Last week we looked at Gemini myths which gave me the perfect excuse to watch Doctor Strange again. The film deals with various Gemini/Mercury themes including magic, healing, the confrontation with the shadow, and the shamanic journey between dimensions. It’s another superhero origins story – a classic hero’s journey with an added dash of ‘Hollywood… Continue reading Doctor Strange: Time and the Meaning of Life
Last time we looked at our need to develop a new kind of power that brings people together rather than putting them in conflict. This is especially important now because we’re suffering from an epidemic of loneliness, if you believe the internet. Many are keen to blame social networking, but it might not be that… Continue reading Active Hope and the Power of Community
Last time we looked at the transformation of pain into healing and how it reminds us that we need each other. One of the problems with pain is that it can make you withdraw into yourself. But this just makes the pain worse because now you feel isolated too, and that messes with your head… Continue reading Active Hope and Expanding the Sense of Self
Get over yourself is about not letting your ego hijack whatever you’re doing, whether that’s mind training and meditation, or writing. It helps to get your ego out of the way and remember who you really are. The original lojong slogan is: All dharma agrees at one point, which means that all spiritual practices and… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Get Over Yourself
Last time we looked at the crises that can precede spiritual awakening on the path towards Self-realisation. In this post we explore the kinds of experiences that can happen as a result of awakening and the problems they can lead to. The following notes are taken from Psychosynthesis by Roberto Assagioli: “The opening of the… Continue reading Crises Caused by Spiritual Awakening
Our story continues: the deal has been made and three years have passed… At last, the dreadful day arrived when the devil would come to claim his payment: the maiden. That morning, the girl washed and drew a circle around herself with chalk. The devil appeared, but couldn’t come near her. Furious, he demanded she… Continue reading The Handless Maiden part 2: Dismemberment
Continuing the extracts from Free Your Pen: Mind Training for Writers. In the last few posts we explored why the mind is such an unruly place and what we can do about it. Now we dig deeper into the source of mind training practice and look at some of the ideas that underpin the teachings… Continue reading Free Your Pen: Lojong for Writers
