Shamanic Bear

 As we have discovered, an Archetype is defined as an invisible, immaterial, Platonic mental concept that exists independently and autonomously.   Archetypes, therefore, are real, living entities. Because Archetypes are Unconscious (which is defined as those thoughts that we are not aware of), they are, by their very nature, unknowable.  But they are known when they are manifested to the Conscious Mind in the form of Symbols (dreams, active imagination, myths, legends, religion, art, poetry and more). Jung teaches that our empirical, rational Western mindset tends to neglect or suppress Archetypes.  In fact, many even deny that such Archetypes exist at all.  This neglect, suppression or denial (according to Jung) of Archetypes leads to an imbalanced psyche.   This imbalance is due to the fact that the Conscious Mind and the Unconscious Mind are not synchronized (that is, out of harmony with each other).  Eventually, according to Jung, the sup...

 An   Archetype is defined as a mental concept, an invisible mental blueprint, an intangible mental idea that exists independently and autonomously.   Archetypes were first described by Plato as mental templates, mental architectural blueprints that he called "Forms" and "Ideas."   How is it that I can relate to you the concept of Truth (or Justice or the Good or Beauty)?  Clearly, this is an idea, a concept, an invisible, intangible mental form.  This concept (that is, this formless architectural blueprint) is immaterial (and, yes, invisible and intangible).  -And yet this concept is real.  How can this be?  Plato called this concept a FORM.  -Actually, it is a formless form that can only be seen by the enlightened philosopher (according to Plato). Carl Jung discovered that these Archetypes are real, living entities existing independently and autonomously.  These Archetypes are Collective in nature because they enter the ...

We will concentrate mainly on Aristotle's concept of truth and falsity, namely, the Syllogism (as outlined in his Prior Analytics).  A Syllogism is defined as a three-part line of deductive reasoning that leads, logically, to a conclusion .  It is a line of reasoning that progresses from the known to the unknown according to specific laws of reasoning.  Aristotle's Syllogistic Logic is endlessly fascinating because it describes, in detail, the Basic Building Blocks of Valid Human Reasoning.     The whole of Western Rational Thought, including modern science, is based on Aristotle's brilliant discovery and description of the syllogism .   I will list the three most useful Syllogisms. Basic Categorical Syllogism All men are human.  (All A is B.) Socrates is a man.  (C is A.) Therefore, Socrates is human.  (Therefore, C is B.) Either/Or Syllogism Either Socrates is alive, or he is dead.  (Either A or B.) Socrates is not alive.  (N...

Truth is defined as a statement or idea that corresponds with reality. Falsity is defined as a statement or idea that does not correspond with reality. There are two worldviews regarding truth and falsity: Aristotle's Logic and Dialetheism. According to Aristotle: To say that something is true when it is, is true.  To say that something is true when it isn't is false.  To say that something is false when it is, is true.  To say that something is false when it isn't, is false.  According to Aristotle, all Logic must be based on two concepts: Truth and Falsity.  Either something is true or it is false.  A thing (that is, a concept, idea or event) cannot be both true and false at the same time and in the same place.  His whole science of Syllogisms is based on these two concepts. According to Dialetheism truth and falsity involve four concepts (as opposed to Aristotle's two concepts of truth and falsity):  1) True  2) False  3) Neither true...

  Aristotelian Reality Part 4 As we have discovered in a previous blog (Aristotelian Reality Part 3) the whole, balanced person is one who lives in Balance between the Unconscious and Conscious Mind.   This individual is open to the Unconscious Language of Symbols (as revealed through dreams, myth, religion, legend, art, music, poetry and more) and integrated it into one’s Conscious Thinking.     In other words, one has learned to integrate Unconscious Reality (Plato) and Conscious Reality (Aristotle) into a Balanced, Holistic Reality. Faith (Platonic Reality) and Reason (Aristotelian Reality) are held together in Balance .   Religion (Unconscious Platonic Reality) and Science (Conscious, Aristotelian Reality) are held together in Stable Equilibrium in the human psyche.   Faith , therefore, is primarily based on Unconscious Reality, which is Platonic Reality and Mystical Reality.   Reason is primarily based on Conscious Reality, which is...

  Aristotelian Reality Part 3 As we discovered in another blog (Aristotelian Reality Part 1) Aristotle, a disciple of Plato, departed from his philosophical master’s teachings.   Plato believed that true reality consists of invisible thought-forms (which he called Forms) experienced by the enlightened philosopher.   Aristotle believed that true reality is visible and concrete and experienced through the experience of the five senses.   Plato’s reality is invisible.   Aristotle’s reality is visible. Plato’s logic is mystical.   Aristotle’s logic is practical and tangible. Plato’s logic is unconscious.   Aristotle’s logic is conscious.   Somehow, both Realities are true, despite their antithetical qualities.   How can these two Realities be reconciled?   In the history of Christian thought Augustine (354-430 A.D) focused on Plato.   His theology reigned for approximately 800 years until Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) came along a...

