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Attraction
| Inner
focus |
intestines |
| Outer
focus |
cross-cultural consciousness |
| Color |
indigo |
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Welcome
Feature from Northridge, California
Dreams of Attraction
Why the Intestines?
Book Recommendations
Attraction in the News?
Who’s
Who in Attraction
The Child's Garden
Poetry
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From the Editor |
This month we are featuring Attraction, number 17 of the Containing Principles. Attraction represents the ability to perceive similarity in difference; thus it is the principle of cross-cultural consciousness. It also does more than perceive; it ‘attracts’ and joins different things. Like other principles on the Indigo band of color (Love, Creativity, Innocence), it serves as a binding force in the world – in the case of Attraction, bringing together different forms of human consciousness and creating new possibilities of friendship, loyalty, and shared idealism.
Tamar Frankiel, Editor
REMINDER! Connie’s new e-book, A Colorful Life, is now available, and a discussion forum on the new teachings has begun. Go to www.turtledreamers.com to order your copy, then you’ll be able to join the forum!
Thanks to Cammie Doty, Connie Kaplan, Nancy Pack-Rayman, and Carol Bucklew for their help on this issue of the newsletter.
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Feature from Northridge, California |
This month's principle is Attraction. One of our dream sisters contracted with Attraction describes her experience of the principle this way: |
The word “Attraction” has such strong popular associations and meanings in our culture that it’s easy to misunderstand the vital dynamic that it really is as a spiritual principle in our lives. Contrary to commercially popular books and money-making schemes, it is not a magical system for willful wish-fulfillment, though that does illustrate how most of us deeply believe we are lacking something.
The spiritual principle of Attraction is much bigger. It is the process by which we pull towards us that which we believe we need in order to remember our essential wholeness. Once we’ve attracted that which we think we lack, we can interact with it, interweave and “dance” with it----all to pull us closer to that realization that we never lacked it at all.
But how can we learn to more clearly see this dynamic process at work in our lives?
On Saturday mornings I take a painting class. It can take weeks or even months to finish a painting, from drawing to finished oil or layered pastels. And at some point, after it is about three-quarters done, there comes a time when I’m not sure what it needs next. I’ve been staring at it for so long, I can’t really see it anymore. At that point, my teacher hands me a mirror, and instructs me to turn around and face away from the painting and view it only in the mirror. Amazingly, a fresh view of it instantly emerges: aspects of perspective, composition, even color balance (both desired and not!) pop out at me. It is always an “aha!” moment.
Perhaps then, we can learn to observe the way Attraction is operating in our lives by looking backwards at our own life-canvas, seeing what it has already brought to us. By seeing that picture more clearly, seeing it as the mirror that it is, we can come to better understand ourselves, as well as our essential pull towards wholeness and our deep connectedness to all that is.
Nancy Pack-Rayman
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Dreams of Attraction |
We
can learn about the principles by examining our dreams.
Here are three dreams of Service:
I’m visiting a city I’ve never been to, with my daughter who seems to know it. The main attraction here is the way they handle their garbage. Everything flows into a network of large pipes; it’s somehow a direct system with no intermediate holding tanks; and then it gets processed in the center of town. In the last segment of the process the huge, 5-ft.-diameter pipes, semi-transparent, are above ground, and the system ends in a high curve which then plummets to the ground into some kind of pool or pit, now able to be recycled.
People can watch this last part of the process from a roller-coaster-like structure which gives them a ride above the city and stops at a viewing point just across from the last part of the garbage pipe system. The two seem to mirror each other. Apparently people are fascinated to watch the churning garbage, because the seats are full. I’m seeing this from a distance, below. I decide I’m not going on the ride.
The
dream highlights the principle of Attraction right away: the “main attraction.” Since Attraction is connected to the intestines, we seem to have an out-picturing of the inner dimension of the principle. The dream seems to be teaching us that Attraction is direct: there is no “intermediary,” and that it “mirrors” our perception. This is interesting in light of our dream-sister’s feature article, where she describes learning to look at her painting by means of a mirror to see the truth.
