𝐒𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐲'𝐬 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐥𝐞 ...

 

But, but ... Hillary?

What about? ... 

— USA assurances at the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union that there would not be one inch of NATO expansion East toward Russia?

— The perpetrators of the Maidan rebellion; specifically, the role of the CIA in instigating the overthrow of the Russian leaning Kiev leadership?

— Zelensky's 180 after being elected on a peace with Russia platform.

— The reneging on the Minsk Agreements where the West publicly acknowledged that it was to buy time on purpose for Ukraine to build up militarily?

— The actual NATO expansion toward Russia, with the prospect of adding Ukraine to the alliance? Which, by the way, is still a hold out condition for Zelensky and the European Union.

— The Kiev far right civil war persecutions against the ethnic Russians in the Eastern Oblasts? 

— And, in spite of the long patient history of Russia expressing it had a red line on NATO expansion to Ukraine?

Editorial Comment: One thing for Ms. Clinton, she sure speaks with conviction. Which in some circles is enough to garner agreement. In the interest of full disclosure, such posturing is also epidemic on all sides of the political divide. Like pols will say ... "I trust the voters". Translate: "... to believe what I say."

PS Our Secretary of State in 2009 famously visited the  Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. She offered a big bouquet of white Roses. The venerated Tilma [cloak of St. Juan Diego] was brought down to give her a close look. She inquired about who painted it. So much for sincerity and authenticity, some might say. "Who painted it" ... indeed! 

Whether or not you believe in the Divine miraculous appearance of Our Lady on that garment, to not know how deeply held is that belief is a telling insight into her credibility. Some say. 

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐁𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐝 ... 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐗𝐕𝐈

Pope Benedict XVI

I'm getting a newfound respect for his clear and wise pastoral message(s).

Particularly on his point that a self-made approach to life — where individuals attempt to create their own meaning, morality, or identity — ultimately results in a lack of true meaning. He maintained that genuine purpose and fulfillment cannot be produced by human effort alone, but must be received as a gift from God. He argued that a life constructed solely by human striving, power, and "self-creation" is ultimately fragile and meaningless. [Source: Internet search "Benedict ... the self made approach to life."]

It may not be fashionable in the secular culture to even speak of God. In any real way, that is. Well, Pilgrim, what do you wanna call That which is the Source of it all? Choose your own word(s).

BTW ... the 47th President of the United States of America has gone on record stating that he is guided by his "own morality" and his "own mind". Donny has apparently made his choice. He sees it in the mirror. Not perhaps the mirror of his own soul; the one on the wall.

So, were does that leave us? As was scratched on nearly every dern public pay telephone in New York City ... "Pray", "Repent".

Further discussion ... Link for more. 

The current President Donald J. Trump has stated for the record that he is guided by his "own mind", and his "own morality". Further asserting, "It's the only thing thing can stop me." What that actually means to him, no one seems to have inquired into that. Quel dommage. But, in our slogan saturated zeitgeist we somehow have been benumbed to take that utterance as meaningfully understood. So, tell me Pilgrim, WTF does he in fact mean by "his own mind" and "his own morality"? Who's steering your ship?

Benedict goes on ... “The theology of littleness is a basic category of Christianity. After all, the tenor of our faith is that God's distinctive greatness is revealed precisely in powerlessness. That in the long run, the strength of history is precisely in those who love, which is to say, in a strength that, properly speaking, cannot be measured according to categories of power. So in order to show who he is, God consciously revealed himself in the powerlessness of Nazareth and Golgotha. Thus, it is not the one who can destroy the most who is the most powerful ... but, on the contrary, the least power of love is already greater than the greatest power of destruction.” — Joseph Ratzinger, Salt of the Earth, Ignatius Press, 1997.

Key aspects of Pope Benedict's perspective include:

Not Self-Created: Benedict argued against the idea that man is entirely his own creator, emphasizing that humans are "not some casual and meaningless product of evolution," but are created and loved by God.

The "Ecology of Man": In a speech to the German Bundestag, he asserted that just as there is an ecology of nature, there is an "ecology of man." He argued that the human will is rightly ordered only when it respects its own nature and accepts itself as it is, rather than trying to manipulate it.

True Freedom: He believed true freedom and, consequently, true happiness are found in acknowledging this, saying, "Man does not create himself. He is intellect and will, but he is also nature, and his will is rightly ordered if he respects his nature".

Finding Meaning in God: He emphasized that life finds its true purpose not through self-invention but through an encounter with the living God.

Beyond Comfort: He famously stated, "The world offers you comfort. But you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness".

