Session 14 October 2017

I would like to share some interesting self-observation of curious dynamic.

Instead, at first, focusing on some task and, at second, trying to fight the dissociation and fight with the unpleasure feelings. Better is to at first set the proper attitude, the attitude which I have on my mind is something like the: Enjoy one's suffering, because it can give the feeling of the satisfaction, search for ways to challenging themselves. Say to self: "Well I don't like do this or that, but when I will do it I would be a bit more powerful. Isn't it fantastic? :)"

The one principle, which is important, is to choose challenges wisely. Jump from the 4th floor to check whether I can get up is not wise. However, let's say I am seeking for some challenge, I am wondering, what it could be, what it could be? Okay, get some not complicated at the beginning. It could be multiplying numbers and check how big numbers I can multiplying without deconcentration and exhausted. It does not really have to mean that I would like to be a super cool in maths. I just want a challenge and just by the way learn multiplying numbers.

What is important is this substitution, which means that not to do something that is meaningful first, for example, read a complicated book and after that, let say after a few moments, start matching with various unpleasant feelings. But, at first recall the attitude: "I would like to do something that will be a challenge for me", find it, it could be, for instance, read a hard book and as the side effect, learn something new. If something is not interesting, it does not start to be interesting just because someone wants that it has to be interesting, but if one is perceiving reading hard book as the challenge for his willpower, it doesn't need to be interesting, because the main aim so to challenge themselves, however as we can expect, this is also opportunity to learn something real and new.
 
I've also found myself combating dissociate tendencies at a new level these past few weeks and I've been having pretty chaotic dreams as well. This morning I had a pretty disturbing one;

I was at my house, from my childhood, and the sleeping quarters(2nd floor) are separated by a long corridor from the massive living room. I was alone in my room when this massive naked mole-rate came into my room and attacked me. I fought it off with these hand blades I had and realized that we were getting invaded from the underground by these things. The rest of my community was in the living room and they did not know so I had to go and warn them. As I was preparing to go I saw that I had a puppy dog and a cat that I knew I could not save but I was torn between leaving them behind, so I opened the window for the cat to escape and chucked the dog onto the lower platform and gave it the opportunity to escape. I then ran out the door and hacked my way through a bunch of these massive mole-rats, ran across the corridor, and found my community were I warned them of what was coming. We geared up in time and had another massive battle as we fought off these invaders.

After the battle ended we all began to celebrate but I felt there was something wrong. I saw that all the people present had this orb that represented their energy levels and this voice told me something like "people spend the excess energy on useless actions that don't contribute to their growth" and I was reminded my the work. And I woke up. This morning I've complete lost my appetite and feel nauseous, I'll have to pack my breakfast.

Things are indeed ramping up, and thank you all for these last discussions on dissociation.
 
As for dreaming.
I also dreamed Laura a few days ago.
The dream begins in a spacious room (like a sports hall). Many, to me, unknown people, I among them, alone, without relatives /acquaintances. Some big, long bags are filled with air and water. These bags are used as a sleeping mattress.
We put them next to each other and get ready for rest. I'm lie down to my "mattress" and cover myself with a blanket. I look at the "bed" next to me and see Laura lying down. I can not determine if she is sick or tired. I sit, I apologize for disturbing her, and I say how I think and believe that everything will be fine with her and that she would be better. She reveals herself, gets up, and I see her wearing a t-shirt. The lower part of her body was naked and between women's hips and thighs dangling penis.
She came to me and kissed me on the forehead, without saying a word, she went back to bed. That kiss I felt as a message: "Do not worry, I'm fine," but I was even more pleased with Laura's penis. "Ooooooooo, Laura has balls - has become a warrior" - I thought and happily sprawled in bed. End.

Unlike other, "changed" Laura does not frighten me at all, even more so, makes me happy.