  Aristotelian Reality Part 2 Aristotle’s tangible, visible, concrete reality, as we discovered in another blog (Aristotelian Reality Part 1), is discovered by the five senses of sight, sound, hearing, tasting and smelling.    The philosophy of Aristotle, then, is the historical beginnings of science.   The scientist uses the five senses, along with reason and mathematics, to discover reality.   Inquiry, hypothesis, experiment, collection of data and conclusions are all experienced through the five senses and through Aristotle’s concrete reality.   Aristotle wrote a number of treatises on Physics ( Physics, On The Heavens, Meteorology ), Psychology ( On The Soul, Logic) , Biology ( History of Animals, On the Parts of Animals, On the Motion of Animals, On the Gait of Animals, On the Generation of Animals), Metaphysics (that is, Ontology, which is the study of Being and Nonbeing), Ethics ( Nicomachean Ethics ) and Politics ( The Athenian Constitution, Polit...

  Aristotelian Reality Part 1 Aristotle, a disciple of Plato, departed from his philosophical master’s teachings and taught that true reality is the everyday material reality and experienced through the five senses.   Plato believed that true reality consists of mystical ideas, experienced by the enlightened philosopher.   Aristotle believed the opposite: to him, true reality is concrete, experienced through the five senses.  Plato’s reality is invisible.   Aristotle’s reality is visible.   Plato’s logic is unconscious.   Aristotle’s logic is conscious.   The masterful painting of Raphael (called “The School of Athens”) shows Plato with his right finger pointing upwards, symbolizing invisible, mystical reality.   Next to him is Aristotle, with his right hand stretched out straight head, symbolizing visible, tangible reality.   This Great Debate between intangible, unconscious, Platonic mysticism and tangible, conscious, Aristotelian sc...

  Platonic Reality Part 2 Platonic Reality is a mystical concept, a concept that is understood today by the Unconscious Mind.   Carl Jung, once an associate with Freud, discovered the Unconscious concept of the Archetype.   The Archetype is defined as an invisible, Unconscious thought-form that manifests itself to the Conscious Mind through the language of Symbol.   (Gerhard Adler, a disciple of Jung, calls this the Living Symbol).   Dreams, religion, myth, fairy tale, legend, art, poetry and music are Symbols that “speak” to the Conscious Mind from a deeper, Unconscious Reality. Jung taught that the Unconscious Mind is Platonic in nature and the greater part of who we are as human beings.   Psychic Balance comes when one is able to assimilate the Unconscious Symbols found in dreams, religion, myth and more into one’s Conscious Mind. Note: Jung taught that the Unconscious mind is the greater part of who we are--BUT the Conscious Mind is the crown of ...

  Platonic Reality Part 1 Plato taught that true reality consists of the nonphysical world of thought, ideas and mind.   The physical world of the senses is simply an imperfect copy of this invisible world.   At first, this may seem like a rather strange concept.   -But not so to Plato.   He taught that Truth, Justice and Beauty are invisible thought-forms, which he called “Forms”.   The enlightened philosopher, according to Plato, has discovered this realm of Ideas, which is non-spatial and non-temporal.   To Plato, true spirituality and true ethics consists of the invisible concepts of the True, the Good and the Beautiful. Plato’s mystical vision of Truth, Justice and Beauty is illustrated in his famous story of The Cave.   Imagine, says, Plato, a cave where people have lived for generations.   They live their whole life as prisoners in chains with their backs to the entrance of the cave.   When animals walk by the entrance, they c...

  Currently, I am becoming aware of the Great Debate and the Great Conversation between these four philosophic masters:   Socrates the agnostic : Socrates "knew that he didn't know," and so became the foundational philosophic master of Western philosophy.  He considered it his mission to convince others that they, too, do not know very much, and this realization of "not knowing" is the beginning of the quest for wisdom and knowledge.  The Oracle at Delphi declared that Socrates was the wisest of all men.  Socrates responded by declaring that true wisdom is found when one realizes that they "know that I know that I do not know."   Plato the enlightened philosopher: Plato believed that the foundational essence of reality is non-essence; that the foundational essence of materialism is non- materialism,  and the foundational essence of knowledge is the knowledge of eternal Mind.  In short, Plato believe...