His teaching highlights that a self-made life often lacks the joy and purpose found in acknowledging one’s existence as a deliberate, loved, and, needed creation.

𝐂𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐒

Here's the straight scoop*:

When you hear someone leading with tropes like “Honestly ...”, “To be clear ...”, “The truth is ...”, “Let’s set the record straight ...”, “Would I lie to you? ..." let those be a red flags alerting you to whatever they are framing as being such and so, is not the truth. Not necessarily true; though if the speaker has some measure of your trust and/or support you are more likely to take it as true. Bias confirmation, anyone?

*[Did you notice the framing up front here?]

Thing is that what is said in such a framed lead-in may or may not be the truth, or factual. Trouble is that liars use this to slyly set you up to assume that it’s true. The tell is to observe how often such phrasing appears in their locution. Also, maybe to be up enough on things to be able to make up your own mind.

Pols are frequent purveyors of such narrative propaganda ploys. A favorite of mine is, "I trust the voters". Translate: I trust the voters to buy my line. All served up in a flattering piece of puff.

So, Pilgrim, how to be up and ahead of such things?

Look within yourself, into your own shadow world where all the unwanted and rejected and feared is hidden away. It is hidden in the sense that it hasn’t yet become integrated into waking consciousness, but it drives your life for wanting to be recognized. Until it is — recognized and reclaimed — you’re being presented with relationships and situations repeating endlessly until the underlying motives are recognized and healed. The shadow stuff is not evil; in fact it is your power which needs to be understood and reclaimed.

This is my own understanding. For the authoritative understanding on such matters I suggest Carl Gustav Jung. Believe me on that!

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐀𝐫𝐞 | 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐠

Video, and transcript ...

(0:00) Most people are taught to see sexual desire as something small, private, even embarrassing, (0:07) something to either indulge quietly or suppress with guilt, but that misunderstanding is precisely (0:14) why so many feel internally divided. Sexual desire is not a craving that begins in the body, (0:22) it is a current that moves through the entire psyche. It is the first surge of life itself, (0:29) the same force that pushes a seed to break open the soil and reach toward the sun.

(0:37) Long before it seeks pleasure, it seeks expression. If you pay attention, you'll (0:43) notice that desire appears before thought. It rises without asking permission.

That alone (0:50) should tell you something important. It does not belong to the rational mind. (0:55) It belongs to a deeper layer of you, a layer that speaks in images, impulses and longing.

(1:01) When people say they feel driven, restless or hungry for more, they are often describing sexual (1:07) energy without realising it. This energy is neutral by nature, it has no moral direction (1:13) until the conscious mind gives it one. The tragedy is that most people never learn how to guide it, (1:18) instead they allow culture, fear and shame to decide for them.

(1:24) When sexual desire is misunderstood, it becomes fragmented. It leaks into compulsions, distractions, (1:31) fantasies and addictions. It seeks quick relief rather than meaningful creation.

(1:38) This is why so many feel exhausted despite constant stimulation. The energy is being spent, (1:45) but nothing is being built. Yet observe what happens when this same force is met with awareness.

(1:52) When it is not immediately discharged, but held, felt and integrated, it begins to change its (1:59) quality. It no longer rushes outward, it turns inward and upward. Suddenly, it fuels imagination.

(2:08) Ideas arrive with intensity, focus deepens, the individual feels more alive, (2:15) more present, more capable of sustained effort. What was once labelled temptation reveals itself (2:22) as potential. This is why highly creative individuals often describe their work with (2:29) language that sounds unmistakably erotic obsession, passion, fire, hunger.

(2:36) They are not speaking metaphorically, they are describing a transmutation. The energy that (2:42) could have been lost in momentary pleasure has been redirected into meaning. This is not (2:48) accidental, it is psychological necessity.

Energy cannot be destroyed, only transformed. (2:55) When this transformation does not occur, the psyche suffers. Repressed desire does not disappear, (3:02) it becomes distorted.

It turns into anxiety, irritability, resentment or a vague sense of (3:10) emptiness. People then search desperately for stimulation, believing something outside them (3:17) will restore what feels missing. But what is missing is not pleasure, it is purpose.

Sexual (3:24) energy, when denied a higher outlet, revolts. This is why moralizing desire has never worked. (3:31) You cannot shame a fundamental force of life into obedience.

The psyche does not respond (3:38) to condemnation, it responds to understanding. Once you recognize that sexual desire is creative (3:45) energy, not merely physical appetite, your relationship with it changes. You stop asking, (3:52) how do I get rid of this? And start asking, what is this trying to build through me? (3:58) At that moment, responsibility enters the picture.

