Two more questions

[Mark G]

I know that there is no context to my questions, I just want to hear your thoughts on these questions at face value. 

 

 

Question 1. If you listen to Jordan Peterson or know the Bible, you know about Cain vs Abel story. My fundamental question is, what system do you have in place to not become Cain? 

(Cain = becoming angry/bitter at God/being)

 

Question 2. Carl Jung's concept of The Shadow is very interesting to me. How would one differentiate The Shadow versus just rage/anger.

Now Jordan Peterson once said that you have to respect the shadow, what are the practical ways to do that? 

 

 

[barn]

Hi @Mark G

(my latest pm has it expanded...)

'Discussion over what road to take in a bifurcation, is before, it proceeds one's actually walking, going somewhere...'

Abstractions don't, they can't give you clarity. Connecting with your deep emotions do that, seeing the direction you're heading to while IN MOTION is different from paralysis, being on the fence.

All that said, I realise it might seem harder to get moving even if one's already in possession of where to go next. Falsely, it can appear, more deliberation is needed. But is it?!

[RichardY]

Q1.

No system. I think personality wise, it might worth considering what makes Cain and Abel distinct. Personally I think Cain's distance from God, is equivalent of saying the difference between Cain's Ego consciousness, and his unrealised self(God). So when Cain kills his brother after a short talk, he is ambivalent to the fact he just killed his brother. Maybe if purely rational reasons were considered, in some sense it might have made sense to kill his brother. Abel being a herdsmen, perhaps his flock were devestating cain's crops and therefore livelyhood. Cain is obviously intelligent; he survives and thrives, bringing many benefits of technology to people and making their lives easier. His descendents also specialise in weaponry, so people have less to worry about presumably from raids. Plus it's not like they go looking for trouble, they only payback with interest, injuries sustained, it doesn't profit them financially.

Where as Abel is more in line with his self, less conflicted. Burns up perfectly good meat, so he can make himself feel better, crazy and wasteful. Maybe even obstinate, why not have given the meat to Cain, as opposed to "sacrificing". It's worse than Formula One drivers, who spray Champagne everywhere.

I think if you did not want to be like Cain. The next biblical role model would be the AntiChrist. Both Christ and AntiChrist, are representations of the Ideal Self. It's not like one is evil, and the other not. More so that one is moral, and the other not. Though consider "Without freedom, there is no morality." - Carl Jung. Nietzsche tried to fleshout the Antichrist a bit, in his Thus Spoke Zarathustra.

Q2.

No idea. Maybe Logotherapy. I guess first would be to try and establish what you mean by the shadow. Read through the orignal source material. I guess it would be hard to understand your shadow unless you have a general direction. If you do, then maybe read "psychological types" or the first few chapters of aion. Identify what you feel uncomfortable with and talk it through.

[Jsbrads]

The Wolf and the Sheepdog.

1 Read the stories, or hear them from a professional storyteller. What is the moral? Know what you are capable of before you go there. And...

2 Starve the wolf, feed the sheepdog. There are two spirits inside of you, one feeds on anger, doubt, exhaustion, depression... the other on calmness, surety, energy and joy.

2b I have found mindful meditation instrumental in helping me improve my mindset when depression would occasionally distract me.