This is a very interesting book, consisting of mandalas based on visualizations the author has had over the years about the nature of emotions. Her primary underlying theme is that of integration, reconciliation of opposites, balance, wholeness, centeredness. The author has glimpsed deeply and with great insight into the nature of psychological-spiritual centering. She combines intuition with logic, poetry with quotations in a broth which is as warm as it is savory. The form (manadalas) as well as the content is psychological and metaphysical in nature; this book is felt as much as it is read. Review by Stanley Krippner PhD, Saybrook Graduate School Co-Author of The Mythic Path
THE NATURE OF CENTERED EMOTION
By WANDA V. MORGANAuthorHouse
Copyright © 2010 Panda Morgan
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4490-8664-0Contents
INTRODUCTION FOUR FOLD SIMULTANEOUS CONTRAST.............................17Center Orientation........................................................27Material Perspective (Centered Orientation to Matter).....................33Five Senses (Sensitivity Variables).......................................37Time and Elements (Structured Time and Space).............................41Emotionally Influenced Logic..............................................47Oppositionally Based Emotional "Structure"................................51Personal Belief Structures................................................55Orientation to Society's Structures.......................................59Four "Faces" of Emotional Sensitivity.....................................63Conflicting Self Image....................................................67Automatic Response........................................................69Four Proposed States of Consciousness.....................................79The NOW Experience........................................................83The Emotional Cycle.......................................................87The Fifth State of Consciousness..........................................95Self Perspective..........................................................99Mental Block (Divided Self)...............................................111Illusionary Self Image .... Summary.......................................115Variable Adaptive Front...................................................123Isolated Modulators.......................................................127Projections...............................................................151Cause and Effect..........................................................155Quintessence..............................................................163Solitary Projections......................................................168Projecting Roles..........................................................179Perception................................................................187Integration...............................................................193
Chapter One
UNIT A
CENTER ORIENTATION
The need to be oriented in mind and body is basic to all people. Familiar surroundings provide a form of mental security even when those surroundings are not all that is hoped for.
An attempt to expand our mental orientation is expressed in the question, "What is consciousness?" This becomes a universal question that can only ask, "What is life?" In an effort to know it all, we may miss the obvious and only aspect of consciousness that contains any read applicable meaning to the individual. To each person, "consciousness" can only be a state of personal mental awareness; a central point of comprehension of one's personal reality.
TWO ASPECTS OF ORIENTATION
Our total existance is experienced through the combined aspects of being both physical (material) and mental (thought), Orientation of both aspects are experienced. Though these are two inseparable parts of one whole, the orientation is not the same. This proposal is explained in detail on the following four pages.
PHYSICAL ORIENTATION
Each individual consciousness becomes personally oriented into the material world. A conclusion, at first observation, is that this is accomplished simply through the input of the five senses; sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. Through this concept, we are separated discerning observers, of all "things". Since our bodies consist of matter also, it is not possible that we are in the total sense separated from the like physical matter that we observe. The sensory input through way of the body (sensation) and the resulting output (reaction) provides for interaction of ourselves with other material things.
Orientation of the physical self consists of observing outside activity existing on a six point reference system. The physically oriented self contacts other matter through the five senses as well as through the analytical mind.
CENTER ORIENTATION TO: FOUR FOLD SIMULTANEOUS CONTRAST
Centered Personal Orientation
The directional Cardinal Reference Points of the compass are a structured system devised by the human mind to gain physical and mental orientation; a method of determining the location of various landmarks that surround one.
Observation and comprehension functions are shared by all, while Central Interpretation results from unique interpretation as concluded by the individual,
PSYCOLOGICAL ORIENTATION TO MATTER
Places the mind at the "Center" observing all things that surround one Central point of awareness. The fact that worldly things are made of matter is not so conclusive as the fact that all that is matter must revolve around one central point of awareness to gain definition.
"Everything is 'somewhere' in relation to where I am"
FOUR CARDINAL REFERENCE POINTS PROVIDE A STRUCTURED CENTER ORIENTATION TO:
MATERIAL PERSPECTIVE FIVE SENSES TIME AND ELEMENTS
There exists no concept of life that is not experienced as a central observer defining all things that surround one point of consciousness,
The following three charts are based on commonly acknowledged opposites descriptive of the above three categories. Each chart requires supplimental descriptives in the initial four reference areas in order to explore the full concept of each subject, These supplimentals result in a total of twelve references in each,
These charts result in a pictorial observation of a proposed "structured" system in which each person exists as a central interpretor of all things that surround him.
This is done for the purpose of integrating elusive aspects of life that may cause one to feel small, defenseless and possibly disoriented in this vast world of "things" that we live in. The world may be vast, but the particular area that one personally occupies is no larger than his own chosen mental dimensions.
MATERIAL PERSPECTIVE
Cardinal Reference Points Depicting Material Perspective
CENTERED OBSERVATION OF THE MATERIAL WORLD OF FACTUAL REALITY
Material Perspective
The mind's function within these Cardinal Reference Points indicate an observing condition, simultaneously with a personal interpretation of what has been observed.