Not repression, not indulgence. (4:05) Responsibility. To carry strong desire is to carry strong power, and power demands (4:12) consciousness.

Without it, the individual becomes possessed by impulses they do not understand. (4:20) With it, the same impulses become fuel for growth. This is the difference between being (4:25) driven and being directed.

Look carefully at your life. Where do you feel restless? (4:30) Where do you feel an urge for intensity, connection or expression? These are not flaws (4:36) in your character. They are signals.

The psyche speaks first through desire because desire moves (4:42) us. It refuses stagnation. It pushes us toward becoming more than we are.

When ignored, (4:49) it becomes destructive. When listened to, it becomes visionary. The world is filled with people (4:56) who have learned how to consume, but not how to create.

They discharge energy repeatedly and (5:03) wonder why nothing changes. Creation requires containment. It requires the ability to stay with (5:11) the tension of desire without immediately resolving it.

This tension is uncomfortable, (5:16) yes, but it is also where transformation happens. In that inner pressure, the personality (5:22) reorganizes itself around something higher. So the question is not whether you have sexual desire.

(5:28) The question is whether you are unconscious of it, or in dialogue with it. Whether it drains (5:33) you or builds you. Whether it keeps you chasing sensations or leads you toward meaning.

(5:38) This force will shape your life regardless. The only choice is whether it does so blindly (5:46) or consciously. When you examine your sexual attractions honestly, without judgment or (5:53) justification, you begin to encounter parts of yourself that have long remained unseen.

(6:00) Desire does not choose its objects at random. It is selective, symbolic and deeply personal. (6:08) What draws you in carries psychological meaning, whether you are aware of it or not.

(6:16) Every attraction is a message from the unconscious, written in the language of images and emotion (6:24) rather than logic. People often believe they desire another person for who that person is. (6:30) But more often, they desire what that person represents.

Strength, freedom, tenderness, (6:36) danger, authority, innocence, creativity. These qualities stir something dormant within. (6:43) Desire is rarely about possession.

It is about recognition. You see something in the other that (6:51) resonates with an unexpressed part of yourself, and the psyche responds with intensity. This is (6:59) certain patterns repeat themselves in attraction.

The same type of person, the same emotional (7:06) dynamic, the same rise and collapse. These repetitions are not accidents of fate. They (7:14) are unfinished psychological conversations.

The unconscious returns to the same symbol until it (7:21) is understood. Until then, the individual remains compelled, mistaking compulsion for choice. (7:29) Consider how often people are drawn to what they consciously claim to avoid.

(7:35) They may admire kindness, yet feel magnetized toward cruelty, speak of stability, yet crave chaos, (7:44) long for closeness, yet pursue distance. These contradictions reveal a divided inner life. (7:52) Desire exposes where the personality is split, where traits have been disowned and projected (7:59) outward.

What you cannot live within yourself, you seek through another. Attraction also reveals (8:06) unresolved wounds. Early experiences leave impressions that shape the way the psyche (8:12) understands love, safety, and power.

Sexual desire often circles these impressions, attempting to (8:20) resolve them through repetition. The psyche is not interested in comfort. It is interested in (8:27) completion.

It will recreate familiar emotional landscapes, even painful ones, in the hope that (8:35) this time the outcome will change. This is why mere willpower cannot break certain patterns. (8:42) You may decide to choose better, yet find yourself pulled back into the same dynamics.

(8:49) The attraction does not come from conscious preference. It comes from unconscious identification. (8:56) Until the underlying meaning is brought into awareness, desire continues to operate as fate.

(9:03) But once you look closely, the spell begins to weaken. You start to ask not, (9:09) who am I attracted to, but what quality am I responding to? This shift is subtle, (9:15) but profound. Suddenly, desire becomes a teacher rather than a tyrant.

(9:21) You begin to see that what you admire, envy, or fear in others is something your own psyche is (9:28) urging you to integrate. If you are drawn to confidence, perhaps you have silenced your own (9:33) authority. If you crave intensity, perhaps you have numbed your own vitality.

If you desire (9:40) gentleness, perhaps you have been too harsh with yourself. Desire points toward what seeks (9:45) expression within you. It shows you the parts of the self that have been neglected, suppressed, (9:50) or undeveloped.

This understanding brings humility. You can no longer simply blame (9:56) the outside world for your attractions, nor can you romanticize them as destiny. (10:01) They become mirrors, sometimes flattering, sometimes disturbing.

