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By Daniel Jacob
Ah, yes! Hollywood has been touched by magic yet again. In the same tradition as Pan's Labyrinth and Tuck Everlasting.......Hollywood has managed to tap into yet another DREAM of the Mass Mind, hitting a home run right over the center field fence.
When I speak of "traditions" and "home runs," I don't mean to put myself in the same league with those whose trained eyes are able to pick apart a screen play---pondering depth, rhythm and cadence........or slice 'n dice a process of special effects---based upon industry-wide standards of excellence in film. Those realms I leave to my younger son, who makes his living in the World of Media.
What earns points with me, personally........ in movies, books, TV, or the like........is when a production perfectly embodies ideas and themes which the Reconnections are either in the process of explaining, or will explain once the products are released. And this one, "The Bridge to Terabithia" is just such a gift.
Some of you may recall the series "Spirituality and Sex," which was given to us by the Guides awhile back. A big part of that series was devoted to refocusing humanity's interest from "sexual acts" to the underlying ENERGY behind sacred sexuality---which is formed out of curiosity, a sense of adventure (willingness to risk), total alignment between body and earth energy, and intensity of focus on an object or objects of interest and wonder.
There is a grand infusion of reproductive hormones (an entrainment of body and mind to consensus reality)--usually occurring during puberty--which can steal away a young person's sense of sweetness and wonder about mixing and blending masculine and feminine traits within a gentle atmosphere of simple adventure and play. At some point, we become so focused on "making it" with the "right people," that we forget what it is we are making.
THE RETURN TO INNOCENCE
In the above-mentioned series, The Recons had the following statements to make about this situation:
"The appearance of a "Child Icon," within a physical Game Format, signifies a return of INNOCENCE to the Game that is already in motion. Innocence (as a symbol) signifies an attempt by one or both participants to recreate a state of openness to each other, and the rest of life. It is not always synonymous with naivety, however. Innocence, as we apply the word here, speaks more to the idea of living life in an unforced, natural, and unfeigned way.
What is sexuality, anyway? We would suggest to you that it is an experience of the physical world, which involves three key elements: form, function, and feeling.
In the physical world, things are what they are. That's form. And they do what they do. That's function. But it is this third key element.....FEELING....that makes the world PERSONAL to each of you. The first two elements are akin to the first two dimensions of physical reality: height and width. They provide a picture, a blueprint for existence, but they lack depth. It is the depth of a person, object, or relationship that gives meaning to it, that puts a breath of life into its existence.
A masculine-dominant society may be tightly focused on form and function, but totally oblivious to feeling. As this series progresses.........you will notice that we place a lot of emphasis on children as we are creating the link between spirituality and sexuality. That is because children do "sex" better than anybody! They are a product of sex, one of its major purposes! Children are always toggling between the two poles of "action and passivity." They are always ready to receive, but they frequently enjoy giving as well. When they give, it is usually because they want to, not because it is expected of them." <end excerpt>
The beauty and wonder of this Disney Production is found in the gentle interplay of masculine and feminine energy which is embodied in the love relationship between two primary characters, Jesse and Leslie--who meet first in school, and then discover they are next-door neighbors. What they have in common is a sense of innate "loneliness," stemming from the fact that Jesse is the only boy in a family of 5 children, and Leslie is an only child with no siblings at all.
Jesse is an aspiring artist, who has a keen eye for detail in his world. Leslie is the offspring of two novelists--liberals, with warm hearts and a sense of adventure. Leslie's imagination is strong, and her ability to put things into words is astounding, especially to her new friend. You might say their relationship gets off to a rocky start, as Leslie moves into the school mid-year, and decides to introduce herself to everyone by beating all the boys in a local track meet. This is NOT the behavior one might expect from a GIRL, and Jesse shuns her advances to be friends (at first), because she strikes him as being "rather weird." But that attitude doesn't last long.
