Euphrosene Labon

…is not how I´d like to start a new month. But, despite being busy (double stint stewarding at the Arundel Gallery Trail), there has been a serious wave of apprehension clouding my generally good mood. Even strenuous activity, digging out the tap root of the curry plant (to move it to a more spacious area) and two hours of pruning, hasn´t quite managed to waft it away.

I´d like to be able to blame outside circumstances, like the traumatised Sri Lankan woman who had nails hammered into her by her vile Saudi `employers´. That kept me awake for a good part of the night on the 26th/27th partly because the lady reminded me of Ma.

It could also be because I am still pondering why we humans accept such arduous or troubling lives - something that has troubled a great many writers and philosophers before me too. It can´t be because it gets better in an afterlife. Well not in my belief system, because `we´ re-create (or reincarnate, if you prefer).

In some faiths, there is a need to make good. In others, it is to help others make good. My current view is that we do choose a life, almost like a game, because, at a higher level, we know we have the ability to use our power to make anything good.

The trick is to feel that same innate power once in human bondage.

Yet getting to feel that inner power, while struggling through the mundane necessities of sentient existence, is a challenge that even superior mystics never totally managed.

On the pragmatic front, I need sales and commissions to pay the bills and the pitching I am planning has to be effective. Unfortunately, I keep recalling the tremendous efforts I have put in over the years for rather a meagre payback. The only good thing is I have retained my utter confidence in my `products´. A fine delusion because it keeps me going.

Lunch and then back to gardening duties.
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Food-induced nausea has been bugging me since lunch. For some reason, I can only eat green vegetables in small quantities. Failure to follow my own rule creates a two-pronged attack, so mashed tatties for supper for me. On the plus side, it has changed the mental focus!

And it didn´t stop me finishing the back garden weeding, changing the bedclothes and washing a stack of stuff (inc me) ... as well as registering with a freelance directory (useless by the look of things), chasing an art fair for the end of Sept, and trying to find how to change the options on Sticky Notes (ie turn back on the `do you want to delete this´ prompt - couldn´t find the Registry Editor and it took ages to find Accessories too but still no success).

So my mind is back on track for work and it at least it gives me some purpose.

A synchronistic aside: reading of Wilson´s peak experience (which I believe to be rather different from a divine one), a gossip comment quotes Anton Bilson(?) opining that Ibiza gives him loads of peak experiences. Rather confirms the difference.
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Art is informed by the life we lead, by our thoughts, experiences and desires. My blog posts are either streams of consciousness, wrestling with spiritual concepts or other experiences on this particular spiritual journey. For examples of how this translates into my art, please visit my gallery. Euphrosene Labon Mind Body Spirit Artist Author Writer

Arundel Gallery Trail, Ma, afterlife, art fair, Sticky Notes, peak experience

…continuing, in some form, is never going to change for me. I have had far too many other-dimensional experiences for personal verification to disbelieve. What does give me cause for spiritual pause is how dice are dealt.

Being part of the same Source or Great Everything, at some level, we make those choices, so there is not, in my view, a spiritual Uber-Meister cracking the whip.

But, being human, it is natural to forget that earlier spiritual choice, and it is even more human to observe how some people enjoy lives of seeming plenty and joy, with nary a negative incident to blight the flow. Even their children are beautiful and talented, and so the pleasures of human existence continue for them.

Luckily for them, they also seem inured to life´s inequities. No nasty empathies to torture the mind!

Positive thinking does not really come into play as most of those I know are not particularly more positive than the norm. If anything, they are blessed with single-mindedness - a different kettle of fish altogether.

This is a theme I touched on in Profit From Unlimited Thinking, but am now exploring more.

I´ve moved on apace since I wrote that book which, in any case, was written to free my mind for other philosophies. It would not have been possible, if my mental filing cabinet was still bulging with all those ideas, however true they were for me at the time.

I´ve always believed pragmatic positive thinking is paramount - not just blindly affirming and expecting. Simple observation would back that up, if nothing else. I can´t think of many in the self-help industry whose lives have been trouble-free. Several have made and then lost tremendously large fortunes, suffered serious ill-health, broken marriages and so on. But that´s another subject.

Where I am now is in observing how relatively easy it is to programme particles to believe something simply from necessity. Pavlovian, if you like. Stockholm Syndrome works in a not too dissimilar manner. People change behaviour as a means of self-preservation - well apart from martyrs.

