Challenge IV: The Lover Versus The Actor
With the challenges surmounted that have satisfied initial connection, power, freedom, and esteem, the brain developed and the mind is place, the need for connection is revisited in the challenge of the lover. This challenge generally falls around puberty and early teen years and comes to the fore with the help of hormonal sexual urges, although sexual love is but a small part of its offerings.
One has to wonder what the absence of "hormonal sexual urges" is indicative of; of course such urges can be turned inward and result in masturbation until and unless a greater level of trust with another is accepted. Otherwise, this can be a very risky period to work one's way through.
The lover challenge entails learning the ability to have intimate friendships, to share openly without fear and to develop the deepest of human bonds. It fleshes out the early concepts of connection by coming full circle and offering yourself to others as the mother once offered herself to you. This stage marks the genuine expansion of the self concept to fully include others in the thoughts, feelings, and actions. Creative impulses also come to the fore and the need for meaningful encounters strengthens. The lover begins to build a common reality with intimate friends without limit, fear, or competition. The morality of the lover honors the social order, but takes on a higher sense of duty and commitment to building the intimate friendship.
Of the two qualities, sexual drive and intimate relationships, it would seem that the latter reflects a higher level of development in the human level of progression. This would explain why the female, at the earlier years of adolescence would seek friendship with more depth in thoughts and feelings and accept the sexual nature as a necessary part of male companionship.
Feelings of compassion, love, tolerance, forgiveness, loyalty, honor, faith, and hope are the rewards of surmounting the lover challenge. These feelings are based within a mindscape that understands love as the divine power. On the other hand The actor archetype can instead emerge. The actor understands that there is some inherent value in connection with others, but is overcome by limiting beliefs that create mistrust, fear, and anger. The actor uses deception to pretend intimacy but remains isolated within a defensive mindscape. There will be emptiness, shallowness, competitive dominance and submission, and sabotage of relationships that get too close for "the mind's comfort".
The "actor" can have a strong sexual drive but will more than likely not have the level of maturity to be content in an emotional attachment. Such an individual will engineer a severing of any relationship that appears to demand a lasting and permanent connection with another person. This is often carried out on a subconscious level without fully comprehending the mental forces behind such behavior.
The lover challenge when unmet can create further mental conditions such as mood disorders, personality eccentricities and erratic and dramatic behaviors. The feelings of jealousy, contempt, hostility, and even hate can come from a lack of loving reconnection with the world. A good deal of histrionic, sociopathic and psychopathic behavior culminates at this point when there has been dysfunction at the lower levels of challenge. Individuals can retreat into severely limited mindscapes, and isolate themselves from others both mentally and physically.
Just as physical pain can serve as an alert to a state of bodily imbalance, so can emotional "pain" serve as an alert to a return to the totem pole of development. Here the need for rebuilding is likely to be called for. At the very least, a fuller understanding of the natural/obstructed process of human growth should be reviewed.
Challenge V: The Speaker Versus Silent Child During adolescence, challenges come upon one another as the growth process reaches its goal of physical maturity. The speaker
challenge engages the creative impulses to the maximum level so that external expression can be shared with the world. "Speaking" in this sense means any form of creative expression in the world that communicates an original perspective, becoming an abstract or concrete cultural contribution to the world.
This is the point of verbal creativity, but can also be expressed in a succinct form of humor or a tendency to be rebellious. Whatever form it takes, it is an expression of uniqueness and should be appreciated as such. When funneled into positive activities, it can establish one of the bricks upon which future development can be made.
At this point in the natural unfolding development, the mindscape has been finely honed and is attuned to both body and spirit. Life becomes a passionate pursuit of self-development and creative self-expression. The need for meaning also becomes more and more salient as the intuitive pathways continue to blossom. The speaker is characterized by strengthened truth and integrity, seeking broader arenas for creative expression, solid boundaries and self-solidarity. The morality of the speaker continues to respect social duty, but also speaks up when limits of convention hinders any self in any way. The feelings of creative accomplishment, passion, courage, mirth, and faith become constant companions of the speaker.
