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# Re: Defining Hermeticism

#### Message 01878 of 3835

- To: BardonPraxis@yahoogroups.com
- Subject: Re: [BardonPraxis] Defining Hermeticism
- From: Robert Spaulding <firstrobroy2000@...>
- Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2003 20:48:44 -0800 (PST)
- In-reply-to: <002401c3b6bb$ba906270$fda17fd8@ownerbqacdlzy6>

    Dear Rawn:

    I was having a little trouble with the process of transformation, but I can see
    more clearly how step one is vital in that.

    Would it be correct to say that being a part of humanity, a single person
    secretly harbors
    all the negative characteristics of what has been called human nature? And that
    some are just more dominant than others? And what about one's secret faults,
    those one is unaware of? There are times I find myself justifying being bored
    and I really have to work at not expressing this negative emotion. However, I
    am sure there are things deep within that need to be worked on. Does one become
    conscious of those by mastering the ones that he is aware of? I believe it was
    the Apostle Paul in the Gospels that asked to be cleansed of his secret faults.

    Thanks again.

    Robert

    Rawn Clark <rawnclark@...> wrote:
    Dear Robert,

    >> Could you expand on this? <<

    The combination of mental discipline, introspection and transformation
    of character are what create an astral Equilibrium of the Elements.
    This means that, a) you must learn how your mind and emotions work and
    become adept at consciously *using* them, b) you must transform the
    negative, subconscious astral character traits that hold you back from
    being your *conscious* self, and c) you must learn how to consciously
    choose between the emotional responses available to you.

    When you have attained these internal things, you are then in a position
    to *clearly* perceive the external realm. Until that time, you forever
    see *through* the filter of the subconscious mind over which you have no
    conscious influence. But when you fully understand that filter and have
    transformed it into a conscious tool, you can look around it, instead of
    through it, and perceive the external realm as *it* is, instead of how
    your psyche interprets it.

    This naturally changes your relationship with, and experience of, the
    external world. It no longer determines your inner state because *you*
    consciously determine your own internal state. *You* are steadfast in
    your own self-awareness. Prior to these attainments you were buffeted
    here and there by external circumstances -- now, instead of moving you,
    external circumstances move *around* you.

    When you can *clearly* perceive the external world and can stand unmoved
    by it, firmly rooted in your knowledge of self, you stand in a place of
    great power in relation to the external world. Previously, external
    circumstances held power *over* you, but now, you hold your own power
    for yourself instead of giving it up to the whims of external
    circumstance.

    It is very much like the first mental exercise of Step One in which you
    detach, passively observe and thus quiet the mind's chatter -- only then
    do you have the available power to truly focus upon one thing. The work
    with the astral Equilibrium is really this same process. The unexamined
    and untransformed personality is the astral equivalent of the mind's
    chatter. First you detach from the personality and observe it. Then
    you transform it and, in essence, quiet it just like you did with the
    mind chatter. Once the personality is quiet, you then have the
    available power to fully focus upon the *external* world.

    An important key to exercising the power to change anything is that you
    perceive it clearly as *it* is. This is why the astral work begins with
    introspection and the mental work begins with observation. Only through
    knowing a thing first can we truly transform it. The same holds true
    for transformation of the external world -- we must perceive it clearly
    *first*. We must see it as *it* is, without that unconsciously imposed
    filter of our own astral personality.

    That is why I wrote: "In order to grow in the ability to effect external
    changes, the student MUST learn the ability to control their own self.
    Self-control (i.e., the ability to define one's own responses to
    external and internal stimuli, instead of those stimuli being the
    determining factor) is an essential ingredient to attaining an Elemental
    Equilibrium."

    >> Perhaps one would see other people differently. It has been said
    that where one is bound, none are free. And to realize that we are all
    tared with the same brush or in the same boat, so to speak, we begin to
    see why people act the way they do. I am beginning to experience a
    tolerance toward other people that wasn't there before and the absence
    of criticism that previously occupied by attention is no longer in
    control. <<

    That's great. :) Another aspect at play here is that when there's a
    part of *you* that you want to hide away in a dark corner of your
    psyche, every time you see that same part manifest externally through
    another's behaviour, the perception sheds a small bit of dreaded light
    upon the hidden spot within your own psyche. When that happens, the
    psyche reacts with fear, anger, etc., to protect that cherished
    darkness. The soul mirror work however, seeks to shed light upon every
    corner of the psyche and as you progress in that work, there are fewer
    and fewer dark spots that the psyche struggles blindly to protect. In
    other words, as you resolve your own internal issues, the external
    issues touch fewer and fewer raw nerves.

    >> Your article on Defining Hermeticism expanded my understanding of
    Hermeticism. I have not seen it explained before in such a clear and
    practical way. <<

    Cool. Glad to hear it. :)

    My best to you,
    :) Rawn Clark
    29 Nov 2003
    rawnclark@...
    rawn@...
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