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Post by KG on Dec 22, 2008 8:10:17 GMT -5
I was doing some research and found some interesting articles about symbolism in movies. I started out just wondering what the makers of the movie Resident Evil were trying to say. I have been considering the meaning of zombies in movies and literature from the twenties till now, and wondering why Zombie movies have become increasingly popular. All this is mostly because of a recuring dream my youngest is having about zombies... and I want to know what zombies mean in her psyche. The stock definition in the dream dictionaries don't seem to apply at all. I'd like your opinion on these articles, and also about what you think Zombies mean, in movies, dreams, games... What are zombies, really? Here are some great paragraphs I have found so far to get you started thinking. I got these from this really cool article which is the best I have found. www.horrorfilmhistory.com/index.php?pageID=ZombieWalk“Zombies are creatures without a past,” he says. “So, as a group, are Americans. Zombies want to consume, but don't really *need* what they consume (since their bodies don't require nutrition). This is the same with many Americans: We want to buy and consume, but our McMansions are filled to overflowing with things we never use. Also, zombies are largely ignorant of — even completely uninterested in — their fellow zombies. Well, what is America but the ultimate place where neighbors never even learn one another's names?” He suggests zombies “act as a mirror for Americans, not only as we see ourselves but also as the rest of the world sees America in the time of George W. Bush: as a roaming, voracious killer turning its victims into soulless creatures like itself.” “I think this is what American culture is. Everyone following other people, a mindless, brainless society, no one stepping outside of the box, no one doing anything to differentiate themselves from another person. Group society in general – I’m kind of against that. I’m all about individualism.” Everyone has a zombie alter-ego, a creature for whom nothing matters but forward motion and food. Here are a couple of other articles you might find interesting. www.gamecareerguide.com/features/334/saving_ourselves_psychoanalytic_.phpwww.reason.com/news/show/118315.html
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Post by Del on Dec 22, 2008 15:51:40 GMT -5
“Zombies are creatures without a past,” he says. “So, as a group, are Americans. Zombies want to consume, but don't really *need* what they consume (since their bodies don't require nutrition). This is the same with many Americans: We want to buy and consume, but our McMansions are filled to overflowing with things we never use. Also, zombies are largely ignorant of — even completely uninterested in — their fellow zombies. Well, what is America but the ultimate place where neighbors never even learn one another's names?” “I think this is what American culture is. Everyone following other people, a mindless, brainless society, no one stepping outside of the box, no one doing anything to differentiate themselves from another person. Group society in general – I’m kind of against that. I’m all about individualism.” Everyone has a zombie alter-ego, a creature for whom nothing matters but forward motion and food. Hmmm, what of homogenous cultures...like the Asian culture. Would they be zombies too? Only interested in the group and not the individual? I mean, family is stressed in these cultures and doing things on your own is forwned upon. And it's not just family in the household, but family of friends and at work. This is seen in almost all of the anime I watch (if we're looking into symbolism in the media). But individualism isn't so bad...in moderation. The family thing ins't so bad....in moderation. Is it safe to say that the zombie complex mirrors all of humanity when characteristics of human nature exceed moderation?
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Post by KG on Dec 23, 2008 1:19:13 GMT -5
It is definitely food for thought Del. Thanks. I think they could be zombies... if such a thing ever happened, but I think that the people who produce these movies are trying to make a statement about American culture... though the british films are talking about British culture, which isn't all that different.
I was wondering if it might symbolize human reaction to the monotony of daily life... like the way people do things as a routine without thinking... but I don't know. I am trying to exhaust all the possibilities. I am not sure what I am looking for here, and that is why I asked.
I am wondering for several reasons. One is the popularity of zombie movies, and I am wondering why they are suddenly out ranking vampires, and other horror subjects in the number and quality of movies being produced. There is a huge rise in zombie movie popularity, and I am wondering why.
Both my daughters have been having recuring zombie dreams. It could be from watching movies, but I suspect, especially in the case of my youngest that her dreams are prophetic. Well Devine's dreams might be prophetic too, but are set in the future usually. I can't imagine it quite as litterally as they are taking it. Especially as soon as Rosabelle is predicting... like really soon... next year possibly... She has a high accuracy rate, but this is just over the top... especially considering the time frame.