And mirrors demand (10:07) courage. To see yourself clearly means to relinquish the comfort of illusion. (10:13) Many resist this moment.

It is easier to remain enchanted than to become conscious. (10:19) Enchantment allows projection. Consciousness demands responsibility.

(10:25) When projection collapses, the other is no longer charged with impossible expectations. (10:32) Desire loses its compulsive edge and gains depth. Relationships change because the individual has (10:41) changed.

This does not mean desire disappears. On the contrary, it becomes richer, more grounded, (10:49) more human. It is no longer fuelled by lack, but by connection.

No longer driven by unconscious (10:57) need, but by conscious choice. The individual moves from being possessed by desire to being (11:05) in relationship with it. In this way, sexual attraction becomes a path to self-knowledge.

(11:11) Each longing becomes a clue. Each fascination becomes an invitation to reclaim something (11:17) essential. What once kept you trapped in repetition now guides you toward wholeness.

(11:23) There is a quiet difference between a mind that is ruled by desire and a mind that has learned (11:29) to contain it. One feels scattered, pulled in many directions at once, forever reacting. (11:35) The other feels centered, deliberate, capable of sustained effort.

This difference is not a matter (11:41) of morality, but of structure. Sexual energy is powerful precisely because it moves the psyche (11:47) so easily. When it is left without direction, it fragments attention.

When it is given a channel, (11:54) it sharpens the will. Uncontrolled desire does not merely distract. (12:00) It weakens inner coherence.

The individual becomes accustomed to immediate discharge, (12:06) to quick relief rather than meaningful tension. Over time, this erodes patience. (12:13) The mind learns to escape discomfort instead of staying with it.

Focus shortens. Impulses multiply. (12:23) What appears as pleasure is often a form of fatigue, a repeated draining of energy without renewal.

(12:32) This is why compulsive stimulation rarely satisfies. Each release promises relief, (12:39) yet leaves behind a subtle emptiness. The psyche senses that something valuable has been spent (12:47) without return.

The will grows softer, less capable of resistance. Decisions become reactive (12:55) rather than chosen. One impulse follows another, and the individual wonders where their sense of (13:03) authority has gone.

But something remarkable happens when desire is not immediately acted upon. (13:10) When it is allowed to exist without discharge, the psyche enters a state of heightened tension. (13:18) This tension is uncomfortable, but it is also fertile.

It gathers energy. It forces the (13:26) individual to remain present with themselves. Instead of escaping into action, the mind turns (13:33) inward and begins to organize.

This is where discipline is often misunderstood. Discipline (13:40) is not suppression. Suppression drives energy into the unconscious, where it returns distorted.

(13:48) Discipline is conscious containment. It is the ability to hold energy without fear, (13:54) to remain in dialogue with it rather than be overwhelmed by it. In this state, desire becomes (14:00) concentrated rather than scattered.

Concentration changes everything. Attention deepens. Thought (14:08) becomes more ordered.

The individual experiences a growing sense of inner solidity. This is not (14:16) rigidity, but coherence. The psyche begins to trust itself.

The will strengthens because it (14:24) is no longer constantly undermined by impulse. Each time desire is consciously directed, (14:30) the individual reinforces their capacity for self-command. This self-con does not come from (14:38) force.

It emerges from understanding the cost of unconscious release. When a person recognizes (14:45) how much energy is lost through compulsive behavior, restraint becomes meaningful rather (14:50) than punitive. The mind begins to value its own clarity.

Desire is no longer an enemy to be fought, (14:59) but a power to be wielded. Directed desire naturally seeks higher expression. It moves (15:06) toward work that requires intensity, toward goals that demand persistence.

(15:12) The same energy that once chased sensation now fuels concentration. The individual discovers (15:19) an unexpected source of endurance. Tasks that once felt draining now feel absorbing.

Effort (15:27) becomes less about struggle and more about flow. Over time, this changes the personality. (15:35) The individual becomes less reactive, less easily provoked.

Emotional stability increases. (15:43) This is not numbness, but resilience. The psyche learns that it can withstand tension without (15:51) collapsing.

This capacity extends beyond sexuality into every area of life. (15:58) Challenges are met with steadiness rather than urgency. It is here that true strength develops, (16:05) not the loud strength of domination, but the quiet strength of self-possession.

(16:11) The individual no longer needs constant affirmation or stimulation. There is an inner (16:17) reservoir to draw from. Decisions are made with clarity because the mind is not hijacked by (16:24) unexamined urges.

This does not mean desire disappears. On the contrary, it becomes more vivid, (16:33) more integrated. Because it is no longer wasted, it retains its vitality.

