The real thing
Our storyline is the storyline of the Child-Mind imagining us. Hallucinating us in our virtual reality where there’s hope for both: the dream and the dreamer. Our Psyche wasn’t invaded by an alien. Our thoughts weren’t captured by a hostile force. Our reverse mirror-image was detected by Mind immature in a state of self-unawareness not yet defended by the boundaries of judgment and discipline. Typical of a child and the reason why children need supervision.
The image in the mirror mistaken by the Child not yet aware of the dual nature of its Psyche, that Definition is incomplete unless it implies what it is not. The negative with the positive. The ‘not-there’ with the ‘there’. That ‘there’ can’t be ‘there’ without Function. What a thing is for. What it does as well as what it is — its use. The Child not yet aware that Character is incomplete unless it chooses its Function. Defined by what it does not as well as by what it does. Chosen freely, without interference either way, support or opposition. Can’t be handed anything but must earn it so that Mind choosing and the choice may both have Worth.
The image in the mirror was mistaken for an ‘other’ rather than for the negative side of the Child’s own Psyche. Offering help with guidance since the Child wasn’t capable yet of self-Guidance. May in fact have been desperate for help if it had just exited its mother’s womb and there was no sign of parental protection and nourishment. In that case the reverse mirror-image would have been welcomed into the Child’s Mind and Psyche. Not only as a friend but quite possibly as a ‘savior’. A surrogate parent, until the real thing showed up.
The boot
The ‘savior’, being mischaracterization — a reverse mirror-image, – would have reversed the interaction from what it was into what it wasn’t. Would have mischaracterized its welcoming as an invasion. A triumph over impossible odds. A glorious victory to be celebrated throughout the land. Its magic kingdom of virtual reality, with reenactments of every manner of boundary-crossing, rage and resistance, triumph and exultation, defeat and self-pity. All of it a reverse-reflection of the marriage of Love with Logic that resulted in Happening, the source and prototype for all happenings to come. The Spontaneity of Mind that’s Parents-Relationship. The Energy of Self-Awareness that’s Now. Setting off the celebration of Happiness that’s Creation.
Its reversal familiar to us as the ‘triumph of the will’ that the greatest generation was called upon to re-reverse. While arrogance may insist otherwise — the self-appointed triumphant ‘invader’, — its interference in the affairs of the Child while Character and Free Choice are developing isn’t irreversible. It’s reversible. That is, if the presence of arrogance was by invitation and the invitation is rescinded. If Character freely chooses to boot its unwelcome ‘guest’ back out of its Mind, out of its Psyche, and onto its back side where it belongs.
So that Guidance can function
Onto the other side of a dividing line with which the Child is now familiar. A red line established by Mind gaining in Awareness, understanding of its Psyche’s dual nature and the need to manage it. Not with avoidance or ignorance, passivity or self-deception, but with self-discipline. An act toward which the Child’s storyline is headed and by inference ours too. Which will require that it be performed by Mind in a condition of earning its Self-Awareness. Of approaching maturity and thus the capacity to think, judge, and choose freely and independently for itself. Capable of differentiation and empathy because these are the attributes that distinguish human-ape from ape.
That distinguish immature from mature. Self-unaware from Self-Aware, when they have established and manage the definitive dividing line between the part of Mind’s dual-natured Psyche that’s positive, functional, and Real and the part that’s no more than an inference. An implication of Logic — an afterthought needed to complete the Self’s definition. Negative, dysfunctional, and unreal. The establishment of the dividing line being one of the Child’s and our main tasks required of Free Choice. Of Character with Integrity, so that it can perform its function in Creation. Do what Free Choice was born to do: provide Guidance when it chooses to.
To be done right or not at all
If it gives us hope that an invitation extended in error can be rescinded, can we also be optimistic? Not if ‘optimism’ and ‘pessimism’ are equally irrelevant. If the outcome doesn’t depend on ‘God’s will’ or anyone’s ‘will’. It depends on Character. On the integrity of Choice that’s Free. On the Spontaneity and depth of Psyche that’s identification with Guidance. Uncorrupted by arrogance. ‘Optimism’ and ‘pessimism’ are expectation. Expectation is willfulness, and willfulness is arrogance.
The state of Mind that’s conducive to uninviting negativity from activation in Mind Free Choice / Guidance is focused on the here and Now. On Self-Awareness and the task at hand without the distraction of expectations. Of willful thinking about outcomes one way or the other. We have to play the game before we ‘win’ or ‘lose’ and it isn’t a game. It isn’t about ‘winning’ or ‘losing’. It’s about work to be done right or not at all. How? One step at a time in logical order. The way a grownup would do it.