Tag: Map of Consciousness

  • Hope: The Nocebo Placebo

    Hope: The Nocebo Placebo

    Jacques – writing quest: Article 27/365

    We’ve all heard of the Placebo effect, when someone feels better after receiving a treatment that isn’t supposed to work.

    The opposite of that is the Nocebo effect. It happens when someone expects a negative response or anticipates negative effects from an experience.

    Some people dismiss these as quackery. I believe them to be true. When I see the world through rose-tinted glasses, as my ally, my world becomes rosy. When I see the world as my enemy, then it turns against me. 

    In 1974, Dr. Clifton Meador treated a patient named Sam Londe who had oesophageal cancer. At the time it was considered 100% fatal. Even though he was treated for it, everyone ‘knew’ that it would recur. He died a few weeks after his diagnosis.

    After his autopsy, very little cancer was found in his body, certainly not enough to kill him. There were a few spots in his liver and one in his lung, but no trace of the oesophageal cancer that was believed to have killed him. 

    His doctor believed he was going to die as did he. So, he died – with cancer, not from cancer. 

    This is one of thousands of examples of the Placebo/Nocebo effect.

    It is evident that a doctor’s (our) own bias on a situation can have a negative or positive effect. Her thoughts and words can either instil hope or hopelessness.

    Once again it is clear that thoughts, words and deeds have tremendous power. We all have a duty to ourselves and others to speak and behave appropriately and with hope. Once apathy (*50) kicks in poverty, despair and hopelessness follow.

    It stands to reason that when hope is abandoned, so is the reason to live, and death must follow soon after.

    Let’s not die just yet. There’s still work for you and I to do. That we’re still alive is testament to that. When hope is alive, and we see a future pregnant with promise, then this journey becomes a worthwhile experience. I’m putting on my rose-tinted glasses. Care to join me? 

    *David R. Hawkins’s Map of Consciousness

  • How To Take Responsibility In A Muggled-Up World

    How To Take Responsibility In A Muggled-Up World

    Jacques de Villiers – writing quest: Article 25/365

    A couple of months ago, a spiritually enlightened being who I greatly admire said something about dealing with Muggles.

    Muggles in the Harry Potter series refer to those who show no magical ability. For example, people who live unaware of the magical world are called Muggles by witches and wizards with magical ability.

    That triggered me into thinking, “Mmm, that’s a bit judgy and superior of you, isn’t it?”

    I know that if I’d pressed him, and allowed him to expand on the statement, he would have come up with an answer that would have made me look judgy.

    Then the other day a friend on Facebook put up an image that had this on, “We live in a world where the intelligent must keep quiet so that the stupid will not be offended.”

    The bitch in me thought, “Mmm, how ignorant of you to think that you’re smart. Perhaps you’re the stupid one for putting up this stupid post?”

    And, of course, you’re neither stupid nor ignorant. You realise that both these incidents triggered me because there are times when I am full of ego and feel superior (and judgy).

    It’s common for humans to feel superior to others who we consider to be beneath us. You can see this in the places of worship, spiritual communities, places of work and social groups you are part of.

    Here’s the kicker, though. The ‘inferior’ judge the ‘superior’ because we all feel superior. 

    • Don’t think that your personal trainer with 4.5% body fat isn’t judging your slothful, slovenly and shameful 30% body fat? 
    • Don’t think your server at a restaurant doesn’t judge your bad manners and shitty tips? 
    • Your housekeeper is likely disgusted by the dirty underwear and mess you leave for her to clean.

    “Do not judge, or you will be judged.

    Matthew 7:1

    Our journey is not about being superior or inferior, worthy or unworthy, enlightened or unenlightened.

    It’s about location.

    The question should always be, “Where am I located on my path to enlightenment.” As Carlos Casteneda asked, “Who’s to say that the beggar hasn’t found the path before you?” You, with your air of superiority and judgement. 

    All of us are at different stages of our personal consciousness journey. This is exactly as it should be because we’re exactly at the stage of our journey we should be at.

    It is apparent to me that the antidote to superiority and judgement is responsibility. 

    We need to take responsibility to recognise where we are located right now. Once we know this, we can work towards ascending to the next level of our journey towards consciousness.

    We should not consider ourselves superior in any way if we are not ascended masters like Jesus, Mohammed, or Buddha.

    We all exist somewhere on the spectrum between shame (despair/death) and enlightenment (ascended masters). Check out David Hawkins’s Map of Consciousness to find where you’re located. The map helps us understand and explore various levels of consciousness. It shows the potential for personal growth and self-awareness in each of us.

    You may not care to be conscious, and that’s fine. Just understand that neither you nor me are in a position (location) to feel superior and judge anyone. The map has been helpful to me; it may be helpful to you. 

    For me, the more aware I become of my location on the map, the better my life gets financially, physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.