Cassiopaea Forum Reading Workshops - Public

[Magnolia]

Quick search suggested

Not sure which suggestion worked (I just kept trying) but it's up and working.
Wow. Thank you to the max!

 

[Pecha]

I did laugh when I read this.
Just to clarify, I was referencing the work of Bernardo Kastrup. I wasn't suggesting that Fidel Castro was running a side-hustle in studying the mind-body problem with psychedelics (but, who knows?).
I would heartily recommend the curious follow up on that reference by reading 'The Idea of the World' by Kastrup - he deals with the research on psychedelics and neuroimaging in chapter 12.

Thanks for clarifying--that is an important distinction lol.

 

[RedFox]

Just a note on what I was referring to at the end, it's Chapter 17, Creativity/Entropy from High Strangeness.
The whole chapter is worth reading, or at least from page 365, as I think this may be what Castaneda is referring to as Seer's.
I also think the telescope analogy could be applied to Self Importance.

As self-aware "transducing units", the human being has the potential to go either way - towards intensified being, or towards intensified non-being. In this sense, humans also function very much like a lens that can be "adjusted" like a telescope. It can be dialled to select the viewing range, which can be distinct and inclusive of more "space/time", or it can be shortened to only see what is up close and evident in the material world. In other words, our first and most fundamental choice is to choose what we see.
When we choose what we see - and here we do not mean with the physical eyes or even psychically, but rather a more inclusive term that suggests whether or not we are capable of objectivity or subjectivity - we are receiving impressions. Impressions can become knowledge if assimilated. Knowledge leads to awareness. Knowledge and awareness then direct emotions, which then energize actions in the organic world. This is the transducing of energies of cosmic thought centers. Whether or not the impressions are assimilated objectively will determine with which of the thought centers, being or non-being, we are in alignment.

 

[Laurs]

Thanks Tom for the reference, and thanks everybody for a great discussion!

Here is the link to the video and here is the document from that great resource CassWiki I referred to.

Next week we will discuss Chapter 3 The Eagles Emanations.

Have a great week

 

[Laurs]

here is the document from that great resource CassWiki I referred to.

As PDF attached. Please note that several links in the document are not working:

Page 1: 'identification' and 'little I's'
Page 3: 'Cassiopaen,' 'narcissists' and 'other character-disturbed'
Page 4: 'pathocracies' and 'warriors'
Page 5: 'discipline,' and 'stalking'
Page 9: 'little I's'

 

[Pecha]

The Am-EU finished the Petty Tyrants (pages 25-43) in The Fire From Within by Carlos Castaneda on November 30th, led by Laurs.

Here are the recordings of the meeting by Laurs as well: Video

I've also attached the mind map below in both PNG & PDF form. For readability, here's printed the mind map in bulleted form here:

Summary

• Self-importance is the warrior’s greatest enemy; it consumes more energy than anything else and keeps us offended, weak, and blind. The new seers discovered that deliberately facing petty tyrants (tormentors who hold power over us) is the fastest, most joyful way to burn self-importance away.
• Petty tyrants are classified with wicked humor: the ultimate Tyrant (death/the Eagle), then pinches tiranos (big tyrants who can kill), pinches tiranitos (little tyrants who only persecute), and repinches tiranitos chiquititos (annoying small-fry like la Gorda). The new seers prize the rare “king-size” petty tyrant as the perfect grindstone for the spirit.
• The strategy has six elements: the five attributes of warriorship (control, discipline, forbearance, timing, will) plus the petty tyrant himself as the indispensable outside element. Four attributes are enough to defeat any small-fry tyrant; the fifth (will) is saved for the unknowable.
• Don Juan’s own monstrous foreman (who worked men to death and shot him) became his supreme teacher; by applying control (fulfilling every demand joyfully), discipline (mapping the tyrant’s weaknesses), forbearance (waiting without anxiety), and perfect timing (provoking him in front of witnesses), don Juan turned the tables and the tyrant was killed by his own rage—proving warriors can face anything after surviving a true petty tyrant.
• To be defeated by a petty tyrant is devastating (though not fatal) because it obliterates the warrior’s sense of worth; to act in anger without the four attributes is automatic defeat—many warriors abandon the path forever after losing to a small-fry tyrant.