As for the problem of the environment, I'm already used to it. Whenever I was supposed to do something, which was very important to me, there was a crowd. Children, husband, neighbors ..., all needed my help and engagement. I would calm myself: It can not last forever. I will survive. And then do what I was planning on.
This time is different. I have a problem with myself. I read "The idea of History" on October 8th. I wanted to write my impressions and thoughts on the subject of "Gurdjieff's Primitive Cosmology," but I would not let myself go. "Stand by", literally stand in the middle of the room, sit at the table or stay in bed in the morning and write in my mind. I never get to the computer. I look at my watch; it takes an hour, an hour and a half, and I still stand / sit / lie and in my mind repeat or write different versions of the same subject. When I think I have to make a day-to-day duty, I run without problems.
No way to impressions / ideas "let loose" in reality turning into a realization / manifestation. So imagination remains a mere daydreaming.

As for health, there are also two major headaches, and two strange "inflammation" of the nose and the ears. Inflammation without temperature and short duration.
 
I've noticed that behind the pull of dissociation is often a type of isolation combined with wanting to deny some aspect of reality through controlling tendencies. Such tendencies seem to give rise to all sorts of negative emotions that can often be drivers of negative dissociation as well. I think accepting and acknowledging reality as it is goes a long way in allowing yourself to process it and not carry around conflicts like a festering wound. The desire to control life as you would have it seems to act as a significant blockage that turns energy inward. You end up getting stuck in a bubble and a hostile internal environment that is pretty toxic. It seems a person can only stand being in such a space for so long before they seek a release or an escape through dissociation (living in dreams seems to apply here). Such an escape can only temporary because the underlying cause hasn't been dealt with and you just return to the same state possibly worse off than before.

The unfortunate thing is when you live life this, the conflict and denial just pile up and you go round and round in a denial-conflict-dissociation negative feedback loop. I found that a step in getting out of this loop is recognizing the tension involved with the subconscious tendency to control others and situations. Once you see and feel that specific type of struggle you can better see it for what it is as well as the filter you have put on whatever issue. Releasing that control seems to open some doors in seeing the situation in different ways. I don't think this means you'll instantly be objective and fully understand the situation, but the point is that you're stepping out of a self-oriented perspective that at least puts you on a different path toward learning and living. And in turn, you break the pull of the dissociative cycles. At least that's been my experience. Learning to be open with others about your struggles (without the drama or self pity) seems to be a major aid in this process as well.
 
Renaissance said:
I've noticed that behind the pull of dissociation is often a type of isolation combined with wanting to deny some aspect of reality through controlling tendencies. Such tendencies seem to give rise to all sorts of negative emotions that can often be drivers of negative dissociation as well. I think accepting and acknowledging reality as it is goes a long way in allowing yourself to process it and not carry around conflicts like a festering wound. The desire to control life as you would have it seems to act as a significant blockage that turns energy inward. You end up getting stuck in a bubble and a hostile internal environment that is pretty toxic. It seems a person can only stand being in such a space for so long before they seek a release or an escape through dissociation (living in dreams seems to apply here). Such an escape can only temporary because the underlying cause hasn't been dealt with and you just return to the same state possibly worse off than before.

The unfortunate thing is when you live life this, the conflict and denial just pile up and you go round and round in a denial-conflict-dissociation negative feedback loop. I found that a step in getting out of this loop is recognizing the tension involved with the subconscious tendency to control others and situations. Once you see and feel that specific type of struggle you can better see it for what it is as well as the filter you have put on whatever issue. Releasing that control seems to open some doors in seeing the situation in different ways. I don't think this means you'll instantly be objective and fully understand the situation, but the point is that you're stepping out of a self-oriented perspective that at least puts you on a different path toward learning and living. And in turn, you break the pull of the dissociative cycles. At least that's been my experience. Learning to be open with others about your struggles (without the drama or self pity) seems to be a major aid in this process as well.
Wow you described exactly what I have been trying to face and overcome for most of this year! My dissociation is escaping into porn and loosing valuable sleep as one result. The other result is hiding it as a secret from my spouse. Earlier when Laura mentioned porn I felt she was speaking to me and my struggle. It is time to clean the machine and grow the grey matter.
 