Do you remember that great song from the musical "My Fair Lady?" It begins with the words: "Why can't a woman be more like a man?" The innate appeal of a young woman who brushes aside the urge to be coy, in order to impress a boy, can be magical under the right circumstances. When coupled with Leslie's sweet and gentle manner, it is tailor-made for a young man who hasn't yet been mauled by the awakening of his gonads. Time and time again, Leslie throws off his attempts to categorize her in traditional "girlie" roles. And yet, at every turn, she also seems to be building him up......stroking his psyche.......gently inviting him to consider that they are of equal importance in life, even though they differ, and each can be of infinite value to the other.
"Close your eyes, and leave your mind wide open"
It is Leslie who first comes up with the idea of creating a "realm" of adventure, nestled within a local patch of woods near their respective homes. She names the place, and gets the ball rolling by furnishing many details about this magical haven--their place to offset the disappointments of their all-too-mundane world. It isn't long before Jesse falls right in line. His artistic talent decorates and transforms an old tree house, which serves as their personal castle, fit for a King and Queen. She also invokes the presence of a "Dark Master," whose minions begin to challenge their new-found authority in this magical world. Together, they fight off these "soldiers of darkness," in much the same way Dorothy and her Companions fought off the advances of the "Wicked Witch of the West" as they made their way to the Land of Oz.
"Come Away, O Human Child! To the Waters and the Wild. With a faery hand-in-hand. For the world's more full of weeping than ye can understand.............."
~W. B. Yeats, "The Stolen Child"
As the excitement grows, there is no time in the movie where the tenderness of their intertwining energies gets sidetracked into traditional sexual expression---even though the energy and intimacy that dances between them is what every lover might hope to achieve. At one point, Jesse's younger sister begins to mock their joy, laughing and singing: "Jesse and Leslie sittin' in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G." Immediately, the young boy's hand covers her mouth, and those words are never spoken again. It is as if the boy innately knows that "going there" would greatly complicate things, and he is still at that point in life where he can afford to let life be simple and sweet.
If there is a "joining" in this dance, what one might consider a "child" that is born of the relationship, it is found in the addition of a small dog, whose name is "Prince" something or other........ (I can't remember)........who is declared to be "heir to their throne" someday. He is a gift from Jesse to Leslie, the kind of gift that every girl might cherish, because it perfectly symbolizes the closeness she has with her partner in growth and play.
The lack of sexual initiation in this movie makes it distinct from others, such as "Tuck Everlasting." The primary characters in that movie, Another "Jesse" and a total sweetheart named "Winnie," are older than Jesse and Leslie, and they are more inclined to experiment with "adult" things. This, by the way, was not the way the story ran in Natalie Babbitt's book by the same name, but it is how the movie makers chose to develop their version of the tale. And it's okay, because the wonder and appreciation, the joy of nature is still there........along with the adventure.......while the romantic interludes are tasteful and quite sweet.
It must be emphasized at this point that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the practice of physical acts of sex, between consenting partners. Without it, the species could not survive, and humanity would miss one of the most meaningful, primary gifts of inter-personal union imaginable. But there are OTHER levels of this gift.......subtle, yet powerful levels, that are too-often eclipsed or destroyed by humanity's urgency to "get it on" before we've even had a chance to get to know our partner AS A PERSON, rather than an object of desire or conquest. This can (and often does) have a disastrous effect on the relationship later on.
I guess the message that the Reconnections bring to us, about this "new" approach to life, is found in the following passages from "Spirituality and Sex".........
"Spirituality is a belief in something that is not seen, or is believed to exist, just out of reach. Something is not physical, so it must be spiritual, do you see? Just as your physical senses make up the core of your experience of physicality, your spiritual senses have power to connect you with things that are metaphysical. In a masculine-dominant environment, there is far more emphasis placed on what can be seen and validated by the physical senses than there is a belief in the unseen. Hence, the deification of science in this current paradigm.
If any of you are feeling disturbed about the connection we are building, between children and sex, it is probably because humanity has placed a corona of honor around that time in your lives when things were simple, and everything was about laughter, play, and sweet innocence. Some of you may feel that those times were all too short in duration (so do we!), or worse..........they never really came around for you at all.