Desire and will begin (16:41) to work together rather than against each other. The individual experiences a sense of alignment, (16:48) as though their inner forces are finally cooperating. When desire is directed, (16:54) the psyche feels purposeful.

There is less internal conflict, less self-betrayal. The (17:01) individual becomes capable of long-term vision. They can delay gratification not out of fear, (17:08) but out of respect for something greater they are building.

This is the mark of maturity, (17:15) not the absence of desire, but the mastery of it. Most people are taught to see sexual desire as a (17:22) fleeting bodily impulse, something to be either pursued or hidden away. Few recognize that within (17:29) that intensity lies a map to their own potential.

The very force they are tempted to fear, resist, (17:36) or deny is the same force that can ignite courage, creativity, and purpose. Every surge of longing (17:45) carries a message, a hint of what the self is capable of if it is understood rather than (17:53) suppressed. Many run from desire because it feels dangerous.

It feels untamed, unpredictable, (18:02) overwhelming. They mistake its intensity for something immoral or shameful, and so they (18:08) spend years trying to distract themselves, to numb the fire rather than understand it. (18:14) Yet the truth is that the energy is not the enemy.

Its danger lies only in ignorance, (18:21) in the failure to recognize it as a messenger, not a tyrant. Within its heat lies the spark (18:29) of transformation. The very force that draws you toward another can also draw you toward yourself, (18:38) toward your destiny.

If you pay attention, you realize that the most magnetic people, (18:45) the most influential, the most creative, are often those who have not rejected this energy, (18:52) but have allowed it to refine them. They have learned to move with it rather than against it. (18:59) The intensity that once might have consumed them now becomes fuel for action.

What they desired (19:05) in fleeting moments becomes a mirror of what they can embody in life itself. Sexual desire, (19:12) in its essence, is raw, unshaped potential. It is life in its most concentrated form, (19:19) asking for direction.

This redirection does not mean repression. Repression only bends the energy (19:27) into shadows, anxiety, obsession, or distraction. The individual may appear disciplined on the (19:35) surface, but internally the force is still driving them unconsciously.

Transformation occurs when the (19:42) energy is recognized, owned, and elevated. The same fire that once sought temporary satisfaction (19:48) is now harnessed to create, to speak, to lead, to innovate. It becomes a conduit for becoming the (19:55) person you are meant to be.

Think of desire as a river. When left untamed, it can flood, (20:02) erode, and destroy. When damned, it stagnates, losing vitality.

But when directed, it powers (20:09) mills, irrigates lands, and brings life to regions that would otherwise remain barren. (20:15) Sexual energy operates in the same way. It is the river of vitality within you.

Its current (20:22) can overwhelm or invigorate, depending on whether you guide it with awareness. Most avoid looking at (20:29) this truth because it forces them to confront themselves. Desire asks, Who am I? What have I (20:36) denied? What part of me has been hidden, neglected, or feared? It refuses to be ignored.

The psyche (20:45) does not rest until this energy is recognized, until it finds an outlet that is honest, (20:52) purposeful, and aligned with the deeper self. In running from desire, people run from themselves. (20:59) In embracing it, they find themselves.

This is why true personal power is inseparable from (21:06) the acknowledgement of desire. Courage, ambition, charisma, and even spiritual fire are all encoded (21:13) in this energy. It is raw life force, the most concentrated expression of vitality.

When (21:21) cultivated consciously, it transforms character. It sharpens perception, increases confidence, (21:29) and compels action. The person who has learned to integrate this energy walks differently in (21:35) the world.

They are no longer at the mercy of impulses. They are stewards of a potent inner (21:42) current. Yet this process is subtle.

It does not announce itself with fanfare. It appears in small (21:51) choices, the ability to delay gratification, the choice to act with purpose rather than compulsion, (21:58) the willingness to look inward instead of escaping outward. Each moment of conscious (22:04) engagement with desire builds mastery.

Over time, the energy is no longer scattered (22:11) but refined, no longer a source of distraction but of authority. It becomes the engine of (22:19) self-realization. The greatest calling you are seeking is hidden in the same energy you may have (22:26) feared.

The desire you cannot ignore is pointing to the life you were meant to live, the work you (22:32) were meant to do, the expression of yourself that will leave a mark on the world. What you (22:38) have been chasing outside of yourself is already encoded within you. Your longing is a compass.

(22:45) It is not about indulgence or avoidance. It is about alignment. It asks you to turn inward, (22:51) to recognize your potential, and to act on it.