I think there is more to her dream because it recurs so regularly, it is bound to be something. Either some subconscious problem, or something she is worried about or it is prophetic, but real zombies next year, or in the next few years??? Well I have a bit of trouble imagining that, and I very much hope not in any case, but I was thinking that the dream could be symbolic of something else... but I don't know what. Normal dream symbolism doesn't really fit.
Here is her dream:
In the dream her sister is getting married, but instead of inside the church, the wedding is being held behind the church, right next to the cemetary. Now in the first dreams scores of rabbits were released, half of the rabbits were black and half were white. When the groom changed though... now the groom is someone she doesn't know, and there are no rabbits. Anyway suddenly during the wedding the dead rise from their graves in the cemetary, and some come out of the woods. IN the first one, the zombies consume the rabbits first, giving some of the people a chance to escape, but in the dreams now, since there are no rabbits, the zombies attack the guests immediately. In both dreams she sees friends and family members attacked before she makes her escape... and figures everyone is killed except her. It all happens very fast, despite the slow nature of zombies.
In both dreams Sarah manages to escape and run into the church. She goes in the ladies room and locks the door, but a large male zombie forces the door, and attacks her. Then she wakes up.
This dream repeats, on a monthly if not weekly basis, and she's been having it for about a year and a half. It bothers her a lot, and I have been trying to figure out what it means. The standard dream dictionary definitions just don't seem to fit, and I am trying to piece together what it might mean, other than a litteral interpretation.
It may be that the fact her ancestors are burried there, is relivant, but it might just be the cemetary she is most familiar with... but it isn't the only one she has ever been in or anything, so it might be important.
On another intersting note, She had one of my recuring dreams. I may have mentioned it to her before, but if so it has been a long time ago, and she didn't consciously remember. It was the one where the plane crashes in the field next to our house. I've had that dream since I was a child, but it has different variations. My first version of this dream had a sort of burning zombie figure. The pilot was apparently dead, when I looked into the winsheld fo the plane, but then he gets out and walks around on fire, black and burning. In her dream their were several people, and they were all zombies. In some of my dreams though the pilot was alive. I never dream of more than one person actually getting out of the plane, but her dream had several zombies.
Anyway I am concerned because I think all this preoccupation with zombies, is worrying her, and unlike if she was more ordinary, I can't quite dismiss what she says as "just a nightmare' She wouldn't buy it if I tried. She'd just clam up about talking about it, the way I did as a kid.
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Post by Del on Dec 23, 2008 1:34:56 GMT -5
Well this is very much like my baby dreams. They occur almost every month. Babies represent new beginnings. I can honestly say her zombie dreams are symbolic, and very strong at that. I am not in a relationship or sexually active so there's no way i heck I'll be having a baby next month. Interpreting my immediate surrounding and situation tells me that the babies mean something else, and not a literal interpretation.
Zombie symbolism towards the American culture, I can see and understand. I don't think the dreams should be taken to a literal sense though. But the meaning and symbolism of zombie should be looked at along with everything else: the church, the wedding, and rabbits.
I know for my mother weddings symbolize a death, not the fluffy new beginning of a new stage in life. In most cases they do. What has to be taken into account are the circustamnces surrounding the dreams.
Since Sarah's dreams seem to pertain to the whole rather than just a secluded part (correct me if I am wrong), then a look at what's going on as a whole should be considered.
There's also a lot of the end of the world movies coming out, and I would take this as a universal consciousness/collective conscious interpretation at it, as well as the metaphorical definition. THe world itself isn't necessarily coming to an end, rather the world we know it to be (environmentally as well as a change in thinking, living, etc, etc.). I honestly do not think, at this point, there is any real threat to the physical state of being of the Earth other than what the people are already doing to it.
Actually, most of all movies being produced these days have the coming of change theme - vampires coming out of the dark, the world is ending, people turning into zombies, what else did I miss....
For the time being, what's the symbolism behind it; metaphorically speaking this means....look at it from that angle.
But that is not to say that it isn't possible for it to be literal. The safest way to say it is literal is when something literally happens...