As the "speaker" looks around and sees the hypocrisy of his/her world, there is a compulsion to make corrections wherever possible This leads to a
level of natural hostility between the adolescent and the adult population and a strong drive to separate oneself from the trappings of conformity. Oddly, the conformity then tends to follow the trappings of one's own peer group
for strength in the conflict between adolescent and viewed adult.
Like sailors mindful of the rules of the sea, the better prepared for the voyage, the more likely the chances of finding an intended port. This is where the early comfort and assurances prove to be of tremendous value, for true creativity can not be carried if the distractions from early life have diverted the ship of destiny.
If the challenge goes unmet, the silent child pattern will instead be evident. The silent child falls victim to a limited mindscape that creates ongoing fear. It hides itself in shame and hurt. Its unexpressed creative energies are often channeled in internally directed anger. Feelings are held in, but burst forth in dysfunctional thoughts, and self-destructive actions. The pain of separation is a constant cross to bear, and the accumulation of pent-up feelings often prompt the escapism into avenues of chemical dependency or other forms of avoidant withdrawal.
When we see such a troubled adolescent, we see little more than a "challenge" who is lacking in an opportunity to indulge in an act of creative expression. Many times the mere discovery of a particular interest or talent can stave off a self-destructive path. The educational system can be trained to recognize the cause behind such behavior and bring to the attention of both adolescent and parent (on a separate basis, if possible) what talents are recognized; and establish opportunities where attention can be directed.
If there has been an ongoing failure to meet needs still at this stage, there can be quite severe psychological repercussions. The more severe forms of mood disorder and thought disorder begin to appear at this time in those most genetically vulnerable. Symptoms such as schizophrenic psychosis, self-mutilation, and suicidal depression can begin to present themselves.
In recent times, a great deal of financial attention has been directed toward the area of sports and away from such equally important areas as music and art. Even technology as is possible with the use of computers would be of benefit, provided it is encouraged to be used in a creative manner and not just as a tool to excel in a profitable career at a later period of one's life.
Challenge VI: The Seer Versus the Intellectual With all former challenges surmounted, the
foundation is in place for the unfolding of the higher brain potentials. Enlightened mindscapes have all archetypal understandings applied in conscious thought and action and experience far less emotional interruption than that
considered normal at present.
If not raised in that more perfect environment where parents are ideal models and everything is lined up properly for the natural evolution of mind, body and spirit, the only true road back to this solid balance between "body, mind, and spirit", may be through such practices as meditation or intent as expressed through prayer. The latter may seem a simplified process, but as a supplementation to intent, it is likely to produce powerful and satisfying results.
The seer has conscious control of the self and is unified in every sense. The seer has clear and accurate mental perceptions and has no need for avoidance or deception of any kind. He or she is secure in power, freedom, connection, esteem, is creative and now becomes compelled by the need for meaning. The seer begins to focus attentions to the higher, more meaningful aspects of mental creativity, but remains firmly rooted in body and in actively expressing in the physical world. The seer begins to access psychic gifts and tap potentials from beyond space/time. The seer begins to understand the meaning within the nuances and synchronistic nature of life. The seer no longer has the blinders created by a limited mindscape, and begins to embrace the true nature of the physical experience. The mantra of the seer is to "seek only truth".
What separates the "seer" from the intellectual is a willingness to strike out into territory that the so-called intellectual consciously tried to avoid for fear of being rejected by his fellow intellectuals. The seer can be comfortable both in the area of conformity and non-conformity, knowing that true mental and spiritual evolution comes from a level more sophisticated and detached than the world generally upholds and defends.
