HOW TO BE INDIVIDUAL - JULY 2025

 

"Becoming a genuine individual requires learning the oppositions within oneself. Those who deny or refuse to face the oppositions within themselves have no choice but to find enemies to project their inner conflicts upon."

Michael Meade

 

My reflections for the Month of July refer to the meaning of being an individual in a world of mass crises and difficult times. We may feel overwhelmed by fear and anxiety as the tension in life becomes greater and problems seem to grow in size as time runs out, but what life wants is meaningful change. Either we face the way that life roars at us and become wiser and more of a friend of the world, or else we run in fear and shrink from life, mystery, and love.

Thus, this reflection invites you to consider the meaning of being an individual who can stand out from the crowd and be unafraid to speak his or her mind.

 

How to Become a Genuine Individual

Embracing Authenticity in a World of Conformity

In a society that often emphasizes conformity, becoming a genuine individual can feel like an uphill battle. However, the pursuit of authenticity is not only empowering but also transformative. Being genuine means living a life aligned with your true self—your values, passions, and beliefs—while embracing vulnerability and self-awareness.

Understanding Authenticity

Authenticity begins with understanding who you are. It’s not about perfection or adhering to societal expectations; rather, it’s about embracing your unique qualities and imperfections. Genuine individuals are those who act in accordance with their core values, even when it’s challenging or unpopular to do so.

Self-Reflection

The first step toward becoming a genuine individual is engaging in self-reflection. Ask yourself:

•              What are my core values and principles?

•              What makes me feel truly alive and fulfilled?

•              What do I want to contribute to the world?

Reflecting on these questions can provide clarity about your identity and guide your actions.

Embracing Vulnerability

Authenticity involves showing up as your true self, even when it feels uncomfortable. This requires vulnerability—being open about your struggles, fears, and aspirations. Vulnerability fosters deeper connections with others and helps you build trust, both in relationships and within yourself. 

Cultivating Self-Awareness

Self-awareness is the key to understanding how your actions, thoughts, and emotions align with your values. To cultivate self-awareness:

•              Meditate: Spend time reflecting on your thoughts and feelings without judgment.

•              Seek Feedback: Ask trusted friends or mentors for their perspectives on your strengths and areas for growth.

•              Journal: Writing about your experiences can reveal patterns in your behavior and thoughts.

The more self-aware you become, the easier it will be to make decisions that reflect your true self.

The actual end of the world seems most possible when the power of imagination becomes diminished and people cannot envision creative ways to handle the inevitable conflicts and dilemmas of life. The emergence of the third thing requires an act of imagination and becomes an act of creation as something that was unknown or unseen becomes manifest and consciously known. The eruption of the third thing coming between opposing poles creates a quantum change that changes everything. This imagination requires a sense of maturity and creative imagination.

 Maturity, however, is related to a person’s ability to withstand and even understand the tensions that come with growing up and facing up to the issues at hand. To mature means “to ripen,” not simply to take on responsibilities but to be exposed to the weather of life and become fully grown, well-rounded, and finally ripened. In order to withstand the stress of life, a person must become who they truly are - as a seed - and ripen into the unique individual they are intended to be from the very beginning. 

 

IMAGINATION AND THE MODERN WORLD - JULY 2024

                             

IMAGINATION IN OUR MODERN WORLD

 Dear reader,

In this July section of my blog - reflections Yaro, I am inspired by the word IMAGINATION. We all think that this word if worth knowing (the meaning) but few people really know about this amazing principle. So I am quoting,below, my Mentor Michael Meade and offer to all readers his wissdom and his mythology. So, reflect now - WHAT IS IMAGINATION?

Imagination is an essential component of human existence, a driving force behind creativity, innovation, and progress. In our modern culture, where technology and information dominate, the need for imagination has never been more critical. It is imagination that allows us to envision a future that transcends current limitations, fosters empathy and understanding, and nurtures the creative problem-solving necessary to address the complex challenges of our time.

At its core, imagination is the ability to form new ideas, images, or concepts not present to the senses. It enables individuals to visualize possibilities beyond the immediate reality, to dream, and to innovate. In the fast-paced, ever-evolving landscape of modern society, this capacity is indispensable. The rapid advancement of technology, while beneficial, also brings about new challenges and uncertainties. To navigate this dynamic environment, we must harness the power of imagination to foresee potential outcomes, anticipate needs, and devise innovative solutions.

