Dancing in the Dark 5

5. Putting the dogs out

During a conversation with others, we are often interrupted mentally with obscure and abstract thoughts. The effort required in directing our attention to another person is consuming.

Silent orders and retreats have been effectual in the clearing of unwanted thought, so that proper time can be given to identifying the real from the unreal, the propitious from the unproductive.

If we are moving through a hurried day, or if the input around us is demanding, then we are more given to horrible thoughts, even though we are less aware of them. This is something of a caution, because we can believe that by keeping mentally occupied we shall not have a problem. But equal to the difficulty these thoughts cause when they present consciously, is also what they can do when they are traveling with us unseen.

If you ever speak to a person who has lost their fear or phobia of something, or had an obvious chain of compulsive destructive thoughts finally just leave them, you can feel confident that there can be a very real end to such thoughts, lesser and greater, in a lasting and meaningful way.

There can be a suspicion that living with obscurities is merely 'part of life', and certainly there will be harmless interjections into our thinking, assisting a flexibility and plasticity that is useful to the process. However, those thoughts which are dark, brooding, obsessive and repeating, fearful, intolerant etc., those thoughts can be discarded so permanently that they do not ever come back. 

This is hopeful news to all of us, and if we take time to reflect, we can find instances of this experience we know for ourselves already. Even if it was a childhood fear now vanished, you will find in your own history a parcel of horrible thoughts that do not plague you anymore.

Dancing in the Dark 4

4. Who is stronger?

Horrible thoughts literally derive life from ourselves, and therefore we are the stronger entity. They are dependent upon us, and although their effect is to stimulate more energy into our systems by our participation (for they are stimulants in their action) they are debilitating time wasters that have no vitality that can endure.

Healthy thoughts are attached to a branch of thought that livingly goes back, right up to the parent thought and the god it belongs to. Healthy thoughts have a vitality all of their own, and their origins and life-source are in the spiritual worlds. Their blood system is of the higher ethers. Whereas unhealthy thoughts are local and astrally emotive - they expire readily and have no roots in the divine. They are not shared usually by others, although they are infective and do multiply similar negative paradigms in other individuals or communities; and as Paracelsus explained it, are responsible for epidemics and physical disorders also.

They literally live in the nervous system, the stomach, the groin, and in certain bacteria besides. Interestingly they are not part of the mind at all. The mind may register the contemplation of a given thought, but the thought itself may not reside there or take its action primarily there.

5. Putting the dogs out

Dancing in the Dark 3

3. Mental imagery

Many of these disturbing impressionings may not even appear of themselves threatening. For example: before my inner eye may be the image of a place or object, that of itself is not knife-wielding or end-of-days, but if anything, presents without menace, just persistence.

Now whilst we discussed the fact that there are no lasting afflictions upon us from the past (and truly not), there are however associations that we have made that we carry for a time, that are related to past experience. This is part of living, for if we did not enjoy an associative consciousness we could not build upon our own knowing and learning. Yet it is to be remembered also, that it is very different for our own minds to adopt something, than have something or someone from outside of our being, impose upon us. 

So the fundamental point, that the past does not afflict upon us its mark, is all important; and equally too, what we choose to take from the past, is also.

The random nature of the horrible thought is a great insight of course, into past associations. The horrible thought has no substance in the present, it has no correlation to what is real now, but it does have a fanciful relationship to experiences or thoughts we have had in the past.

Our souls by nature, are generous and kind. They can afford to be because they are naturally happy and enjoying all of what is around them. The healthy soul is vital and accepting, and delighted in life around it. There is no need for dishonesty, deception, or even greed. Souls have everything they could want for, and the sense to know it. The soul of Man is in blessed repose.

Our egos by nature, are ambitious and willing, striving and contesting, but once again, they are not mean at the core, because this is not conducive to learning or acquiring. Our egos are more sophisticated than condemning - they debate, they do not kill.

Our personalities however, are something else entirely. They are blended from various layers of influence and making - some spiritual, some social, some physical - and these personalities are exclusive by nature, and have no consciousness of embracing 'differences'. It would be like asking a square to embrace curves - it is a square by its angles and that is what defines it. We too are defined within the world by our angles. We all share perfections, we all share the same spiritual heritage and true glamor - the only thing really that separates us are the secondary divisions having squared the circle, so to speak.