But re-association of ideas does not have to be negatively based. The placebo effect, for example, is just an associative idea. There again, so could taking an aspirin! So, blindly following the mantra of positive thinking can work - albeit not in quite the way advised by those S/H writers.

What´s this got to do with our lot in life?

Comments on Barbara Ehrenreich´s critique of the gospel of positive thinking, opine that the evangelical positive thinker lacks empathy. They believe that kind of positive thinking creates selfishness on the one hand and blaming others for their lot in life on the other.

There´s some truth in that if every thought ever did manifest. (And there is a metaphysical view that every thought actually does create - but not necessarily at the same point in time and space.)

There´s also some truth if, as I currently believe, we choose our own destinies. But why then wouldn´t we all choose the life I described earlier? Why choose to be born ill or in extreme poverty?

And, if we choose a way of existence, should we be responsible for the challenges that hit us? That´s the $64,000,000 question. More anon.
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According to some internet medical sites, heat rash is caused by too much sweating. Most odd, as when I suffered that awful rash, now thankfully moved off face and scalp though threatening my shin bone, I had not been sweating for days, despite much physical activity, and even sunshine. Indeed, when I did eventually perspire, there was distinct relief.

It´s another of those instances when I believe it is best to trust one´s inner doctor, although the outward symptoms might need the usual, approved, treatment.
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A recent contretemps with a supplier induced incredible rage which puzzled me till I realised I had also put incredible trust in them. Due to the (in)actions or poor actions of some, the energy of the whole created a tremendous energetic kickback in me. Thanks to the manager of the local store and two of his employees, the original trust is returning.

Sometimes it´s better to just be indifferent. It uses less energy.
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Art is informed by the life we lead, by our thoughts, experiences and desires. My blog posts are either streams of consciousness, wrestling with spiritual concepts or other experiences on this particular spiritual journey. For examples of how this translates into my art, please visit my gallery. Euphrosene Labon Mind Body Spirit Artist Author Writer

pragmatic positive thinking, self-help industry, programme particles

…from my scalp and face moving down to my neck and throat is intriguing - and far easier to manage. A cold flannel on the back of the neck is also not as nutty as one on top of the head!

Exercise is also supposed to bring down head heat, but, as I don´t exercise enough, I bought one of those cut-off pedal exercisers from Amazon to put under my desk - pedalling while I work!

Banging my knees on the metal pull-out tray has meant stretched arms while typing though, especially if any speed is involved. Still, if it´s aiding re-flow of energy, it´s a price worth paying.

Later: (Discovered a patch of charcoal dust under my desk which required yet another work detour to clean…)
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You know, I always used to wonder why Ma rarely wore coats or felt the cold. I think she did, but also had excess heat - as Chinese doctors would say. I´m so glad that is another trial she is released from but what of little children, with their bright red faces, unable to release heat through sweating? Poor little mites.
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The National Archives have opened up their files on UFOs, a topic on which I am open-minded, never having seen any aliens - bar the `human´ variety (sic).

Googling for more on Sir Peter Horsley, I found the abovetopsecrets´ site but found myself distracted by part of the description of the Boston Brakes, as the car swerving sounded so like my own experience though I was going at under 30mph.
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Meanwhile: neighbour E, who had difficulty breathing a couple of weeks ago, is back to her sharp-tongued best. When I mentioned the front hazelnut tree being coppiced, she retorted `I don´t expect you´re going to cut down the tree at the back?´ No, I replied. ‘Thought not.´ And went in.

Firstly, the tree is a protected species, according to the local council but, more to the point, which I ALWAYS never say to her, she grows the most UN-neighbourly plants ever - like mint, ivy and Bachelor´s Buttons - which all invade my garden and are hellish to get rid of.

I really must remember to tell that to the old bat next time she thinks I am only here for her personal comfort and gratification!
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Which reminds me: the neighbour who gets uppity about the car space outside her house has allowed a bordering hedge to grow across a communal path and it now hogs half of it! I really ought to be brave enough to tell her but am not.

When I first moved here, someone complained to the council about said hazelnut needing pruning as it overhung the twitten. I´m surprised the same complainer hasn´t said anything about the hedge hogging the path. Another six inches and it will have totally blocked it off!
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Art is informed by the life we lead, by our thoughts, experiences and desires. My blog posts are either streams of consciousness, wrestling with spiritual concepts or other experiences on this particular spiritual journey. For examples of how this translates into my art, please visit my gallery. Euphrosene Labon Mind Body Spirit Artist Author Writer

Exercise, Ma, National Archives, UFOs, Sir Peter Horsley, Boston Brakes