silent thunder

I lean in to the foods that helped my ancestors get me here... processed foods seemed fine in my earlier decades but at this point they ring alarm bells. Some are ok occasionally, others are a hard never.

Many could lucidly argue that it was a version of him... or an aspect.

Dropping Pearls @steve! Thank you

Great points about fake versus fallen. And not throwing the baby out with the bath water with the undesirable aspects of some we encounter or even follow for a time. Again I'm re-minded of the realization that when one is present and listening all of life becomes a teacher. Not just humans. Everything and non things as well. But among human teachers... Even a fake or poor teacher can and has taught me much of value over the years. Often not perhaps what they intended to offer, or were even aware they were imparting, but valuable on my path none the less.

I'm re-minded of the zen saying regarding awakening. Awakening occurs as if by accident. Practice makes us more accident prone. Realization for my own local awareness arose in the midst of the most paralyzing depression. As i lay down in complete and utter despondency and released all notion of living, dying or association with anything... after releasing everything... what remained was true nature paradoxical that in complete surrender of any notion of will or desire for life or even death absolute bouyancy of true nature should finally be revealed

People seem to seek out a hero to worship, and a villain to despise. I suspect it has something to do with coming to know our own true nature through the process of neti neti... I come to realize my nature by comparing it to what i think i am not. That has been how it came to attention in my own process anyway. Often the role also seems to be the same person over time... and also whether or not the person seeks such attention. After all, get to know any person well enough and we'll inevitably find aspects of them that we do not relish, or actively dislike. That's more than reason enough to leap from worship to hazing for most it seems. Pedestalize and worship a person. Build them upwith or without their consent through grand praise and shared stories until an egregore of sorts arises around the reified mental object of the person in the minds of 'the followers'. The mental object having little to do with the actual person; yet followers will swear by the reality of it and through their dedication and passion of pursuit, it takes on an inertia of its own... or of their own. Even when the hero tries to assuage notions of sainthood or grand achievement, it seems to only fuel the worship more... such is life. Folks will find something, someone to pedestalize. They seem to need it. I'm reminded of @Brian and the film he takes his avatar from... The Pythons had their finger on the pulse of this very process when they crafted that film. And then the inevitable shift occurs and the high of the worship becomes the even more adrenaline pumped fuel of vitriol and hate when the shift to villain takes place. This game plays out in varying degrees in the media every day with all public personas... but within the more closed systems of dedicated spiritual pursuants... it becomes highly intensified. Such is life.

I wonder which books leapt...

Dreaming has always been an essential, core aspect of my experience of being a localized self in awareness. I find the revelations afforded through dream contact/experience to be endlessly useful and fascinating. Thanks for the enticing topic! My first memory in this life was a dream so intense, it induced an obe. I was three or four when it occured and it's impacted my approach to consciousness my entire life, shaping my exploration of consciousness, shamanic trance, the nature of lucidity in awareness and trance in waking life/dreaming/liminal awareness. Dreams are capable of revealing so much of our true nature in my experience and they've always been as vital, impacting and rich as waking life, and in many cases, far more so. As for encounters with aliens as I sense is implied in the original post (Greys, Pleiadians, etc) are rather rare for mea handful... but if by alien you also imply entities from alternate frequencies/dimensions/shadow beings/alternate planes/ascended masters, and being encountered including open eyed and full hypnogogic visions and waking dreams then encounters abound. I made a habit of keeping journals for dreams and though some have been lost, the act of writing them down often results in cementing them for long term recall. There are myriad encounters that were seemingly with fully autonomous and seperate awarenesses and many have transpired over the five decades of my life with recurring visits. Really enjoying the topic and although so far nothing's risen up to the foreground to share now, perhaps I'll revisit one of the hypnogogic encounters when I have some time. Cheers all for sharing... the topic is incredibly vital and fascinating to me.

Good Morning! The blond w/bangs suit you nicely.

please take the Abrahamic stuff to the correct section... thank you.

@Cobie your fundamentalism is showing again...

So he earned your respect as a human. But as a teacher, I suspect your assessment of his level left him wanting...

merits its own thread in the new Abrahamic section

attune

Respect is earned, not owed. It arrives as the merit of a person is revealed through their character and sharings.

Aspects of how the bible is used and compiled can be deeply troubling. This does not mean the bible is without merit entirely for me. I do not throw the baby out with the bath water. The Anthology that the bible is in its many current varied states was compiled over many centuries by many authors... and re-editors with a variety of levels of comprehension and intents of use. My issues with how it is used does not apply to all its contents across the board. I was a biblical scholar for many years in my apostacy from evangelical fundamentalism in which I was raised. Some aspects of the offerings contained within are deeply resonant for me to this day and shine with wisdom.

when i walk into my wife's arms...

Me too. (hoping this won't be replied to as it may mean i already am)

Yogurt

The health of a tree is revealed by the condition of its fruit. Echoing Apech, observation and time will reveal what is pertinent.

How I miss @freeform

Anyone unaffected by the current state of manifestation on this plane... i suspect they are socio=pathic. To quote a wise man... It is no good thing to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society. You both inspire me and humble me in your approach to life and your beadth and depth of connection and experience. So grateful for you sharings and the amount of energy and time you offer here. <deep bow>

Hi bob. While I am peaceful by default. I have found in this world preperation unused/unneeded is preferrable to unpreparedness on the whole. I prefer to be a Warrior in a Garden than a Gardener in a War.