Thank you Laura for these clarifications!
I have so much to learn, to read; the big five + the important ones you recently mentionned. :lkj:

Thank you Persej for this excerpt on ADT. I consider it, as I have so much brain fog and difficulties to do the exercice on focusing Ellipse indicated (You sit in the lotus position and try to blank you mind or visualize an object like a rose or a word.)
Nearly 2 years of diet an zero effect on my brain frog and on this awfull tinnitus that is very energy consuming and "makes noise". I'll continue to search how to overcome these issues.This forum helps me a lot. Thank you to you all. I've got lots of work to do (know the machine, clean it)
 
seeker2seer said:
Wow you described exactly what I have been trying to face and overcome for most of this year! My dissociation is escaping into porn and loosing valuable sleep as one result. The other result is hiding it as a secret from my spouse. Earlier when Laura mentioned porn I felt she was speaking to me and my struggle. It is time to clean the machine and grow the grey matter.

Keep in mind that everyone has similar issues with wanting to escape, wishful thinking, control, anger that the world isn't fair, etc; it's just that they are on a spectrum of type and severity. The most extreme forms are criminals. It really is just a matter of errors in thinking. And the only way to correct those errors is to share what you are thinking with others and get good feedback. If you do it over and over again, eventually you get to where you can do it for yourself, correct your thinking errors as they happen or even before they happen.

As I mentioned elsewhere, Samenow's book "Inside the Criminal Mind" is a real tour de force in seeing how errors of thinking work and how they can mess up your life completely. In the last chapter, he describes in considerable detail the method his mentor, Yochelson, developed for re-training the thinking. It is very much like what we call "The Mirror" only the way he designed it was for criminals so it is pretty intense. Most people don't need that kind of intensive mirror therapy; a few sessions will do.

So, anybody who has trouble with dissociating will want to pick up this book asap and add it to the "read as quickly as possible" pile.
 
nature said:
Thank you Laura for these clarifications!
I have so much to learn, to read; the big five + the important ones you recently mentionned. :lkj:

Thank you Persej for this excerpt on ADT. I consider it, as I have so much brain fog and difficulties to do the exercice on focusing Ellipse indicated (You sit in the lotus position and try to blank you mind or visualize an object like a rose or a word.)
Nearly 2 years of diet an zero effect on my brain frog and on this awfull tinnitus that is very energy consuming and "makes noise". I'll continue to search how to overcome these issues.This forum helps me a lot. Thank you to you all. I've got lots of work to do (know the machine, clean it)

And just remember, none of this reading time is lost in any way! That's the beauty of it. Cs said that "knowledge input in a continual basis" was a big key to protection and you will be doing exactly that!
 
SA and Surviving
Source: https://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,28741.0.html
I think this post should be a 'sticky' of its own. It is SO important because people make a lot of assumptions about the people who 'have been at the Chateau' and then their guards are down and all sorts of 'blind leading the blind' goes on. Always, and in everything, pay attention to what is actually going on - actions versus words - and hone your discernment. When in doubt, network!! If everyone did that, the danger of 'snakes in the garden' would all but disappear, I think.


How to Develop Situational Awareness (11:21)

The 3 Rules to Become a Gray Man (8:29)
Published on Nov 18, 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3Wz7fC7tOY
There will be times when you need to avoid being noticed to avoid conflict. Being a "Gray Man" helps preventing making an impression which can help you survive.

Situational Awareness
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Situation_awareness
Endsley-SA-model.jpg


CassWiki
Seeing the unseen
https://thecasswiki.net/index.php?title=Seeing_the_unseen
See also:
Objectivity
Wishful thinking

Organic Portals Part 1
https://cassiopaea.org/2012/12/17/organic-portals-part-1/
Regular readers of this site will be aware that not only events playing out on the world stage, but also very personal attacks have brought about an increasing awareness of one type of human — the psychopath. Laura has written extensively about it in the The Wave or Adventures with Cassiopaea Series and there are links to more material on our psychopaths page.
 
