we could leave a legacy for generations after us without destroying what should be available to them.<br />
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That idea, <i>competition</i>. In terms of conservation ecology when one is trying to give nature a helping hand, it makes sense. Those tiny trees have been cultivated by human hands with a lot of care before they are given a proper home. Working with them in the nursery, I get a sense of excitement, as if they can’t wait to push their roots deep down into the earth and reach up, little by little every year, to drink in light from the sun and touch the stars. They have to be protected, otherwise all the sweat and love that have been poured into them go to waste. A good idea rots if not properly applied, but if it doesn’t work after having been given the right kind of effort, the energy moves on to be used elsewhere.<br />
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Nonetheless, I have to reflect on how our ingrained ideas springing from millennia of conditioning influence our understanding of nature. Looking at nature, I see a circle of life, and in her presence I feel connection and flow. There is a clash in my soul between this calm presence and society’s idea that we need to fight for some things and compete for others. Seeds grow when there is a proper place for them to do so, and a healthy ecosystem is established when different species work together as one organism. When the life force is behind it, the right time for everything to grow and decay establishes itself. This is the sacred energy that many people feel in natural forests. Somehow I can’t help wondering if our beliefs that some people deserve life more than others, and some ideas are worth defending more than others, cause the imbalance that ruins the harmonious working together of organisms. I wonder, if we stop aligning with ideologies that exclude others from our family, whether the idea of competition would also fade away. Maybe then we could approach our homes and relationship with those outside of our homes as an ecosystem, where there are no defined boundaries, but wellness on a small scale can be expanded indefinitely no matter what the size of the population is.<br />
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It is clearly preposterous to think that one part of a forest has to compete with another part of a forest. A forest would be boring if one species had to reign supreme or if other species were extinguished. There is space for everyone, and where only one thing can grow in any particular place, the species that would be able to adapt best would be the survivor. I could imagine that other plants would willingly step aside and say, “Clearly this is a better place for you, so I would find another place to thrive. I’ll sit on the hilltop and talk to you while you stand in the shade.”<br />
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I’m hoping that those of us who have the privilege of spending time in nature will take her wisdom back to the concrete jungle with us. I have faith that the more we bring our forgotten human nature to our disconnected lifestyles, the more we would see healthy forests in our living spaces, and the less land would be used for purposes of exploitation and conflict. I wonder if the idea of eliminating competition to ensure the success of our own enterprises, even in conservation projects, would eventually be replaced by one of consciously working together to restore harmony on earth.<br />
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Mia Lutschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868620066278974343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700130681355861622.post-72622492484565945312015-11-16T08:03:00.001-08:002015-11-16T08:03:07.077-08:00Clouds and DreamsNature talks to us, and often reveals to me something about what’s going on in my own mind. Clouds have caught my attention over the last week, especially the wispy kind that drifts in a clear blue sky. In Scotland where most days are marked by an overcast sky, these light clouds are pleasing to the eye. To me clouds represent dreaming, and reflecting on them I gained insight into the relationship between ideas and action.<br />
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Clouds vary in shape and form. They represent illusion in the sense that they appear soft like cotton, but consist of water. They are continually in motion, moved by currents that are invisible to the eye. It is easy to see a vision in clouds, signifying the uniqueness of each person’s point of view. The perceived shape is never true to the actual shape of the cloud, and since it changes all the time, it reminds of the fluid character of dreams. Clouds vary in tone, more so when the sun is shining. Where an endless blue sky can become monotonous, clouds that reflect the interplay between light and darkness give character to the heavens. The overcast aspect of clouds indicate the collective nature of thought and reality: while each perspective is unique, we also co-create the world through the way we dream together.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Representation of the World Tree: <br />the Shamanic Model of the Spiritual Realm</b></td></tr>