  Jesus the Jewish Mystic and Wise Healer:  Jesus is the inheritor of Jewish thought and of Hellenism.  His Aramaic words, for instance, are recorded in ancient Greek.  Jesus, according to John, his disciple, is the eternal Logos--a Greek Word which the Greek philosophers used to describe the invisible DIVINE MIND that created, sustains and fills the cosmos.  Jesus was a mystic: his teachings emphasized a personal, experiential relationship with God that transcended the religious teachers of his day (namely, the Pharisees and Sadducees).  He was a philosophical dissident because he openly defied the religious hierarchy of his day and taught an individual spirituality.  In short, he could not "put God in a box."    He was also a wise teacher: he taught in Parables, which are short stories that teach timeless truths.  These Parables are, perhaps, the most powerful wisdom teachings that have ever been uttered--and yet they are extremely...

  The Kingdom of Heaven Clearly Explained Matthew 4:23: “And he went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.” The central focus, the central theme, the central Mission of Jesus was to initiate and inaugurate the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.   To miss the significance of the Kingdom of Heaven in the life, the work and the teaching of Jesus, is to miss his Mission altogether. And what is the Kingdom of Heaven?    The ancient Hebrew prophets spoke of an End of Days when the Hebrew God will come to Earth with his Messiah to rout-out all evil, to destroy all that is wrong, and to create a New Heavens and a New Earth.  The Hebrew God will reign on Earth through his Messiah King.    Jesus initiated and started this Kingdom.  He spoke with urgency and passion: people must immediately turn from all wrongdoing, be baptized and prepare them...

  The Healing Power of Jesus: A Model 1.       The Preliminary Interview Jesus often started out his healing process through a simple interview.   2.       Establish a Connection The whole purpose of this interview was to establish a connection of compassion, empathy, transparency, respect and trust.   The following is a list of attitudes that Jesus used to establish a connection between him and the one in need of healing: a.       Belief: Jesus often prescribed faith as an integral part of the healing process.   It was necessary for the sick person to believe in his healing power.   Even a small, tiny portion of faith was enough. b.       Transparency: Jesus provided an atmosphere of transparency; that is, an environment within which both he and the sick person could be totally candid. c.        Trustworthiness: Jesu...

  Kingdom Power-Healing   “The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are healed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised…the Kingdom of God has come near to you” (Matthew 11:5, Luke 10:9) The Christian Scriptures teach that Jesus did not only teach about the Kingdom but he also demonstrated this Kingdom with healing power and authority.   The four biographical accounts of Jesus (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) record approximately 41 demonstrations of Jesus’ healing power. “Jesus spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him.   And he asked him, ‘Do you see anything?’   And the blind man looked up and said, ‘I see men but they look like walking trees.’” Mark 8:24 The healing power of Jesus was not always instantaneous.   In this account (Mark 4:22-25) the healing of a blind man came in stages.   At first, he could only see partially: “I see men but they look like walking trees.”   It is only after a second touch of Jesus’ hands that his full sight was re...

  1.      Jesus' time in the desert can also be called the Hero’s Journey.   This Journey is an unconscious Life-Path that all of us follow.   It follows a certain pattern: a.       A summary of the Hero’s Journey: One receives a Call to leave one’s familiar surroundings, venture out into the world and “fight dragons,” and returns to back home to share wisdom.   1)       The Call is a specific purpose, a specific mission.   2)       Fighting Dragons is a metaphor for encountering opposition, hardship and resistance to the Call.    Along the way we receive different gifts, that is, talents, which will help us on our Journey.   Problem solving and decision making are the “two-edged sword” that we use to “fight dragons.” 3)       Returning home to share wisdom means that we share our gifts, talents, experiences and experie...

  The Vision Quest, the Hero’s Journey, the Temptation and the Shadow After Jesus experienced the Rebirth Archetype through baptism in the Jordan River he was immediately driven by the Spirit into the desert.   The desert, in his time, was a place of solitude, and reflection.   It was a place to be totally alone, away from all of the hustle and bustle of life with all of its noise and to simply be quiet, to reflect and to ponder. 1.       The Vision Quest.   Jesus’ journey in the desert was what Native Americans call a Vision Quest.   The Vision Quest is a practice given to young men and women as an initiation to adulthood.   The young person prays with elders, is appointed a mentor, and journeys alone in the wilderness to discover one’s individual Life Path, Purpose, Meaning and Mission.   Through visions, prayers and unconscious reflection, one finds this Mission, clarifies this Mission and focuses on this Mission like a ...

