Re: hermetics and confrontation

["Jason Paris" <jambay53@...>]

Hi Chris,

You seem to have arrived at BardonPraxis at the right time!

You've only just missed an interesting thread on the issues of self-
defense, retaliation, and the defense of those whom we love 
from "attack". (Have a browse through this month's threads - you're 
sure to find it.)

I mention this, as these issues are not too far from Confrontation. 

Given the disparate views that arose throughout that thread, it's 
probably appropriate to say that only *you* can decide what to do 
when confronted with Confrontation. Some here may agree that this 
expression of self-choice *is* the Hermetic way.

The thing about Confrontation is that - at its most extreme - it has 
the components of "attack" and "defense", followed by 
further "attack". Of course, if the "defense" component is absent, 
the cycle of confrontation is greatly diffused.


Now, given that your Initiation is about developing awareness of - 
and control of - yourself, what you might do (with the Soul Mirror 
tools) is identify whether "Defensiveness" is one of your strong 
attributes.

If it is - and you decide it's an inappropriate attribute to have - 
you may wish to work on transmuting Defensiveness to something more 
useful.

By the time the Big Showdown rolls around, if your former teacher 
attacks you, you - through your character-strengthening Soul Mirror 
work - now have the *choice* whether to be defensive or not. And 
*if* not, then the situation is unlikely to be as confrontational as 
you presently think.

Bear in mind that Life is not just about cruising through infinite 
Jolliness. For an Hermeticist, difficult moments are superb 
opportunities to:

1. Test the effectiveness of your Soul Mirror work;

2. Identify additional aspects of your character that can be 
strengthened/positivised.

I say this to caution you against just "walking away" from the 
Confrontation. It will benefit you - and your Initiation - if you 
can stand in the midst of that unpleasantness and maintain your self-
control.

I hope it goes well for you both.

Cheers,

Jason Paris