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To: Friends And Family / Making Friends With The Beast

August 19, 2024

 I can neither destroy nor successfully run from the Beast. All I have been able to do is integrate and live with the Beast. And that is enough for me to lead a better life.

August 19, 2024 I can neither destroy nor successfully run from the Beast. All I have been able to do is integrate and live with the Beast. And that is enough for me to lead a better life. My Beast Jung talks of archetypes. Believers in one or all of the 3 big monotheistic faiths talk of demons. Buddhism is a mixture of both concepts. As I understand it, Buddhism has a spirit world populated by all sorts of nasty / nice beings. Buddhism has also studied the psyche of people since its inception give or take 3,000 years ago. Like Jung they believe we have spiritual and physical ancestors, Some good. Some evil. The trick is learning how to live with them. After 73 years of Presbyterianism, United Church of Canada theology, West Coast Native Spirituality, more or less Tibetan Buddhism and a hint of Taoism I fall into the Buddhist / Jungian camp. The Beast is a very real part of me. He seeks to control me in many ways. Anger, angst and sorrow over past errors in judgement being his dominant weapons. Here is where I could drop some impressive names to show everyone that I have been a student of only the best. But that's not the way it's been. I have learned from monks, priests and shamans. But I've also learned from my ancestors, books, the Discovery Channel, M'Lady, my brother (my newest ancestor), and I'll bet you've never been called that before) sisters, and my friends. So, feel free to take the following with a truckload of salt. By making friends with my own personal Beast, I have removed his power over me. I'm no longer haunted by my less than stellar past. Angst, anger and sorrow no longer create my future. The way it works is that by making friends instead of fighting I no longer play his game where more anger, angst and sorrow are created. Instead, I be nice, we share meals and thoughts in my mind. He floats up from the garden to tempt me and I say hi and invite him to join me at table. Eventually he returns to the garden. He returns a little weaker and I become a little stronger. It hasn't been a quick or perfect fix. There are still times he sneaks up and bites my ass. Trust me it hurts, and for a while my Beast gains more power. But the bites come less often and aren't near as deep or dangerous which means I regain my power much quicker than I once did. Final thought, our Beasts are persistent. We let our guard down at our peril. Always remember the ancient wisdom: before you dine with the Devil make sure your place setting has cutlery with an exceptionally long reach. Brian
My Beast
Jung talks of archetypes. Believers in one or all of the 3 big monotheistic faiths talk of demons. Buddhism is a mixture of both concepts.

As I understand it, Buddhism has a spirit world populated by all sorts of nasty / nice beings. Buddhism has also studied the psyche of people since its inception give or take 3,000 years ago. 

Like Jung they believe we have spiritual and physical ancestors, Some good. Some evil. The trick is learning how to live with them.

After 73 years of Presbyterianism, United Church of Canada theology, West Coast Native Spirituality, more or less Tibetan Buddhism and a hint of Taoism I fall into the Buddhist / Jungian camp.

The Beast is a very real part of me. He seeks to control me in many ways. Anger, angst and sorrow over past errors in judgement being his dominant weapons. 
 
Here is where I could drop some impressive names to show everyone that I have been a student of only the best. 

But that's not the way it's been. I have learned from monks, priests and shamans. But I've also learned from my ancestors, books, the Discovery Channel, M'Lady, my brother (my newest ancestor), and I'll bet you've never been called that before) sisters, and my friends. 

So, feel free to take the following with a truckload of salt.

By making friends with my own personal Beast, I have removed his power over me. I'm no longer haunted by my less than stellar past. Angst, anger and sorrow no longer create my future. 

The way it works is that by making friends instead of fighting I no longer play his game where more anger, angst and sorrow are created. 

Instead, I be nice, we share meals and thoughts in my mind. He floats up from the garden to tempt me and I say hi and invite him to join me at table. Eventually he returns to the garden. He returns a little weaker and I become a little stronger. 

It hasn't been a quick or perfect fix. There are still times he sneaks up and bites my ass. Trust me it hurts, and for a while my Beast gains more power. But the bites come less often and aren't near as deep or dangerous which means I regain my power much quicker than I once did.

Final thought, our Beasts are persistent. We let our guard down at our peril. Always remember the ancient wisdom: before you dine with the Devil make sure your place setting has cutlery with an exceptionally long reach.

Brian 
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