The seer begins to recognize and willfully control each of his creative events. Ideals of external controllers, superstitions, and fear-driven beliefs of power loss are simply not part of the seer's mindscape---for such slivers have never been seriously entertained. The illusory cause and effect relationships of the physical realm begin to give way to the higher understandings from beyond space/time as the seer becomes ever more broad in his scope of conscious vision and exploration. There are few lingering emotional corrective signals, as the seer creates events and situations that no longer limit and frustrate the spirit. The predominant feelings of the seer are compassion, love, honor, mirth, bliss, gratitude, passion of living and purposeful experience, excitement of creation, and the delightful surprise and wonder in watching how desired events will unfold.
The truly well-rounded person can look at life and see what a blessing it offers to those who do not take it too seriously. To see that it was meant to be enjoyed and to offer experiences that lead to greater understanding of our own nature and our role in the overall scheme of things. Once that relationship is fully understood, the limits to our creativity are put aside.
The seer enjoys the fully functional nature morality, wherein the moral directive is the universal principles of justice, equal empowerment, compassion, respect, honor, and accountability. The seer neither needs nor accepts external forms of moral or legal control, for they are known to be generally less enlightened than internal controls. The seer understands the deepest meaning within all symbolic morality systems and lives by the inner urgings of his spirit, enjoying cooperative, emotionally rewarding interactions with all fellow humans.
The "seer" transcends the world of power and control and establishes a confidence of both to where he/she does not need to rely upon others, be they individuals or institutions, to guide the conduct of one's life. Once the person is comfortable in such a state of mind, no additional guidance is necessary, expect that which comes from within. The only challenge is to learn to trust in that inner guidance.
In an enlightened environment, the seer can emerge as early as in the late teen years. At present, however, the full value of the seer expressed in the physical realm is rare indeed. The more recognizable pattern can be recognized as the archetype of THE INTELLECTUAL.
The intellectual is too often judged by the educational credentials and the refined manner of expressing such information which is accepted among his/her fellow intellectuals, or at least not too far adrift from the "accepted". If the scientists declare that nothing can travel in excess of the speed of light, this is regarded as sacrosanct and not to be questioned. If the existence of the spiritual quality of humans is not immediately evident and measurable, it is deemed to not exist. Thus, whatever is placed at the highest point of the intellectual levels of society, is never to be doubted. It is the modern day practice of scientific dogma.
The intellectual has made some positive progress, but has a mindscape that revolves around the existing mindscape rather than a genuine openness to ongoing self-development. The intellectual has come to certain judgments and finite conclusions and holds fast to them, often going to great lengths to rationalize, justify, and even deceive to make incoming information fit the existing mold. The intellectual must constantly defend the mindscape against any corrective emotional signal and engage in selective perception. The intellectual will often have a strong sense of superiority and be loath to allow anything or anyone to question it.
A great many of the intellectual and scientific presumptions so highly prized in the world today, when compared with the previous ages in the development of mankind, bear a striking resemblance to the dogmatic positions of past centuries. It is not so much in the information upheld, but in the manner in which it is defended. The broadening of a perspective can not be accomplished without a willingness to question that perspective.
The intellectual will become less and less likely to engage in genuine self-development. The mental judgments will continue to become evermore complex and perhaps impressive to some, but all judgments do nothing but limit potential and create spiritual distress. The intellectual will find it more and more necessary to subordinate the intuitive functions to the rational analytic processes because the intuitions bring information contrary to the mindscape. Eventually the entire right brain will be less involved than the left.
This is especially true when the educational process defends and practices an attitude of programming which appears to worship one method and almost literally ignores the other. Degrees of recognition are awarded to those who conform to the process that is most recognized and accepted. Those who decline or veer away from such accepted curriculum, pay a dear price for such intellectual/emotional individuality.