Because we tend to observe as solid matter, all "things" that surround us, we have arrived at the erroneous conclusion that all things that we "see", both visually and through mental comprehension, are solid indicators of "factual" conditions. This is misleading, in that a person believes that he simply observes facts, and that all facts appear the same to all people. In truth, there are very few things that are seen exactly the same way by all people.
Each person is subject to programming by structures of society. Due. to the variety of accepted beliefs of various cultures, wide chasms of beliefs exist between various groups of people. Each of these groups consider their cause to be right and factual. Racial, religious, and political beliefs differ radically.
Your beliefs are primarily the product of information given to you as factual, based on the truths common to your particular culture. These beliefs were accepted as truths by you, just as the fact that the sun rises and sets was accepted as a truth. The observable rising and setting of the sun is an ABSOLUTE DETERMINER provided by nature. Beliefs are provided by human beings.
The term "having something in common with someone" indicates that you and another person have arrived at near conclusions regarding any given subject. In general each person may believe the other to be slightly mad. We may believe ourselves to be so, if we fail to find one who agrees with our particular version of reality. Groups and clubs are formed in an effort to provide emotional security for the individuals, in the form of commonly shared belief structures.
Five Senses
CARDINAL REFERENCE POINTS OF FIVE SENSES DEPICTING:
Centered "experiential" functioning of the five senses.
FIVE SENSES DESCRIPTIVES
TASTE: SWEET - SOUR SMELL: ACRID - AROMA TOUCH: SOFT - HARD HEARING: SOUND - SILENCE SIGHT: LIGHT - DARK (BLACK-WHITE; COLORS; LIGHT RAYS)
PERSONAL SENSITIVITY COINCIDES WITH EMOTIONAL REACTIONS
In the area of the five senses, personal preferences are established. We experience subtle emotional reactions to all of what we see, hear, touch, smell, and taste. These reactions establish our personal "sense personality". We avoid the unpleasant and choose the pleasant.
Sense Personality
The existing cardinal reference points have no positive-negative content of themselves, but gain these definitions through personal choices.
Physical comfort is experienced through the choices existing to the senses. This is one area where we "know" what would please us. Since these "sense" things are often unatainable, we mistakenly become convinced that the acquisition of these things would bring us the happiness and peace of mind that we long for. This is not so, but rare is the person who knows it.
TIME AND ELEMENTS
CARDINAL REFERENCE POINTS DEPICTING SEASONAL ELEMENTS SUGGESTING UNDERLYING TIME STRUCTURE
Personal Environmental Preferences
STRUCTURED TIME AND SPACE
The material world is built on structure, Time is one of the most obvious structures used by man, We need this time structure to bring order to our lives and to give us a feeling of security in the vastness of eternity; "I am here, now, and I will be there, tomorrow", provides me with the assurance that I know where "I a.m" in relation to time. It allows for references to the past, present, and future, in terms that all can comprehend.
We also rely on structure to provide space orientation. We orient ourselves in space, logically, physically, and emotionally. Hell is down, heaven is up. We need "elbow" room, and a special space that is our own. We divide space into rooms, towns, cities, states, and countrys.
We look to the heavens for further orientation when we have satisfactorily determined our "position" in space. One can then knowledgeably make this factual statement: "I am standing on solid ground, contained within inner space, on the earth's surface, in the United States of America, in the state of California, in the County of Santa Clara, in the City of San Jose, on Main Street." I can now feel secure in the knowledge of where "I am" in relation to the vastness of all space. This mental orientation allows me to relax within the structure of my personal space reference.
The desire to find what outer space consists of, is mate in human minds. This desire comes from a basic drive to further orient ourselves and provide more space "reference". Science works toward conquering outer space as a material practical goal, the human soul is searching for something more. Science will gradually explore and explain further to mankind what is contained in outer space areas, however, exploration of space will never lead to the discovery of heaven, for heaven and hell are aspects of one's own mind.
HOW WE PERCEIVE TIME AND SPACE
We stand in awe of these areas because we are not aware of the total self that we are. We believe that somewhere, in that vast unexplainable area of undiscovered time and space, the answer to life lies obscured from our lowly perception. We have not accepted the fact, that the only "real" time is now, and the only "real" space is that which we ourselves, personally, occupy. The answers to life, that we search for, lie within our selves, in our "now" time, not lost without in an impersonal meaningless eternity.
Our concepts of time and space are a result of a structuring system that has evolved from drawing the obvious conclusions in these areas: When suggestions are made of the possibilities that defy these man made rules, the usual reaction is amazement and incredulity. An effort to provide instant orientation often leads one to draw premature conclusions.
