Inspiring teachings / videos / whatever you want to share

[John Sorensen]

I used to post a thread like this on the old Seth forum to share information, ideas, different teachers etc that was challenging to my world view in some way. I really could not be bothered reposting everything here after the old forum went away, but I will post of the better videos etc later this week.


It's good to have a thread just to check out for inspiring stuff, and have them all in the one thread for easy reference.
So if you've already shared some good ideas / videos whatever on humanities greater potential, feel free to post them again here etc.


I'll start with a quote from Joseph Chilton Pearce on a topic that is one I will be writing a blog post soon:





"Oneness with God is the birthright of every individual, though we are culturally vaccinated to resist experiencing this higher consciousness. Our search for objective truth has lead us not to wholeness, but instead to the belief that we have no bond to each other, to God, or to an inanimate, physical world. Our technology reduces our ability to experience revelation and leads us instead toward the chatter of confused thinking. The challenge faced by modern humanity, which is the challenge Muktananda gave to his students, is to passionately gather up the scattered fragments of our lives and channel them into the creative realm, where with insight or revelation we will be able to become more than ourselves." - Joseph Chilton Pearce



**Fair warning: the opening of this audio clip talks about child suicide.**

[John Sorensen]

Joe Dispenza on "Defining Intention"

[John Sorensen]

Wayne Dyer's talk from "Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life" PBS special

[John Sorensen]

Finding our essence within presence, at point zero - Kishori Aird

Kishori Aird on DNA, essence and more.

Her books are very challenging. I don't understand them but intend to someday.

[John Sorensen]

Documentary (regular one, not conspiracy mumbo jumbo one) on Nikola Tesla

[John Sorensen]

John Anthony West on Magical Egypt / Ancient Egypt.


His interpretations of messages  encoded in ancient Egyptian culture and society through their architecture etc are light years ahead of some of the moronic and just plain wrong interpretations in mainstream books etc.








Magical Egypt TV show episode 1, part 1 of the old show which is to date the most comprehensive presentation of John Anthony West's theories on ancient egypt, which conform to science, logic and reasoning - but not to the nonsense and lies told in mainstream academic books.





John Anthony West 3 hour talk on Joe Rogan pocast.


This is John Anthony West 101 right here if you want the straight information without any frills.

[John Sorensen]

Greg Braden on "The FEELING is the Prayer"




Greg Braden classic talk
Walking Between the Worlds Part 1 (his hair is LEGENDARY in this talk)







Greg Braden "Deep Truth" talk.

"Deep Truth: Igniting the Memory of Our Origin, History, Destiny and Fate"





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[John Sorensen]

Thich Nat Hanh on "How Do I Love Myself?"

[John Sorensen]

Graham Hancock on  Gebekli Tepe, ancient societies, and comet theories of mass destruction  (and an article summary if you don't know what the site is)




http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/gobekli-tepe-the-worlds-first-temple-83613665/?no-ist




Hancock on "Magicians of the Gods" his 2015 book / summary of ancient megalithic sites. Including the ones underwater that tend to get ignored in the media or usually denied funding as its really expensive to do underwater archaeological surveys.

[BethAnne]

What a GREAT selection you have put up!  All my favorites. 
 

[Deb]

I used to post a thread like this on the old Seth forum to share information, ideas, different teachers etc that was challenging to my world view in some way.

This is fantastic John, thanks for adding it! I could even make it a Board or if not I may move it to the Inspiration Board... or just leave it as is. I just want people to know that if they feel the need for a new Board, just ask me and I'll make it. Of course you all know you can create your own new topics/threads.

We're having a blizzard today, I'm house-bound, so I'll have lots of time to start watching these videos.

The quote from JC Pearce is really profound. Every sentence can stand on its own. "Culturally vaccinated" is a great way to describe the challenge we face in reaching higher consciousness. There are really a lot of wise people in the world; they're not always visible. It's nice to have a resource like this forum to gather them so we can be exposed to their wisdom and know they are (or were) out there on this planet. You are a wealth of information. Other informational sources, such as the news we're exposed to daily, rarely gives a glimpse of any one or any thing that's inspirational.

Thanks for taking the time to do this.

[BethAnne]

I think these are the people that do the Heart Code that Bashar recommended reading.  I think??

[BethAnne]

[John Sorensen]

Hi Beth Anne, that first video you posted was created by the Heart-Math institute.
I've read a couple of their books, and tried out the exercises. I really like their methodology, and while mainstream science still disregards their methods as nonsense, they have successfully used their training exercises to reduce stress and anxiety and other positive health benefits for a lot of people, and faster than any traditional meditation.


Actually their method is very similar (possibly even the same) as some of the old time Yogis like Paramahansa used to talk about. There has been a resurgence in recent years of "heart" focused teachings from various organisations that promote different forms of meditation. They each use their own language and terms etc, but they are all basically promoting the same sort of thing.