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In the shamanic model of the spiritual world, there are three aspects which are connected to one another through the symbolic world tree: the upper, middle and lower worlds. In my experience, the upper world is the realm of wisdom, guidance and creativity, and often the place where inspiration is found. The middle world is the one where we assert ourselves, and the lower world signifies power and earth energies. To reach the upper world, a shaman needs to move his consciousness up the world tree and through a boundary that indicates the limit of the middle world. From there she has access to the universe of light represented by the sun, the moon and the stars, marked by freedom from the heaviness of the earthbound realm. Perhaps because of their dreamy attribute, I see the border between upper and middle worlds as a layer of clouds. The realm of the upper world is marked by infinity, but the creative energy of the universe can only take unique expression within boundaries, otherwise it becomes lost. From this perspective, clouds represent the thought processes beyond which we have to move to get inspiration, but to establish these ideas, we have to return to the material world where we act. Clouds contain the elements of air and water, indicating that intellect and emotion work together in the creative process. The light or fire on the other side of clouds signifies Source that acquires depth through the individual perception of its contrast with the shadows.</div>
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One element that is missing from clouds is earth, which represents the material reality. When it comes to dreaming, the biggest challenge is often how to give structure to our visions in a world ruled by restrictions. Clouds can never be captured, and by the time their substance reaches the earth, their form is lost. The dreamer can, however, plant seeds, and build on what he would like to see grow. When seeds are planted and nurtured under the right conditions, at least some of them will find a way to grow, aided by the sun and the coming down of the clouds. There is a lot that the planter has no control over, and this illustrates that although working with love is necessary, trust is also required. While dreams can reveal something of our connection to the universal mind, the matter that we work with doesn’t truly belong to us, and sometimes it’s best to let the universe decide how and in what way our dreams will come to fruition. The dreamer is an instrument of universal will as much as the entirety of creation is an expression of something we cannot know or understand.Mia Lutschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868620066278974343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700130681355861622.post-53231349614565603202015-10-02T04:30:00.001-07:002015-10-02T04:31:03.974-07:00Faith as a ChoiceMuch of what we learn in any system is based on a reasonable amount of certainty. In life we value security, which depends on certainty. We do certain jobs because we are fairly sure we will be able to survive in that way. We act around people in a way that we know they would find acceptable. We can take for granted that we would need to pay the rent every month, and if we have enough money we will be able to get by. From this perspective, our world is constructed through faith in something, and often the agent that determines our reality is far removed. We can trust that economists, scientists or successful people know how everything works, but when it comes to the everyday experience, most of us have little control over the demands of our modern lifestyle. The effort involved in keeping going serves as a welcome distraction from the need to find answers as to why things are the way they are.<br />
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Faith is a central theme in religious and spiritual frameworks. Through these practices, the gaze moves inward and salvation is sought through cultivating a strong and positive character. This can then serve as a counter-agent to those outside forces that affect our well-being in a negative way. In these traditions, doubt is often portrayed as the crippling agent that causes the seeker to deviate from their path. Certainty in what one believes in in this context is an important precursor to personal freedom. In science, faith in what cannot be determined empirically has a bad reputation as it is not conducive to factual knowledge. Probability and argument provide the framework, but certainty and objectivity are still the ideals that are strived for in a quest to gain knowledge. Where there is doubt, it is only considered useful to the extent that it indicates lack of certainty. Even scientists have faith in their methodology, which is intertwined with subjective judgement of whether the knowledge gained is valuable or not.<br />
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A lot of motivational speakers I have encountered have highlighted the importance of believing in oneself as a necessary precursor to success. I think it’s true; I have found that if I don’t believe in myself I have almost zero chance of achieving something. But the human psyche is more complex than that. Often belief in oneself is lost through some kind of pain or rejection, or even psychological domination by another. I think a good illustration of the principle is the black consciousness movement in apartheid South Africa, where leaders such as Steve Biko have shown how mass oppression was possible through psychological control. Where self-confidence is lost, it often indicates a wound that needs slow and gradual recovery for an integrated, empowered psyche to emerge.<br />
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In all these frameworks, certainty and faith are the cornerstones for building something of value. The question of what the value of doubt is, if there is any value at all, remains. I have often been lost in doubts, and felt worse for it when people who felt very strongly about their spiritual views have reprimanded me for it. I think doubt is necessary as it creates space for enhanced perspective. Where there is blind faith, one can be disillusioned, and where there is absolute belief in anything, it is easy for someone to take advantage of one’s consciousness. History has shown the destructive power of belief in an ideology where people can be led to commit evil deeds without questioning their own actions.<br />