One of the most apparent areas where imagination is crucial is in the field of technology. The digital age is characterized by constant technological innovation, from artificial intelligence and machine learning to virtual reality and biotechnology. These advancements stem from the imaginative minds of scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs who envision new ways to solve problems and improve lives. For instance, the creation of the internet, smartphones, and social media platforms all began as imaginative ideas that revolutionized the way we communicate and access information.

Moreover, imagination is not only pivotal in creating new technologies but also in ensuring they are used ethically and responsibly. As we develop increasingly powerful tools, we must consider their potential impacts on society, privacy, and the environment. Imagination allows us to foresee possible consequences and devise frameworks for ethical use, ensuring that technological progress benefits humanity.

In addition to technology, imagination plays a significant role in the arts and culture. Art, literature, music, and film are all products of imaginative thought, reflecting and shaping the human experience. These creative expressions offer more than just entertainment; they provide insights into the human condition, foster empathy, and encourage critical thinking. In a world where we are often bombarded with information, the arts offer a necessary respite, a chance to reflect, and an opportunity to explore different perspectives.

The importance of imagination in education cannot be overstated. Traditional education systems often emphasize rote learning and standardized testing, which can stifle creativity and limit imaginative thinking. However, fostering imagination in students is essential for developing critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and emotional intelligence. By encouraging curiosity and creative exploration, educators can cultivate a generation of innovative thinkers capable of addressing the multifaceted problems of the future.

Imagination is also vital in the realm of social progress and human rights. Many of the advancements in civil rights, gender equality, and environmental sustainability have been driven by individuals and movements that dared to imagine a better world. Visionaries like Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, and Greta Thunberg have inspired change by articulating powerful, imaginative visions of justice, equality, and sustainability. These leaders demonstrate that imagination is not just a tool for personal growth but a catalyst for collective action and societal transformation.

In the business world, imagination fuels entrepreneurship and economic growth. Successful entrepreneurs often possess a unique ability to envision new products, services, and business models that meet emerging needs and desires. Companies like Apple, Google, and Tesla were built on the imaginative ideas of their founders, who dared to think differently and challenge the status quo. In a competitive global market, the ability to innovate and adapt is crucial for long-term success, making imagination an invaluable asset for businesses and economies.

Furthermore, imagination enhances our ability to connect with others on a deeper level. By imagining ourselves in someone else’s shoes, we can develop empathy and understanding, which are essential for building meaningful relationships and fostering a sense of community. In a world that is increasingly interconnected yet often divided, the ability to empathize with others and appreciate diverse perspectives is more important than ever. Imagination allows us to bridge gaps, overcome prejudices, and work collaboratively towards common goals.

Environmental sustainability is another critical area where imagination is needed. The pressing challenges of climate change, resource depletion, and biodiversity loss require innovative solutions that rethink our relationship with the planet. Imaginative thinking can lead to the development of sustainable technologies, green energy sources, and conservation strategies that mitigate environmental impact and promote a harmonious coexistence with nature. By imagining a sustainable future, we can inspire action and create a path towards environmental resilience.

In addition, imagination is a vital component of modern culture, underpinning creativity, innovation, and progress across various domains. It empowers us to envision and create a better future, navigate technological advancements ethically, enrich our cultural and artistic expressions, foster empathy and understanding, drive social and economic progress, and address environmental challenges. As we continue to navigate the complexities of the modern world, nurturing and harnessing the power of imagination will be essential for building a more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous society. Imagination is not a luxury but a necessity, a fundamental human trait that enables us to transcend our current limitations and reach for a brighter, more hopeful future. Michael Meade, my mentor wrote an article about imagination that I am quoting here:

 

“ It is the ancient idea that nothing exists until it passes through imagination. Imagination is not simply a subjective inner capacity; rather, it is a genuine force of life. In this old way of seeing, the increase of conflicts and intensification of hate in the world can be seen as a loss of soul and a lack of genuine imagination.