The mental imagery of getting back to the fundamental core of either soul or ego, is most wonderful in combating the idiosyncrasies of these horrible thoughts - remembering too that none of these thoughts are personal. They are not representational at all of the individual within, even though they may have been born from an energetic association at one point and witlessly entertained thereafter. 

They are suffered but not of substance. They are not you, nor are you them. If your ego is in a weakened condition you may find it difficult to flesh out what is real and what is not. You may not be able to so easily feel strong enough to dowse your way through the ghosts and the beasties, however and all throughout, you are in fact a separate individual to those thoughts - completely separate.

4. Who is stronger?

Dancing in the Dark 2

2. The personal findings

Firstly it needs be said that horrible thoughts may appear to be personally driven, but they are not. They may appear to have grafted on or sprung from some terrible event in your life, but the ghosts that replay within the psyche are truly not even cousins to trauma and have no relative substance, except for their imagery, in the truth of the past.

The reason for this is God given. Humankind is free of their past and even though partially karmicly accountable for all manner of former actions, a man, woman or child is not ever lastingly affected by the actions of others.

Now this is a very healing and important piece of information. That as a universal law of protection to the being, soul and ego of an individual, another person or event cannot stain, corrupt or lastingly mark them in any way. It is so. It has to be so. It thankfully is so.

Recently there was a question asked about longterm effects of torture and evility - and in answer to this also and very importantly, there is an absolute which decrees that individuals cannot be set upon by any influence that they do not want to carry; and certainly there shall be no harmful experience that will either add or detract from their being.

So in returning to this first truth: all men and women are, in this moment, as of now, totally free of all past circumstances; and that horrible thoughts are not of the substance of the past, even though they may wear the clothes and mimic in the imagination.

Knowing this revokes the license that these thoughts have upon us. And even though there is often very real pain experienced when we reflect back upon some past events, you can discern the horrible thought by its taunting. If you ever speak to folk who are grief stricken, or can feel what they are going through (apart from the shock), you will recognize a form of grief that is almost to be cherished. It is not because they would want to experience the loss that they are going through, for themselves or another, but there is a certain 'light' that they know, within this true and very real pain.

And often when reflecting back, the memories of the pain of that moment are also light-filled, tragic, and oddly inspiring. Grief when it is current is overwhelming and has a direct cause, and these are not the kinds of thoughts we are contemplating when we speak of the horrible thoughts today.

Horrible thoughts have no real or immediate basis for their presenting. They are negative, unproductive, bring no light or condolence or sanctity, but rather just disturb and deride the conscious mind.

Over a seven day period it is a tremendous exercise to carry a personal journal and go horrible thought spotting. You can write down what it is you have seen in your mind's eye or contemplated, and then commit it to the journal, and then just following that sentence, also write a line about its relevance to the moment. It is particularly good to state that the horrible thought has no place with you reasonably, at that time. 
For example:

Entry:

Father really made me feel bad about eating that second plate full.

Adding:

My father is not here right now, and that was a very long time ago. It is not now. I can have seconds if I want to.

Entry:

I cannot stand that woman or the way she looks at me. I feel sure she hates me.

Adding:

That woman is not here right now.

Entry:

What if that knife slipped while I was using it, and sliced my hand right through?

Adding:

I do not have a knife in my hand right now. And if I use one I will be careful.

Entry:

I am fat and I look terrible.

Adding:

My soul feels great - probably looks great too.

Entry:

I am scared of bombs exploding the city.

Adding:

There are no bombs here thankfully, exploding the city.

Entry:

What if I die today?

Adding:

I am not dead, I am alive.

Entry:

What if I slip and fall?

Adding:

I am upright. I am ok. And if I do fall, I can only fall so far.

Entry:

What if there is no food tomorrow?

Adding:

Thankfully I have food today.

Entry:

I saw an old man with his pants off and he looked frightening.

Adding:

There is no man here like that.

Also it is helpful to draw a line around each entry and addition; like a fence circling the entire thing, mentally containing it as it were.

Now the purpose of this journal is not healing of itself, but a good beginning. The point of adding reasonable counter thoughts is just a protection from the entire project becoming an aggravated obsession. It will not, however, fix the problem of obscene or irritating thoughts simply by answering them calmly.

