Empathy hurts but also heals; thanks empaths for seeing.
Without caring we miss the interconnectedness of life.
Spirituality is individual and religion is an education system about a group or historical interpretation of spirituality.
Sympathy is the recognition of other people’s emotions. Empathy takes it a little further and feels the emotions somewhat too - imitator cells may be involved. We pattern our actions from others innately.
Following the crowd is also innate and going against that instinct is uncomfortable and risky as the crowd can react negatively to outsiders.
Integrity is staying true to your own values even if the crowd seems to be going a different direction.
I had lessons to learn, and needed repetition with variation to better understand what I was doing - what messages had I learned as a child that weren’t helping me now?
I had learned some messed up values - but also fairly standard for traditional gender norms. It left me vulnerable to harm and being used. I needed to learn that the childhood values were not healthy and learn and practice new ones.
Scapegoats - blaming someone or something else for a problem is an instinctual behavior. It is more comfortable to not feel at fault. Blaming means you have no power of your own to change and it is used as a distraction.
Scapegoats: Meaning, Types, Examples and Therapy For It, (mantracare.org).
Why focus on solving the problem when you can focus on blaming someone or something for the problem?
Because focusing on blame instead of solutions is more likely to never reach a solution.
My path has winded and been glorious and ghastly and it takes both to learn.
My hope is that society will work through the grieving process and reach a point of acceptance that there is a problem that needs to be addressed directly.
Blamers are stuck in the going nowhere lane - but no worries, you aren’t alone there, and there is a way out of the traffic jam. Take the exit ramp toward accountability - what part of a problem is something you can directly address? It may only be changing your own attitude and making a choice to smile at strangers and to smile at your own foibles instead of dwelling on blaming others for mishaps.
“Sh!t happens.” - Forrest Gump, (movie) and others.
Entropy happens - organization does too. I choose to focus on cleaning up sh!t when I can - offering help to those who are interested.
Connection with self, with nature, and with others is what life is about to me. Quarkian entanglement is part of my view of spirituality - our energy forms connect, and we can hurt or be happy with other’s pain or joy.
Insightful post by Caitlin Johnstone: Separation is the Largest Religion in the World (substack.com).
Is it a habit to isolate from each other now? Has media prompted division? and distraction? Yes, in my opinion. Turn it off and remember to smell the flowers.
Yarrow: Sources, Health Benefits, Nutrients, Uses, and Constituents. (naturalpedia.com)
Also helpful - authoritarianism is wrong by whoever does it: The Mask of Reason - Charles Eisenstein (substack.com) When we grow up with authoritarian parents or school or government or all of the above - then as adults we may not know how to make our own decisions and are likely to seek out a boss or political leader that is confidently telling everyone what to do.
It isn’t easy to be accountable for our own decisions - we might make mistakes - but at least they will be our own mistake and not something an authoritarian outsider decided was best for us.
I am where I need to be right now - where I am needed. Family first - honor thy parents, they are fallible humans too.
Also, a daily Tarot, it may be paid subscriber - Be Better Than You Were Yesterday (substack.com)
Disclaimer: This information is being shared for educational purposes within the guidelines of Fair Use and is not intended to provide individual health care guidance.
I have learned to be leery of very confident people, (VCP) , of apparent heros. The perfect people are never. Hesitation and questioning are not popular with VCP. Dualities are not discussed with VCP. They stride confidently on as they walk off the cliff, confident lemming leaders leading their lemmings.
My limited reserves of empathy and sympathy have been seriously depleted over the last two years.
There is only so much blind stupidity that can be forgiven.
The YASE (Yet Another Stolen Election) has now drained the few remaining drops.