The heart math method is also like a jumping off point for a lot of the new-wave energy healing systems that are being promoted like Quantum Touch 2.0, Matrix Energetics etc - they used the same theoy of the electrical-magnetic heart field that knows boundaries of neither time nor space.


Greg Braden is the one who has popularised the heart electrical-magnetic field of resonance more than anyone else, he is the who worked with the heart-math people to help them develop their methods etc, which was based on both ancient cultures such as the Essenes and modern cultures such as people from Tibet /Buddhists whom he visited in person, he also verified some of the same ideas with the Tibetan copies of ancient texts such as the early christian books and dead sea scrolls which again reference the heart. Braden called it a "lost technology" or "mode of prayer we have forgotten in the west"
It is the basis of his teachings on the lost mode of prayer and "the feeling is the prayer".


Of course I can't give Braden all the credit, as Jesus (real or symbolic, take your pick) talked about the heart centre quite a lot for anyone that cares to pay attention to these sorts of things.


And Joseph Chilton Pearce (who is also a Christian) is a radical reformer and promoter of the hearts neglected intelligence.

[LenKop]

Thanks for the inspiration guys.

I think a new board for this topic would help any new members or guests to find, keeps these gems from getting lost as any future threads would just push this down the line.

LK

[John Sorensen]

The World Within - Carl Gustav Jung in His Own Words



The Roots of Consciousness - Joseph Campbell - Thinking Allowed





The Mythology of STAR WARS - 1999 bill Moyer interview with Lucas where he discusses his inspiration from Campbells monomyth theory as basis for Star Wars


George Lucas Calls Disney "White Slavers" in Charlie Rose interview





Carl Jung knew Joseph Campbell, and Joseph Campbell knew George Lucas, if you are wondering why I posted these together. The success of Star Wars is really based on the work of Jung and Campbell, who identified the core themes of all world mythology, and of course Lucas was a visionary director, and also a good technician, that is he had to invent or come up with new ways of doing things that just had not been done before in the world of cinema and special effects - much like James Cameron did with Terminator / Avatar / Titanic etc and Spielberg with Indiana Jones.

[John Sorensen]

Carl Jung on Accepting the Darkness of Self and Others (talk by Alan Watts)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvgmyaSTosg&ab_channel=opravdov%C3%BD%C4%8Dlov%C4%9Bk




Alan Watts Talks About Carl Jung [Spiritual Awakening Lectures]





Alan Watts ~ You Are Who You Keep Seeking
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[BethAnne]

Thanks John on the Heart Math Info.  I'll do some more looking into it.
Great selection of videos!

[John Sorensen]

Their main book / summary of ideas and techniques is in this one The HeartMath Solution
It sells for like $10 on average in most countries.


http://www.amazon.com/HeartMath-Solution-HeartMaths-Revolutionary-Intelligence/dp/006251606X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458811509&sr=8-1&keywords=heart+math

[Deb]

I think a new board for this topic would help any new members or guests to find, keeps these gems from getting lost as any future threads would just push this down the line.

Yes, that was my thinking, I didn't want it getting buried and I think it's going to be a big topic.
The new Board is up, this topic has been moved, with a redirect for now in the old location. I've also made it "sticky" so it stays at the top.

[John Sorensen]

Dr Ibrahim Karim BioGeometry (Egyptian Energy Science) Seminar Day 1




Dr Ibrahim Karim BioGeometry (Egyptian Energy Science) Seminar Day 2






Dr. Ibrahim Karim joins Dr. Pier Paolo Alberghini in Toronto (3rd link just below, video preview is not showing up, but link still works)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX8uvxAuQAA&ab_channel=ThatChannel.com

"Dr. Ibrahim Karim joins Dr. Pier Paolo Alberghini in Toronto for the Total Health Show where they will be presenting on "biosignatures", using biogeometric shapes to heal the body. Dr. Karim also demonstrates how properly composed and arranged music can alter the health of your environment"

[John Sorensen]

Biogemetry Overview series of 10 minutes videos. Above videos in previous post are around 3 hours. So this is the cliff notes version.
I'm going to download the long ass lecture series (the 3 hour ones) as audio only to listen to on my ipod.

[John Sorensen]

Trailer for the soon to be released Magical Egypt 2 - which will have updates on all of John Anthony West's innovative research into the secrets of ancient Egypt.

[John Sorensen]

Bruce Lipton - Great Keynote on Mind Over Matter






Bruce Lipton - The Biology of Belief (talk based on his book)

[John Sorensen]

Rupert Sheldrake - The Science Delusion BANNED TED TALK




Rupert Sheldrake - The Science Delusion: Why Materialism is not the Answer



Rupert Sheldrake "Science Set Free"

[John Sorensen]

Ken Wilber - I Am Big Mind
"The most specific description of Enlightenment/Spirit/God you have ever heard"




Ken Wilber on the Aloneness of the Spiritual Path





A Brief History Of Integral with Ken Wilber

[Batfan007]

Browsing through google images and found this lovely image of Seth / Jane / Rob


I've seen these images before, but not all three together. Together the images have a certain magic about them.