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Doubt is not easy to handle, especially in a world where those who are most certain of themselves often emerge as winners regardless of whether or not they are actually right. I think that every seeker of life and its mysteries comes to a point where they feel deeply uncertain about themselves and their understanding of reality. But I think that doubt is as necessary for growth as faith. Doubt provides the opportunity to review our priorities. In that way, we can consciously choose where to apply our efforts according to our own values and principles. The power of faith is illustrated through the placebo effect, and there is a reason why every single therapeutic treatment or medicine has to be tested against a placebo. In medicine, faith in one’s own ability to recover is the one thing that has consistently been proven to be effective.<br />
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In a universe where little can be known with absolute certainty, and even then only a small segment of reality, the power of faith to me shows the importance of taking charge of one’s own psyche. When faced with the unknown that is at the heart of important questions such as which path is the right one to choose for one’s life, the creative potential of faith is enormous. In a sea of possibilities, faith is the tool to bring into being the things we love most, and to transcend darkness in our deepest moments of despair. Doubt encourages humility, and also serves as a reminder to investigate different points of view before deciding our stance. Where we cannot be right or certain of everything, faith is the best chance we have of creating the world according to our vision.Mia Lutschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868620066278974343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700130681355861622.post-51054274589106462422015-09-02T01:36:00.001-07:002015-09-02T01:36:28.306-07:00Contemplating the OceanI find the ocean to be a curious reflection of our own make-up as humans. The largest proportion of the earth’s surface comprises oceans, much like our bodies predominantly consist of water. The ocean’s water is salty, and so is human blood. Tides are ruled by the moon, as is the female menstrual cycle. The ocean affects climate and weather cycles, which also impact our sources of food and shelter. Oceans can be a means of transport, but they aren’t free from danger. Despite the destructive power of the ocean, it has a calming effect on my mind.<br />
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One of the fascinating aspects of the ocean is its depth. Even those humans who venture into the ocean can barely skim the surface. The seas have shaped our collective history as humans and yet the average person knows little about it. When chunks of the ocean become frozen, only the tip of the iceberg is visible above water. At deep levels there is very little light, and the magnitude of life at those depths evades our understanding. Where land meets sea, the waves that crash on the shores have been travelling for miles on end.<br />
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In mystical and psychological terms the ocean is symbolic of the unconscious mind. To me this portrays how much of what we experience in our daily lives is influenced by a hidden realm where there are multitudes of unknown life forms. As humans we grow in the water of the womb before we are born as individuals. Our corporeal incubation in water cannot be remembered, and I think the same applies to our consciousness. The vastness of the ocean can only be felt through contemplation. The waters of the seas are all connected to one another. When we touch the waters we have access to, we interact with the depths and the life forms residing in them.<br />
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In astrology and Roman mythology two major archetypes are associated with the ocean: Venus and Neptune. In astrology both are linked with love and artistic inspiration. Water is also the realm of emotion, and to me this illustrates how inspiration springs from unknown places in ourselves, mediated by emotion. The uncontrollable aspect of water tells me something about the nature of love. Very little is known about the depths that move us, but few actions are worthwhile unless inspired by the power of love.<br />
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Mia Lutschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868620066278974343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700130681355861622.post-59513728238389668792015-08-10T03:09:00.003-07:002015-08-10T03:09:17.175-07:00Symbolism in the Mundane: a Message from FeathersI love seeing symbolism in the mundane, and recently I have found a message in the way feathers appeared to me. Feathers are useful tools for me in my energy healing work, but I have been without them for almost two years. This is because I moved to a different continent and could take very little with me. I left my feathers behind — ironically because they would not have caused problems with my baggage limitations — thinking that I would find new ones. I also reasoned that I had to be able to do healing work with or without the tools.<br />