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Post by a'Lan Mandragoran on Dec 23, 2008 6:14:43 GMT -5
I've been having similar dreams abou zombies. I've also been having dreams about a totalitarian state. THe one I had, that woke me up, was like the movie and comic book, Judge Dredd. If any of you are unfamiliar with this story, it is about a Judge, in this context, a person who is, through training, rendered uncorruptable, completetly law abiding and able to fulfill the duties of police officer, judge, jurry and if need be, exicutioner. In my dream, the scenario was reality. Also, I don't know my own feelings about this, but I was one, but my training was flawed or incomplete, so I was still able to make a "human" judgement calls. In a sense, wouldn't that training render someone a "zombie"?
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Post by KG on Dec 23, 2008 10:49:51 GMT -5
Thanks Del and Stonewraith,
I appreciate your input a lot, this has been bugging me a lot. I've tried to figure out the rest of the dream...
I've looked at all the other symbolism. I think that the rabbits have to do with the groom, and that relationship. AT the time she started having this dream, her sister was planning to get married. It didn't work out, and the rabbits disappeared along with him from the dream.
Rabbits: luck, magical power, success, abundance , fertility, sexual activity, and children that will bring you much joy. To see a white rabbit in your dream, symbolizes faithfulness in love. (White rabbist and black rabbits were in equal numbers.)
Cemetery: To dream that you are in a cemetery, indicates an end to a habit or behavior. You are experiencing a rebirth. More directly, the dream may symbolize sadness, unresolved grief or your fears about death. (Of course where else will Zombies rise from.)
Wedding: To see a wedding in your dream, symbolizes a new beginning or transition in your current life. Dreams involving weddings are often negative and highlight some anxiety or fear. It often refers to feelings of bitterness, sorrow, or death. Alternatively, wedding dreams reflect your issues about commitment and independence. (OK again with that new beginning euphimisim for death)
Now when she started having these dreams her grandfather was very sick, and did eventually end up in that cemetary. Her sister probably will eventually get married... and both these could be abandonment issues for Rosabelle. Weddings could signify leaving the family, and Divine leaving Rosabelle. There has been friction between Devine and Rosabelle, and Devine seems to be having a lot of emotional growing pains, and it is temoporarily impacting her health, her disposition, and her performance in life. Rosabelle has become fearful of the changes in her sister, which I feel are just part of the stage of life she is at. They are unpleasant, but she is 19. I went through many of the same things.
Yes, many of us have been having appocolyptic, and post appocolyptic dreams and visions including zombies. That is another reason I want to know what it means.
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Post by Kata Samoes on Dec 23, 2008 12:10:42 GMT -5
That should be a quote.
"The safest way to say it is literal is when something literally happens." - Del'a-mara
So many meanings to such a truth..literal and symbolic. I like it.
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Post by stonerwolf on Dec 23, 2008 12:26:22 GMT -5
it sounds to me like the union between "matriotism" and patriotism (matriarchal and patriarchal societal systems, the symbol of the marriage being in pertinence to modern events) will trigger major conflict with the current power holding patriots, AKA Zombies.
It sounds to me like it is going to go down pretty hard.
Current events being that the little people, republic of Lakotah to name one particular group (a matriarchal [that's motherly] culture), are seeking their freedom and rightful sovereignty from established systems of control, er i mean civilization, wait what?
The spiritual goal is that the fatherly and motherly cultures can come together in union for the PEOPLE of the world so that we may grow (up) and flourish, finally.
that the protective, take all responsibility for you, let me handle it dont you worry way of america can meet eye to eye with the concerned, teach responsibility to you, let me show you how to do it so it's easier for you way of the Lakotah should produce a workable free culture.
But it sounds like in sarah's dream that this union will spark unholy tensions with the brain dead american zombies.
The cemetery could symbolize the end of the current era or age of mankind, the wedding indicating a new change, and the zombies indicate the reaction to the cemetery and wedding.
We've spent the last 2000 years knotting our energies up in politics, finances & economics, and the propaganda to maintain it that when we finally reach critical mass, all hell is going to come loose.
The sooner, the better. the longer this drags out, the more devastating the "zombies" will be, on account of the totalitarian state being further and further accomplished as time passes.
1984 = 2009-2012. (and that's not a minus)
Wish me luck in the RoL. i'll extend invitations to y'all when we're established and the "civilized" world comes crashing down around us.