I’m with a girlfriend and we are in a conference room with a large crowd of men and women we don’t know. We mingle with them and find out they are all from Australia. One woman tells us about a “current” in the ocean there that is moving so quickly that they use it to travel from one place to another, and places that would normally take days to reach normally take only five to eight hours right now. Their children use this current to get to fun summer activities.
These men and women find out that I do creative projects and I am asked for advice about a couple of objects that need some tweaking. On the spot I’m able to come up with suggestions that they approve of. They are all preparing to head back to Australia and we exchange contact information.
Now I am outside near the ocean and I watch as their airplane takes off, waving goodbye. I am completely alone on the ocean now, the surroundings unfamiliar other than knowing I’m on the ocean. I also know that I am moving on the current the woman spoke of, and decide it’s okay to go with the flow.
For a northern hemisphere dreamer, “Australia” is the other side of the earth, a kind of mirror (‘opposites attract’) reality. The dreamer ‘mingles’ and ‘exchanges contact’ with the Australian people and learns from them about the special current, on which she later rides. She comes up with suggestions ‘on the spot.’ The connections and movements in this dream suggest the sphere of Attraction, which operates without intermediaries, in a kind of direct transmission, across cultures.
I am outside on an unfamiliar porch; another woman and I get stung by a honey bee. My boyfriend in the dream reacts quickly and gives us an injection as an antidote. It doesn't work as it was designed to. Instead it makes us into bee attractors. They love us, and swarm around our heads so it looks like we're wearing pulsating yellow turbans. This is a bit overwhelming and we chase them off. We don't really know what is going to happen or whether we can trust them not to sting us again.
We walk inside and through the house where there are people, and music in the background. We go to the bedroom and . . . as we talk, I'm putting in my earrings and she is fingering her upper lip. There is a clear vessel on a table that is partially filled with water. When I look inside of it, I can see yellow specks of pollen floating on the surface. As I watch, the water drains out and there are bees left buzzing in the moisture at the bottom along with the pollen.
“Bee attractors” can be read as “Be Attractors”: trust the power of the principle of Attraction. This is emphasized by the pollen in the water which seems to attract the bees. Meanwhile, in the dreaming chamber, the dreamers are preparing their ears and their lips, suggesting that we can experience the power of Attraction only through careful listening and speaking.
I am standing on a rise looking at a lake. There are waves gently lapping the shore. When the water recedes, there is a very fast wake as if an invisible water skier were plowing out to the horizon. I say "Look at that - it is even more beautiful than the ocean." Then I am awarded a grant from the State of West Virginia to feng shui my house in order to attract prosperity. The state wants to help women in business be successful.
We recognize in the “wake” a power of Attraction, when we say, “pulled along in its wake” or other similar expressions. Here, the wake’s beauty is evident as a force that pulls consciousness, “attracts” attention, and of course the word suggests “awakening.” Feng shui has a similar power – by shifting the placement and types of objects, it alters the direction of consciousness in powerful ways. But it is a power not to be willfully used; one must be “granted” it.
Look
in your dreams for references to the to the abdominal organs or digestion ... to translation or cross-cultural exchange . . . to the number 17 or the colors indigo or tanzanite (deep blue).
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Why
the Intestines? |
The small intestines receive the digested material from the stomach and allow its nutrients to cross the membrane into the bloodstream. The process is quite precise. The multiple folds of the small intestines contain thousands of tiny projections, each with an affinity for a specific nutrient. Then, after the nutrients are absorbed, the intestines continue to pull water from the food until only solid waste is left.
This complex process belies the apparent simplicity of the principle. It’s not just “think what you want and you’ll have it!” as some popular teachers might have you believe. Rather, you Attract what your system actually needs, which may or may not be what you consciously think you need.
Just as the membrane that constitutes the intestines “knows,” your heart-mind knows equally well what it needs to attract. Bringing that to consciousness is your job.
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Film and Book Recommendations |
Film:
Slumdog Millionaire, directed by Danny Boyle, based on the prize-winning novel Q and A by Vikas Swarup
A boy who grew up in the slums of Mumbai has become a contestant on the Indian version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire." The story unfolds as the questions are asked on the game show - questions a "slumdog" shouldn't be able to answer, and yet, he knows the answers. The audience is shown flashbacks of his life, that show how and why he knows the various answers. Because of an ingenious way of shooting the story, the subplot, which is the story of his life, is really the main plot.