  The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus: A Vision Quest  (Matthew 3:1-4:17)  The following is an abridged paraphrase of the biography of Jesus taken from the Gospel of Matthew, chapters 3 and 4.  This translation is from the original Greek manuscript, translated by me, Shamanic Bear.  The translation uses the dynamic of paraphrase to convey to the reader, as much as possible, the original meaning of the Greek language. The Text “In those days John the Baptist came as a preacher in the desert of Judea saying, ‘Turn from your wrongdoings!   -Because the Messianic Kingdom of Heaven is about to come at any moment!’    John wore clothes made out of camel’s hair and a leather belt was fastened around his waist.   His food was locusts and wild honey.   Then Jesus came to the Jordan River to be baptized by John.   John tried to prevent him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’   But Jesus answered him, ‘Let ...

  Warrior Seeker Sage Mantra You may want to use the following chart as a mantra.   Write these Affirmations down on a 3 x 5 card and carry them with you for reflection. I am not defined by my mistakes. I am a Warrior. I call on Michael, the angel of strength to assist me now. I am not defined by other people’s opinions or circumstances. I am a Seeker. I call on Gabriel, the angel of revelation to assist me now. I am not confined by the prison of my own mind. I am a Sage. I call on Raphael, the angel of healing to assist me now.  

Below are some Definitions, mostly derived from the writings of Carl Jung (1865-1961), Psychotherapist  Archetype: invisible, intangible thought patterns residing in the Unconscious Mind.   Archetypes include the king, the queen, the wise old man, the wise old woman, earth, moon, sun wind, rivers, trees, animals and more.   Archetypes are universal: everyone inherits these images.    Archetypes were discovered by Carl Jung, a noted psychotherapist and one-time associate with Freud.   He insisted that Archetypes are unknowable: only their manifestations are knowable. Jung insisted on keeping the mystery of Archetypes a mystery. Conscious mind: the part of our thinking that we are aware of.   Logic, math, step by step, syllogistic thinking all come from the Conscious Mind.   When the Conscious Mind interprets the metaphors and symbols of the Unconscious Mind whole new paradigms of awareness unfold.   (See Unconscious Mind .)   Uncons...

  The Four Laws of the Shadow Law 1: Every person and every society has a Shadow Everyone has a shadow.   This Shadow manifests itself in two ways: Personally, and Collectively in society. Law 2: This shadow is hidden This Shadow is Unconscious and hidden.   It is an Archetype and therefore unknowable.   We can only know its manifestations. Law 3: Simply realizing that this shadow exists helps us to manage the shadow Realizing that we have a Shadow is a significant step forward toward managing the shadow. Law 4: The Personal and Collective Shadow are managed through Conscious Reason Once we realize we have a Shadow we can manage it through the Light of Conscious Reason and Intellect.    According to Jung, the Shadow actually has some positive aspects (spontaneity, vigor, instinct, conquering, healthy competition, creativity).   Our challenge is to utilize and integrate these positive aspects.

  The Four Laws of a Vision Quest Law 1: Every person needs a rite of passage into adulthood (a “Vision Quest”).   Many individuals have not experienced a personal, individual initiation into adulthood (a “vision quest”).   Because of this, young men and women wander (either partially or wholly), with no clear mental blueprint of what it means to be a full-blooded, vibrant, thriving, self-reliant, independent thinking human being.    As a result, individuals grow up physically, but often do not mature psychologically into true adulthood.   They have not experienced a primal, inborn, unconscious, archetypical initiation into adulthood.   The authors have used the model of the Native American vision quest because it is a specific three-fold method of Preparation, Solitude/Rebirth and Returning back to community. Law 2: The Vision Quest is unconscious, archetypical and autonomous .   And therefore it is unknowable.   The secret, hidden, ...

During the Shamanic Journey, one may find what is known in contemporary Shamanism as "Power Animals."  These Power Animals appear in the Journey spontaneously to help the Shaman achieve his or her purpose.  Below are some examples of Power Animals.  These Animals appear in a book that I have written (and soon desire to publish) called "Sun and Thunder, Wind and Fire: The Wisdom of River, The Shaman".  These animals come from my own unique experiences of Shamanic Journeying. Cousin Bear Cousin Bear is an unconscious nature-symbol; a metaphor for resourcefulness, instinct, power, inner cleansing and inward healing.   With his breath he can blow healing into the nostrils and lungs of his Shamanic seer.   And he can, at will, explore and heal the inward organs of the Shamanic seer.    He instantly knows what to do in every situation and passes his wisdom on to the Shaman.   Cousin Bear is, therefore, a source of healing, strength, wisdom, and s...