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Post by Del on Dec 23, 2008 23:12:03 GMT -5
Yes, many of us have been having appocolyptic, and post appocolyptic dreams and visions including zombies. That is another reason I want to know what it means. Well if I were spirit, and I wanted to get a message to you, I would use am image that closely relates to what it is I am trying to say in my cryptic way of speaking or cryptic way of sending messages. I really will not [Spirit will not], under any circumstances just come right out and say to you, 'Hey, the world is going through some changes, really big changes, and this is what I mean, and perhaps you can start perparing yourself since I just told you that'. Unless the person is sooooo clueless and ignoring all of the messages that are being sent, spirit will rarely come out and just say it [spirit, the creator, all that is, whatever name or title you may use]. I am sure we all wished it were that easy but it's not the case. The Collective Conscience is a grand thing indeed. Anyone can pick up on what's going on in ether and bring it to paper to the best of their ability in any shape or form, but it's the energy behind it that matters most. Find out what zombies mean, and then take that and use it as a key to interpret the dreams. There's 'The day the earth stood still', and 'Knowing' [set to release in March], that talk about the annihilation of earth...in some form or fashion. It's basically all the same, I am sure they're both directed by two different people, and yet the theme is the same. A Collective Conscience....
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Post by KG on Dec 24, 2008 1:04:07 GMT -5
Wow ya'll! you've all really expanded my thinking alot. I think I am getting excited about the positive that could come out of all this, despite the conflict.
I agree with what Kata said about Del's comment. It is very profound that we won't know something is litteral till it happens. I really... er... don't anticipate real physical zombies next year, but Rosabelle has been predicting zombies, and other catastrophic events around every corner in 2009. She has many dire predictions for May especially. I've been helping her to avert as much of it as possible... by just following her direction pretty much blindly.
After looking at your comments Stoner, I am a good bit more positive about the symbolism, but the words microcosm and macrocosm come to mind after considering all the posts so far. I think what we are looking at on the small scale microsocm is a young girl's concern about her older sister growing up and seperating from the family unit, and divisions coming between her and her sister. She worries a lot about her sister lately. I really think it might be skewing her vision.
I think on a larger scale though, you are right Stoner. There is change in the air, not only from Lakota, but also from other groups who are disgusted with status quo. I think most people are fed up with it in one way or another. Plus, it isn't working, the way it is supposed to, even if you didn't mind the way it was set up to start with.
Politically I do have hope that Obama will bring about much needed change, and I pray that will be enough, to make peace between all the different groups. It is certain that it will either colapse or be repaired by drastic changes in the way things are done. In either case the madman leaves office in less than 30 days, and though he is doing everything in his power to kill the earth, and murder her people, he will soon be dethroned. He jus signed papers though allowing oil drilling in many national parks, so he's getting in his last cuts to the jugular before he leaves office. Obama promises more green technology, and he is showing concern for the people. I hope that he will be able to transition our country into something that will work, and be more environmentally friendly and less materialistic, without an utter colapse, but either way, I think you are right.
On a positive note, I think that Lakota may not be in for as much resistance as I feared at first. The Cherokee are exempt from many state and local laws, and their property is respected as an independent entity in most ways. For example they opened a casino, which is against state law, with the blessing of our government. It is apparently none of the government's business what they do up there, and so I think Lakotas will also enjoy some of the same considerations, with little or no resistance. I do not know how far their seperation from American Government will go, but they do have the right to be seperate in some ways already apparently, judging by the Cherokees.
I think it is kind of the Lakota to allow whites to live on their land, and smart too. I have a lot of hope for their plans, and respect their efforts, and yours.
Yes, I think so plus people who have been sleepwalking through their lives as if they are dead, will have to wake up. I think people have been very apathetic and giving up in a lot of ways, lying down like they were dead, and it is time for them to all rise up and realize that if they don't do something no one else will. It may be a violent uprising, on all sides... no one fully agrees on what needs to be done, but all agree that something must be done. I am sure there will be skermishes and disagreements on the methods, but it is time to wake up and try.
Yep... that makes sense Stoner.