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In the year and a half that I was in Scotland before returning to South Africa for a visit, I did not find a single feather, despite visiting the park on a daily basis and embarking on a few trips to the wild highlands. Back in South Africa I found to my delight that my old eagle and owl feathers, which I had left at my mother’s house, were still intact. I also found some more guinea fowl feathers and this time I took all of them with me on my return to Scotland. Since my arrival back, there have been feathers everywhere.<br />
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The feathers I had were special to me due to my relationship with the birds in question. The eagle appeared as a symbol of courage during one of my first encounters with spiritual healing, and is also the inspiration for my first novel, <i><a href="http://mialutsch.blogspot.co.uk/p/books.html">In Search of the Golden City</a></i>. I have been drawn to owls since I was a child, and they came to me particularly in times of need. The owl feather I have came from barn owls that nested in our chimney. One of the birds got stuck and we had to rescue it. It was quite an emotional experience, especially when we saw that as soon as it was free, it joined another one in flight that had been waiting for it. Owls have also appeared to me in dreams a few times, often before or after I saw one in the physical world.<br />
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To me the message in the sudden abundance of feathers was one of cherishing what I have and believing in my own connection with spirit. This also relates to the process of <a href="http://mialutsch.blogspot.co.uk/p/shamanic-healing.html">soul retrieval</a>, where healing is done through recovering lost aspects of the self. To bring the best of myself to the world, I have to use everything I have been given and be careful of discarding it due to the demands of the material world. If I honour what is precious to me, I will see more of it in the world around me. However, if I leave it behind thinking that there will be more to come, its presence in my life will diminish.Mia Lutschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868620066278974343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700130681355861622.post-84478966134994319582015-07-02T05:01:00.001-07:002015-07-02T05:01:05.307-07:00Step One: Stop Creating the ProblemIt’s easy to push one’s hopes and dreams aside when entangled in life’s challenges. While trying to keep up with the pace of modern life, we don’t find time for doing what we love, never mind think about how to change direction. Often it’s true that for a limited time one cannot find one’s way out of a hard place, but when misery becomes a never-ending cycle it could be a comfort zone that one is too afraid to step out of. Life can be harsh at times and it’s tempting to turn misfortune into an excuse to avoid finding one’s way.<br />
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There is no way out of the web of fear and worry if one continues to spin it through one’s daily actions. Part of the problem is our dependence on others who all spin their own webs that interact with ours. This is especially true when it comes to financial matters. But when one has a vision for one’s life, I believe that motivated action and perseverance will bring it into being. When we don’t know the way from where we are to where we want to be, the first step is to stop creating the problem. While we cannot stop participating in all our problems at once, we could look at what is closest to home and begin with what we can change. It could be as simple as choosing to look beyond perceived limitations, or facing one of our fears that we have been unwilling to deal with.<br />
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When the wheel has been set in motion and the will to change is present, I have found that allowing one’s actions to revolve around fear becomes increasingly unbearable. While courage builds, spaces open up where one has let go of filling one’s days with meaningless activity. In these empty spaces where we learn to find our feet, our strength of resolve is tested. It is here that we have to confront the voices of self-doubt that try to persuade us that we are smaller than our vision has shown us we can be. Here we have to resist the temptation to return to our old ways and be willing to step into the unknown.<br />
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As soon as we stop re-creating our problems, a multitude of possibilities open up. In this space we see that the world does not define our potential, but we define the world. To change a problem, the best (and sometimes hardest) place to start is with ourselves.Mia Lutschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868620066278974343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700130681355861622.post-16870904085422730642015-06-11T04:56:00.003-07:002015-06-11T04:56:55.200-07:00The Doorway to the UniverseScience tells us that the universe started 13.8 billion years ago with a Big Bang and is in a state of continuous expansion. Nowadays there is also the Multiverse theory, which states that different universes are possible. The former tries to understand our place in the universe by looking at the past, supposing that the process of creation (or the beginning of everything) is complete. Interestingly, both science (as with the Big Bang theory) and religion (as in the Biblical creation myth), often vehemently opposed to one another, adopt this point of view. The Multiverse theory to me offers a view that I can relate to. In the mystery of life I can be open to the idea that all is created and destroyed unremittingly. We are part of the universe and through our choices we participate in the creation of our own worlds.<br />