Rob reminds me of Doc Brown from "Back to the Future" in that picture, mainly because of the long hair.

[Deb]

I'm glad you posted that image, I'd not seen those paintings of Rob and Jane before. I've been wanting to share this card made by Jane and I guess this is as good a place as any. It was put on Facebook up by the recipient, Richard McCarty. I thought it was sweet of Jane to take the time to make something like this and is the first time I've actually seen her handwriting.

[Batfan007]

I am on Dr Karim's inspiration email list and just read this and felt like it was a good place to share, as it covers many topic that people frequently bring up here:
The below text is from Dr Karim, it talks about his illness, bad times in his life and how he choose to frame those memories and feelings NOW.
--
QUOTE:

Do you ever catch yourself feeling down, negative, sad, angry, resentful, or unloved when you think back to a particular memory, set of events, or life history? 

Today, I hope to teach you this is merely a 'story' you tell yourself.  You have the ability to remember your life any way you like.  In fact, you also have the ability to process your current reality any way you like. 

Let's use a practical example from my life: 

Story #1: 

A couple years ago, I became terribly sick and was told my life was on the line multiple times.  I was the most critical patient in a level one trauma center that ranks as one of the best hospitals in the United States. 

So few people have been as sick as me, they are now presenting on me in medical conferences, and talking about how no one knows why it happened, how I lived, or if 'my disease' will ever come back.  I wore a 'poop' bag on my chest for months, suffered from tons of pain, and had to permanently change my diet and lifestyle. 

Some people I considered close friends or business partners burnt me, stole from me, and took advantage of me.  My family didn't know what to do, so they were in a panic, and it adversely affected their health, as well.  It took me over a year to recover.  During that time, my relationships were challenged, my self-image was destroyed, and my finances tipped upside down in a way that would affect me for years.   

Story #2: 

It's almost hard to remember how sick I was 2 years ago, considering how healthy I am today.  In many ways, it feels like a bad dream, rather than something that marked me. 

As a result of what appeared to be a tragic life event at the time, I now know how to eat for my body, how to process life in a much healthier way, which exercises are the best for me, which relationships help vs harm me, and which climate is best for my body.  I've been able to make unbelievable shifts in my reality to improve my health, and I've figured out how to help my sons and wife make these changes, too.  As much as I was focused on health before, I simply didn't have the tools, and I was misguided in my approach. 

I've been able to re-center on improving world health, let go of other businesses that didn't serve me, and make new friendships that are some of the closest I've ever experienced.  So many of my long-time friends rose to the challenge, supported me, showed their love, and helped me.  My family was an amazing support system, and now I feel incredibly lucky to have an opportunity to support them, too. 

My life is amazing, and as difficult as it was to see at the time, I'm actually grateful for what's happened and the suffering I went through; for, if I didn't, I may have been on a trajectory for pain and disease that would have worsened for life.  Today, I am able to help hundreds of thousands of people in a very real way, in a way I was never able to before. 

I am learning how much more complex -- and simple at the same time -- health really is.  I'm being shown gifts I've possessed my entire life, and I'm able to use them only for good.  It's awesome. 

***

Same story; different reality. 

I get to choose.  The choice I make in how I tell this story, how I remember this 'traumatic' period of my life, the acts of kindness shown to me, and the relationship dynamics that persisted as a result are all my choice.  I may not have control over certain life events, but I do have control over how I feel about them.  That's my power, and it's an awesome power to have. 

I used to think back on this time and feel sad, depressed, in pain, and worried for my future and the future of my family.  Once I learned to re-process this time period in my life, and "re-write my own story", I began to feel relief, happiness, gratitude, and pride for being able to make positive change. 

Nowadays, I focus on interpreting life events in a positive way the first time around.  If I can think back and re-write a story to serve me, rather than 'hurt' me, then I can also interpret life events the same way as they occur.  If I'm stuck in traffic, I can see this as a nuisance or an opportunity; for without this delay, I may have been the car accident that lies ahead, short-tempered with a loved one due to being in a hurry, or malnourished since I didn't get the chance to eat a few snacks on the way to my destination. 

I get to choose, and so do 'you'.   

Today's lesson:  choose the story you want to tell yourself, re-write the old stories, beliefs and patterns that no longer serve you, and step forward in your life by doing so. 

Life is beautiful, and so are you. 

Your life events compile your journey, and your journey is awesome.  Every so-called positive and negative is actually neither.  The only thing positive or negative is you. 

So, remember to choose.  Your choice will affect your health, relationships, past, present, and future.  You will begin to prove what you remember is true, as your sub-conscious mind seeks proof in your everyday environment that life was either as difficult or awesome as you've chosen to make it. 

Love life.  And it'll love you back!   Cheers.

I'm so grateful for you,

Kareem

[LenKop]

Thanks. Excellent example of attitude and perspective.

'The only thing positive or negative is you.'

Thanks again Bats.