Well I think a lot of things have come loose in the last few months and there is little doubt now that it is time for change, whether peaceful or revolutionary is yet to be seen, but the time for sitting around and hoping things get better is over. It is make or break time, and whether we fix it or break it, it has to change majorly if we are to survive. I've been looking over Obama's website, (change.org) and I do think that our newly elected and appointed officials will make huge changes, and that the majority of people are ready for those changes. I do not know if it will be enough, to keep things from utterly falling apart, but either way... it will be a re forming of America, and not more of the same. We are looking at Green technology, more efficient transportation, less waste, and less consumerism, with or without a total colapse. We are also looking at lean times economically, and a restructuring of the economy, in what ways, we don't know yet. We are looking at massive public works projects, and improvements to the educational system... everything must change, but there is a lot of emphasis being put on what is best for all of us, as opposed to only looking after the interests of the most wealthy Americans, as Bush did. There are about 300,000,000 Americans, and Obama makes it very clear the well being of each one of these is important, where as Bush only cared about maybe 10,000,000 of them at most, namely the ones who could line his pockets.
I hope that our totalitarian days will pass with Bush. There is talk of repealing the patriot act, and ending the war. One thing is for sure though. More of the same will drive our society into utter colapse, and if we don't see big changes from Obama, then things will fall apart.
I agree that the world is set for change, or even economic and social colapse. It is kind of like physics in a way, the harder something that is strong but flexible is bent in one direction the harder it will spring back in the other direction when it is let go. America has been pulled as far in the totalitarian direction as it will comfortably go. It has gone as far into the materialistic direction as it could go, and now, either some idiot will try to pull it fruther and break it, or it will be released and spring back with a vengence. I think it will spring back. The stage is being set for that now, but it is also possible that the release itself could shake it to the point it would uproot it. Anyway we will find out what happens when it happens, like Del said.
I wish you plenty of luck in Lakota, and I hope you will have internet access there!!! I am eager to hear about how it is. I have checked it out on the web, and it sounds like those people do have a good plan. I think it might work out very well. In any case it is to their advantage that our country is having so many hardships right now. The government has much greater problems than trying to bring the Lakota back under control. I think they will have plenty of time to organize before anyone even takes notice.
I hope that things go well for you, and I admire your choice to defend what you believe in, and I hope that it will work out well. I am very excited for you.
Del,
Thanks that helps a lot. I think change is in the air, and it won't be all fun, this economy hasn't been fun, but it is probably necessary.
I think the cosmic consciousness usually expresses ideas so complex that we couldn't comprehend it if it were spelled out to us, and it would take forever to get the whole message. There is a lot going on right now, and I am sure that knowing for example, what everyone in the US is going through as individuals would be mind blowing... but I think maybe that is what this vision is about.
I think people, including myself, sometimes act like zombies, just going through the motions with little interest or hope for improvement. The times in my own life where I felt things were awful, and not getting better, I went into automatic mode, and did what had to be done without thinking about it any more than necessary. This works well for a while, just shut off the emotions, and do what you have to, but eventually I would start to slow down, and eventually just stopped. It felt useless to continue. Maybe that is the zombie.
Or maybe the zombies are the people who never tried, simply because they were afraid they would fail. Maybe the zombies are the moderately rich, upper middle class, who don't even realize that the working class is hurting. They are so pre-occupied with their own successes to notice the guy next to them in the grocery store line can't pay for all the groceries he needs.
Zombies are unaware, and maybe that is the key. Maybe zombies are people who aren't paying attention to those around them.
Zombies don't care about others, and zombies consume... but if you think about it, they don't use items, they consume other people... they do harm, and they no longer remember who their friends are. They have no loyalty to family, or friends after they become zombies, so maybe they are social climbers, who write off their relatives and friends for fear others wouldn't find them impressive enough... or maybe they are business people who put money and their own gain above the well being of others... those who devour other people's well being just to make a dollar, could be zombies.
Zombies shamble, Zombies bite, Zombies moan... Zombies eat brains, and create more zombies... not in the standard way of reproduction, but by biting normal people and making them like themselves. Maybe part of being a zombie is spreading a mood, or an idea.
So I am still trying to figure out who are the zombies. Are the people who go to work everyday the zombies, or are they the people who lay about the house, watch TV and/or play video games, or are they the people who recently got laid off and feel awful cause they don't have a job. Are the zombies the starving masses, or are they the self serving greedy millionares?