Petty Tyrants Discussion

• (Mari): Was reading a book about narcissistic families. Sometimes it's difficult to know the difference between practicing self-importance or having some self-importance to set boundaries if they cross it.
  • (Breo): The concept of trauma in the Castaneda world is small--it only is mentioned once I think. Is there a trauma-sensitive approach.
  • (RedFox): From a psychological point of view, if you've been injured as a child, you have to go through the stages of psychological development (i.e. having an ego, shaping it, then work on removing self-importance). Don Juan had a very strong personality, an ego that is under their control.
  • (RedFox): For discipline, you need a well-thought out, solid goal to aim for.
• (RedFox): The algorithm in social media is to amplify sadness, anger, and other emotions--in a way it can serve as a petty tyrant.
• (Mari): Can you be your own petty tyrant? Like when one of your little I's continuously puts you down.
  • (Breo): This is like the negative interject and how it negatively impacts people.
  • (RedFox): The whole point of the STS pyramid is to drain you of energy for their own use.
  • (Laurs): Trauma can also serve as a petty tyrant, and an opportunity for growth.
  • (Bluefyre): Need to have a benign curiosity about it in order to develop to see the trauma objectively. You aren't fighting against yourself, but against the programming. Every choice we make determines our reality, and we reclaim our ability to choose if we work through the trauma.
  • (Anya112003): When you see that's the right path to take, it is motivating to be able to want to clear that out of your life. You also need spiritual backup in many cases.
  • (Breo): It harkens back to Paul, to put away childish things away and to mature.
• (RedFox): Nothing tempers the spirit more than dealing with those who have tremendous power over you.
• (Pecha): Don Juan came in with a plan against the petty tyrant. He consecrates the land, gathering light by holding that prayer among the servants. Then he angers the tyrant to the point where it seethes, then leads him to the stables where the horses are. Horses and other animals can sense these emotions, leading to them springing into action to take out the tyrant.
  • (RedFox): Don Juan determined the weaknesses of his petty tyrant and used those to his advantage. He took note that the tyrant was afraid of the horses and led them there to his death, etc.
  • (Il Matto): Don Juan played the role of a pious servant. Gurdjieff also played roles too in order to get things done.
  • (Bluefyre): All while never losing the sense of self.
• (RedFox): There are those that think everyone is like them, and when they do something terrible, they act shocked. The average man can't conceive the depths of how evil someone can be. Being a warrior is knowing the capability of others.
  • (saki): In the Cs session, I think they say to expect attack in order to be ready to learn and/or counter it.
• (Il Matto): All there is is lessons.
  • (Mari): The universe will provide opportunities, and it is up to you to recognize them. They only stay open for short periods of time. It's about taking choices that you know deep down is good, which ultimately puts you on a different path. Having a mirror also helps to realize these choices.
  • (Aliana): It's important to fine tune your instincts. If you are in contact with narcissists, it can really help hone these instincts.
  • (Breo): When I'm indecisive, one of the things is to consider what is in line with my destiny, another is to notice how the body reacts.
  • (Laurs): Networking also is incredibly important.
  • (Il Matto): Castaneda never talks about networking and he presents the warrior as more of a loner.
  • (Mari): There are nagual parties--those of similar mind that come together. These networks helped each other via holding up mirrors for each other. There are also apprenticeships that involve multiple individuals.
  • (Il Matto): Thinking that Don Juan is a composite character, this makes sense in that way too.
• (RedFox): From Laura's High Strangeness, she has a section where she mentions Castaneda. Basically it goes like this: the guiding principle, something to aim for, is to align oneself to the forces of being (as opposed to the forces of non-being). The more one sees, then the more one can adjust his/her perspective, which establishes a positive feedback loop. Perhaps this is what seers are.

For Next Time

Next week we will discuss Chapter 3 The Eagles Emanations.

Have a great week

We meet on (17:00) Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on Sundays.

 

[Pecha]

Hi folks, I'll be out this week and the next--would anyone like to do the notes for December 7th and December 14th (could be two different folks as well)? It doesn't have to follow the same format, whatever is natural for you.