I've been thinking a lot about the chaotic energies all around which the Cs attribute to the "Wave energies". Well, we know a LOT is going on "out there" just based on the behavior of the planet and observations of the solar system as reported to some extent by various science organizations. So we ought not to be surprised that a lot is going on amongst humans as the Cs pointed out the idea that they can reflect such energies. And we sure see plenty of evidence of that in the madness all around.
It occurs to me that we really are in a Strange Time Period and being able to recognize patterns and derive the correct interpretations is paramount. We are in the period the Cs warned us about so many years ago though we really had no way of knowing or guessing how things would develop or transpire. But we should be thankful, I think, for the warnings and the urgings to learn all we can so as to be prepared with knowledge and awareness.
And that seems to be the key: on more than one occasion the Cs said that continuous input of knowledge was a major mode of protection. I have done all I could to present everything that I have found, to urge everyone to join in the process, do the reading, network, etc, so I hope that most members of the forum are at least somewhat inoculated and prepared. But obviously, there is more and we are embarked on that more right now. I can see that it might have been fatal to place too great reliance on Gurdjieff's ideas so we need to engage in the work of sorting it all out; this may be the very process of "knowledge inputting" that will act in a protective way. Additionally, full networking and sharing of information, observations, etc will help. And that means more than just among ourselves; we need to be sending out the signal via discussions here, work on sott, activity on social media to whatever extent is possible for each and every one.
In the discussion on the Stoicism and Paul thread ( https://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,43935.0.html) I opined that what might be involved with the process could be inborn genetic receivers and transmitters. It occurs to me, as I think about all everyone has written about their current states and experiences (and some of these I've gleaned from other threads on the forum as well as in face to face discussions with others here) that what is being exposed is some residual blockages to receivers/transmitters within the soul/genetic system. Maybe blockages isn't exactly the right word: noise might be better. That means that we really need to "clean our machines" as thoroughly as possible. And, as all of you must be figuring out by now, from the Collingwood/Gurdjieff thread, ( https://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,44650.0.html ), in combination with the Stoicism/Paul thread, requires a special kind of second order thinking and observation.
Obviously, nobody is ever going to get it perfect and "perfect themselves", so we must rely on being networked so that the deficiencies of any individual will be compensated for by the strengths of others, and vice versa. Sincerity and dedication are supremely important. Every person must realize that any weaknesses will be exploited by the energies of chaos. Just remember the bit from the movie, "The Exorcist", toward the end, where the poor priest was tormented by the demon by being reminded of his failings. Any of us that have such will also have a way that we can be exploited and possibly our own guilt or inner pain turned against us in horribly detrimental ways. I know of what I speak here.
It's not a question of anyone thinking they need to make confession about this or that, it is more a question of knowing your weaknesses, knowing your machine, and taking some distance from it and making it work FOR you and not against you. Use second order thinking for self-observation. Use the knowledge from the books recently recommended to gain knowledge about the machine, to be fully convinced of the fact that it IS A MACHINE and that YOU, the MIND, are the master of the carriage and take control!!! Find out what you need to do to assist this process whether it be diet or supplements, or talking to others, or whatever. Be vigilant about your thoughts that come so automatically and realize that most often, if not nearly all the time, they are automatic narratives generated by the intellect to serve the baser emotions.
Somewhere further back in this thread, there was one poster who said something along the lines "I'm not going to read the books, I'll just be doing this or that which works for me..." and right away I knew that this person was doing just that: the intellect was creating a narrative to get them off the hook about doing actual work.
As you will learn from the book "Anatomy of Violence", one of the most useful things a person can do is to train their brain for focus and concentration since this actually can grow the frontal cortex, make physical changes in the brain. So "thinking with a hammer" is much more than just thinking hard or being ruthless with the self; it can be an actual practice similar to meditation, where one forces oneself to do things faster, better, longer, harder, etc. I think that this is definitely one of those things that will strengthen the receiver/transmitter system within.
Meditation is also useful. Doing things that you know are necessary, but are outside your comfort zone also signal to the machine that the master is now running the show. Very simple things like changing old, bad habits can work in this direction. Making your bed, keeping your environment clean if you are not one who normally does this can be something along this line.
Anyway, these are just my thoughts about things at the moment. We need to keep our eyes open, observe reality both within and without closely and carefully, and exert some serious effort to get rid of the noise.