Laura said:
seeker2seer said:
Wow you described exactly what I have been trying to face and overcome for most of this year! My dissociation is escaping into porn and loosing valuable sleep as one result. The other result is hiding it as a secret from my spouse. Earlier when Laura mentioned porn I felt she was speaking to me and my struggle. It is time to clean the machine and grow the grey matter.

Keep in mind that everyone has similar issues with wanting to escape, wishful thinking, control, anger that the world isn't fair, etc; it's just that they are on a spectrum of type and severity. The most extreme forms are criminals. It really is just a matter of errors in thinking. And the only way to correct those errors is to share what you are thinking with others and get good feedback. If you do it over and over again, eventually you get to where you can do it for yourself, correct your thinking errors as they happen or even before they happen.

As I mentioned elsewhere, Samenow's book "Inside the Criminal Mind" is a real tour de force in seeing how errors of thinking work and how they can mess up your life completely. In the last chapter, he describes in considerable detail the method his mentor, Yochelson, developed for re-training the thinking. It is very much like what we call "The Mirror" only the way he designed it was for criminals so it is pretty intense. Most people don't need that kind of intensive mirror therapy; a few sessions will do.

So, anybody who has trouble with dissociating will want to pick up this book asap and add it to the "read as quickly as possible" pile.
Thank you Laura for the recommendation. I just downloaded Samenow's 2014 edition to my kindle and will begin reading ASAP. I really do want to correct my thinking when it comes to my natural tendency to dissociate especially into something that has caused me shame and guilt for most of my adult life. It has robbed me of so much energy and time that is too valuable to waste as the chaos and uncertainty grow around us. Looking forward to this next phase of going deeper to see and become my authentic self while learning to think correctly. I am so thankful to have you and the entire group as part of my life! :)
 
Samenow "Inside the Criminal Mind" : ce livre n'est pas traduit en Français non plus...
Je suis entrain de terminer "Toute histoire est histoire d'une pensée" de Robin Georges Collingwood
Ensuite j'attaquerai "Le nouveau Leviathan ou l'homme, la Société, la Civiisation et la Barbarie" du même auteur, ce sont les deux seuls livres traduits en Français...
Si l'Equipe Française pouvait m'orienter pour trouver des lectures similaires aux livres recommandés par Laura, j'en serai ravie... Un grand merci d'avance.
Merci aussi pour tous vos commentaires dont je suis gourmande et ne manque pas de les lire chaque jour.


Samenow "Inside the Criminal Mind": this book is not translated into French either ...
I'm finishing "All Story is Story of a Thought" by Robin Georges Collingwood
Then I will attack "The new Leviathan or man, society, civilization and Barbary" by the same author, these are the only two books translated into French ...
If the French team could orient me to find readings similar to the books recommended by Laura, I will be delighted ... A big thank you in advance.
Thank you also for all your comments which I am greedy and do not miss to read them every day.
 
Regarding "thinking about thinking" and errors in thinking, I recommend doing some research on cognitive biases. These are all the ways in which we misjudge things, see them for something other than what they are, lie to ourselves (mostly small lies, but they pile up), and generally drift away from objectivity.

Cognitive biases are common in pretty much all people, but once you learn about them and understand them, you can work on eliminating them from your thinking. The result will be more awareness, perceiving reality more accurately and objectively, and clearer understanding of what's going on around you.

You will also feel more at ease, because when you lie to yourself daily, some tension builds underneath your awareness, creating stress and maybe even some cognitive dissonance. These things will go away as you remove at least some of their causes.

You don't even need any books for this (though they're certainly helpful), as there's plenty of free information on the Internet. You can start with Wikipedia's "List of cognitive biases" and then just look up the ones you're most interested in. Understanding these is very helpful for making sense of everyday behaviour of ourselves and the people around us.


As for concentration, I recently found this website: http://brainscale.net
It has several exercises for concentration and short-term memory. Each focuses on something slightly different, so try them out and see what you're bad at and need to improve.

Laura spoke about doing things that are difficult and trying them over and over until you improve, and I think these exercises can help with that.