The intellectual will not be able to escape the signals of fear, anger, sadness, and guilt. Their mental and physical horizons will begin to collapse. They will necessarily narrow their field of activity and limit their friendships to those who can be persuaded to agree with them. They will put others off with haughty superiority, rigid opinions, and judgmental expressions as well as ensuring a safe physical distance. They will lack compassion and tolerance, and may demand perfection in everyone but themselves. There will be a natural isolating effect as the intellectual retreats to live in the superior surroundings of his or her own mindscape.
The above description might be familiar to a great number of so-called professional people in our society. It might even be described as a state of insecurity that follows success. Unfortunately, it hints at a true sense of failure in that once a determined state of separation from ones fellow human beings of contrary viewpoints becomes an adopted life style, mental and spiritual growth tend to suffer.
The intellectual, having lost touch with the feeling system, will attempt to hold in feelings and subordinate them to ration, in evermore impressive mental contortions to justify the limited mindscape. The spirit will then work overtime during both waking and dream states to get its message through. The feelings will manifest inwardly, however, in depression, paranoia, and resentment. If underlying challenges have remained mostly unmet, there are serious repercussions to the intellect. Such a mindscape has little effectiveness at surmounting daily challenges, lifestyles; and worldviews are quite distorted and detrimental. In fact, not many individuals even remain living if a minimal amount of progress is not attained by this time. The entity might simply decide that willful limits are so profound that life is a try-again, do-over. There will then be a direct spiritual hand in the final exit. Perhaps a fatal illness, an "accidental" death, or the more direct suicidal exit.
The above paragraph clearly suggests that the repercussions of imbalance toward the intellect, at the expense of the emotional, can be life threatening. But before that point is reached, it can simply be life-distracting. In a left-brain oriented society which awards prizes to intellectual pursuits, we run the risk of maintaining a perpetual state of distortion which eventually supports rationalization to a point of disaster. A good example of this was this country's early attitude toward our involvement in Viet Nam. Even today, there are too many who believe that greater levels of aggression and violence would have achieved a desirable result.
The inner needs and intuitive forces which propel the challenge of the seer cannot help but broaden the bounds of consciousness at this point in physical development. If there are any propensities toward a mobile consciousness or personality fragmentation, they can become psychotically profound at this point. As the intuitions and information from beyond space/time impinge upon the closed mindscape they can be distorted and misinterpreted, but considered valid and real. They can facilitate episodes of delusional, paranoid, psychotic, and manic-depressive behavior.
If this isn't enough of a warning to inspire one to a point of self-examination, I'm not at all sure what it would take. The "episodes" listed above are too often considered by the medical profession to be little more than mysterious chemical imbalances when, in fact, they are more likely to be the consequences of one's personal distractions.
Challenge VII: The Transcender The final challenge lies in the continued focus upon the
evermore complex levels of meaning that can be derived from the creative physical experience. As the self continues to expand internally and externally, so do the creative talents and powers of the individual. This archetypal
understanding can be called the transcender. It has been historically referred to as the wise old man, the guru, the ascended master and other such related concepts.
While it is true that the current earthly environment is not conducive to developing the wisdom necessary to become an "ascended master", such can be overcome by intent. Information expressed in such examples as the "Lessons", can assist in the process. And while opportunities to apply these lessons may appear to be few and far between, as we absorb such information, the opportunities will automatically present themselves.
The transcender lives spontaneously in the present moment but can only do so due to the finely honed mindscape that is skilled in all worldly spheres. The mindscape is free of both positive and negative judgments, yet the experiences created bring emotional delight, and the spiritual resonance from a blissful instant, intuitive, ineffable, energy/understanding. The transcender is indeed, the full and whole human potential---the experience that the physical embodiment is designed to be.
A major step in evolving to the status of the "transcender" is getting beyond the temptation to indulge in the "positive and negative judgments" spoken of above. Naturally, this is difficult to do in an atmosphere where so many others revel in the practice, but it need not be. We are all individuals with the freedom to choose to do or not to do whatever we like. It may require getting beyond our comfort zone, but the rewards are far greater than mere security.