Are the zombies the rich or poor? Are zombies workers or non workers? Are zombies spaced out or are they just distracted. Are zombies violent or docile? Are zombies thinking everything is OK or are they painfully aware of their condition, and just helpless to change it? Are zombies depressed? Are they angry? Do they care at all?
I think if you asked people who are the zombies, they would point to a class other than their own, and there would be a lot of finger pointing. Therefore I have to bravely ask first, am I a zombie?
Honestly I'd have to say that sometimes I am. Sometimes I am too fatigued to be aware of things, or to care about things. Sometimes I find it too upsetting to think at all. Sometimes if I don't like something, I just ignore it and hope it straightens out, when probably I should say something or do something about it.
I think everyone is a zombie sometimes, and we have all been zombies, both rich and poor, both selfish and selfless, when we act without thinking, when we speak without caring about the person we are speaking too, when we take without regard for those who made what we took, then maybe we are being zombies. IDK... I still gotta work on it. LOL Thanks for the help, and please feel free to add more input. I still don't have much of a conclusion.
Kim
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Post by Del on Dec 24, 2008 2:49:32 GMT -5
Del, Thanks that helps a lot. I think change is in the air, and it won't be all fun, this economy hasn't been fun, but it is probably necessary. ;D You're so adorable sis... You've just answered you're question ;D ..kawaii.... Awareness. then Embodiment. People that are Aware work towards Embodiment. Those that are Embodied work to bring Awareness to others. A Zombie lacks awareness. You cannot be embodied unless you are aware. From my POV the Zombie embodies an unaware entity, but the zombie will not know what it embodies because it's unaware of it. There in lies the paradox - the embodiment of un-awareness...
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Post by KG on Dec 24, 2008 10:49:07 GMT -5
I would like to better understand the concept of embodiment as you define it. You've told me about it a bit before, about being conscious of being in your body, but It sounds wonderful, and I am sure I am not there yet. I am not that sure of how it is done... if it doesn't just come naturally. It sounds like the opposite of OBE and I am OBE a lot, and it would be nice to have both, or be able to switch back and forth at will, without that disjointed feeling of being not quite here when I need to be. Even when I am in body, I am still not as conscious of it as most normal people. At times I feel that I am running my body by remote control. I had tremendous awareness of spiritual and astral things during that time, but physically, I could barely feel it if I hit my shin bone with a hammer. I am not always here. I am especially interested in how your embodiment doesn't conflict with your awareness of other worlds. I tend to loose physical sensation and awareness, when I am having awareness of the non physical. What is worse is that I do not always have a conscious choice of being in body or OBE. It just happens.
I agree that unawareness is key, but in this case, awareness of what? If we are talking about people being unaware, then they all point their fingers at each other. Most people are aware of some things, and oblivious to others. We all critizise people who are oblivious to something we are aware of. For example some people are very aware of their clothing and how they look. They can't imagine how someone doesn't know or care that they have a pick in their sweater. Others are hypervigilant about their physical surroundings, they notice every detail. They can't stand people who waddle though life, not noticing every single item, or stranger's face in their line of site, or what is behind them for that matter. Empaths find it unbelievable that others don't know how they feel. Those who see or otherwise sense other worlds think even the physically hypervigilant observers are grossly unaware. The physically hypervigilant of course see people with spiritual awareness as off in another world and totally unaware of what is really important. Ecology minded people are disgusted by people who aren't AWARE of what we are doing to the planet. People who keep up with news and current events get frustrated with people who don't watch the news several times a day. Then there are all the various cause fighters, who are constantly trying to RAISE awareness for their cause or cherity.
I think in todays society there is so much to be aware of that people have to pick and choose, and then find it odd that not everyone picked the same things to be aware of, and the same things to ignore. No one is aware of everything, and if they were it would be such an incomprehsensible constant stream of information that it would drive them mad. I've had that sensation before, though I am sure it was far from being everything, and it just ends up that I wasn't aware of anything, because everything is bombarding me with information I couldn't process.
I see a lot of fingerpointing now days, with people saying that others aren't aware. We are all just shocked that not everyone knows what we know, but they are equally shocked that we don't know what they know. I think every human or creature who is not in a coma, is aware of something. Whether they are aware of the important things or not is a matter of opinion.
