Principles, not Feelings, around Trump
Someone tried to kill Trump. My reaction to the story is more important to me than the story. Somewhere a child is born in Africa or an old woman dies in her chamber having lived a long life, with love, service and sorrow. Trump is just a bump. My passions are not inflamed about him. One hundred and nine people were shot in Chicago, 19 fatally, on the July 4th extended weekend. Mick Jagger sang about who killed the Kennedys in Sympathy for the Devil. He said that after all it was you and me. Meaning that our lives are intertwined with the world in which these happen.
Its principles that matter, not feelings. It’s my business, not yours. You have your own business. What am I doing to be serious about my life and to be faithful to it? The principle of principles is that we're not separate.
This is God's world. Nothing needs to happen. The world is slowly or quickly waking up. There’s no a radar gun to measure how fast it’s all moving and no one knows. It's happening as quickly as possible to not leave out any good bits.
NBC News
I see other people curious and wondering about their own waking up, approaching it with delight. Such a variety of personal explorations and such wisdom in wondering, rather than having it all figured out already. Variously they're curious, not knowing, perplexed, carrying a burden and the opposite of all these qualities. Sometimes they’re holding both at once, knowing one will turn into the other. It's Heaven and Hell with only us that’s the common factor.
“Non-dual,” which is often used as a stand in for the highest spiritual philosophy, means not separate.
Not separate means I’m not separate from Trump.
I was in a Bohmian Dialogue group for many years. A group of us got together monthly and shared the truth of what was coming up for us in the moment. At that time in Canada, Prime Minister Stephen Harper was much loathed by right-thinking people on the left. (I was one.) I suggested that we put out a chair for an imaginary Stephen Harper and see what happened in the group.
The suggestion was not welcomed and we didn’t do it. Now we loathe Prime Minister Trudeau. I don’t know, put the once and-maybe-future President Trump in your spiritual circle if you have one, or in your meditation, and welcome him there. I could try this with Trudeau. I couldn’t put Trump because I like him, like I’d like an eccentric and crazy rich uncle with good instincts and a big heart.
But what I think about him doesn’t matter a bit. Principles not feelings serve us for the seas ahead. God’s seas we’re traveling on after all, however we define him.
Andrew
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Personal Practice
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I was surprised to read you like Trump, ‘like I’d like an eccentric and crazy rich uncle with good instincts and a big heart.’ Surprised because so few people I know are prepared to say any thing positive about Trump. It was really a breath of fresh air. Even though you also said the feelings don’t matter as much as the principle (that we are all connected?). Perhaps it’s because we are all connected that the feelings also matter, both/and rather than either/or.
I also like some things about Trump, and I find it crippling to come up against the hatred that some express towards him. The polarisation that is endemic now builds a wall, or attempts to, that is unscalable, or appears to be. That divisiveness which is trying to keep people separate rather than bring them together, or let them recognise their togetherness, is what is tearing the world apart, or appears to be. Thank you for having the courage to reach a hand over that wall.
Nicely said, Anna and good on ya for noticing and applauding Andrew’s authenticity in sharing his feelings toward Trump.
From my perspective, I try to keep things simple. And from there, Trump’s just another human, with all the seeming contradictions that often entails.
I think the elevation of public figures into archetypal representations is not an incorrect perception of them, it’s also dangerous. I include both making a public figure a Shadow/Demon and making one a Light/Angel.
I heard recently that either Jung or Hillman said to be very mindful not to identify with archetypes, to try to be them, and I think this goes for putting others in those roles, too.
I think it’s much healthier to reflect on how public figures remind us of people in our lives or as a generic eccentric uncle type like Andrew did.
But yes, speaking/writing in such a way risks alienating or angering those who are engaging with that public figure as an archetype. The human mind is endlessly fascinating!
Oh, hey Andrew, see you can write a whole post in a Comment! LOL