LK

[JimK]

@Batfan007 that was a fascinating post you shared. Am I correct in thinking that what he did was an application of one of the different ways of reframing?

I like how he applied it also to being in the moment of everyday living - like stuck in traffic.

[Sena]

The above heading is a quote from Kryon Book 13:
https://www.kryon.com/k_69.html

[JimK]

@Batfan007 that was a fascinating post you shared

Re:

Dr Karim's inspiration email

That's what I was wondering about regarding my question about reframing.

[Batfan007]

NOTE: link for second video is this link...
https://archive.org/details/MaxPlanckAndQuantumPhysics

Max Planck, a fascinating man.

The originator of Quantum Theory, up next on my reading list is his autobiograpy.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Planck
From the wiki page:
Max Planck said in 1944,
"As a man who has devoted his whole life to the most clear headed science, to the study of matter, I can tell you as a result of my research about atoms this much: There is no matter as such. All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force which brings the particle of an atom to vibration and holds this most minute solar system of the atom together. We must assume behind this force the existence of a conscious and intelligent mind. This mind is the matrix of all matter."

[Batfan007]

@Batfan007 that was a fascinating post you shared. Am I correct in thinking that what he did was an application of one of the different ways of reframing?

I like how he applied it also to being in the moment of everyday living - like stuck in traffic.

you will have to tell what "reframing" means Jim, I am not familiar with the term, if you give me some context, perhaps I may have some insight.

[JimK]

Today's lesson:  choose the story you want to tell yourself, re-write the old stories, beliefs and patterns that no longer serve you, and step forward in your life by doing so. 

you will have to tell what "reframing" means Jim, I am not familiar with the term, if you give me some context, perhaps I may have some insight.

OK, so in NLP the meaning of anything depends on your point of view...or how you frame it. So when you reframe something you are changing how you see it (or it's meaning to you). And if you change the meaning of something, then you change your response to it.

So when Kareem was talking about choosing the story you want to tell yourself and re-writing the stories, beliefs and patterns that don't work for you anymore - that is what made me think of reframing. Like the story of stuck in traffic (and the others too) – changing the negatives into positives.

Clarity. Yeah, maybe I need to work on that.

[Batfan007]

Today's lesson:  choose the story you want to tell yourself, re-write the old stories, beliefs and patterns that no longer serve you, and step forward in your life by doing so. 

you will have to tell what "reframing" means Jim, I am not familiar with the term, if you give me some context, perhaps I may have some insight.

OK, so in NLP the meaning of anything depends on your point of view...or how you frame it. So when you reframe something you are changing how you see it (or it's meaning to you). And if you change the meaning of something, then you change your response to it.

So when Kareem was talking about choosing the story you want to tell yourself and re-writing the stories, beliefs and patterns that don't work for you anymore - that is what made me think of reframing. Like the story of stuck in traffic (and the others too) – changing the negatives into positives.

Clarity. Yeah, maybe I need to work on that.

I am familiar with NLP reframing. I find it a bit overly mechanical but it seems to work for many people.

Dr Karim had a near death experience ( i dont know the details) but the context I got from that post (and this my guess, I have no idea, I may be wrong) was his reframing was more of a larger spiritual perspective.

I would call it Gratitude or Grace or whatever you like. To me NLP would me more
"I have trauma and I want to reframe it"  which is fine and works etc. Tony Robbins is probably the most well known guy for popularizing that method, and getting dramatic results in a short period of time.

Dr Karim's post I saw more as, he's moved to a different level in life, and he's saying to people heading in that direction

"Hey, things don't have to be awful, you can experience things in a more life affirming way, no matter what is going on"

along the lines of other teachers etc.

I could be way off, but having watched the videos and lectures from Dr Karim, I would say he is fearless, he doesn't have any need to reframe trauma, as he's living in state of gratitude, and can see a larger context , and he's inviting other people to do the same.

as a side note, I've read Tony Robbins books over the years, and listening to some recent long from podcasts with him, I think that guy is just moving to another level in life, he's much more spiritually focused, looking at deeper meanings in life, and not just material success etc.

Which I love to hear, it's very life affirming. 

[jbseth]

Hi All,

I get a significant amount inspiration from the New Thought church that my wife and I attend.

What's a New Thought church? In the U. S. there are a series of churches that identify themselves as New Thought churches. The philosophy that these churches espouse is very "Sethian" in nature. While, some of these churches identify themselves as being "Christian" churches, their beliefs about Jesus are also "Sethian" in nature. That is, they believe that Jesus was the great example (an example of what we too can be) and not the great exception (the one and only son of God). These churches are "Christian" churches that do not believe in the following standard Christian concepts: original sin, Jesus died for your sins, Jesus is your savior, and Jesus was the only Son of God.

Instead they believe the in following concepts:

There is one God, this God is in everything, in all of life and this God is a force of good.

You can manifest goodness in your life by what you think about; through your thoughts and beliefs.

You can heal yourself with the power of your mind (several of the original founders of New Thought churches had remarkable healings by doing this).