I wonder though... what is important to be aware of?
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Post by Kata Samoes on Dec 24, 2008 12:46:41 GMT -5
Existence of yourself, others, and the impact on both spiritually and physically.
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Post by Del on Dec 24, 2008 20:10:58 GMT -5
Existence of yourself, others, and the impact on both spiritually and physically. Yes. And the environment and the cosmos. Um, your body is just as important as your soul/spirit. Embodiment is: to give a concrete form to; express, personify, or exemplify in concrete form: to embody an idea in an allegorical painting. 2. to provide with a body; incarnate; make corporeal: to embody a spirit. 3. to collect into or include in a body; organize; incorporate. 4. to embrace or comprise When I say that a dancer embodies the river in her movements, I literally mean to say that the way she moves is like how the water moves. She is so aware of her body and of how the water moves that she portrays that in her movement. There is an awareness exercise that I did for 12 weeks (coincided with my school work) that brought me into embodiment of my essence. What I did was bring awareness to every part of my body, with my breath and my mind, and then with the consciousness around me. Everyting felt fluid. There was a point where the chair became a part of my awareness, the walls, floor, and my clothes. I couldn't tell where I began and where they ended. We were one being. That's how you become connected, as Kata said. When I see a bird flap its wings, I feel it within myself. I can spearate myself from it, but then I feel disconnected. If we talk about the collective onscience, we should understand that we too are a part of it. YOU are a part of e, and yet I can distinguish your body from my own. I am aware that I have a body, yet I am also aware that I am a part of the universe and all of man-kind. Does that make sense? It is a bit challenging to explain in a way for you to visual it. You truly would have to expereince it for yourself, and that begins with bringing awreness to yourself. Learn how to be more in your body so that you can connect to the universe thruogh that awareness, than simply being OBE all of the time. Meditate, focus on the breath while meditating [that's the easiest thing to begin with], and then use that breath to bring awareness to the rest of your body. Eh, Kata if you have anything else to add in greater detail, feel free to .:.insert here.:.
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Post by KG on Dec 25, 2008 0:17:02 GMT -5
I know you are right, it is just hard to hang on to the body sometimes.
I try to personify Mercy, and I think I do that. I mean I am not having trouble being myself or my attributes, it is just that sometimes I don't feel connected really well to the body. I do have form, it is just that I seem like number 3... collecting into the body is kind of hard. I just have a sense of fuzzyness sometimes, like I am everywhere and yet nowhere. Focus is very hard for me at times. Plus my physical form is not doing well lately. I've been sick a lot this year, and overall I feel tired and weaker than I did last year. I've been trying to be in my body, but it is sort of painful.
Hmmmm sounds almost opposite of some of the exercises I did early on. You know with meditation I tend to just relax and my body tends to just lay there and I am not aware of it... you know how discomfort in the body... even an itch or tickle can pull you out of meditation, till you learn to kind of shut it off. I can shut off my body easily, but I don't think I balanced that with physical awareness exercises. I think I need a balance of exercises to improve my awareness.
Now I know that feeling, of being aware of the surrounding physical area.
I can realate to that too. I can form that kind of link with animals and empath them, as if they were me... unfortunately I feel more in their body than in my own sometimes.
Hmmm so you can feel in your body and connect with collective consciousness at the same time? Sense others and still sense self? I tend to loose myself when I am around others. I just feel others.
How though? I mean I used to be in my body most of the time, but for the last dozen years it has been a struggle to get back in and stay in. I am trying to make myself stay here, but it seems painful, and hard to maintain. For the longest time everytime I got distracted from concentrating on staying, I was out. lately I have been a bit more in body... like for the past couple of months, but my awareness of astral things is down.
I've done a lot of meditation, but it doesn't effect me that way. I don't know why. Things like physical exercise helps. You are saying that if you stay focused on the breathing, instead of dropping that awareness once you are in the meditative state, it helps? I admit I go for the OBE or the visionary experience every time, as soon as it is available, and the awareness of breathing is replaced by the experience. So maybe if I kept awareness of the body instead of shuting it off, and trying to grasp that vision, at least some of the time, it would help pull me into the body?
Thanks for helping. I will try some of the things you suggest. I appreciate it alot.
Kim
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