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In the hassles of daily life I often feel disconnected from the Source that connects everything. In special moments the universe comes alive and I can commune with the Centre where parallel worlds meet. In that place, Creation is contained in every moment and everything. When theory and instruction fail to open the doorway to the universe, I find that sincerity is the most useful tool. Through genuine intent, the individual heart opens to the Heart of everything and potential comes to light. Sincerity entails communicating with the truth of one’s being, whether it is desirable or not. Through embracing all aspects of the self, we come closest to our own known universe. In that honest space, the external universe does not hide from our eyes either.<br />
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Sincerity takes us to a place outside of time and space where experience matters. In this way, memories of our common origins with all known things are activated.Mia Lutschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868620066278974343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700130681355861622.post-79038485565708168982015-04-03T03:34:00.000-07:002015-04-06T12:31:47.431-07:00Judgement<div class="MsoNormal">
In modern spirituality I find that
judgement is often judged. Many people have had painful experiences due to
religious judgement. This is ironic because in Christianity, the religion that
I grew up with, there is a principle of non-judgement. I was taught that we shouldn’t judge, because
only God has the right to judge. This however does not work well when some
followers of a religion see themselves as God’s ambassadors. One of the
teachings of Jesus is that it is better not to judge, because the judgement we
pass on others will also be bestowed on us. My understanding of this
principle is that our judgement of others is an expression of our relationship
with ourselves.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Tarot also has a card devoted
to judgement: the twentieth card in the major Arcana. The <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Judgement: the 20th Card in the<br />Major Arcana of the Tarot<br />(Rider-Waite)</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
symbolism relates to
resurrection and again brings to mind the Biblical notion of the day of
judgement. In a lot of decks the card features an angel with a trumpet and
naked people being resurrected from their graves. Some decks (such as Rider-Waite)
also feature a St George’s cross.<br />
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When I read the Tarot, I look at
how the card speaks to me. There is a suggestion of the duality of heaven and
earth, symbolised by the angel and the humans. Furthermore, the cross is a
symbol of matter and the red colour corresponds to the root chakra, representing
our connection to earth. Red is also the colour of blood, reminding of our
humanity. The white background to the cross signifies the purity of spirit and
the unification of all colours of light. While the earthbound existence could
be dreary and heavy, as expressed through the theme of death, responding to the
call of heaven (or soul) can bring new life to it. Interestingly, the
resurrected people are naked, which brings to mind Adam and Eve’s harmonious
co-existence with God in the Garden of Eden before the fall. Being naked means no
longer hiding aspects of the self from oneself, and that includes mistakes.
Through looking at oneself with honest eyes, forgiveness of the self is
possible, which in turn fosters tolerance for others.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Judgement represents an
opportunity for learning. While corporeal existence is by no means perfect,
there are glimpses of paradise even in the mundane. Those moments where
everything is in harmony remind us of the love at the core of our being.
Through having a body and an ego identity, we can create ourselves through the
choices we make. When we become aware of where our actions have harmed
ourselves and others, we can correct our mistakes. When others have hurt us, we
can show compassion towards them, understanding how they have acted out of
their own pain and lack of knowledge as we often do when we hurt others. Being
naked also serves as a reminder that we are all human, regardless of our social
standing. The fault we find in others is a projection of the inadequacies we
perceive in ourselves.<o:p></o:p></div>
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To me the final judgement
ultimately means taking full responsibility for one’s actions. When one no
longer looks to a moral authority outside of the self to dictate one’s
behaviour, one is free to make mistakes and to learn from them. Judging others
inappropriately is also a valid mistake, because no person can ever know the
full truth of another person’s perception. However, in the material world where
we forge our own human identities, there are experiences that we might not wish
to have in relation to other people, as well as practices that we do not
condone. The capacity to judge in this case is a responsibility to honour our
own truth and to speak and act on it if we choose to. Taking responsibility for
our own choices also involves understanding that others are responsible for
theirs.<o:p></o:p></div>
Mia Lutschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868620066278974343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700130681355861622.post-89539265540820709352015-03-13T07:16:00.001-07:002015-03-13T07:16:22.992-07:00Movement, Injury and Emotion<div class="MsoNormal">
The psyche interacts with the
material world in a mysterious way. Studies such as <a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/complex-societies-evolved-without-belief-in-all-powerful-deity1">these</a> show how our religious thinking influences the shape of our social