This is a perfect study in Attraction. It outlines the amazing (although uncomfortable and difficult) events that this "slumdog" magnetized. It gives the viewer a thorough cross-cultural view of life in the slums of India. And most amazingly, it was released in American theaters the very week that Mumbai was riddled with terrorist attacks.
Book:
Synchronicity: An Acausal Connecting Principle, by Carl Jung.
Following the trail of something very similar to our principle of Attraction, Jung was one of the first scientifically trained Western figures to claim that events occur due to other factors than temporal cause-and-effect that governs the events. In addition to discussing paranormal events, he connects his theory to the Chinese principle of the Tao and other nonlinear theories, including some of modern physics
Your own book:
If you’ve kept dream journals or other journals, go back and read them to look for examples of Attraction in your own life – how things connect in ways you didn’t see at the time!
And if you aren’t sure whether to believe your own stories, you can read others’ stories, as in the popular Small Miracles: Extraordinary Coincidences from Everyday Life by Yitta Halberstam and Judith Leventhal.
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Attraction in the News |
Ask
yourself regarding the following stories from recent
news items: Are these spiritual or mundane examples of Attraction?
- Headline: Potentially Fatal Attraction
Marilyn Linton, Toronto Sun, December 14, 2008. Magnets, when swallowed, are dangerous though the symptoms their child displays may be deceptively mild. Many pediatric specialists recommend that magnetic toys be kept out of environments of children under 6.
- Headline: John Wayne Cancer Institute Researchers Show That A Key Protein Appears To Enable Spread Of Melanoma To The Small Intestine
A study by researchers at the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John's Health Center has shown that a receptor protein found on melanoma cells appears to facilitate the disease's spread to the small intestine...To read the full article, go to: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/96509.php
The study of receptors and attractors in biology is a fast-growing field – a ‘cross-cultural’ sort of consciousness at the cellular level. --CB
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6.
Who's Who in Attraction |
Quite a number of famous people brought Attraction to life. You'll see some "cross-cultural consciousness." Also, while we have a range of occupations, it is interesting that three influential journalists showed up. This highlights the role of the news media as mirrors to society and as a binding force in our consciousness:
Journalism
- Katie Couric, 1957-
Journalist who became famous as co-anchor of NBC ’s Today show, then the first solo female anchor on the CBS Evening News.
- Bill O’Reilly, 1949-
Conservative TV/radio host, author, and columnist, whose The O’Reilly Factor is the highest rated show on cable news networks.
- Mike Wallace 1918-
American journalist, correspondent for CBS’s 60 Minutes from 1968 until his retirement in 2006; winner of 20 Emmy awards.
Film
- Tom Hanks, 1956-
American actor (Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, Saving Private Ryan), the third most successful in box-office totals.
- Kirk Douglas, 1916-
American actor (Paths of Glory, Lust for Life), a legend in 20th century American film who never won an Oscar in his acting career, but received a special Oscar in 1996 for “50 years of moral and creative leadership.
Music
- Elvis Presley, 1935-1977
American singer and actor, known as “King of Rock n’ Roll” for leading the new genre in the 1950s and ‘60s. His extraordinary voice and versatility make him a significant figure beyond his iconic stature in popular culture. In many ways, he bridged country, African American, and popular dance music.
- Ravi Shankar, 1920-
Bengali Indian sitar player, a composer and instrumentalist who has been extremely influential in bringing Indian music to the West – epitomizing cross-cultural consciousness.
- Thelonious Monk, 1917-1982
American jazz composer, known for his improvisations with dissonant harmonies and his unorthodox, percussive approach to piano.
Arts & Literature
- Piet Mondrian 1872-1944
Dutch painter who developed a unique non-representational form consisting of gridlines and use of the three primary colors.
- Emily Dickinson, 1830-1886
American poet who lived an introverted, rather reclusive life in Amherst, Massachusetts, where she was born. Most of her more than 1800 poems were discovered only after her death.
