posted on Sep, 25 2013 @ 10:25 AM
Intentioned rituals which we perform every day. We do many things over the course of the day, where the intended result and actual result differ, and
where some form of spiritual energy is transferred.
Perhaps you apply an animal based soap, but which one? There are many to chose from at the store. Each has its own compliment of natural and
artificial scents, which do affect how you feel as you apply them. Beyond that, the label, and any advertising you may have seen relating to the
product shape your intentions and energy during use.
Did you go for the Axe soap, or maybe you're more of a traditionalist and pick up Old Spice. Perhaps you pick one with all organic oils, or choose a
particular scent with a specific reasoning in mind (very much more to aromatherapy then we're told). Maybe you were told the product would make you
attractive to men, and perhaps it told you it would make you more attractive to yourself. Maybe your product claims to not advertise at all. Every
color, image, and word relating to the product alters your real and perceived intentions going into its use.
Think about the points in time where your brain is all consumed. Times where multitasking is not possible, because you are fully focused on one
specific activity. These are most likely to be experiences of directed energy. Meditation and prayer are prime examples of this, but there are others.
Pull someone from their meditation, and they'll likely not be pleased, but they should take it in stride. Pull someone from the NFL game, and they
just might get violent. Who was in control of their energies at the time?
In the vein of the OP, there are a number of things we do involving various combinations of organ and tissue products from animals. Centuries ago,
this would be placed squarely in the realm of witchcraft or potionmaking. Now, we see really freakish combinations of animal parts in some of our
particularly valuable personal care products. High-end lotions, conditioners, etc use such substances toward supposed positive skin effects. Vaccines
are another story entirely, concerning their ingredients, but certainly are rituals. Neither mom nor baby want to see those needles come out, but mom
stands by and lets it happen (even gets some of her own), because the man in the white coat says they're necessary.
Why does mom believe that? Probably the largest communal ritual instituted on this planet. At an early age, she learned to sit up straight and keep
quiet like a good girl, earning the praise of the teacher. She graduated high school, and perhaps even went on to college, where she was taught just
enough in each subject to believe that the masters are not to be questioned.
And college? That feeling of self righteousness that comes from feeling like you're so much smarter than everyone you walk by? That belief that if
everybody simply started behaving in the wonderful, logical, rational way that they're teaching, then everything would be amazing? I know that pretty
much goes away once the 'real world' hits, but until then? They've got you, and your money, for half a decade.
To take people in their prime years of energetic social and spiritual expression, and make them believe that they'll only be worth the diploma they
'earn.' To convince them they're part of some community by virtue of where they chose to make out a check, and then couple that sense of community
with threat of superiority from rival institutions (football, academic competitions, pranks, etc), not only gets students used to participating in
these style rituals for life, it redirects an amazing amount of energy and money which may otherwise have the power to cause some profound social and
political change.
Finally, there are our "livin' the good life" rituals. The arbitrary, "I can't X without Y" constructs we create for ourselves. Can't drink
water without some addition of flavor/sweetness. Can't sleep without iPod/TV running. Can't go a morning without caffeine, or a day without a cig.
Can't drive without the radio, or sit at home without TV. Often these start as a habit, and end in frustration. How many times has a quick sit in
front of the screen (tv, internet, phone, whatever) become a frustrating experience of channel/site/song hopping, trying to eek out a little dopamine
from this machine. Oh, but you say, I just wanted a little sit, it was a long day. I understand, but the difference between taking a few minutes to
meditate, and taking that time to power up the device is huge. Its the difference between saying, "I need some time with my spirit, away from
external distraction, that we may both be refreshed", vs "I need some time away from that pesky spirit, I need some external distraction and
pleasure, that I might be refreshed."
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Ritual is important. We are most mentally effective when there is some underlying structure to the day. However, attachment to these rituals can
quickly become dangerous. Sometimes I'm caught off guard, when an acquaintance (rarely a friend) tells me they've gotta watch their show, have their
fizzy water, etc. I usually give a little chuckle, assuming they're giving me a rub by caricaturing some aspect of society. And then it hits me,
they're serious. They can't drink their water without magic powder, or live without the magic screen. They really believe they can't. It's truly
sad to watch.