We need to be aware that the creative impulse – the power that some call God – is only as interested in us and our chosen way of living to the same extent that we are interested in ourselves: as the truism posits: “God helps those who help themselves” which simply translates – if we choose to live a life of repetition doing the same things while expecting different or improved outcomes – then this delusional approach will engender nothing new, revelatory or evolutionary. It stands to reason doesn’t it – that failure to willingly walk into the unknown – to choose the path less travelled – will result only in the stupefaction of the journeyperson, stymying the journey? If instead we choose bravery – fortune favours the brave – then events can be altered and obstacles thrown onto our path become omen deliberately placed in a bid get our attention – as Jung suggests: “To this day God is the name by which I designate all things which cross my wilful path violently and recklessly, all things which upset my subjective views, plans and intentions and change the course of my life for better or worse.”
Sometimes these ‘obstacles’ are not quite so obvious: the signs and messages might take more subtle form requiring us to be more introspective, to contemplate events from the lateral alongside the literal. It is from this perspective that we need to consider that a Compass it is not only a navigational tool – for giving/pointing direction, it also brings the gift of showing us where we are – within any given point of time and space. This knowing “where we are” first – becomes all important for how can we proceed in a particular/specific direction – setting off for a desired destination, if we have no idea where we are starting from? So before we proceed we need to know a couple of things apart from the aforementioned where am I – we need to initially know “Who am I” and secondarily ‘how did I get here’? As the saying goes: “Those who fail to acknowledge the past are fated to repeat it” so we need to be able to look back to see that we got here via a certain route and as we retrace our steps to find our current location and if we are completely honest with the answering of this question we will see that our thoughts, choices and actions constructed the path to bring us to this point. Although the requirement is to be as close to the NOW as we can when we are attempting to find a way forward (for in truth we are only ever living in the present moment) – it is a good idea to ensure we aren’t simply jogging on the hamster wheel under the illusion that we are moving but not actually making any headway. So in our desire to locate our current location and the centre of the self, better to be (first) still in motion and from this vantage be ready to receive guidance from within this space prior to taking our first new step. In general terms it seems that when we don’t like where we find ourselves we prefer to foist the blame elsewhere claiming to be a victim of circumstance, an innocent bystander. There are of course exceptions to every such generalisation and the glimpse into history will also reveal events that there were indeed ‘things’ that occurred beyond our (conscious) control – things that happened when we were infants for example that had huge bearing and impact upon how we saw/see and respond/ed to the world at large. Some of these events were so injurious to a developing psyche that it did, does and will continue to require effort on our part to integrate such wounding in order to change our Fate: if we want to construct new and better outcomes by co-creating Destiny instead of being sealed to Fate then this conscious choosing becomes the Path, the Quest and the way home.
Fate is defined by online dictionary as: the development of one’s life events which are considered to be outside a person’s control- regarded as predetermined by a supernatural power i.e. the events and the life you have been given are permanent and unchangeable – in essence Fate is our Lot in life.
Destiny is defined as: events that will happen in the future and (again according to Dictionary) outside any (human) intervention strategy or ability to adjust.
With very little discernible difference available from the two definitions: as supplied by online dictionary – it is easy to see why there is a propensity to substitute each (word) for the other and why as direct consequence confusion is rife.
Another (preferred) definition suggests quite the opposite to the above: Destiny is that which you are meant to do (in this life) that can be adjusted by the choices we make and the actions we take. There are no permanent or predestined outcomes.
Why making a distinction between the two words is so relevant and important?
Western society functions by way of subjugation by the Power Elite (and rest assured there is such): i.e. who keep the wheels of industry turning by keeping the masses controlled. Fear of consequence and most notably fear of death are the most effective means of maintaining control. This leads to a life weighed down by “The Sword of Damocles” – don’t rock the boat – where symptoms of anxiety deplete our energy because we either retain our security through: blind compliance – by doing what we are told and against our true nature or we internalise our ‘struggle’ against invisible threats – becoming neurotic and or castrated. The experience of weight and doom is exacerbated: feeling as though our fate is sealed – and that the harder we try to change, i.e. to alter the situation for the better – the worse ‘things’ become. No matter which direction we look or take it all seems bleak and predetermined: caught in quicksand where the more we struggle the quicker we sink! So we start to blame, we become angry and dispirited victims: the Gods are against us we rail, the deck is stacked and marked or worse still – voices from our past convince us “I have sinned” and I am being punished: I am outcast, I am abandoned – I am stuck.
The Task at hand: to change our Fated doom into our fabulous Destiny
How do we proceed, what do we do? How do we ensure our movements are in pursuit of our Destiny and not running in fear of Fate?
Tell me your story – (via my email address below) protected and supported by Temenos – and always remember: this is your story and you will get out of it what you are prepared to put into it.
We first need to realise that this event, this feeling of being stuck – the impasse – contains magik and it can be the Agent for Change! And we can change ‘things’ not by doing – but by sitting still. Sounds simple enough right…… however there is an aspect to our mind that is prone to linger in and on the issues that we think contain the ‘root’ cause of all the ‘things’ gone and going awry. Disruption and imposition that bring discomfort and dis/ease is ‘Natures’ way of inviting us to wake up. So this (ma)lingering needs to be seen for what it is and then re-focused so as to reframe: to do this we first need to Sit Still and be quiet – Dichotomy – impasse – ambiguity – uncertainty: a willingness to live within the grey-ness to seek and find comfort within the nebulous – “My inspiration for today – is to rediscover the colour grey”.
How long do we need to sit still?
We sit long enough to show our commitment to self-include into the process and while we wait we prepare. We call on the Gods; we eat some humble pie and we listen. When it becomes apparent that we are ready the messages arrive with instructions included. We are challenged as we go: each step will again and again require shows of commitment and a willingness to learn the cipher and follow the clues.
We use the language of image, symbols as archetypes because they are incorruptible and belong to the individual’s story whereas words can distract us away from the task at hand and they can be easily misinterpreted.
Sacred Listening
We contact and engage our own innate inner wisdom when we listen to the stillness within and we access and make use of these types of language where the clues and the cipher are dependent upon our life experiences and the ‘way’ that we approach the source. Information gleaned will be subtle, nuanced and specific – to each person where one symbol or archetype can have different meaning for each person. This methodology encourages us to have faith in whatever is revealed ‘knowing’ that it will be relevant to our story and our particular line of inquiry on a very personal level. The Sounding Board role (that’s me) in this process is critical for it is also encompasses the (archetypal roles of) guide, conduit and detective designed to support the journeyperson, prompt and offer ‘ideas’ based upon the notion that involvement is due simply to the synchronous nature of the relationship: I have been ‘invited’ because I have an innate understanding of both process and language: because I too walk the path and do the ‘work’ and I am responsible for bringing the Temenos.
The Wound/Shadow link
We have each of us sustained a Wound – which can be (considered) Fatal in that we are (unconsciously) bound to it until the end of life: in essence this is our Fate.
Or alternately we make a (conscious) decision to work with the Wound – we do our Shadow work and this alters the entire scenario: our Shadow work is our soul work – we are on the path and moving towards our Destiny. This type or depth of work can be daunting: so much so that the vast majority prefer to defer: decry or deny.
So how do we approach and engage with our deepest, darkest fears?
– we bring the light and keep it light.