Tao of Buttercup

My new-member posting frequency is still very limited, so I'd better make this good. :-) Thank you for the links and replies. Quan Yin; very lovely, I'll definitely consider a simple yet pretty shrine to her. Synchronistic events I frequently experience. Lucid dreams with easily interpretable meanings. Also, I read about Wu Wei in "The Tao of Pooh" last evening; it seems I've been doing that for quite a while.

I'd like to think I can become more of a stabilizing influence to those around me. Especially in a society which - despite its positives and benefits - seems continually confused, going to extremes, imbalanced. Have just now checked out some online sites, re - shrines and prayer, etc. Interesting. Likely will not pray, but a small shrine....maybe. Could benefit from visual reinforcement. I love peaches and flowers and incense and candles!

Thank you, Daeluin. I agree, and especially your emphasis on "gray" vs "black/white." Without going into detail (time, complexity), the past 4 years has been very crushing and painful; life and realizations. Various Western pathologies which I finally "saw through" (which is not to say the West is entirely bad). Ongoing (feeding upon itself) social- and self-defeating patterns which Westerners try to help each other out of...which is like sick people trying to "doctor" each other. Unfortunately! I do not say this judgmentally, but SADLY. The Bruce Lee dream was significant because (I take Jungian psychology, [significant] dreams, and synchronicity seriously), this was a "tap on the shoulder" of Hey...remember Tao? I do not believe the spirit of Bruce Lee visited me. The dream was symbolic of course, and he (and Brandon) the most fitting motif. I was like, "Wow. That's why 'dragon' and 'pearl' welled up from the unconscious shortly before the dream." The dream signaled: Remember Tao? Here is where you're meant to be; now you're truly ready (maturity, hard-gained wisdom) to embrace Taoism. Definitely am reading. Also, husband and I plan to take a trip to San Francisco in 2015 or 2016, to visit its Chinese district.

We're cool.

Really? I found the dream significant, and two people are making fun? Ha ha...Elvis and Buddha! I'll do some reading around this board, and then decide if I'll continue on.

Thank you, Grandmaster P. I'll share my Bruce Lee dream. Occurred early last week. I'd been on a (Western) Pagan path for some time (along with recent major personal upheavals, insights, etc). I'm also well-read in Jungian psychology. A synchronicity recently occurred of a specific name (Maud[e]), a dragon, a pearl, and the Child archetype. I figured this was all within a Western context (and didn't then know the English story of "Maud and the Dragon"). What a surprise, then, to dream last week of going into my local public library, sitting, and soon noticing someone nearby. Bruce Lee! I was understandably shocked. We talked, and I told him that Brandon's death had saddened me. Bruce is the Dragon. Brandon is his Child. After "seeing through" various Western pathologies, I understood that my unconscious mind was signaling me to embrace Taoism. And here I am.

Thanks for those welcoming messages, soaring crane and Chang. I will read the Terms & Rules. My first story (hope to be published within a year) is a psychological thriller set in modern time. Second story (entirely written but not yet edited) is a dystopian sci-fi adventure set in year 2622; involves both Mars and Earth. Third story (began writing it two months ago) is a philosophical drama set in 1767 France. Fourth story (to begin later!) will be a philosophical tale about the pathologies of certain Western thought; what I've seen (and rejected). Fifth story (...if I get there!...) will be an erotic thriller set in a future city/place.