Overall, the general message that's presented by these churches is a positive and spiritually uplifting message and it is very similar to the message given by Seth.


The beginnings of New Thought go back to the "Transcendentalist", such as Ralph Waldo Emerson (who Seth tells us was a Speaker) and the New Thought philosophy has an eastern religious (Hindu / Buddhist) component to it, as well.

Unlike many other churches, these New Thought churches are inclusive. This means that if you have a Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, Zen, Toaist, Native American, New Age, Agnostic, Atheist, or any other type of religious or philosophical background, then you are welcome to these churches. In addition to this, they don't ask you to give up any of your religious or philosophical beliefs to attend their church services or to become a church member. This is unlike many other churches, where you must adopt their specific ideas.  Furthermore, they also don't discriminate against women, or people of different races or sexual orientation. Everyone is welcome.

There are 2 major branches of New Thought churches, these are called "Unity" and "The Centers for Spiritual Living".  There are also many individual churches that are New Thought Churches as well. If you see a church and it's a "Unity" church or it's a "Center for Spiritual Living" church, then it's a New Thought church.


The main reason that I'm posting this information here is for general awareness. I have no interest in "converting" anyone.

I have been a "Sethian" for many years, and for most of that time, I had no idea that these New Thought churches existed.

If you are a follower of Seth's philosophy but can't seem to find any like-minded people in your area, then if you have a New Thought church in you region, you may find some like-minded people there.

If anyone is interested in finding out more about these New Thought churches, below are the websites for the Centers for Spiritual Living, and Unity and the New Thought church that my wife and I attend.

http://csl.org/

http://www.unity.org/

http://www.newthoughtcsl.org/

[Deb]

Thanks for posting this! JBSeth would you be at all interested in my breaking your post off into a new topic under this Board of Inspiring Teachings... etc.? Something like 'new age churches' 'new thought churches' or whatever, listed as a resource under the main Board. I could even sticky it to the top so it doesn't get lost. Just an idea.

I followed the link to Centers for Spiritual Living and it sounded familiar. Surprise!, they're based in Golden, Colorado, not far from where I live. That whole foothill corridor from Golden up to Boulder (along US 93) seems to have a concentration of spiritual energy. (Geoffrey Hoppe/Tobias is living is in Golden.)

There's a church here in Colorado (Lakewood) called MileHi Church that sounds similar to what you're talking about. It's been around since 1960, started out as Religious Science. I don't think they're affiliated with CSL, not sure though. They've really grown, have had a lot of great guest speakers such as Deepak, Beckwith, Eben Alexender, Joe Dispenza, many well-known current self-help authors and have a big following, anyone and everyone is welcome and treated with respect. I've had a few friends that attended regularly, volunteered, etc. but even with such an open-minded church I'm still not the church-going type. I do go to some of the lectures, might consider taking workshops but it's far enough away from home to deter me.

Their mission is 'to serve as a spiritual beacon for personal empowerment and global enlightenment.'

Sounds good to me.

BTW a couple of years ago a friend's husband died suddenly in an accident. They were not affiliated with any church but she wanted to have a memorial service. MileHi was the only church that was willing to do it for them, without the requirement of joining and the huge fees as demanded by other churches in the area. They said she could make a donation if she wanted. MileHi did a fantastic job, it was unbelievable how they set everything up, eulogized, etc. She couldn't had hoped for anything better.

http://www.milehichurch.org

[jbseth]

Thanks for posting this! JBSeth would you be at all interested in my breaking your post off into a new topic under this Board of Inspiring Teachings... etc.? Something like 'new age churches' 'new thought churches' or whatever, listed as a resource under the main Board. I could even sticky it to the top so it doesn't get lost. Just an idea.

Hi Deb,

Absolutely.

Feel Free to break it off into a new topic. I'd prefer New Thought Churches over of New Age Churches however.

Yes, the Mile Hi Church is quite well known within the New Thought circles.

Over the years I've seen Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, Michael Beckwith and many other wonderful people via my exposure to these churches. As it turns out, Michael Beckwith is the mentor to Dr. David Alexander, the minister of the church that I go to, and in addition to this, Shannon O'Hurley, who is now an associate minister for the Mile Hi Church, actually came from our church; she's awesome, we really miss her.

By the way, about 5 to 10 years ago Religious Science changed it name to the "Centers for Spiritual Living". Given that then, I'm guessing that the Mile Hi Church is probably now a CSL church. They may have opted to go non-affiliated however. If I ever get back there, I'd love to attend one of their services.

I completely understand the "not the church going type". We seldom if ever went to church when I was growing up and so I was never heavily influenced by the church thing. Given that though, I certainly have run into a fair amount of "Christians" who in one way or another do not express themselves in a very loving way and this really turned me off. As a result of this, it was many years before I was even willing to consider going to a New Thought Church.  Then it took me awhile before I actually got comfortable with it.