- Charles Dickens 1812-1870
British novelist (Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield) whose characters are among the most memorable in English literature. He turned many of his own life experiences into novels and also used them to champion the cause of the poor.
Government
- Tom Daschle 1947-
Former U.S. Senator from South Dakota, nominated for Secretary of Health and Human Services in the new Cabinet of President Obama.
Note: Daschle’s Sun is 16 degrees 54 minutes, so we ‘rounded up’ to Attraction – but it’s possible it should be designated in Unity. Look at the gifts he is delivering through his work and see which you think is the more accurate description.
- Jerry Brown, 1938- -
California politician for decades - currently Attorney General of California, formerly governor (1975-83) and mayor of Oakland (1999-2005), known for early pro-environmental policies.
- Donald Rumsfeld, 1932-
Secretary of Defense under Presidents Gerald Ford and George W. Bush, thus the youngest and the oldest to hold this position. He resigned in 2006 after several challenges, including accusations of responsibility for torture by US forces, and an unprecedented “Generals’ Revolt” in which 8 retired generals and admirals accused him of “abysmal” strategic planning and incompetence.
Sports
- Arnold Palmer, 1929-
One of the greatest players in men’s professional golf, whose charisma helped establish golf as a television sport in the 1950s and ‘60s.
Science
- Luther Burbank, 1849-1926
Botanist who developed more than 800 strains of fruit, vegetables, and ornamental flowers in his gardens in Santa Rosa, California. He wrote, “What a joy life is when you have made a close working partnership with Nature, helping her to produce for the benefit of mankind new forms, colors, perfumes . . .and flavor never before seen on this globe.
- Abraham Lincoln, 1801-1865
One of the most famous U.S. Presidents, known for his leadership during the Civil War and his dedication to national unity, freedom, and equality evidenced in the freeing of African American slaves. He also exhibited in his speeches an extraordinary command of the English language.
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7.
The Child's Garden |
The spiritual parenting of our children – through studying their principles – teaches us as well as them. We at Generosity Incorporated believe that bringing this work to the next generation can be one of the most powerful forces to heal humanity. Here’s an example of learning from our children:
My youngest daughter, with Moon in Attraction, loves to give birthday parties. When she was in high school, she kept track of everyone’s birthday and, even for the less ‘popular’ girls, made sure that a cake was made and friendly notes were sent to the lucky young ladies. I remember she was a bit hurt when her friends dallied and generally were disorganized about celebrating her birthday. She had to recognize that not everyone has that dynamic urge to bring people together in loyalty and friendship. It’s second nature to her.
That’s the way Attraction operates. My oldest son - 10 years older than his sister - has Sun in Attraction. People love him and seek his advice. At age 28, he’s considered an important asset to the technology department where he works and has helped create a wonderful working team. Unlike his sister, he’s shy and reserved, so he gets invitations instead of creating parties. Both of them, though, are inclusive and interested in all kinds of people.
These two, remarkably, also share Ascendant (Regeneration) and Midheaven (Creativity) in the same signs. So what are their differences? In the egoic principles besides the Ascendant, my daughter has Beauty, Placement, Humility – yellow, violet, and orange. My son, on the other hand, has Flowering, Peace, and Innocence – blue and indigo. I think the different dosage of the ‘outgoing’ versus the ‘retiring’ colors could make the difference.
--Tamar Frankiel
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8. Poetry |
Mirror
By Sylvia Plath
From http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/sylvia_plath/poems/18902
I am silver and exact. I have no preconceptions.
Whatever I see I swallow immediately
Just as it is, unmisted by love or dislike.
I am not cruel, only truthful --
The eye of a little god, four-cornered.
Most of the time I meditate on the opposite wall.
It is pink, with speckles. I have looked at it so long
I think it is part of my heart. But it flickers.
Faces and darkness separate us over and over.
Now I am a lake. A woman bends over me,
Searching my reaches for what she really is.
Then she turns to those liars, the candles or the moon.
I see her back, and reflect it faithfully.
She rewards me with tears and an agitation of hands.
I am important to her. She comes and goes.
Each morning it is her face that replaces the darkness.
In me she has drowned a young girl, and in me an old woman
Rises toward her day after day, like a terrible fish.
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