Questions concerning Rhythm

[LordDagon]

I want to discuss in this thread the concept that is presented in the Kybalion as the "principle of rhythm".
This is something that I am sure I always intuited in one way or another, but never became consciously aware of it until I discovered magic and the Hermetic teachings.

For me, it always seems that rhythm goes very fast, and changes happen very often. An upward, intense, but short period, is followed by an equally short, downward and dull period.
The downward period is characterized by a decline of discipline, laziness,tendency to procrastinate and a lack of motivation. For a while I seemed to keep this under control by forcibly dragging myself to the tasks of the day and my magical works. Though I did not progress during that period, I did not regress either, so when it was over, I could continue going upwards. Last month though, I took quite a shaking. Many aspects of my life went temporary downwards, and all at once, so I was unable to act in any way, I couldn't find the necessary energy to do even the simplest tasks, and it was a real pain to get out of the bed in the morning.

My question is this: how can the adverse effects of rhythm be neutralized, how can one rise above the downward wave, and avoid its inevitable effect ?
I find this principle to be very fascinating for many reasons, so that's why I would like to further explore it...

[Saxarba]

The downward period is characterized by a decline of discipline, laziness,tendency to procrastinate and a lack of motivation. For a while I seemed to keep this under control by forcibly dragging myself to the tasks of the day and my magical works.you have to learn how to stimulate devotion for the work you do

[Saxarba]

though if you can't muster it, it might be that what you're doing isn't worthwhile

[izi]

You are describing the effects of the wheel of dharma. A way is practiced and understood through the discipline of tantra. The axiom "As the wheel falls so must it rise" is also "that which damns us inevitably exalts us". The Vigyan Bhairav Tantra specifically addresses techniques to accomplish samadhi through harnessing phenomenon of mind such as you describe.

http://www.ningishzidda.com/vigyanbhairavtantra.html

[Samyama]

My question is this: how can the adverse effects of rhythm be neutralized, how can one rise above the downward wave, and avoid its inevitable effect ?
I find this principle to be very fascinating for many reasons, so that's why I would like to further explore it...

How about turning around? If you look up to the wave it will rise, but if looked down upon it - so it falls.
It's about the orientation towards the wave.


You are describing the effects of the wheel of dharma.

The only up and down of a wheel is by gravity. So though I can't suggest a real solution to the problem, there is a point in this analogy. Consider swinging your arm round and round while someone watches you go. If you turn the body backwards while swinging, the direction of the arm will reverse (in regard to your body), but in regard to the onlooker nothing will have changed.

Another way to put it is the idea of resistance. It links to this wheel and wave idea in the sense that if you go with the direction or against it. So if you practice all the time, sometimes the attitude of practice is like going against the actual unfoldment of that practice.

If someone becomes adept and overcomes gravity - to whatever extend, the wheel becomes the same on all directions. One can practice in all states of rhythm as the pull of gravity is no longer decisive in any matter.

PS A problem shared :D

[izi]

There is a real solution. I don't like having to outline things but here is a tip Wai Kahan gave me:

WHEN YOU START TO GO DOWN ---- GO DOWN

WHEN YOU START TO GO UP ----- GO UP

[m1thr0s]

WHEN YOU START TO GO DOWN ---- GO DOWN

WHEN YOU START TO GO UP ----- GO UPmakes sense to me - that's *spearheading*, essentially...an old bull-riding technique... :cool:

no one answer fits all - and some things may require corrective action at the anatomical and/or chemical level. not all imbalances should be thought of as rooted in the spiritual even though in many cases spiritual solutions will be met with physical compliance. but depression stemming from a broken leg, for instance, requires the leg itself to be mended. We should not lose sight of the physical.

establishing an *oversoul* polarity as an accessible handle is a good trick if you can manage it...
0 ~ 0 is better (eg, more frictionless) than 1 ~ 10...something to shoot at - not accomplished all at once.

m1

[LordDagon]

I have to say, these aspects of existence are still very hard to grasp for me.
I think that one of the biggest problems that I am facing is my lack of sustained patience. This should be not understood as in lacking perseverance, but as a tendency to make a much bigger deal than it is necessary out of these cyclic shortcomings, so I end up creating unnecessary anxiety over the matter.

[Saxarba]

then don't do that

[LordDagon]

:D
Yes, and all it takes to stop smoking is to quit putting cigaretts in your mouth and lighting them. Yet, some people struggle with this all the time to no result.
I feel I will be fighting many battles until finally wining THIS war.

[Saxarba]

a warrior can drop anything at anytime

[m1thr0s]

Yes, and all it takes to stop smoking is to quit putting cigaretts in your mouth and lighting them. Yet, some people struggle with this all the time to no result.
I feel I will be fighting many battles until finally wining THIS war.there's different levels of struggle though and it's a good practice to study them through. the first struggle with quitting smoking for instance is really making up your mind that this is what you want...if you are unsure of your intentions you won't be able to move onto the next level. People get stuck on that one a long time sometimes...many never get past it. The next level has to do with curbing habitual behaviors...going for that *beer smoke* or *break smoke*...getting past dozens of little triggers that have become deeply embedded and require very little thought, if any at all. And there are self-recriminations to deal with that have to be brought under control since nobody really curbs any sort of habit through guilt...so you need a strategy to deal with occasional setbacks that don't get blown out of proportion and convince you to throw in the towel. One becomes a kind of scientist of struggle itself through all of this and the lessons learned overcoming one thing will usually transfer over to other conflicts as well. It isn't hopeless or anything...it's actually pretty interesting.

m1

[izi]

makes sense to me - that's *spearheading*, essentially...an old bull-riding technique... :cool:


you're much less predictable

[Shadow Wolf]

I do not understand why you would want to neutralize the "downward" effect of this rythm. If any part of a rythm, no matter what kind, is removed it will cease to be a rythm. Besides, without the down you would never know the up.

[m1thr0s]

it can't be *neutralized* - that is a fool's task, period.
it can only be negotiated and at length, appreciated.
two steps forward, one step back...it's as old as the dance of life itself.

m1

[AfterViewer]

:)
:D
Yes, and all it takes to stop smoking is to quit putting cigaretts in your mouth and lighting them. Yet, some people struggle with this all the time to no result.
I feel I will be fighting many battles until finally wining THIS war.
Most people start smoking for a reason(varied). Oral/physical addiction sets in. Stopping is usually looked upon as "confronting the enemy". For myself I look at smoking as collaborating with a friend, one I appreciate for what it has to offer. I smoke a cigarette, or half of one, or maybe a couple on my day off, much like Gandalf and Bilbo at the end of the day. Maybe not at all. Why make a consuming bad habit out of a hobbit's vice? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzmrljnWPXg&feature=related