What's interesting to me though is the fact that the mission for many of these New Thought churches is something like, that of the Mile Hi Church which is, as you said, 'to serve as a spiritual beacon for personal empowerment and global enlightenment.'

How awesome is that.

To me, what's even more incredible is that the people of these churches actually do go very far in an attempt to live up to their mission statement as you pointed out with your example of your friends husbands memorial service and this is the reason why churches are inspiring to me. 

[Batfan007]

I picked up a few books collecting various wrting of Carl Jung last year, mostly related to my writing, but also out of personal interest.

This extract comes from the introduction to Carl Jung's "Man and His Symbols" by John Freeman.

"The first and only work in which Carl G. Jung, the world-famous Swiss psychologist, explains to the general reader his greatest contribution to our knowledge of the human mind: the theory of the importance of symbolism—particularly as revealed in dreams. "

-
EXTRACT:

...the ability to establish communications with the unconscious is a part of the whole man, and Jungians "teach" themselves (I can think of no better term) to be receptive to dreams. When, therefore, Jung himself1 was faced with the critical decision whether or not to write this book, he was able to draw on the resources of both his conscious and his unconscious in making up his mind. And all through this book you will find the dream treated as a direct, personal, and meaningful communication to the dreamer —a communication that uses the symbols common to all mankind, but that uses them on every occasion in an entirely individual way that can be interpreted only by an entirely individual "key."

The second point I wish to make is about a particular characteristic of argumentative method that is common to all the writers of this book perhaps to all Jungians. Those who have limited themselves to living entirely in the world of the conscious and who reject communication with the unconscious bind themselves by the laws of conscious, formal life. With the infallible (but often meaningless) logic of the algebraic equation, they argue from assumed premises
to incontestably deduced conclusions. Jung and his colleagues seem to me (whether they know it or not) to reject the limitations of this method of argument. It is not that they ignore logic, but they appear all the time to be arguing to the unconscious as well as to the conscious. Their dialectical method is itself symbolic and often devious.

They convince not by means of the narrowly focused spotlight of the syllogism, but by skirting, by repetition, by presenting a recurring view of the same subject seen each time from a slightly different angle — until suddenly the reader who has never been aware of a single, conclusive moment of proof finds that he has unknowingly embraced and taken into himself some wider truth.

Jung's arguments (and those of his colleagues) spiral upward over his subject like a bird circling a tree. At first, near the ground, it sees only a confusion of leaves and branches. Gradually, as it circles higher and higher, the recurring aspects of the tree form a wholeness and relate to their surroundings. Some readers may find this "spiraling" method of argument obscure or even confusing for a few pages—but not, I think, for long. It is characteristic of Jung's method, and very soon the reader will find it carrying him with it on a persuasive and profoundly absorbing journey.

--

Reading this introduction to the book reminded me very much of Seth's teach style, that is not beating anyone over the head or arguing about anything, but presenting things over and over in different ways, allowing the reader to find their own way into the ideas and concepts that make us his framework of teachings.

Anyhow, I hope for anyone that reads this extract that you enjoyed it.

[Batfan007]

Hi All,

I get a significant amount inspiration from the New Thought church that my wife and I attend.

What's a New Thought church? In the U. S. there are a series of churches that identify themselves as New Thought churches. The philosophy that these churches espouse is very "Sethian" in nature. While, some of these churches identify themselves as being "Christian" churches, their beliefs about Jesus are also "Sethian" in nature. That is, they believe that Jesus was the great example (an example of what we too can be) and not the great exception (the one and only son of God). These churches are "Christian" churches that do not believe in the following standard Christian concepts: original sin, Jesus died for your sins, Jesus is your savior, and Jesus was the only Son of God.

Instead they believe the in following concepts:

There is one God, this God is in everything, in all of life and this God is a force of good.

You can manifest goodness in your life by what you think about; through your thoughts and beliefs.

You can heal yourself with the power of your mind (several of the original founders of New Thought churches had remarkable healings by doing this).


Overall, the general message that's presented by these churches is a positive and spiritually uplifting message and it is very similar to the message given by Seth.


The beginnings of New Thought go back to the "Transcendentalist", such as Ralph Waldo Emerson (who Seth tells us was a Speaker) and the New Thought philosophy has an eastern religious (Hindu / Buddhist) component to it, as well.

Unlike many other churches, these New Thought churches are inclusive. This means that if you have a Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, Zen, Toaist, Native American, New Age, Agnostic, Atheist, or any other type of religious or philosophical background, then you are welcome to these churches. In addition to this, they don't ask you to give up any of your religious or philosophical beliefs to attend their church services or to become a church member. This is unlike many other churches, where you must adopt their specific ideas.  Furthermore, they also don't discriminate against women, or people of different races or sexual orientation. Everyone is welcome.

There are 2 major branches of New Thought churches, these are called "Unity" and "The Centers for Spiritual Living".  There are also many individual churches that are New Thought Churches as well. If you see a church and it's a "Unity" church or it's a "Center for Spiritual Living" church, then it's a New Thought church.