environment. The individual psyche also has a relationship with the body. I find that physical distress is often an expression of what goes
on in my subconscious mind, indicating where I need healing personally. In this
article I offer my reflections on my most recent physical injury (a broken
ankle) and consider what I needed to learn about myself in the process of
recovery.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The last few months have been a
time of overhaul in my working life. Years of searching for ways to work in a
meaningful way have culminated to a point where I was challenged to put my
ideas into practice. The process has not been as smooth as I had hoped. Apart from the administrative side of organising a new job, one of my
biggest challenges has been my vulnerability. Going on my own as a healer
requires me to take a stand for what I believe in regardless of whether or not
mainstream views endorse energy healing practices. In addition, sharing my
writing with the world means that I have to be ready for criticism. I had
decided to take the steps and was willing to face whatever would come my way, whether
I felt ready for it or not.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Right when I thought I was all
set, I broke my ankle while running. The accident presented new trials. The
impact it had on my emotional well-being was significant. I could put mind over
matter as far as the pain was concerned because I knew that it would not last
for ever. But the lack of exercise was not conducive to a happy mood. I felt
frustrated having very little control over my physical environment. I had to
rely on other people even for simple things – something which I found difficult
seeing that I value my independence.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the run up to the start of my self-employed
career as a healer and writer, I have been in constant dialogue with spiritual
guidance. Through my dreams and meditations I have received the message that I
had to continue taking steps but also be patient while I build up the strength
that I would need to put my plans into action. Knowing the boundary between
doing my best and trying too hard has been difficult. I still don’t have an
answer, but I believe the injury has shown me the fears I had not taken into account.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If I interpret my injury on a
symbolic level, I would say that I had wanted to move too fast without taking
proper care of myself in the conditions. The accident involved cold
temperatures and water, which is symbolic of the realm of emotion. Since I
slipped on ice in an attempt to avoid stepping into water, I think there is a
message about being willing to face unpleasant feelings. If I had opted for the
discomfort of flowing water, I would have avoided the danger of frozen water.
Since running is a performance driven sport, I recognise that there is an
indication of fear of failure. Although I am no longer so competitive, running
represents a way of controlling my mood and my body with the desired outcome of
remaining positive and strong.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In my attempt to take charge of my
destiny, I have been unwilling to give my weak, vulnerable self an equal say in
the matter. Where that part of me has protested that I am not ready, I have
pushed her aside in favour of the aspect of me that wants to take control through
action. But without all the parts, action can only be so powerful before the segment
that takes too much strain breaks. My excessive need for control points back to
lack of confidence. Relying on others, which I had to do while my ankle was
broken, strengthens trust that there will be support when I need it. I could
cut myself some slack in my efforts to get ahead and practise being gentle to
myself.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Most injuries heal even though it
takes time. I had been impatient for the plaster to be removed, but when the
time came closer, I was strangely afraid. I could not remember what it felt
like to be able to walk normally and had fallen into a comfort zone within my
limitations. My fear was justified: my foot was extremely weak and painful when
it no longer had support. But pain is also necessary for recovery. I reflected
on how easy it is to become attached to protection even when it no longer serves
the healing process. The skill in re-learning how to move efficiently lies in
finding the balance between embracing a healthy amount of discomfort and taking care
of one’s vulnerable spots. If I had known how to do it properly I might not
have broken my ankle to begin with. Hopefully, the experience has taught me the
value of my support systems. Hopefully, also, I am learning how to do my best
while still being kind to myself.<o:p></o:p></div>
Mia Lutschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868620066278974343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700130681355861622.post-55599431141052984512015-02-05T02:10:00.001-08:002015-02-05T02:10:21.647-08:00Ancestral Healing and the Sins of the Fathers<div class="MsoNormal">
My journey on the path of healing
started with mental illness. In my teenage years, I believed myself to be
depressed because I was not as happy as I thought I was supposed to be. My
energy levels were low when I tried to reduce my natural rhythms to fit into a
container <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">–</span> something I felt I had to do in order to survive. I was told that I
was genetically predisposed to mental illness and I believed it. Yet something
in me could not accept that I had to live as someone with a broken brain.
