PITFALLS
On the Animá Path of Self Growth, Self Realization, Service & Purpose

by Jesse Wolf Hardin
www.animacenter.org
Part 5

The following is the fifth in a series describing some of the dangerous or self-limiting Pitfalls on the path of trut and getting real, personal growth and purpose… including misconceptions and maladies that can hinder our understanding, development and manifestation.  We’ve noticed that this Pitfalls series has gotten fewer comments than almost any other recent posts.  We can only hope that you find these to be effective tools of perception, as contrary or challenging to hear as some of these redefinitions may be.

•  The Myth Of Light Versus Dark
An all white piece of paper is blank.  It’s the relationship of dark and light that defines form and makes movement visible to the human eye.  Our lives are defined not only by moonless nights and sun drenched days, but also by what artists call “chiaroscuro:” the delicate interplay of dark and light brought about by subtly shifting shadows.  To make sense of what is illuminated, one must explore the dark depths of its meaning and its being.  Darkness serves us in the form of insightful pain, comforting silence, the stillness between periods of tiring activity, the death that begets life and the blackness that gives birth to light.  There is really nothing intrinsically good or evil about either.

•  The Dichotomy Of Good & Evil
It is problematic to label things exclusively good or bad, or to gravitate towards the perceived “light” and away from the messier and more mysterious “dark.”  The Animá practitioner recognizes that there is a subjective positive and negative to be found in all things.  She or he personally contributes to the integrity of the whole, heals when possible, and opposes when appropriate.

•  The Problem With Higher & Lower
The practitioner seeks “broader” consciousness not “higher,” acts out of “deeper” rather than “higher” purpose.  Using a scale of “higher” and “lower” denotes hierarchy in the mold of kings and peons, Popes and vassals — a tradition of judging, exalting and condemning.  In reality, the Earth is spinning in space with no fixed up or down.  All things have a unique range of gifts and abilities, and are better at some things in certain situations.  It is for the heartful practitioner to plumb her abilities as well as weaknesses, in order to contribute to personal and global wholeness, and to maximize potential.  He or she seeks not to ascend a ladder of accomplishment and honor, but to penetrate the depths of self and meaning, only thereby reaching out to and consciously linking up with the anima, the magical all.

•  Misreading Difficulties
One harmful way of thinking assumes that the more difficult something is, the better indication that one is doing what they are “supposed to,” while another holds that if something is inordinately hard, it “wasn’t meant to be.”  While life provides both difficulty and ease, neither is a clear indication that we are doing either right or wrong.  Even while acting impeccably, we’ll find ourselves equipped with advantages as well as disadvantages, blessed with both struggle and opportunity.

…to be continued

(To further deepen your study and practice we recommend enrolling in the various Animá 8 Week Courses described on the website, especially the introductory “Orientation, Principles & Pitfalls”)

(Forward, copy and post freely)

Share This

Categories: Practicing Animá Lifeways

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 at 3:02 pm and is filed under Practicing Animá Lifeways. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.