The main reason that I'm posting this information here is for general awareness. I have no interest in "converting" anyone.

I have been a "Sethian" for many years, and for most of that time, I had no idea that these New Thought churches existed.

If you are a follower of Seth's philosophy but can't seem to find any like-minded people in your area, then if you have a New Thought church in you region, you may find some like-minded people there.

If anyone is interested in finding out more about these New Thought churches, below are the websites for the Centers for Spiritual Living, and Unity and the New Thought church that my wife and I attend.

http://csl.org/

http://www.unity.org/

http://www.newthoughtcsl.org/

It's fascinating to look back at an earlier era in America, say the 1920's for example, when all sorts of spiritualist and new thought stuff was right there out in the open, and not considered "kooky" as most people still believed in the spiritual side of life, with the Dogma of Science yet to be as fully dominant as it is today.
I am glad you have found a place with like minded people.

I remember one time when I was particularly bored and lonely, I went to an Eckankar church meeting here in West Australia, I didn't know anyone, and nobody really made any effort to talk to me, or ask why I was there or anything like that.

While I'm not a religious sort (at least in this lifetime)  when I've been to any type of Christian church, people always made me feel quite welcome, eye contact, shaking of hands, that sort thing.

[Batfan007]

An interesting talk with J.J Hurtak and his ideas/ put forth in his version Greek gnostic text (translation and commentary) of the Pistis Sophia -

http://www.pistissophia.org/index.html





"Was there a secret marriage between Jesus and Mary Magdalene, or was Mary Magdalene one of the first feminist theologians of the New Testament period?  Did Jesus have female disciples? The book of Pistis Sophia reveals in its dialogue the true relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene. It portrays a deep spiritual relationship between the two, which is different from that suggested in Dan Brown's best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code, but is revealed in the Pistis Sophia. This book, whose title unites the Greek words for "Faith" and "Wisdom", was used as a sacred text by the early Coptic Church community of Egypt in the 2nd century AD.  Sophia (Wisdom) itself was regarded by the early Coptics as a female presence who undergoes the experience of transgression and redemption in her path to full participation in the many universes, in conjunction with the Christ."

[Batfan007]

an extract from Carl Jung's "Man and His Symbols". I'm reading the print version, this digital version has gaps in words (page breaks) and im too lazy to take them all out.
Here Jung talks about primitive man in contrast with modern, and how ill-equipped modern man is with "reason" and "science" to understand symbols, dreams, intuition etc, after debunking everything mystical, supra-normal etc via science and the mainline beliefs we are born into.

**
Modern man does not understand how much his "rationalism" (which has destroyed his capacity to respond to numinous symbols and ideas I has put him at the mercy of the psychic "underworld." He has freed himself from "superstition" (or so he believes), but in the process he has lost his spiritual values to a positively dangerous degree. His moral and spiritual tradition has disintegrated, and he is now paying the price for this break-up in world-wide disorientation and dissociation. Anthropologists have often described what happens to a primitive society when its spiritual values are exposed to the impact of modern civilization. Its people lose the meaning of their lives, their social organization disintegrates, and they themselves morally decay. We are now in the same condition.

But we have never really understood what we have lost, for our spiritual leaders unfortunately were more interested in protecting their institutions than in understand- ing the mystery that symbols present. In my opinion, faith docs not exclude thought (which is man's strongest weapon), but unfortunately many believers seem to be so afraid of science (and incidentally of psychology) that they turn a blind eye to the numinous psychic powers that forever control man's fate. We have strip- ped all things of their mystery and numinosity : nothing is holy any longer. In earlier ages, as instinctive concepts welled up in the mind of man, his conscious mind could no doubt integrate them into a coherent psychic pattern.

But the "civilized" man is no longer able to do this. His "advanced" con- sciousness has deprived itself of the means by which the auxiliary contributions of the in- stincts and the unconscious can be assimilated. These organs of assimilation and integration were numinous symbols, held holy by common consent. Today, for instance, we talk of "matter." We describe its physical properties. We conduct laboratory experiments to demonstrate some ol its aspects. But the word "matter" remains a dry, inhuman, and purely intellectual concept, without any psychic significance for us. How different was the former image of matter the Great Mother that could encompass and express the profound emotional meaning of Mother Earth. In the same way, what was the spirit is now identified with intellect and thus ceases to be the Father of All. It has degen- erated to the limited ego-thoughts of man; the immense emotional energy expressed in the image of "our Father" vanishes into the sand of an intellectual desert. These two archetypal principles lie at the foundation of the contrasting systems of East and West. The masses and their leaders do not realize, however, that there is no substantial difference between calling the world principle male and a father (spirit), as the West does, or female and a mother (matter), as the Com- munists do. Essentially, we know as little of the one as of the other.