At a time when modern cultures can be seen to be unraveling and the sense of the shared suffering of humanity so quickly turns into hatred for whoever can be deemed as the “other,” genuine imagination is not just increasingly important, but can be seen as the redeeming factor for both the individual human soul and for human culture as a totality.

Although viewing life in literal terms has become a habit for many, it ultimately gives us a false sense of security and keeps us blind to the knowledge we most need when the world around us keeps changing. In the ancient world, myth could mean emergent truth, and mythic imagination was understood to be the primary way in which the human mind and the human heart could connect or reconnect to the universal truths underlying all of reality.

Lacking a renewed sense of genuine imagination, the modern world will continue to divide and fall apart. For what is missing in most cases is not simply a lack of the resources needed to change things, but a tragic lack of the imagination required to awaken to a greater, more inclusive visions of reality. For, it is the intermediating function of imagination that makes it possible to unite otherwise opposing states, such as the objective and the subjective, religion and science, or any pair of antithetical ideologies.

Imagination has always been the unifying force in the human psyche, the inherent function that precedes thought, but also follows the body's inner ways of knowing and being. Imagination is the key that opens us to all that is immeasurable, creative, and healing in life. For that reason, imagination has been called the deepest power of the human psyche.

The power of imagination, which is part of the natural inheritance of each soul, has surprising and indelible capacities for creativity and renewal. By the virtue of imagination, we see with penetrating insights and creative vision, not the delusions of fantasy, but the surprise of revelation. The point is to allow the immediate powers of myth and imagination to give us a poetic grasp of our own lives and the events of the world. Without such a mythic sense, the world becomes increasingly divided, and we can become overwhelmed by conflicts both inner and outer. As the collective sense of unity collapses, the uniqueness within each person's soul becomes the essential source of the unifying imagination needed to sustain and renew life.”

 

 

Let us be creative!

RFLECTIONS YARO - JULY 2023 - THE WARRIOR

THE WARRIOR ARCHETYPE

 I am now reflecting about what sort of processes in human cultures that create conflicts among people and nations. Why do we continue to experience armed conflicts almost globally today? Why do we continue to experience so many tragedies and no peace talks no arrangements between nations have been helpful. Ask the leaders of Israel and Palestine, African nations, and Russia… In this almost infinite fight they all claim victory over the other but who is the “other”?

 Many aggressive nations use evil propaganda to convince people that the other is a bad one and must be eliminated and in in this way, leaders enter the role of the archetype of the warrior. The warrior role is to fight and win at all costs.

However, some warriors are meant to defend their nation and save people from disasters.

Today my own inspiration of the warrior archetype and protector of the people is the Ukrainian president ZELENSKY. He began to lead Ukraine in 2019 and he not only is a well-seasoned warrior by now, but also a great communicator to his people. He is the leader that pushed Russia away from Ukrainian borders despite their much superior military organisation.

President Zelensky, in his earlier career as an actor off stage and television in Ukrainian sitcoms, became popular already to all Ukrainians. It is interesting that destiny meant to place him as an actor on the world stage defending the Ukrainian people.

Going back to the warrior archetype, here is a quote about the meaning of the warrior from the Jungian perspective:

 

THE WARRIOR ARCHETYPE: MAKING AN IMPACT ON THE WORLD

“The Warrior in his fullness, the mature Warrior, creates order, sets boundaries, and goes out into the world and gets things done. The mature Warrior often has these qualities:

He knows his job is to act in the world in service to the people.

He sets boundaries. He does this with clear understanding of the concept of difference: of an innate knowing about “This is where I stop, and you begin”. He knows how to set a boundary and the difference between “yes” and “no”. He knows what he would die for, and he’s clear about what he would defend to the death.

He tends to see things in black or white. His may be a binary world. Clarity is everything. That way he knows with certainty what needs to be done.

He may act without feeling to get things done. Examples of this include the way fire fighters go into a burning building to save people. This is true Warrior energy: act first, feel the feelings later – if necessary. 

His principles as a Warrior are action, service, loyalty, and justice.

He needs a cause to believe in and fight for.  His cause might be something he believes in on a personal level, or it might be the King’s mission of service in the world. He is motivated to act.

He believes in the motto “Protect and Serve.”