Our purpose for offering this series of transmissions is not to encourage adults to have sex with children. Rather, we are suggesting that you return to the beauty of having sex AS children......and see where that takes you. It is possible, you know.........regardless of age. Being an adult seems very much the art of putting on masks and facades, convincing yourself and society that you are: (a) worthy of their trust, and (b) able to live among them in a thoughtful and responsible way. All the while, you are still grappling with the same fears, dreams, and repressed desires--left over from when you stood, steadying yourself at your father's knee." <end excerpt>
In their transmission: "Imagination: The Golden Key," the Recons draw a bold line under Leslie's approach to life. They help us BELIEVE in the power of Imagination, by calling out (as Leslie does, when she and Jesse first enter Terabithia): "Prisoners of the Dark Master! We have come to rescue you.........."
And friends.......aren't we ALL prisoners of the "Dark Master" at some time in our lives? A Master of greed, lust, envy, jealousy, and pride? Don't we occasionally find ourselves caught in a "Matrix," of separation and disbelief?
I have lived my share of years. I grew through puberty, matured, had lovers and many friends. I married, raised two sons of my own (now 29 and 33), and I am in that period of my life where I am serious pondering what parts of this journey have meant the most to me, which still "readying" myself for more! Do you remember that scene in the movie "City of Angels" where Seth (played by Nicolas Cage) is taking a little girl "home" in death, and he asks her what she liked best about her life? She told him: "Pajamas." Good choice.
As for me........if Seth asked me what part(s) of my life meant the most to me, I would have to respond with this idea of: "The Time Before." In fact, I'm thinking of writing a series about this at some point. This term refers to the sweet and gentle period of time that comes RIGHT BEFORE the participants in a relationship decide to CONSUMMATE their union. It is that precious time of LIMERENCE, when all we can see about another person or an area of study is pure possibility and joy.
And isn't that an interesting term: "consummate?" It brings to mind the idea of eating someone alive, does it not? Or, it could symbolize the moment when a moth gets too close to the flame, and he is sucked into the heat and evaporated. If you've read my stuff for any period of time, you've probably gleaned my interpretation of the term "commitment" when it is applied to relationship. It is a state that is most often prescribed for criminals and crazy people.
Remember the days when you did what you did simply because you wanted to? Someone would say to you: "Why do you like doing that?" And all you could say was "just 'cause......" And isn't that answer the most JUST CAUSE anyone needs to do something in life? THIS is the message of "Bridge to Terabithia." And this is the message of many such "Dreams of the Mass Mind" that are bringing to us today.
It's like knowing how to ride a bicycle. We never really forget, do we? But many a bicycle lies rusting in the back of our garages. And many a 25 year marriage lies rusting, in regards to Spirituality and Sex---having long since gone the way of "familiarity breeds contempt" in regards to sensual joy and playfulness. But it's not too late. It's NEVER too late.
If you haven't seen this movie yet, I urge you to cross over this Bridge, and join Jesse and Leslie as they close their eyes and dream awhile. It'll do wonders for your outlook on life. And who knows? Maybe the Dark Master will eventually be overthrown again---and we'll burst forth from our bonds with new power and purpose. Or not, as the case may be. But it's still one heck of a way to spend an afternoon.
February, 2007.
P.S....... Isn't it interesting that, just as we begin to consider re-channeling the energy of "adulterated" sex to "magical child sex" (and beyond)..........our good friend Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) decides to TAKE IT ALL OFF on the London Stage, in Peter Shaffer's Play, "Equus?" It certainly stimulates a whole other series of conversations about young people and sexuality, from the other side of the coin. He's getting smash reviews, by the way.........and many of his Harry Potter fans are cheering him on.
Copyright, 2007, by Daniel Jacob. All Rights Reserved. May be copied and shared, for purposes of personal growth and/or research, so long as the above URL and this copyright are included. All reproduction for profit, by any means, requires the written permission of Reconnections, Inc.
