{"id":357,"date":"2015-01-23T16:20:59","date_gmt":"2015-01-23T06:20:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/janineprince.com\/?p=357"},"modified":"2015-01-23T16:20:59","modified_gmt":"2015-01-23T06:20:59","slug":"a-spiritual-tool-for-personal-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/janineprince.com\/home\/a-spiritual-tool-for-personal-growth\/","title":{"rendered":"A spiritual tool for personal growth"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Don't<\/a>We\u2019re on the third part of our exploration of the quincunx (here is part one<\/a> and part two<\/a>) as a\u00a0spiritual tool for personal growth. Of course you will have noticed that there are some drawbacks to this model. For example, the lines can give an unrealistic sense of solidness (which we all know to be a tricksy illusion); we don\u2019t easily see how these circles change size over time in response to the efforts of our will or our habits; and it might look like we\u2019re all individually in little boxes \u2013 a perception with particularly negative connotations in our culture besides which we know ourselves to be interconnected. The purpose of the model is to give a framework for reference that can help us to grow. It gives us a new set of choices, not simply an answer.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t panic<\/h2>\n

It might feel challenging at first, but imagine that you can see your own actions in each of these circles sometimes strong in one and less active in another, see how over time you\u2019ve made a set of spirals and they reach from your past to where you are right now. This can be challenging and uncomfortable because life is often not how we wish it would be. From here you can see the whisper of their trajectory \u2013 the next steps you\u2019re likely to take in each of those realms (potentially also an unpleasant vista as we see ourselves perpetuating unwelcome or unhelpful patterns despite our intentions. If you can hold on through this discomfort, it is more than possible for you to visualise these paths, because you\u2019re already living it now, and you are, at least, unconsciously aware of them.<\/p>\n

Sometimes to bring that picture to the conscious mind just takes finding the most comfortable image or story that will help you translate this idea into your life. The quincunx itself might have done the trick, or it might have just nudged a door ajar and you need something else to follow on. It is worth the effort because when you have a conscious connection to the patterns of your life you are in a position of choice rather than reaction.<\/p>\n

What you\u2019re looking for is a map or a guiding idea that contextualises the dynamic balance of holding the awareness of these five states at once. Possibly there\u2019s one in the faith that you already prefer. Buddhists refer to the four noble truths and the eight-fold path. In Kabbalah this model would connect to the tree of life (which gives a more detailed breakdown of the archetypal actions likely within each of the realms). Christian\u2019s can turn to a Christological reading of the crucifixion (theological significance<\/a>)\u00a0 and indeed the symbol of the crucified Christ is a powerful and globally recognised symbol. These examples are given in the spirit of sharing major, existing models not directing us into a theological comparison! There are lots that aren\u2019t religious too. Surfers have their own language for dynamic balance in the moment, and that complete physical and mental commitment often creates a space or an experience in which the higher consciousness\u2019s presence can be felt directly. Some American Shaman teachings refer to the \u2018spiral dance\u2019 and to me that idea made sense \u2013 hearing the music, feeling the rhythm, interacting with the ground, the sky, the other dancers.<\/p>\n

How this is helpful in normal life<\/h2>\n

When we are stuck in a pattern of behaviour that seems solid, the story or map that we\u2019ve chosen to use can help us to interrupt the habit.<\/p>\n

By the way, you might not believe this, but you\u2019ve already made the first step in getting help where you want it. By asking, you\u2019ve found this concept. Just as importantly now is to accept what comes to you as help. (That\u2019s just one of those obvious things that is worth saying out-loud now and then.)<\/p>\n

A real example<\/h2>\n

Let\u2019s say you\u2019re worried about money. Specifically you\u2019re worried that you\u2019re not making enough savings or the right investments right now for when you\u2019re older. I worry about how I will cope with my chronic illness, how I will survive in a hostile economy if I can\u2019t work. In my version of the model, I understand money primarily as Earth (well-being in the physical world) and as Air (a shared concept in our culture). When I\u2019m worrying, and maybe you do this too, I\u2019m often taking a Water perspective (of emotional values) on the situation. That is to say the issue is that I feel weak and vulnerable rather than the rational odds of the likelihood of the situation that I fear or an evaluation of the other mitigating factors that I could use my intelligence to deal with. Notice there is no Fire in this example. Here\u2019s where the model can point out a new perspective. What might the lack of a Fire perspective illustrate? It shows that I feel that I have no grasp of the mechanics of wealth, of how money as a technology functions.<\/p>\n

Instead I look around at what I can see others have (Earth again) and measure myself against their possessions or investments. I read articles (Air) about what people in my demographic \u2018should\u2019 have or own. Sometimes I witness myself feeling (Water) that I deserve better or more. All of these behaviours perpetuate the habits I\u2019m stuck in.<\/p>\n

Even by trying to describe what a fire perspective might be, I had to interrupt my patterned reactions to the issue and go into a perspective that was new and in this case diametrically opposed to the main realm in which the worry holds power. That action of interruption marks a powerful choice. Actions that interrupt our thoughtless reaction mark a point of self-rearrangement. You may also have noticed the use of the word witness in there \u2013 that\u2019s another healthy separation that allows us to put what\u2019s going on back into the circle or corner it belongs in and remind ourselves that we\u2019re more than just that reaction.<\/p>\n

Even so, there\u2019s one more angle we haven\u2019t used yet to look at this worry. You can see it now can\u2019t you? That\u2019s right \u2013 from the centre. What might the soul perspective be on money, debt or poverty?<\/p>\n

What does your soul tell you? Did you get a flash of feeling or a picture from your past come to mind?<\/p>\n

What perspectives have opened up for you out of this discussion? Please feel welcome to share them in the comments or to think them over in the days ahead. It sounds so simple, but actually doing this can be confronting, can be a challenge, and it can leave you feeling woozy or even a bit lost. Drink some water and be forgiving. Ask for help, we\u2019re all in this together.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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For example, the lines can give an unrealistic sense of solidness (which we all know to be […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[80,70],"tags":[97,91,96,36,47,64,86,57,94,87,95,93,61,39,92],"class_list":["post-357","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-center","category-elemental","tag-accept","tag-air","tag-ask","tag-choice","tag-debt","tag-earth","tag-ego","tag-fire","tag-personal-growth","tag-quincunx","tag-should","tag-spiritual","tag-water","tag-wealth","tag-witness"],"yoast_head":"\nA spiritual tool for personal growth - 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