In earlier times, these prin- ciples were worshiped in all sorts of rituals, which at least showed the psychic significance they held for man. But now they have become mere abstract concepts. As scientific understanding has grown, so our world has become dehumanized. Man feels him- self isolated in the cosmos, because he is no longer involved in nature and has lost his emo- tional "unconscious identity" with natural phe- nomena. These have slowly lost their symbolic implications. Thunder is no longer the voice of an angry god, nor is lightning his avenging missile. No river contains a spirit, no tree is the life principle of a man, no snake the embodi- ment of wisdom, no mountain cave the home of a great demon. No voices now speak to man from stones, plants, and animals, nor does he speak to them believing they can hear. His contact with nature has gone, and with it has gone the profound emotional energy that this symbolic connection supplied.

This enormous loss is compensated for by the symbols of our dreams. They bring up our original nature its instincts and peculiar thinking. Unfortunately, however, they express their contents in the language of nature, which is strange and incomprehensible to us. It there- fore confronts us with the task of translating it into the rational words and concepts of modern speech, which has liberated itself from its primi- tive encumbrances notably from its mystical participation with the things it describes. Now- adays, when we talk of ghosts and other numi- nous figures, we are no longer conjuring them up. 'The power as well as the glory is drained out of such once-potent words. We have ceased to believe in magic formulas; not many taboos and similar restrictions are left; and our world seems to be disinfected of all such "supersti- tious" minima as "witches, warlocks, and wor- ricows," to say nothing ol werewolves, vampires, bush souls, and all the other bizarre beings that populated the primeval forest. To be more accurate, the surface of our world seems to be cleansed ol all superstitious and irrational elements. Whether, however, the real inner human world mil inn wish-fulfilling

Repressed unconscious contents can erupt destructively in the form of negative emotions as in World War II Far left, Jewish prisoners in Warsaw after the  uprising; left, footwear of the dead stacked at Auschwitz. Right, Australian aborigines who have disintegrated since they lost their religious beliefs through contact with civilization This tribe now numbers only a few hundred fiction about it) is also freed from primitivity is another question. Is the number 13 not still taboo for many people? Are there not still many individuals possessed by irrational preju- dices, projections, and childish illusions? A rea- listic picture of the human mind reveals many such primitive traits and survivals, which are still playing their roles just as if nothing had happened during the last 500 years. It is essential to appreciate this point. Modern man is in fact a curious mixture of characteris- tics acquired over the long ages of his mental development. This mixed-up being is the man and his symbols that we have to deal with, and we must scrutinize his mental products very carefully indeed.

Skepticism and scientific con- viction exist in him side by side with old-fash- ioned prejudices, outdated habits of thought and feeling, obstinate misinterpretations, and blind ignorance. Such are the contemporary human beings who produce the symbols we psychologists in- vestigate. In order to explain these symbols and their meaning, it is vital to learn whether their representations are related to purely per- sonal experience, or whether they have been chosen by a dream for its particular purpose from a store of general conscious knowledge. Take, for instance, a dream in which the number 13 occurs. The question is whether the dreamer himself habitually believes in the un- lucky quality of the number, or whether the dream merely alludes to people who still in- dulge in such superstitions. The answer makes a great difference to the interpretation. In the former case, you have to reckon with the fact that the individual is still under the spell of the unlucky 13, and therefore will feel most un- comfortable in Room 13 in a hotel or sitting at a table with 13 people. In the latter case, 13 may not mean any more than a discourteous or abusive remark. The "superstitious" dreamer still feels the "spell" of 13; the more "rational" dreamer has stripped 13 of its original emo- tional overtones. This argument illustrates the way in which archetypes appear in practical experience: They are, at the same time, both images and emotions.

One can speak of an archetype only when these two aspects are simultaneous. When there is merely the image, then there is simply a word-picture of little consequence. But by being charged with emotion, the image gains numinosity (or psychic energy); it becomes dynamic, and consequences of some kind must flow from it. I am aware that it is difficult to grasp this concept, because I am trying to use words to describe something whose very nature makes it incapable of precise definition. But since so many people have chosen to treat archetypes as if they were part of a mechanical system that can be learned by rote, it is essential to insist that they are not mere names, or even philosophical concepts. They are pieces of life itself- images that are integrally connected to the living individual by the bridge of the emotions. That is why it is impossible to give an arbitrary (or universal) interpretation of any archetype. It must be explained in the manner indicated by the whole life-situation of the par- ticular individual to whom it relates. Thus, in the case of a devout Christian, the symbol of the cross can be interpreted only in its Christian context — unless the dream pro- duces a very strong reason to look beyond it. Even then, the specific Christian meaning should be kept in mind. But one cannot say that, at all times and in all circumstances, the symbol of the cross has the same meaning. If that were so, it would be stripped of its numin- osity, lose its vitality, and become a mere word. Those who do not realize the special feeling tone of the archetype end with nothing more than a jumble of mythological concepts, which can be strung together to show that everything means anything — or nothing at all. All the corpses in the world are chemically identical, but living individuals are not. Archetypes come to life only when one patiently tries to discover why and in what fashion they are meaningful to a living individual.