When boundaries are crossed, he reacts with force and goes on the offensive (or defensive). Another expression of his energy is the masculine energy he takes into the world to get things done. Yet another is assertiveness. He knows how to channel the very energy of life, of vitality, for the benefit of those he serves and for himself.” (Wikipedia).

President Zelensky perfectly fits the role of the warrior archetype as described above and I'm looking forward as the final winner of the horrible war that Russia has created since about two years ago.

In order to make this story more “alive” to the readers, I am attaching here a podcast by my mentor Michael Mead where he speaks elegantly about the conflicts in Ukraine from the mythological understanding of human nature, he points out that beauty truth and justice are values that all people deserve and the warrior archetypes is present right now to heal this tragedy.

 

Listen to the podcast: The war within the war 

JULY 2018 BLOG

EMASCULATION OF MEN

In the last Blog Post I reflected on the art of dying stating that there are many ‘little deaths’ during our lifespan: Divorce, accidents, death of a loved one etc. Now this reflection is about the ‘death of masculinity’ in our current culture.

Just examining the daily press or news on the internet (see the TIME magazine recent cover), you will find many attacks on the current male identity by way of denouncing men as the cause of all the problems. An example is the activities at many of the Australian Universities (the seats of freedom of speech and higher learning) is the so called “Culture Wars”. University professors are fired just because they are advocating rational western values and freedom of speech and debate.

We read about ‘Gender Activists’ that distort the English language by advocating the elimination of “He” for men and “SHE” for women offering pronouns that have no relevance to human identity. In the Australian newspaper of June 5^th, 2018, Kevin Donnell, author of the book “How Political Correctness is Destroying Australia” states: “Gender activists responsible for Marxist-inspired programs such as Safe Schools, argue that those who defend heterosexuality are guilty of being “heteronormative” and that gender-specific descriptions such as Husband and Wife must be replaced by Partner.” The fact that 98% of Australians (and most world free democracies) self-identify as male and female and argue that the natural order of things (life) is for men and women to procreate to ensure humanity’s survival is totally ignored. Also, they ignore the biology of all species where all living nature needs male and female to ensure the survival of this planet. 

Therefore, culture wars, PC and other attacks are creating an environment where men and particularly young men are losing a sense of Self and seek answers to how to behave as a man. To add to the trauma in masculinity, we are now reading scientific reports about the impact of biotechnology on men. Biotechnology is defined, as the “exploitation of biochemical processes, especially genetic manipulation of microorganisms for the production of antibiotics, hormones, etc.” Here are some facts related to the US research.

Here we have statistics on male sexual and reproductive system health that indicate the changes that have taken place so far:

* 30 Million men experience impotence in the United States, that is 25% of the adult male population of 120 Million.

* The erectile dysfunction drug market is expected to reach $3.4 Billion in 2019.

* Between 1973 and 2011, sperm count decreased by a whopping 60%. There are no stats available for the current date, but it is likely higher.

* Testosterone levels dropped by 20% in just 20 years. Testosterone is the primary male hormone, it plays a key role in the development of male reproductive tissues and also in muscle and bone mass and general health.

* The number of prescriptions for low testosterone supplements increased fivefold since 2002.

40% of men have low libido, or premature ejaculation. More men suffer from testicular cancer and enlarged prostates.  Gynecomastia, or “man boobs” affects up to 40% of young men.

* Many of the chemicals and toxins that are taken into the body with food, water and air have been designed for a specific biological effect:

They are endocrine disruptors, they mimic hormones in the body. They cause changes of the male reproductive system, making men more feminine.

Due to the bioaccumulation of these chemicals through the food chain, the public is exposed to high concentrations of these harmful substances. They are passed from the mother to the foetus and the process begins in the mother’s womb. In addition, men experience psychological problems like:

- men have gotten the worst deal psychologically in the USA and maybe elsewhere as well

- most therapists in US now are women that could have a blind spot in working with men

- women have had to learn to be assertive and men to be compassionate or passive

-  effects of circumcision on men is another study urgently needed today

- Genital developments are also influenced in boys by these endocrine disruptors, resulting in early puberty and smaller penises. This traumatises many young men

- concerns about men and women using porn to learn about sex is increasing

- the effects of the exposure of paedophilia worldwide now (including Hollywood, US Congress, Big Business elites, etc)….Most don’t know that this movement is worldwide and  has women involved as well as men.

