Step Six 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 - to ascertain whether I'm reacting/triggered by my surroundings for my betterment or whether I'm correct that it is a toxic environment.

Let me better explain through an example. When you first enter an environment like a church, you see the smiling faces. 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 creep 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 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 wise. They might see you as clingy or emotionally immature because most emotionally mature people recognise the benefits of reflective thinking and appraising a situation 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 it up for long, unless of course, they sabotage their 'I', but that can only kept back for so long until the individual implodes or explodes. It erodes the soul of a person to not be authentic.

Any virtue signalling group, abstains themselves from the 'individual'; the 'I' and they move as a herd. There is power, solidarity, family, connection and safety in a herd. Young, immature or just lazy thinking believe they've found what was missing in their psyche; they have found a gratifying, echo chamber of agreement.

Any disagreement within their camps narrative, threatens this false haven and so they squash dissent. They create and define the 'others'; those outside, who might bring opinion because the 'I' isn't too interested in group thinking and might shine light on the Emporers New Clothes and so vilification and hate is there weapon against the 'others'.

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. We see it in churches and most religions and cults; if the 'other' leaves the church, then most of the time, it appears no-one really cared. But this isn't true, they do care but to acknowledge the 'others' complaints would mean to acknowledge the Emporers new clothes and then they'd have to face reality. It's much easier to pretend you never existed.

The herd views individual thinking, that is opposed to their collective thinking, as a threat to its constitution and the punishment is usually some form of swift eviction.

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. But all cults start with a power hungry leader and followers who are emotionally led and easily manipulated; who prefer the approach of changing others, rather than themselves.

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

Extreme thinking or judgment is danger sign 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 fear the thought of bringing a subject up; that's when you know you're in a cult or a controlling space.

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. By retaining the 'individual' you give yourself the power to decide your life or thoughts. 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 belonging to a mob.

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