Most people live lives of compromise, (22:57) never daring to channel their deepest energy. They may achieve success in conventional terms, (23:04) but there is always a subtle sense of incompleteness, of energy unspent, of power (23:10) untapped. Those who understand desire, who honor it as a force of life rather than a threat, (23:18) do not experience this emptiness.

They live fully, passionately, deliberately. The fire that once felt (23:26) dangerous now illuminates the path forward. And when you finally accept that the very energy you (23:32) feared holds the blueprint of who you are meant to become, you stop running and begin rising.

𝐀 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐎𝐧 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐧 ...

"If you move into pro-war or anti-war anger 

you're feeding the very density that's creating the war."

𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬 ...

 

𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐎𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡 ...

KYABJE DILGO KHYENTSE RINPOCHE

"When we recognize a thought, that recognition alone will not liberate it. It is not that we should not recognize it; it must be recognized.

"But then when recognizing it, without grasping at the thought, the basis from which it arises – the unaltered natural state of mind pointed out by our teacher – should also be recognized.

"When we look at that recognition, the strength of the thought is broken, and the recognition of the intrinsic nature becomes stronger. Then no reaction can be produced. Once we cease producing a reaction, since thoughts in themselves are self-arising and self-liberating, we will find the source of that liberation.

"Being taken in by a thought is like being afraid of a man wearing a lion's mask. But if we know that the nature of thoughts is emptiness, like realizing that it is only a man wearing a mask, the strength of the thought will be broken and we will naturally relax."

"Oral Instructions on 'Three Words That Strike The Vital Point' – on Action – Collected Works, Vol III" 
page 651

𝐀 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫

On this longest night,

when the Earth leans into her deepest stillness,

may a soft and ancient light find its way to you.

May the quiet of this Solstice

wrap around your spirit like a gentle cloak,

reminding you that darkness is not an ending,

but a sacred womb

a place where the unseen begins to stir,

where seeds dream of becoming.

As the old year exhales,

may you release what has grown heavy,

the narratives that no longer serve you,

the burdens your heart is ready to lay down,

the shadows that have taught their final lessons.

May the returning light

tender at first, but faithful,

illuminate new pathways,

new openings,

new blessings waiting at the threshold.

May you feel the presence of your ancestors,

and the great intelligence of the natural world

moving with you as you step into a new cycle.

And may you remember,

in your bones and in your breath,

that you, too, are a bearer of light

a spark returning,

a flame renewing,

a soul rising gently toward the dawn.

Blessed Winter Solstice.

Blessed becoming.

Blessed return of the light.

𝐌𝐲 𝐃𝐚𝐝'𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐛𝐨𝐱

 

That there my Dad's toolbox.

My Father was a Factory Worker. During WWII he worked at the Chrysler Corporation Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant [DATP] in Warren, Michigan; it's located just north of to Detroit. Then, at Dodge Main in Hamtramck in the metal stamping department.

That's his toolbox. It was originally brush painted silver and lived sitting all alone in a basement storage area at our home; loaded with an assortment of heavy duty tools, mostly not used much at all any more. I would examine those tools often ... a monkey wrench, a blunt hammer, a hand drill, a folding ruler; heavy duty, for to building a tank. Those tools are long gone, but the toolbox is still in my safe keeping. And, memories.

Like I said, the toolbox is empty. And, I intend to keep it that way. 

The emptiness speaks to me. Not that I myself haven't acquired useful tools. Many like the kind you grab with your hands. But I also have other tools. My professional tools are my hands themselves.

My profession is called Dr. Ida P. Rolf Method Structural Integration. The idea is that the Human body — the Human being — is designed for living in basic architectural balance with the force of Gravity. Hands are used sculpturally, taking advantage of the natural plasticity of the body and gradually transforming the palpable arrangement to line up vertically and symmetrically according to the demands of Gravity. "Palpable" ... you feel it! Such balance, it feels GOOD! 

That's still news for most people; what do you think?

The interesting thing about my work is how the originator, Dr. Ida P. Rolf, stated: "Gravity is the tool."

Also, even more interesting is how such work is accomplished with "empty" hands. "Less is more" kind of thing. There's an innate wisdom instilled in the body. It is engineered by design toward balance. The "empty hand" doesn't so much lead, it follows. It's a dance. Just like using any proper tool properly.

Isn't it interesting how Dr. Ida P. Rolf, the originator, asserted "Gravity is the tool". That's right. A lot to unpack there, huh? Short take, again from Dr. Rolf: “This is the gospel of Rolfing: When the body gets working appropriately, the forces of gravity can flow through. Then, spontaneously, the body heals itself.” How about that for "tools". 