It also needs be said, that genuinely we can all experience a very helpful and insightful intuition or warning about something that definitely should be acted upon and listened to, rather than dismissed in the ways we are speaking of today. However the point of difference with these useful cautions that are speaking to our being, is that once again there is a calmness, a 'light', an inspirational quality to these experiences. We will be more attuned to the positive warnings, if we can unclutter our minds from the tedious unproductive alarms that merely disturb and incite undirected fears and longings.

3. Mental imagery

Dancing in the Dark- 12th August 2007

HORRIBLE thoughts, just like scrawny demonic ghouls, like to live mostly unseen, in those darkened places of the mind's activity. They move about and interrupt, and can persuade and incite all kinds of emotions that deter a normal peace. They shadow better thoughts, and mimic the nobler ones with garish step and painful humor.

Horrible thoughts infest most men and women, and are so adeptly hidden, they are rarely disclosed or talked about. It is as though all folk sense that they do not want to give any more time or energy to these wraiths of reason, and coupled with a shamefulness for their content, keep them as hidden as their mind will permit - without being able to fully exorcise them from their being.

And of course, we suspect that it is only the psychotic or deranged that parade them for the world to know; and furthermore, we know in truth, that horrible thoughts (as personal as they might be) do not represent our real natures, or being, or hopes.

There is nothing to aspire to in a horrible thought. It is the fruitless tree, the pitted orb, the compass without bearing. Horrible thoughts are the second-most sadness a man can suffer - second only to immediate physical hardship. As intangible and unreal as they are, they are causal to yet more of the same and the suffering that accompanies it.

In the bigger picture, it is from horrible thoughts that most horrible deeds, politically and personally, are born from and carried through with - not out of logic, certainly not out of love or devotion, neither piety nor patriotism, but out of unworthy, immaterial, ill based and undeserved rank thinking.

Given this, we have to question boldly and bravely, why we do not work harder and thoroughly to contain and expel these nonsensical and deleterious grave diggers in our minds. Today we examine what that involves, step by step, with hopeful outcome.

1. The broad definition - what is a horrible thought?

If you cover your eyes with your hands (you can rest your head in your hands if you like), what is the first thought that comes to you? Generally speaking, it will be a horrible thought.

It might present in a picture only (albeit hard to see) or a flashing fleeting comment. But if you pay attention to the very first thought experienced, this can be a good way of seeing them.

The reason that it occurs this way, is because by blocking your vision you have decided to do something and then carried it out; that it was with purpose, logic and faithfully done. And the thing you have decided to do causes a period (even for seconds), of a rest. Your eyes are forcibly closed, and it is obvious that your condition is passive. Temporarily there are no things to do but the thing itself, which once the hands are upon the eyes, there is nothing logical to follow. And the minute there is a drop in reasoning, the very minute there is a gap for the horrible thought to surface into the consciousness, it will. As unfair to mediation and prayer as this is, as thwarting to restful moments and peace of mind, it will be the untoward and wayward thoughts that will be able to be consciously recognized when there is this pause in our purposefully driving thinking.

And here is a core reasoning as to an aspect of smoking cigarettes. There are many effects physiologically and spiritually from smoking cigarettes, however one in relation to what has just been discussed, is that the suppression of horrible thoughts is achieved when the will and the action of the smoking ritual is put into play. Those who smoke will know exactly how most horrible thoughts can be silenced the minute the ritual is entered into. And the use of the smoking to appease this disorder and discalm, is often exaggerated by the very horrible thoughts that cram in the very minute the cigarette is extinguished.

The key to the monkey up the pole story, is not about thoughts in general, but about horrible thoughts. Thus also the association of idle hands and devil's work - being meant quite literally and of the moment.

And interestingly, it is not peace or mediation that the majority of the population are afraid of. It is the infilling ghouls that frequent and startle the imagination - the complainings and upsets, the angers and 'hardships', the temptress and perversion, the obsession and agitation. It is those disarming thoughts that threaten the equilibrium that are unwanted and unusual, that men and women fear the most when they think of peace and meditation. Why would you try to pray, or sit quietly, when it only makes you experience your horrible thoughts all the more?

2. The personal findings