Whereas coping seemed to be the goal of therapy, I wanted to actually heal. At
the time I thought healing meant feeling alright as a normal person, but true
healing turned out to be something entirely different: owning the right to take
charge of my life. In this article I will look at how ancestral patterns can be
changed through energy healing as an alternative to believing in mental
illness.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
In my late teens and early
twenties, I saw spiritualists who more or less consistently told me that I was
a healer. I did not understand it, because I thought that one had to be sorted
out before one could help others, and I wasn’t. Only when I learned about
shamanism did I come across the concept of the initiatory crisis, which is the
start of a healer’s path. Across many cultures, the healer is called through an
experience of physical or mental illness. When they accept their destiny, the
symptoms subside and the healer starts working with the spiritual realms to
bring healing to others. My path started making sense, but still it took time
to undo the ingrained notion of broken genes as an unfortunate aspect of one’s
physical package. The wise teachers I had knew better than to accept a
scientific framework that the average person cannot verify.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In my honours year in psychology
at university, my lecturer of ecopsychology seemed to lean towards
spirituality, which was surprising in the academic environment. Our prescribed
text book was Ecological Intelligence by Ian McCallum. The book also touches on
how closely our genes are shared with animals such as lions and primates.
During one of the lectures, our lecturer did a guided meditation into the
subconscious, symbolised by the ocean. The assignment was for each student to
identify and change a belief that no longer served them. The principle was that
beliefs are projected on the world around us, which creates our experience.
Someone asked about the influence of genes, and he said that once a belief is
changed in the subconscious, it is not transferred genetically. At the time I
did not find the meditation effective, but from my current perspective I can
see that in a way he was right. I also understand why it was not helpful at the
time: the healing power of the subconscious is strongest when it is listened to
rather than commandeered.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A few years later I saw another
healer who works in a shamanic way. She also told me that once healing is done,
the issue does not return because a change has been made in the akashic
records, which can be understood as an astral plane where information about
everything that has ever happened is held. I was sceptical because I found my
own problems to be recurrent and consequently was wary of quick fixes. Again, I
see that she was right in a way. I think the subconscious works slowly, like
the ocean. A deep-seated issue may take
some time to come to the surface. When there is a lot of water, it’s best dealt
with a little bit at a time, and only when a person is truly ready will
conscious action be taken.. The surrounding water then has to adapt to the
flow; a person cannot change one issue and expect all other aspects of their
life to remain intact. But when a problem is changed, it does not need to recur
unless by choice. The process of healing is, however, continuous and often
disruptive.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When I learned more about
practical shamanism in 2010, we did a journeying exercise to change an
ancestral issue. The principle was that energy is passed on through
generations. An ancestral problem may still affect us, but when it is changed
on an energetic level, the trouble can leave our lives. The journey was
different from the guided meditation I did in the psychology class because we
looked to find the cause of the issue rather than impose our will on the
subconscious. It also involved talking to the ancestors to find out what it was
that had troubled them and how it could be healed. In this way we showed love
to the ancestors, which was also a way of loving the broken aspect of
ourselves. Where the ancestor asked for a follow up ritual as part of the
healing, the action taken showed commitment to change in the present physical
world. The issue I wanted to address had to do with violence, because two of my
family members had died violent deaths and at the time I thought that there was
a karmic connection with another family member’s service to an arms company.
What I found in the journey surprised me. About three or four generations
before me there was an issue with rejected love. It seemed to be far removed
from the problem I had wanted to address, but nevertheless I gave love to the
woman I did not know and completed the letting go ritual. Almost five years
later I can see the difference it made, mostly in terms of improved
relationships. The healing happened in ripples, affecting areas of my life that
I did not at the time see as connected to the problem. Change also required
conscious action and the more one changes something, the more there is to deal
with. It may sound overwhelming, but in truth it is empowering, because
unconscious influences are easier recognised and less likely to rule one’s
decisions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In 2013-2014 I did a master’s
degree in classics, which basically means ancient Greek and Latin. The main
focus was ancient civilisations, slavery and mythology. I did it for different
reasons, most of which I thought had little to do with my healing path. But
looking at the myths and history of the Mediterranean 2000 to 4000 years ago, I
found many elements that I could connect with the present world reality, largely
in terms of the abuse of power enabled by false semblances of authority.
