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youngelephantI haven’t posted in awhile but I was just hit with a stroke of inspiration. I literally just finished reading the intro to the second edition of Psychology and Alchemy by C.G. Jung. This quote struck me as particularly meaningful in current times:
“It [Gnosticism] was founded on the perception of symbols thrown up by the unconscious individuation process which always sets in when the collective dominants of human life fall into decay. At such a time there is bound to be a considerable number of individuals who are possessed by archetypes of a numinous nature that force their way to the surface in order to form new dominants (Jung, C.G. 1953. Psychology and Alchemy. Oxfordshire, England: Routledge)”.
From this quote, I’m getting the take away that the loss of efficacy in religions leads to the triggering of the individuation process in those whose tempestuous unconsciouses the dying religion can not temper. In other words, religions aren’t working, so the ripe among us seek alternatives.
Christianity stopped working long ago. The problem is most people who reject Christianity turn to the religion of Progess to fill that void. To truly wake up, one must reject the myth of Progress and allow the unconscious to produce new urgings, callings, and images which then must be integrated if one is to individuate.
“It [Gnosticism] was founded on the perception of symbols thrown up by the unconscious individuation process which always sets in when the collective dominants of human life fall into decay. At such a time there is bound to be a considerable number of individuals who are possessed by archetypes of a numinous nature that force their way to the surface in order to form new dominants (Jung, C.G. 1953. Psychology and Alchemy. Oxfordshire, England: Routledge)”.
From this quote, I’m getting the take away that the loss of efficacy in religions leads to the triggering of the individuation process in those whose tempestuous unconsciouses the dying religion can not temper. In other words, religions aren’t working, so the ripe among us seek alternatives.
Christianity stopped working long ago. The problem is most people who reject Christianity turn to the religion of Progess to fill that void. To truly wake up, one must reject the myth of Progress and allow the unconscious to produce new urgings, callings, and images which then must be integrated if one is to individuate.
no subject
Date: 2021-09-15 05:24 am (UTC)My first post here was exactly about that though more cumbersome. I called it Cyber-Nature. Because I argue from a Druid point of view that contact with Nature (and here I mean nature as Cosmos, both terrestrial and cosmic that is) is a human necessity one way or another.
I think the religion of Progress is quite sinister because you see, it does "enough" to trick humans to fit it into the same category of spirituality but it is never fulfilling and it just keeps you lusting on something you'll never get. So it's like a Matrix, it plays a simulacrum of life in order to harvest you while it actively keeps you away from what Life actually is...
By the way, regarding you reply in "Aztec Gods". I found very cool you lived on a reservation. How was that?
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Date: 2021-09-15 10:58 pm (UTC)With regards to the reservation - I was only there for 2-3 years starting at the age of 2, so I don't remember much besides for maybe a few flash visions. My parents were working on the reservation. My babysitter was native so I'd hang out on the Mesa with her all day according to my parents. I revisited it a couple years ago actually. The people seemed good hearted, but it seems like life there is a struggle. I felt kind of odd visiting because it made me acutely aware of my privilege. It had kind of a solemn vibe. I can PM you name of the tribe if you're interested - I don't want to display too much biographical detail in public.
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Date: 2021-09-15 11:22 pm (UTC)That sounds lovely and also hard to experience, I feel the same sometimes here in Mexico. If you feel compelled to it would be nice to look at it, but if you prefer to not share that is also good :-)
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Date: 2021-09-16 12:49 am (UTC)I was scrolling around your journal trying to find the PM button and couldn't, but I did see your first post which I think you mentioned in your first reply to this journal entry. It's a good read. One of these days I will share exactly how the narrative of progress fell like a house of cards from around me, but I don't think it's time.
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Date: 2021-09-16 01:09 am (UTC)Thank you for reading it! I also reread it and was a little embarrassed about it.
About the messages, that is one thing I hadn't noticed. The style which I loaded into my journal makes entries pretty and easier to read but it is really wonky outside of that. I think that if you go to your message inbox a click compose and then type my user name you should be able to.
no subject
Date: 2021-09-16 02:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-01-02 11:09 pm (UTC)I think part of the problem is that most of modern Christianity has embraced the religion of Progress. I think this is, in part, why modern Christianity stopped working. A person finds that their modernist church, with its Gospel of Progress, isn't working and so they leave. But they take the implicit assumptions of the religion of Progress with them. The more aware that I've become of the religion of Progress, the more I've realized how it has permeated almost everything in society.
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Date: 2022-01-04 07:26 pm (UTC)