 Here is a clear analysis of the emasculation of men in the USA as described by Paul Joseph Watson:

Whereas 50 years ago, advertising, Hollywood and television was filled with examples of positive masculine role models that young men could look up to, today’s entertainment industry routinely portrays men as clueless and bumbling oafs at best (think Homer Simpson, Everybody Loves Raymond, Married with Children) or at worst as aggressive sexual predators. Since advertising is primarily aimed at women, men in commercials are also now routinely depicted as either being emasculated losers or stupefied morons. Young men consuming this content grow up thinking that it is acceptable and even encouraged to aspire to these character traits. In doing so, they are robbed of their natural masculinity and find it extremely difficult to attract well-rounded women, who are rightly disgusted by such behaviour.

Second wave feminism was a creation of the establishment itself and at its core has little whatsoever to do with genuine concern about women’s rights. Radical feminism deliberately confuses gender roles and makes young men apprehensive about exercising their masculinity for fear of being seen as overbearing or aggressive towards women. This has contributed to an entire generation of “metrosexual” men who are promiscuous, unwilling to commit to a relationship and unable to fulfil a women’s basic needs for healthy companionship, destabilizing society and making it more difficult for women to find suitable long-term partners with whom to have children.

The radical feminist establishment promulgates the myth that men are paid more than women because of discrimination, feeding into feminist doctrines about patriarchal systems oppressing women in the workplace. In reality, the “wage gap” of around 19 per cent between the two sexes in the United States is explained by several reasons that have nothing to do with discrimination. The fact is that men work more hours and men seek less desirable jobs that pay higher. As a result, men account for 93% of workplace deaths despite being only 54% of the workforce. 94% of workplace suicides every year are also men.

Statists, collectivists and their mouthpieces in the media and the establishment claim that western men (in particular white men) cannot express a valid opinion on any issue related in any way to a “minority” (such as feminism or immigration) because they have “privilege”. The “privilege” talking point is a stunt through which Marxist liberals and feminists attempt to shut down free speech. They are asserting the ludicrous notion that a man’s viewpoint has no value because of the colour of his skin, his gender or his country of origin. This is an inherently racist position, yet it is routinely used by leftists to shout down their ideological adversaries and silence male voices.

In both divorce and child custody proceedings, it is widely acknowledged that courts heavily favour women and discriminate against men. Men are routinely hit with onerous alimony payments even if women can work and earn a good pay check. Men only receive custody of their children in around 10 per cent of divorce cases in the United States. The ironic thing about this system is that it has primarily been instituted by other men, emphasizing again how the war on men is being waged not by women, but by the primarily male-dominated establishment.

Dissident feminist Camille Paglia recently wrote a Wall Street Journal piece in which she warned:

 “What you’re seeing is how a civilization commits suicide.” Paglia was referring to how the emancipation of masculine virtues by the establishment threatens to create massive destabilization in society due to less and less men being able to fill traditionally “masculine” roles in the jobs market. Paglia points to schools cutting recess, the effort to deny the biological distinctions between men and women, and the left’s characterization of controversial opinions as “hate speech” as examples of how masculinity is being deliberately eroded. “Masculinity is just becoming something that is imitated from the movies. There’s nothing left. There’s no room for anything manly right now,” warns Paglia, adding that young men have, “no models of manhood.”

Whereas women have numerous safety nets to turn to if they become victims of domestic abuse, men have virtually none, even though domestic abuse against men is a huge and growing problem. In the UK for example, 44 per cent of domestic abuse victims are male, while more married men suffer abuse at the hands of their spouse than married women. While domestic abuse against women is constantly highlighted by the mass media, domestic abuse against men is a complete non-issue.

Conclusion – welcome the totalitarian society

A totalitarian society can only survive if the male population has been gelded, emasculated and disenfranchised. With this natural bulwark against tyranny removed, the elite can centralize power and pursue collectivist tyranny unopposed. Therefore, men and masculinity are under assault on every level – and why both men and women should join forces to fight back against this common enemy.

Paul Joseph Watson is the editor and writer for Infowars.com and Prison Planet.com. He is the author of “Order Out of Chaos”.

Rodin: The fall of Man