EMOTIONALLY INFLUENCED LOGIC
CENTER ORIENTATION TO LOGIC
FOUR CARDINAL REFERENCE POINTS - MATHEMATICALLY BASED ABSOLUTE DETERMINERS
Logical Analysis
Pure logical thought minus emotional content is rare, and the difference is an important point to be made, What we believe to be logical reasoning, in many case s actually contain our own emotional reactions, so that one person's logic may be another person's illogic. In order to execute pure logical reasoning we must use ABSOLUTE DETERMINERS, that is, a base concept that means the same to all people. Mathematics are a reliable source of a universally accepted absolute determiner, This may be the only reliable source,
EMOTIONAL INFLUENCED LOGIC SENSITIVITY VARIABLES INJECT EMOTIONAL INFLUENCE:
Emotionally Influenced Logic
The Cardinal Reference Points: Right-Wrong, True-False, are not absolute determiners and depend on personal interpretations which are influenced by personal emotional reactions.
"ONE MAN'S SENSE IS ANOTHER MAN'S NONSENSE"
EMOTIONALLY INFLUENCED LOGIC
The use of languages of the various cultures, are common absolute determiners, only in that we are able to read and write our thoughts, and the thoughts of others, thereby establishing a concrete method of communication. These communications are not absolute determiners any more than speach is, as the spoken word is subject to individual interpretation. This is where pure logic is lost, and personal interpretation takes over. The choices of each person, represent the absolute determiners of his factual truths. He believes he is using pure logic to arrive at his conclusions, but is actually emotionally influenced in his perception.
When the act of "comparing" causes inner distress, one has stopped using logical reason, and has entered into an emotionally self destructive method of evaluation.
PERSONAL VIEWPOINT:
The order brought to one's personal version of reality, occurs through the reasoning powers of his own mind.
OUTER CONDITIONS EXIST:
Your personal reality, is your personal interpretation of outer conditions.
YOU CREATE YOUR PERSONAL REALITY:
You are doing so now, as you read these words and interpret them to mean what you want them to mean. Your total personal reality is experienced in the world of your mind. There exists no one valid reality as experienced by all people.
Each person, personally creates his version of the world, as well as his personal emotional experiences within his world, The full acceptance of this one fact, will cause each person who is aware of his true position of self control, will "take" control.
UNIT B
OPPOSITIONALLY BASED EMOTIONAL STRUCTURES
OPPOSITIONALLY BASED EMOTIONAL STRUCTURES
This "Master" structure will serve to familiarize the reader with the basic emotional relationships used in this book. Uncomplicated and containing a trace of humor in the illustrations depicting the basic emotional "faces", this thesis never the less conveys a much needed insight into the emotional nature of the human being.
SOCIETY'S STRUCTURES INITIAL OPPOSITES
There is no way one can explore the subject of emotion without beginning with the concepts of Good versus Evil. To a religious person, God is synonymous with "good" and Satan is synonymous with "evil". If one is not religiously inclined, he simply thinks of these opposites as "Society's" "good" and "evil". These opposites will be referred to as the latter, for the purpose of this book, which is more inclined to be an analysis.
MODIFIERS:
The structures of Society's Good and Evil are subdivided by the modifiers "Success" and "Failure", as Good versus Evil are impersonal references until one feels his personal experiences influenced by these structures of society.
FOUR PRIMARY EMOTIONS:
INITIAL OPPOSITES
Personal feelings of Innocence and Guilt are products of society's evaluations of Good and Evil. These divisions are modified by the resulting feelings of Self Confidence and Self Doubt. These four primary emotions operate in a directly opposing manner which causes the major divisions within self and the resulting conflicts.
THE CENTER
Symbolizes self identification. First as a central observer of the principle structures of society, and secondly, as an active participant as you observe your own social interactions within this structure. This central position affords you the opportunity to observe these four common separations of self and the resulting emotional traumas.
PERSONAL BELIEF STRLTCTURES
Depending upon the cultures one is exposed to as a child, each person has built a set of values that he lives by. These are actually, in every sense of the word, belief structures, as these beliefs are his life time references as to what constitutes his personal reality. These values he lives by and expects others to recognize them as he does. When people of other cultures do not recognize these particular values, his natural reaction is to defend his beliefs because they represent his reality,
Personal opinions regarding what is morally right or wrong, or what constitutes a successful society are simply personal opinions. We personally reject or accept our self truths. Our centered position on the chart at this point comes from our personal beliefs and each person believes he is standing on a rock of true knowledge. Violent inner reaction is aroused when one insists on his personal interpretation of one order and one order only. Each person feels that he knows all the answers. He will fight for the preservation of his ordered beliefs, for they are his personal ground between the opposites. He feels he cannot afford to relinquish these beliefs as they tell him who he is, they represent his personal existence and validity.
CARDINAL REFERENCE POINTS DEPICTING CENTERED ORIENTATION TO BASIC STRUCTURES OF SOCIETY
Personal Belief Structures
The terms; Good versus Evil , Success versus Failure, defy universal definition, These aspects of life are subject to-personal definition,
ORIENTATION TO SOCIETY'S STRUCTURES
The following definitions are taken from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary.
HOLY UNHOLY
Spiritual Human Angelic Worldly Devoted to mod Earthy Pure in heart Profane
(Continues...)
Excerpted from THE NATURE OF CENTERED EMOTIONby WANDA V. MORGAN Copyright © 2010 by Panda Morgan. Excerpted by permission.
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