Speaking of "Empty Hands" ...

Emptiness is of the inner dimension. Going within. I've also acquired many tools for going in that direction as well. "Empty mind."

And, like I've said, simply sitting relaxed and letting Gravity do its work is something anyone can do. "Gravity is the tool."

The thing is also the "tools" of my Father's essence are also in me. You have your own inheritance too. The trick isn't to list them; but to go to that forgotten corner in the storage room and get those tools, dust them off, oil them well ... then, go use them. Put them to some good use.

Comments/Questions welcome ...

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧'𝐬 𝐒𝐌𝐎 [𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧] 𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐧'𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡

Here is something to consider for understanding the conflict in Ukraine. Consider Russia's point of view.

And some facts. 

Many, many who claim to have say so in the matter world stage wise seem to be firmly set in conviction that "THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING". Russophobia mode. "Better 'dead' than 'red' ". 

Remember the USSR? Word is that the USA and Britain were behind the Bolshevik revolution. Corruption ensued, Stalin launched a purge; nasty business. Apparently destroying Russia is an old Squirrel nut in the geopolitical save sack going back centuries. Look it up. Same as it ever was.

Since it was never signed on paper, there is debate over the promise to not [NOT!] expand NATO east; toward Russia's border. "Not one inch to the east." That assurance was given by US Secretary of State James Baker and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl to Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev in 1990 in the arrangement to reunify Germany; that NATO would not expand eastward following German reunification. That promise was not kept. And, as we've seen the results, there are still intentions to have Ukraine join NATO. A big RED LINE for Russia. Stated often; but ignored. 

Hey, those Ruskies ... can't trust them; they'll be flying their flag in Paris, Berlin, and London given half a chance. No and's, if's, or but's. 

One thing is clear, we have been disregarding Russia's repeatedly stated security interests. Mr. Biden cut off all communications, and sealed the deal calling Putin a "war criminal", "mass murderer", "butcher". And, that's what he said publically.

Draw your own conclusions. The propaganda narrative on this has continued to be based on the notion that Russia has territorial ambitions into all of western Europe. Maybe even the whole world? 

If you don't at least listen to the other side, how can we expect any resolution? Some are so bold to suggest that the whole Western powers move toward Russia via Ukraine is all about destabilizing Russia, breaking it up in bite sized pieces, then to plunder its wealth. Just saying. I know, I know. It's really about making the world safe for democracy. Venezuala! Do you hear that?

Here's an excerpt from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview with Tucker Carlson in Moscow, December 6, 2024. Gives a detailed factual account of the basis the Special Military Operation [SMO] from Russia's point of view. With a very complete chronology of events.

Full transcript here. See full video recording below.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov:

"It is not us who started the war. Putin repeatedly said that we started the special military operation in order to end the war which Kiev regime was conducting against its own people in the parts of Donbass. And just in his latest statement, the President Putin clearly indicated that we are ready for any eventuality. But we strongly prefer peaceful solution through negotiations on the basis of respecting legitimate security interest of Russia, and on the basis of respecting the people who live in Ukraine, who still live in Ukraine being Russians, and their basic human rights, language rights, religious rights, have been exterminated by a series of legislation passed by the Ukrainian parliament. They started long before the special military operation. Since 2017, legislation was passed prohibiting Russian education in Russian, prohibiting Russian media operating in Ukraine, then prohibiting Ukrainian media working in Russian language, and the latest, of course there were also steps to cancel any cultural events in Russian, Russian books were thrown out of libraries and exterminated. The latest was the law prohibiting canonic Orthodox Church, Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

"You know it's very interesting when people in the West say we want this conflict to be resolved on the basis of the UN Charter and respect for territorial integrity of Ukraine, and Russia must withdraw. The Secretary General of the United Nations says similar things. Recently his representative repeated that the conflict must be resolved on the basis of international law, UN Charter, General Assembly resolutions, while respecting territorial integrity of Ukraine. It's a misnomer, because if you want to respect the United Nations Charter, you have to respect it in its entirety. The United Nations Charter, among other things, says that all countries must respect equality of states and right of people for self-determination. And they also mentioned the United Nations General Assembly resolutions, and this is clear that what they mean is the series of resolutions which they passed after the beginning of this special military operation and which demand condemnation of Russia, Russia to get out of Ukraine territory in 1991 borders. But there are other United Nations General Assembly resolutions which were not voted, but which were consensual, and among them is a Declaration on principles of relations between states on the basis of the Charter. And it clearly says, by consensus, everybody must respect territorial integrity of states whose governments respect the right of people for self-determination, and because of that represent the entire population living on a given territory.