(The difficulty levels go waaay up, so it's OK if you can handle only 3-4 out of the 30 levels available. You can also change some settings on the right, for example increase times if things are too fast for you.)
 
Mandatory Intellectomy said:
Regarding "thinking about thinking" and errors in thinking, I recommend doing some research on cognitive biases. These are all the ways in which we misjudge things, see them for something other than what they are, lie to ourselves (mostly small lies, but they pile up), and generally drift away from objectivity.

Cognitive biases are common in pretty much all people, but once you learn about them and understand them, you can work on eliminating them from your thinking. The result will be more awareness, perceiving reality more accurately and objectively, and clearer understanding of what's going on around you.

You will also feel more at ease, because when you lie to yourself daily, some tension builds underneath your awareness, creating stress and maybe even some cognitive dissonance. These things will go away as you remove at least some of their causes.

You don't even need any books for this (though they're certainly helpful), as there's plenty of free information on the Internet. You can start with Wikipedia's "List of cognitive biases" and then just look up the ones you're most interested in. Understanding these is very helpful for making sense of everyday behaviour of ourselves and the people around us.

Yes, we have a number of threads about cognitive biases in the psychology section. This is part of the problem. But some of these problems go way beyond cognitive biases into seriously detrimental programming. In some cases, the problem is weakness in one or another brain structure. Some brain structures can be fortified and built up. In some cases, a person just has to acknowledge that they can't see something and rely on others to help them.

Mandatory Intellectomy said:
As for concentration, I recently found this website: http://brainscale.net
It has several exercises for concentration and short-term memory. Each focuses on something slightly different, so try them out and see what you're bad at and need to improve.

Laura spoke about doing things that are difficult and trying them over and over until you improve, and I think these exercises can help with that.

(The difficulty levels go waaay up, so it's OK if you can handle only 3-4 out of the 30 levels available. You can also change some settings on the right, for example increase times if things are too fast for you.)

That looks pretty cool and might be very useful! I'll check it out further when I have a little more time!
 
Mandatory Intellectomy said:
Regarding "thinking about thinking" and errors in thinking, I recommend doing some research on cognitive biases. These are all the ways in which we misjudge things, see them for something other than what they are, lie to ourselves (mostly small lies, but they pile up), and generally drift away from objectivity.

You may want to check this board Psychology & Cognitive Science. You will find plenty of threads about cognitive biases there.
 
Mandatory Intellectomy said:
As for concentration, I recently found this website: http://brainscale.net
It has several exercises for concentration and short-term memory. Each focuses on something slightly different, so try them out and see what you're bad at and need to improve.

Laura spoke about doing things that are difficult and trying them over and over until you improve, and I think these exercises can help with that.

(The difficulty levels go waaay up, so it's OK if you can handle only 3-4 out of the 30 levels available. You can also change some settings on the right, for example increase times if things are too fast for you.)

Thanks for the link, I enjoy these kind of exercises. The 2 on this site I found particularly interesting (and which I haven't seen before) were Dual N-Back and CWM. The others were variations of other ones floating around on the web. They test 2 things at the same time and are quite difficult. CWM shows an image and you need to select if symmetrical or not, followed by a square's position on a grid. As you progress you need to remember the order that they appeared. You don't get much time to check for symmetry. Dual N-Back I think is even harder. For the first level you need to remember the square position and a sound 1 position/sound back. For level 2, two back.. etc. I could barely do level 1 so there's lots to improve there.

One thing I didn't like about the site was the trial levels. I was able to do a few rounds of one, but then it started asking me to sign up for a monthly fee, and on top of that wait a minute between each and every round. The fee wasn't much ($2.99/month) but I wanted to be able to use it a little more so I could decide if it was worth it. So that was a little disappointing. However, I did find a free version of Dual N-Back: http://brainworkshop.sourceforge.net/download.html

Also, there's great little write-up about DNB with studies, tips and anecdotal reports from people that have used it can be found here: http://www.gwern.net/DNB-FAQ

From what I've read, it seems to have the most potential for cognitive improvements around the board.
 
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