{"id":1191,"date":"2017-06-02T00:10:08","date_gmt":"2017-06-02T00:10:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thetravellerslastjourney.com\/shai\/the-day-cupid-dropped-acid"},"modified":"2019-09-02T03:53:34","modified_gmt":"2019-09-02T03:53:34","slug":"the-day-cupid-dropped-acid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thetravellerslastjourney.com\/shai\/2017\/06\/02\/the-day-cupid-dropped-acid\/","title":{"rendered":"The Day Cupid Dropped Acid"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editorial notes<\/strong>:
\nReflections about drug (and love) experiences, in which emotions and feelings are analysed (\u201cHacking\u201d) that are intensely felt but too changing and formless (as in \u201cchariot mysticism\u201d) to give reliable solid information; \u201cto be studied but not believed; or Hacking the chariot of fire.\u201d <\/span>\nThe reflections are deeply introspective. They relate to the levels and qualities of the innermost self, signified by the four faces of the Cherubim that protect the Ark, of a human, a lion, an ox and an eagle, each having different qualities and potentials. These are described as revealed above all in connection with other people, and especially by the light of love. Portions of this essay seem to be directed to a loved woman, and the final poem (entitled \u201cPsalm 138 remixed; or, Prometheus in love with a flame princess,\u201d is a remarkable and beautiful love poem to her, focussing on how she has revealed aspects of Shay\u2019s own self to him. So it is self-referential, too. [EZ*]. <\/span>\n*Many thanks to Dr. Evan Zuesse for providing the commentary for this essay.
\n<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Dreams of madness – to be studied but not believed; or, Hacking the chariot of fire.<\/strong><\/p>\n

What constellation shall all mankind strive towards,
\nso that we may not merely love and nurture each other,
\nbut transcend ourselves
\nby the others\u2019 brilliance?<\/p>\n

We will do this in two ways:<\/strong><\/p>\n

1:\u00a0Individually
\n2:\u00a0Collectively
\nBut 3:\u00a0These are the same in the way they are described.<\/p>\n

So:<\/p>\n

What should I aim for in my night sky?<\/strong><\/p>\n

First let\u2019s acknowledge that we already self-identified: e.g.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am an artist\/Christian\/Muslim\/atheist\/guardian\u201d.<\/p>\n

We need to have a label so that we can re-label over and over again.<\/p>\n

On a group level, this doesn\u2019t occur by saying \u201cI am a Jewish nation\u201d,<\/p>\n

rather this occurs by<\/p>\n

I-qua-govt-of-people<\/em><\/p>\n

am learning to reflect my people\u2019s desires\/mishkanim<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Unless don\u2019t want king, then will happen all from bottom-up. [Btw, need to accommodate other\u2019s freedom]<\/span>.<\/p>\n

This is why Bamidbar starts by explaining how to self-identify, and ends by saying \u201cWe must find a way of allowing past \u201cpriests\u201d to co-exist, but not allow them to define us.<\/p>\n

How does a non-priest aim for a religion\/belief\/identity which is not their every-moment\u2019s-awareness?<\/strong><\/p>\n

By iterating self-awareness.<\/p>\n

[Once a month\u00a0 (Chodesh<\/em>)] answer these: [Suggestion, not a recommendation]]<\/span><\/p>\n

How am I a man (Adam)?
\nA lion.
\nAn ox.
\nAn eagle.<\/p>\n

What is a man:<\/p>\n

The opportunities I see<\/p>\n

(available\/on land,<\/p>\n

not in the sky\/after-other-things-happen\/are-done).<\/p>\n

Why is it on the right side: The opportunities I see which add flexibility\/self-kindness, and not those that are self-disciplining\/reprimanding.<\/p>\n

What is a lion:<\/p>\n

The \u201ccharacter\u201d we wish we could roar, and<\/p>\n

an instance in which it could occur.<\/p>\n

E.g. I wish I was \u201cthat guy who makes his own way\u201d, and<\/p>\n

that could occur<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cBy wearing what I want.\u201d<\/p>\n

Esp. where it can occur for self-nourishing, not self-reprimand.<\/p>\n

What is an ox:<\/p>\n

Our Parmenidean moon.<\/p>\n

= (The person I am behind all the masks\/hats I wear).<\/p>\n

How can see be seen:<\/p>\n

By asking:<\/p>\n

What mix of people am I<\/p>\n

(e.g. housewife and nanny and visitor to the elderly),<\/p>\n

and then saying,<\/p>\n

\u201cI have lugged all these differences, but<\/p>\n

if you look at them together you would say,<\/p>\n

Behind them all, \u201cI\u2019m a giver\u201d\u201d.<\/p>\n

What is an eagle – Ask:<\/p>\n

What castle-in-the-sky do my wings yearn to reach? (Secret-ish).<\/p>\n

What is my dream<\/p>\n

(e.g. to what heights to I wish to be lifted by\/in\/through the world)<\/p>\n

This is an exercise in self-awareness and not a to-do list. Over time we learn to see our higher soul.<\/p>\n

But how do I take it further? I want to go off the reservation #FAQ<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ruach Seara ose devaro<\/em><\/p>\n

Ruach seara ba\u2019a min hatzafon<\/em><\/p>\n

There is a mystery to life. It can\u2019t be said in a sentence, and it can\u2019t be seen on any one day. It is something which is sensed as the \u201clife design\u201d for which we yearn and sigh.<\/p>\n

It is out of this storm that the 4-faces will be moulded\/whittled\/eroded\/directed.<\/p>\n

Yitro heard about yam suf<\/em>, and this was one reason why we (priests of strife) bring the court-system to Moshe<\/em>, which parallels the act of creation (viz. Being a judge, cf. Mishkan<\/em>).<\/p>\n

We look for what is awesome\/neat.
\nE.g. This week I saw a balloon pump and I used to like entertaining at parties. E.g. I\u2019ve moved away from books but then noticed a book abandoned on the train.
\nE.g. We look for what makes our life be awesome\/neat.
\nBut for life to be awesome it has to be seen like art.
\nFor opportunities to seem awesome, so too.<\/p>\n

How is this done?<\/strong><\/p>\n

One way:
\nE.g. Recollecting what led me to balloon animals or reading, and then inserting the current opportunity into that longer narrative.<\/p>\n

That is:
\nBy seeing the story of life.
\nBy seeing how something came to be in my life.
\nThis opportunity you saw,
\nFor it be art
\nIt has to be seen as part of something greater.
\nE.g. How did you come to be able to
\nReceive the opportunity?
\nE.g. How does it fit into a bigger imagination.
\nE.g. How does it fit into an unfinished puzzle.
\nE.g. How is it weird and unbelievable – how would it be if you allowed yourself to exaggerate your story here?<\/p>\n

Over time this will lead us to amazement at Hashem Eloheinu, aka we are the heroes of the story. (This is why divinely-directed matchmaking is equal to splitting the sea because the woman represents the world that is in partnership with us, ~scheena).<\/p>\n

I.e. we see the world\/opportunities as our partner (viz. a partner who is beyond limits).<\/p>\n

And how can this fill the whole world\/trans-borders?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Because of offen echad ba\u2019aretz<\/em><\/p>\n

We need to say,<\/p>\n