There are many who languish over an
apparent "dischord" between
OWNING THE
SHADOW and protecting and
honoring one's space in 3D.
Some feel that to do the former, we
must abandon all our
responsibilities regarding the
latter. This is not only
unfounded---it is also impossible to
sustain.
In the early days, for
example.....Community Leaders put up
with a lot of "nonsense" at public
events, in order to create
environments of openness and
acceptance---even for those who
behave rudely and foolishly in their
midst. Over time, and with
growing maturity, a lot of that
nonsense has
been eliminated---without judgment
or condemnation. We simply make
boundaries, based on our clear
assessment who is naturally "in
charge" of a particular
realm, endeavor, or project.
When individuals come along to
challenge those boundaries, we
quickly and efficiently enforce
them.
A general rule of thumb is:
Don't make boundaries you can't
enforce, and don't fail to enforce
the boundaries you make. Deviation
from this rule produces what some
spiritual writers call
"double-mindedness." You say
one thing and you mean another. It
has been written "A
double-minded man is unstable in all
his ways." Again......the
emphasis here is on 3D and action.
We're not talking about 4D and
beyond. If we do, the
entire purpose of 3D is thwarted.
If reasonable and
just borderlines in 3D are allowed
to collapse in the name of
"unconditional acceptance," the
result is not LOVE (as is
frequently advertised).
It's CHAOS.
Now I happen to be a fan
of Chaos, myself.........to a
certain degree. And
I've occasionally been known to play
the role of Peck's Bad Boy in
Community, if the mood is upon me.
But deep down.......if I'm
honest........I'm always glad when
my naughty little hand gets SLAPPED,
and I'm forced to "get back in
line".......SO LONG AS THE RULES ARE
JUST AND REASONABLE.
Chaos is one primary element of
PASSION. Running a stop sign
here, or telling a little lie
there.......we've all done it (even
if it's not techically right).
The justifiable nature of Chaos
doubles, even triples if the "rules"
in Community are unjust.....and
focused on meeting the needs of
SOME, while ignoring the obvious
needs of the rest. THEN, my
friends....the real Spirit of
America shows itself. THEN, is
when the "I's" begin opening up:
Ingenuity, Independence,
Inconquerability, Invulnerability,
Ingenuity etc. We Yankee
Doodle Dandies were MADE for that
shit!
Before I get too wide-open here,
into a full-blown RANT......What
some people consider "unconditional
love" eventually reveals itself to
be: LACK OF CARING FOR SELF.
When it comes down to: "It's
either me or you," who or what do we
choose?
Even when a person takes steps to
limit "bad behavior" in family,
work, recreational settings, or
Spiritual Community---there are ways
to accomplish that with REJECTION
and JUDGMENT---and there are ways to
do it which involve DISCERNMENT,
COMPASSION, and DIGNITY (for all
concerned).
How DO you feel about that guy
sitting next to you, putting others
down and limiting the rights they
exercise about free speech?
Doing it in the name of "Oh! I was
just KIDDING........." when,
deep down, you can FEEL the biting
cruelty and disdain for freedom
beneath his words?
Personally........I like the idea
of CALLING IT AS I SEE
IT.........(telling the
truth).........instead of
white-washing what a person is
doing, in the name of being
"spiritual" or "loving."
Additionally, I like CALLING
IT......using the most balanced,
spiritually insightful speech
possible.
We can either observe someone's
actions and attitudes and say:
"That girl is a f**king BRAT!"
or........you can go
deeper.......saying: "There's
some pain in that girl's life. How
can I use insight into MY OWN PAIN
to help identify what's going on
here?"
Those two mindsets, and dozens
more........can all be going on
INSIDE while the Leadership is
taking OUTWARD STEPS to remove the
young lady from our midst, so the
rest of the students or friends or
family members can be free to GO ON
WITH THEIR LIVES while inward
reflection takes place.
In saying all this.......I
realize that not everything is "open
and shut." Not everything is
"black and white." There
are situations in life where SHADOWS
ABOUND on BOTH SIDES of the
issue! And if that is the case, any
action that is taken must move
slowly...........with real
feeling........and take into account
the fact that we're not
always dealing with Archetypes and
Darkatypes here. We're dealing
with HUMAN BEINGS.........regardless
of what they SEEM to be doing.
And that means......in the
unforgetable words of the Queen of
Soul......R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
Lord knows, it's time
for humankind to get our heads out
of the clouds! We need to be
open to possibility, and variance,
and FREEDOM. We also need to
remember that we don't have to keep
re-inventing the wheel to know what
does and does not work in Communal
Settings.
A lot of this has to do with our
attitudes toward LEGITIMATE
AUTHORITY, and our unhealed issues
concerning Mom and Dad. So be
it. There's no time like the
present to get things in order.
The Magical Inner Child is on the
move! Peter Pan is in flight.
There's always room for magic!
But haven't we had enough of
TRAGIC? The process will continue,
as Earth's Energy field heats up,
and vibrations rise.
Soon.....there'll be NO TIME OR
ENERGY LEFT for that which is
superfluous and stupid. And
who gets to decide the definitions
there? Each and every one of
us.........when those words apply to
OUR OWN SPACE, and OUR OWN MISSION
FIELD in life. We have no
business getting into the affairs of
OTHERS (unless we're
invited)........but we certainly
don't want to overlook taking care
of things in our own house.
He who STANDS for nothing
will FALL for anything. At
times, that may
look "loving".........but we can
always tell the quality of a tree
(or a life) by the FRUIT it yields.
Is YOUR tree bringing forth the
fruit you desire? In the end,
that's all the matters. If so,
then good on ya!!! But if not,
maybe a little PRUNING is in order.
DJ. 1/20/2011