The transcender has the entire world at his or her fingertips in complete understanding of the purposes and functions of the physical realm. Such an individual has developed and enjoys a tremendous flexibility of consciousness and is no longer simply limited to the narrow mental daytime focus of the personality. The transcender is often competent in mobility of consciousness in realms beyond space/time, enjoying out of body sojourns, lucid dreaming, extra-sensory perception, telepathic communications, and is highly effective at manifesting energy into matter. The transcender is also competent at conscious willful control over bodily processes, and exhibits impressive healing abilities. Some individuals have mastered some of these potentials including those that can manifest matter seemingly from thin air without any time-lag. The entity known as Jesus Christ can be offered as the best example of the potential of the transcender.
There are those alive today who have mastered many of the qualities indicated above. Yet, they are not fully recognized by a world so caught up in the intellectual illusions of our time. If it doesn't fit into the current paradigm, it simply can not be incorporated by the international media. So, those few who do witness these qualities tend to worship the "pointer" and failure to comprehend the lessons behind the genius/spiritual qualities that make it possible.
Therapeutic Approaches to Mental Health To the enlightened mind, it should be clear that the best approach to mental health is in
allowing it to unfold, without messing it up with social fear, judgment, and external control.
Let's begin again with the acceptance that we are not automatically introduced to this physical existence in a state of perpetual probation, with the only hope of being allowed to evolve into complete entities tied to the governing regulations of some particular institution. Rather, let the beginning of a person's physical existence be unmarred by anything other than the past-life baggage he/she might choose to bring aboard. From that point on, we can sail and tack in the direction we elect to travel.
At present, many cures for mental illness cause far more harm than good. It is only when the emotional patterns are recognized and accommodated in the natural developmental process, that mental health will naturally manifest. Approaches which examine and alter belief structures are of course the most effective forms of therapy, but the added spiritual understandings are essential additions to any such practice. Loving connection, trust, compassion and support between human beings is far more therapeutic than most "cures".
Would that the medical/psychiatric profession come to understand that the establishment of an honest relationship between two human beings is the necessary groundwork for working toward the cure of emotional problems. Once that is established, then the examination of the patient's belief system could be approached for review.
Pharmacological approaches are by far the most popular cure for most serious disorders, but often do far more harm than good. Most individuals that take regular doses of psychoactive drugs can only continue to take them because the chemical system has adapted to interfere with their potency in order to right and protect itself. But more often than not, individual bodies and spirits heartily reject regular doses of powerful chemicals that simply alter the emotional system instead of attacking the problem at its source. In fact, pharmacological therapy is a symptom of mass denial regarding the knowledge of the human condition.
One of the saddest conditions of so called "modern" medicine is the administration of drugs to maladjusted children. While it may have temporarily positive effects on their respective conditions, it leaves the true cures more distanced and difficult to bring to the fore at a later time. Surely we can leave a better heritage for future generations.
Healthy emotional systems can easily be thrown off balance by ongoing stressful situations which tip the delicate chemical balance. But there is presently far more susceptibility to such imbalances due to such factors as diet, exercise patterns, and of course internal and external conflict. Many individuals who find themselves in a period of depression can simply enhance nutrients and eat a more natural and balanced diet to completely restore chemical balance. Although individuals often respond positively to a temporary dosage of certain medications, it is because they have jump-started the natural system into producing the chemicals that have been insufficient. Even inert substances, when empowered with belief, can bring astounding improvements.
What do placeboes do if not pay tribute to the mind's capability to address and correct the state of dis-ease that exists within us. Chemical substances such as typical manufactured drugs, have their place in the treatment of illness, but as we come to understand the true nature of what makes up a human being, we will elect to approach these states of imbalance with the balancing qualities of nature itself.
But it will only be through the loving cooperation within humanity that true mental
health can emerge. With this lens of mental health in place, we can now discuss the ramifications and connections for physical health.