Spirals and Streets
When I wrote about spirals and mistakes the other day, Lynda came by to join the conversation about it, and wondered if the concept of spirals had too much of the feeling of going round in circles and not enough of moving on or progression. This was typically gentle and encouraging of her — but in truth I actually do go round in circles, revisiting immersion in the same imaginative experience (and then emerging from it) many times before I leave it behind. Because it feels protective, I want to be right inside it, even though it isn't really me.
Thinking about this, when I was chatting with Lynda in the comment thread, brought back to mind this wonderful story by Portia Nelson, called There's a Hole in My Sidewalk: the Romance of Self-Discovery — I first came across it in Wayne Dyer's work. Click on it and it'll enlarge for you to read easily.
21 comments:
am i right in thinking that teilhard de chardin wrote about spirals? but they were spirals that were always going upward so that, even if you came around to the same spot as before, you were on a higher level. someone else may be able to explain this better than i can but it sort of made sense at the time. while i do keep coming round to the same issues and struggles, there is always new insight into whatever it is.
I don't know about Teilhard de Chardin — that is, I know who you mean but I don't know if he wrote about spirals. And yes, that sense of progression at the same time as crossing old ground is exactly the thing I experience. I put that in my original post, but I think it may have got swamped by all the other stuff I said:
"Like a pole bean, I've lived in spirals, but (I hope they are) going upward, not nowhere. It's not the same as a tethered animal trudging round and round the rut of the same old track. There is, albeit minuscule, progression."
And, the new insight does come in part from circling over the same ground as you crossed before — it isn't quite the same as hindsight.
I think trying the same life experiments over again is like reading a book over again.
You read with different eyes each time, so you see different things.
Also, the experiments are an act of creativity, a wee attempt at creating a world, which is in the blood of all children of the Creator in whose image we are made ; )
Rapunzel
Spirals are in nature and a design feature in permaculture. Spirals can go up and down, I guess it is always the downward spirals that are troubling! I am currently in a downward spiral and it is a very uncomfortable place to be! I loved the photos of your 'personas' and the story behind each one. I have often felt called to headcovering but wasn't brace enough to look out of place. Modest dress has always appealed but I do love a pair of jeans for comfort, not tight I might add and always paired with a loose t-shirt style top. I have come to the conclusion that I am a mis-fit and I haven't yet made peace with that concept. Sending a hug of gratitude for your friendship in this space and your words, they mean a lot to me xx
Hi Rapunzel — waving! That sounds right to me. Also, I think the Plain world, like saris, are so beautiful — in a quiet and serene way, that the truth inside them calls to me, invites me to immerse myself. Where I think I went wrong is confusing the external with the internal.
Hi San — Are you really in a downward spiral? I wonder. Because your heart is for goodness, truth and integrity, I bet you are questing upwards towards the light even in those moments when you feel you are losing ground. One of the very best tonics for times when one is disheartened, I think, is Brennan Manning's wonderful book "All Is Grace." From it, I have kept in my heart the wonderful mantra "Abba, I belong to you". Hugs. x
In the late 1990’s I built a spiral meditation path which became a central element of my spiritual journey. And I discovered many of the mystics use the spiral as an image of the spiritual path. There are too many references of it in my book to quote here, but perhaps your other readers would appreciate my final one:
"In my years of walking the spiral I was often aware that with each loop I passed a towering alder tree, and then the young Pacific yew trees I had planted one Christmas Day. On one side a flowering red currant bush flourished, and tucked away behind a western red cedar was a snowberry bush, clinging to its berries throughout the winter. As the spiral led me deeper to the center, every loop passed the same points, but now they were seen from a changed and deepening perspective. So it has been with the spiraling journey of my soul as I trod both hard places of sorrow and darkness, and easier paths when I was touched by the very real presence of the Lord within all of creation, that same earth that has held me through every moment of my life, that same heaven and its stars that will shine into eternity." DeepLight: A Memoir of the Soul © 2018, p.294 .
Oh, yes! Thank you, Susan.
Everybody — Susan's beautiful and fascinating story has its chapters divided by this image of the spiral that has symbolised her journey, in which she has gradually found her way to the life of an anchorite.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/DeepLight-Memoir-Soul-Susan-Creighton-ebook/dp/B07CSRNCD7/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Deeplight%3A+a+memoir+of+the+soul&qid=1560449044&s=gateway&sr=8-3
Thank you for the hugs, your e coursing words and the book recommendation, of to find it, bless you! Xx
Nust ran across Jordan Peterson talking about Jung's theory of circumnambulation, wish I had the tech savvy to send it to you from my phone, it's on YouTube as How To Stop Running Away From Home. In only partway through it but wanted to telk you vaboutbit becore I forget I was going to.
Correction: How to stop rotting away at home
Hi San — `I see you, too have an autocorrect of independent mind! Google Blogger doesn't let me edit comments — but I read "encouraging" not "e coursing". Then again, if you actually meant "e coursing", you'll need to explain . . .
I was thinking about you early this morning, wondering how you are. Have you read my Hawk & Dove books, San? They are helpful for when you're struggling. If you haven't I'll send then to you bit by bit when I've got some money (which I will do by early July).
Hi Rapunzel — Rotting Away At Home and Running Away At Home are both things I do constantly, and Running Away From Home is something I consider occasionally — not escaping from something dreadful, just wandering off . . . Thanks for the alert. I'll watch that!
Blessings on you two — may this be a happy day. xx
Mercy! I see I thumb type very badly on the phone ; )
It is good that you can read between the errors.
Rapunzel
:0D
x
Really interesting video that Rapunzel recommended, (above) people.
Jordan Peterson on circumambulation — How To Stop Rotting Away At Home.
Here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdAKO3b8oLc
He could have been a little more focused and concise, perhaps, and used the word "stupid" what less — lack of preparation I wonder? — but always an interesting man and certainly an interesting talk.
Chuckling!! I bought one of your hawk and dove books on Kindle it is 'A day and a life.' You are very kind and I will proof read this before sending!!
That's the only one you have? I'll send you the first one in the series when my money comes it at the beginning of July. x
San, the right address for you is the No 16 one now, isn't it?
Yes the new address is the number sixteen one. Thank you being so caring it is truly appreciated xx
As always, I learn from you and everyone who comments on your blog. xoxo
Hi San — I realised that the first three volumes in that series I had on my shelf had been through so many editions that all the errors and problems had been eradicated so they don't have my notes written all over them. Pristine. So I posted them off to you yesterday. xx
Hi Julie B — me too! It's like having a really good magazine! xx
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