The act of consciousness is central; otherwise we are overrun by the complexes. The hero in each of us is required to answer the call of individuation. We must turn away from the cacaphony of the outerworld to hear the inner voice. When we can dare to live its promptings, then we achieve personhood. We may become strangers to those who thought they knew us, but at least we are no longer strangers to ourselves.”
"And you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking Racing around to come up behind you again The sun is the same in a relative way, but you're older Shorter of breath and one day closer to death"
I remember hearing a radio program not long ago which explained in many Shamanic cultures children suffering from what we would call mental disorders, such as bi-polar or even schizophrenia were revered and nurtured rather than medicated. It was seen as a gift and they were given special attention by the elders, many of them went on to become Shamen.
"In the shamanic view, mental illness signals “the birth of a healer,” explains Malidoma Patrice Somé. Thus, mental disorders are spiritual emergencies, spiritual crises, and need to be regarded as such to aid the healer in being born.
What those in the West view as mental illness, the Dagara people regard as “good news from the other world.”
Healing circles are not quite the same as offering prayer for others which I the the OP was meaning. When a natural disaster occurs, many people pray for the victims and those affected. In most instances those offering up their prayers neither have consent from, or indeed, don't know the individuals they are praying for. Would you consider this as being potentially harmful for those who are being prayed for?
Apart from the Pogues which someone has posted, I'm not really too keen on most Christmas songs. I do like this song though. Not really a 'Christmas song' as such, but it was the Christmas number one on the UK charts in 2003. I also think the lyrics are quite appropriate when you think about what Christmas has become in these modern times.
I disagree entirely with that. Metta or loving kindness meditation is one of the main Buddhist practices. A good part of that meditation is to wish for an end to suffering for those you don't know or have not met.
To think good thoughts (pray for someone) could never bring about negative karma. Even people who don't believe in the power of prayer would benefit from cultivating good thoughts for those around us.
Dolly Parton's song is a perennial favourite for many and there have been many covers. In this cover by The White Stripes Jack White sings with so much emotion and feeling it makes me think this is the way it should be sung rather than the jingly-jangly style of the original version. It almost feels Jack is singing this from personal experience, it really is a compelling version of a great song.
bodleing2 Forum Posts (6,132)
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RE: The deep thinker---Carl Jung---->
The act of consciousness is central; otherwise we are overrun by the complexes. The hero in each of us is required to answer the call of individuation. We must turn away from the cacaphony of the outerworld to hear the inner voice. When we can dare to live its promptings, then we achieve personhood. We may become strangers to those who thought they knew us, but at least we are no longer strangers to ourselves.”— James Hollis....Jungian psychoanalyst.