Step 6 of Intuition - As above so below

This post is really about expanding further on the topic of my 'Step Six of Building on Intuition' and not a word for word repeat of the dialogue in it. It's concerning the topic of what is above, drains down to below.

One thing I have learnt and am still learning in my fairly long life on this planet, is not to go by the packaging of an environment but by how it makes you feel and then using reflective thinking - not feeling. This ascertains whether I'm reacting/triggered by my surroundings, for my betterment, or whether I'm correct that it is a toxic environment. Its a step back mechanism I've taught myself over the years.

Let me better explain through an example.

When you first enter an environment like a church, you might see smiling faces. But using reflective thought, most are on their best behaviour; people want to put their best foot forward: either out of people pleasing efforts or control issues or some are just nice. After a while though, their honest natures begin to seep out, from either their individual natures or as a whole group.

This is where learning to emotionally step back is super healthy.

Look at the group subjectively:

How honest are they with each other?

What is the 'theme' of the group?

How critical are they as individuals and as a group towards 'others'?

What is the inner ethos of the leaders?

How do their subjects interact with them?

Do the leaders have personal insecurities?

These sorts of questions can be very useful when entering a new group. Not everyone should be your 'best friend' the minute you meet them. Not every group you normally gravitate to, is the best group for you. Whilst it's lovely to be open-hearted, it does say to the 'new best friend' or 'new group', that you might have boundary issues and may not be the wisest person for them to trust. They might see you as clingy or emotionally immature, because most emotionally mature people recognise the benefits of reflective thinking and appraising a situation, well before jumping in with both feet.

Without fail, I have seen over and over again, what is 'above' in an organisation, family or group, filters down 'below'.

There is a reason why the saying 'Woke eat their own', is so true. Any virtue signalling group is bound to fail because nobody can keep this facade up for long, unless they sabotage their 'I', because its just plain exhausting being "right" all the time. Any virtue signalling group abstains themselves from the 'individual'; the 'I' and they move as a herd.

They've found what was missing in their psyche and they will fight to defend it.

If the 'I' stands out from the herd in a manner that seems to give a differing point from the collective, then the 'I' is attacked and kicked out. The herd views individual thinking, that is opposed to their collective thinking, as a threat, to its constitution and the punishment is a swift kick of eviction.

The eviction can take many forms but the trust in the 'I' that dared to speak out, never comes back and the trust is gone. There is no 'I' in the collective, only collective support, from individuals that gain their strength from blending and fitting in.

What is missing in the psyche of the herd individuals can be many things: fear, loneliness, rage, emptiness, addiction, etc but Socialism is at play here and only a short leap takes it to Communism and from there ... Fascism.

We see this everywhere in society from countries, cults, churches, work, institutions and families, etc. The trick is to spot it, before you enter.

Extreme far left, or right thinking, is a danger flag to look for. Closed thinking and assertions is another red flag. Critical conversations about the 'others', is a major signal but the real danger sign for me, is when certain subjects are off limits and you already fear the thought of bringing a subject up; that's when you know you're in a cult.

There's a lot to be said for walking the middle road. You can take in both points of view and make an individual evaluation. You retain the 'individual' and the power to decide your own life. In the middle, you're not sitting on the fence, you're being objective, open-minded and retaining the safeguards of the inner critique. You can make a stand, about things you care about, without the fear of repercussions from the mob because you're not trying to fit in.

Being an island isn't a lonely place, it's a refuge.