"To argue that the people who came to power through military coup d'état in February 2014 represented Crimeans or the citizens of eastern and southern Ukraine is absolutely useless. It is obvious that Crimeans rejected the coup. They said, leave us alone, we don't want to have anything with you. So we did: Donbass, Crimeans held referendum, and they rejoined Russia. Donbass was declared by the putschists who came to power terrorist group. They were shelled, attacked by artillery. The war started, which was stopped in February 2015.

"The Minsk agreements were signed. We were very sincerely interested in closing this drama by seeing Minsk agreements implemented fully. It was sabotaged by the government, which was established after the coup d'état in Ukraine. There was a demand that they enter into a direct dialogue with the people who did not accept the coup. There was a demand that they promote economic relations with that part of Ukraine. And so on and so forth. None of this was done.

"The people in Kiev were saying we would never talk to them directly. And this is in spite of the fact that the demand to talk to them directly was endorsed by the Security Council. And putschists said they are terrorists, we would be fighting them, and they would be dying in cellars because we are stronger.

"Had the coup in February 2014 had it not happened and the deal which was reached the day before between the then president and the opposition implemented, Ukraine would have stayed one piece by now with Crimea in it. It's absolutely clear. They did not deliver on the deal. Instead they staged the coup. The deal, by the way, provided for creation of a government of national unity in February 2014, and holding early elections, which the then president would have lost. Everybody knew that. But they were impatient and took the government buildings next morning. They went to this Maidan Square and announced that they created the government of the winners. Compare the government of national unity to prepare for elections and the government of the winners.

"How can the people whom they, in their view, defeated, how can they pretend that they respect the authorities in Kiev? You know, the right for self-determination is the international legal basis for decolonization process, which took place in Africa on the basis of this charter principle, the right for self-determination. The people in the colonies, they never treated the colonial powers, colonial masters, as somebody who represent them, as somebody whom they want to see in the structures which govern those lands. By the same token, the people in east and south of Ukraine, people in Donbass and Novorossiya, they don't consider the Zelensky regime as something which represents their interests. How can they do that when their culture, their language, their traditions, their religion, all this was prohibited?

"And the last point is that if we speak about the UN Charter, resolutions, international law, the very first article of the UN Charter, which the West never, never recalls in the Ukrainian context, says, "Respect human rights of everybody, irrespective of race, gender, language, or religion."

"Take any conflict. The United States, UK, Brussels, they would interfere, saying, "Oh, human rights have been grossly violated. We must restore the human rights in such and such territory." On Ukraine, never, ever they mumbled the words "human rights," seeing these human rights for the Russian and Russian-speaking population being totally exterminated by law. So when people say, "Let's resolve the conflict on the basis of the Charter," - yes. But don't forget that the Charter is not only about territorial integrity. And territorial integrity must be respected only if the governments are legitimate and if they respect the rights of their own people."

𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐩𝐚'𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦 ... 𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭 𝐆𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐫

Remembering Grandpa's farm while travelling in Eastern Colorado November 2025 by Scott Gauthier. 

Photo of the actual farmhouse ...

"Roughly 35 miles east of Colorado Springs."

"Grandpa’s farm.

"This may or may not be the farm where my father was born in 1920. It is high plains farm in Eastern Colorado near where the town of Kendrick used to exist.

"The only time I was ever here was when I was five years old and that was 35 years after the farm was abandoned. I remember a windmill that pumped water into stock tanks. All the buildings (a tar paper house and chicken coop) were gone by then. This place looks like what my mind remembers from that time. If this is not it, it is within a few miles of here.

"My Grandfather was an immigrant from Canada who came to Denver and had an appendicitis. Since he only spoke French, they found a French shopkeeper who could translate for him. Afterwards, he worked for that shopkeeper and married his daughter. He got in on the homesteading and got 40 acres here in Eastern Colorado. He was not really educated in farming but tried to make it work. A neighbor came over while he was frustrated trying to get the horse to pull the plow. He was having a difficult time because he was trying to pull the plow backwards. He worked hard and began to raise a family of seven on the land. The house was a small tar paper house that the neighbor said he needed to visit to see how all those people slept in such a small space. A visiting relative wrote a journal of her visit there one summer. View it here.

 

"The dust bowl came and forced him to move back to Denver. As the neighbor told me that during the dust bowl, he “ate five acres of corn one night and was still hungry.” Anyway I wanted to show my son Myles since we were in the neighborhood."