Radiantshadow

Hey there Radiant Shadow. I sense from your posts that you have been on an incredible journey. I can literally feel the intensity in your writing. I have not gone back through the forum to read about your illness however I assume that you are recovering from cancer? Best wishes to you- and I am so happy that you and your dogs (I have two cocker spaniels who mean the world to me) will be moving in with your love. May your healing journey be gentle, kind and full of goodness.

just...working and living, i guess.

hello, Radiant. how are you?

not sure if instrumental is your thing, but figured you might enjoy the track.

Well, I almost can't believe it, but he posted something that actually seems to have logical value. I would attribute that to the old saying, "even a blind squire finds a nut every once in a while".

I'm glad you found some interest in it.

It's funny because I recently rented a movie that wasn't related to the issue at all, but instantly reminded me of it when a monologue was given that was reflective of the experience of the shaman and the young boy that was being treated.

It was the Mark Wahlberg movie based on the Navy Seal team operation in Afghanistan that failed and left only one survivor, hence the title Lone Survivor.

I hope you don't consider this as a spoiler as the plot really doesn't contain anything to spoil. It's pretty much all drama and trying to relate that experience:

There's a storm inside of us.
I've heard many team guys speak of this.
A burning. A river. A drive.
An unrelenting desire to push yourself harder and further than anyone could think possible.
Pushing ourselves into those cold, dark corners.
Where the bad things live.
Where the bad things fight.
We wanted that fight at the highest volume.
A loud fight.
The loudest, coldest, darkest, most unpleasant of the unpleasant fights.

Brave men have fought and died building the proud tradition and fear of reputation that I am bound to uphold.
I died up on that mountain.
There is no question a part of me will forever be up on that mountain, dead...
As my brothers died.
But there is a part of me that lived because of my brothers.
Because of them, I am still alive.
And I can never forget that no matter how much it hurts, how dark it gets, or how far you fall...
...you are never out of the fight.

I was instantly reminded of the boy being pushed to his limit/breaking point, so he could have that restorative experience. The lines about 'dying up on the mountain' and the boy who 'sometimes died a little,' and the wisdom that lives far from mankind in the great loneliness and only known through suffering and privation.

Although I have to say this doesn't exactly justify the politics behind military service, but I thought the similarity between the two experiences to be interesting.

I hate giving up on people, but for my own good I think I will have to.
This is starting to become unhealthy for me.

It is RS, I hope you're okay.

~thank you friend

If you're ever interested in learning more about grad school, and interdisciplinary work- feel free to let me know, I would love to discuss it
Also, have you considered pursuing a research path that is informed from your own experience? Programs such as health promotion often encourage an interdisciplinary approach, and have you working hands on with people

Thank you for reminding me that discussion is about expanding knowledge, and not about making things personal I appreciated, as I was getting lost in that conversation!

Not that I'm aware of.

Shamanism, being as broad as it is, is difficult to define exclusively and to describe inclusively.
Most books on mythology and comparative religion will include aspects of and/or descriptions of shamanistic beliefs and practices typically sharing literary influence from Frazer's The Golden Bough.

It depends on which parts of shamanism you are most interested in. There are numerous related aspects associated with shamanism.
I think I read that you have already read Frazer's work, right?

What parts of Eliade's work have you found most interesting so far?

I'm also getting frustrated over an internet conversation with someone who thinks very little of other people- which I shouldn't be!!
But the internet sucks me in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Time to go back to cats...

I must step away from it.
I find it difficult having conversations with individuals who refuse to think their might be additional ways to see the world, and not even try to understand another's perspective. It's a one-sided conversation.

I cracked!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I do have some problems with daydreaming at work, but in the last weeks, I manage to keep my mind in control.
Althought I'm well build physically, I always had a kind of annoying fatique. There were these feelings of tiredness that I felt after a full night sleeping and full rest. I would wake up, go to work, and I would feel the fatique: feelings of weakness, sleepiness and a incapability to focus myself.

But I read somewhere that there is a principle, or a law of the mind, that when the mind rests to much, it actually becomes tired and ineffiecient.

When I read that, I thought I found my cure. And I begin to put my mind to work, mainly by means of logical thinking. I wrotte down that I must not at any cost let my mind idle, I always have to think at something, to keep my mind concentrated.

And I have to say it worked amazingly . Since I begin, almost a week, I didn't feel one second of tiredness in my body. Not even one sensation and tendency to sleep, that nasty feeling that would make me not to keep with work. Plus my energy level increased amazing. And I mean this all day long. When night come, I get to sleep, I fall in sleep fast and whithout any problems. Its just amazing

I only hope the situation will remain like this. This doesn't mean I don't rest my mind or day dream, its just that I'm very careful not to loose contact with reality, and not to stay in that state too much.

And I was thinking if you as a proffesional have any more advices on this ?

I was wondering...with regard to developing the anlytical or logical skills, does that improve the mind?
For example, states of idleness of mind, broading, dreaming, can these be diminished by a more rational mind?

Or to put it in another way, do you, as someone who developed in this aspect (logical), still experience times when your mind is un-vigilant, or being in a dreamy and unproductive state?
Or do you think this is just a matter of strong will, and a thing that develop with practice?

I'm asking your help for this because I sometimes have the tendency to detach from reality, let my mind broading in the clouds. Any advice please?

Thank you

Sunday's good

=) Woot, woot!