Strangely, the mythology that I dealt with also had direct connections with the
start of my healer’s path and the ancestral issue I looked at. My dissertation
focused on the myth of the Golden Age, which originated as a variant of the
concept of the fall from paradise but acquired a political significance in
Augustan Rome. The most meaningful concept I learned from the myth is that of
legal regulation being absent in a just society. The phenomenon of a just
father-figure that regulates the order to prevent societal decay produces
injustice and warfare. The control of the female sexuality, which to me
symbolises our connection with nature and the will to emotional freedom, goes
hand in hand with exploitation of others in the construction of a hierarchical
society that best serves a few patriarchs.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It is not an uncommon notion that
globally we are undergoing a shift in consciousness. Many people find that the
old way of doing things are no longer working. Many others feel traumatised as
they need to deal with old baggage. Looking at the issues I had to deal with in
my family and the problems humanity have faced for millennia, I now understand
that we carry many generations of ancestral baggage in our genes, but it can be
changed if we deal with it consciously and with love. It is not a natural
programming out of our control that should determine who we are, but the result
of conditioned fear that has become a pattern. Scientific experiments have also
confirmed that acquired responses can be transferred genetically (see for instance <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/10486479/Phobias-may-be-memories-passed-down-in-genes-from-ancestors.html">this article</a>). When a person in present day
and age starts to experience psychological discomfort, it is an indication that
they are waking up to the idea that a better reality is possible. If it feels
difficult, we can know that we are not alone, because globally more healers are
owning their natural capacity to restore balance and harmony. If we feel that
the ocean is too much water to handle, we can change those drops around us
knowing that there are others who are doing the same. If the small currents
change, the large ones will follow. I could go with a new interpretation of the
Biblical notion that the sins of the fathers are transferred through to the
third and fourth generation, but for those who love (God), the blessings will
have effect for a thousand generations.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Mia Lutschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868620066278974343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700130681355861622.post-40112483677782305412015-01-27T08:28:00.001-08:002015-01-28T01:12:10.163-08:00The Gift of Limitation<div class="MsoNormal">
Limitation is useful when properly
understood and applied. I find that culturally we have a fixation with
limitation, which gives rise to a value system that revolves around scarcity.
While we always strive to do more, be more and have more, we feel frustrated by
our limitations. Success is only considered valuable when it is difficult to
achieve or available to only a few. In the process we disregard many avenues that
would lead to a desired result.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When the illusion of constructed limitation
falls away, the possibilities for what the world could look like are endless. It
could be overwhelming, and to avoid getting lost it is often necessary to
choose a path and stay on it. This also entails setting goals and bringing them
to fruition. Even when working on something of personal importance, it is easy
to wish for more time and energy. I often find that I want to rush ahead and
see results in this instant, but limitation urges me to slow down and pay attention
to what I’m doing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Limitation provides the
opportunity to experience where we are, at the time and find the magic in the
moment. Through connecting all moments, it creates a road that we can reflect on
before deciding where we want to go. It shows that a state of not having it all is as valuable as the feeling of accomplishment. It illuminates the
courage at the bottom of the mountain as well as the exhilaration at the top.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Limitation teaches us to rely on
others. On a long road, when we become tired, we can share the burden.
Limitation ultimately brings each person to the realisation that where they are
is the best place to make changes. The only gateway to abundance worth pursuing
is within, since all other gates are barred shut anyhow.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Each person is an aperture to
infinity. When love is applied to what one does, the magic takes form in the
material world. Limitation brings the gift of seeing the Universe take
expression through the Self.<o:p></o:p></div>
Mia Lutschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00868620066278974343noreply@blogger.com0