Free as a Butterfly.

Image created with words of this text by the author and Midjourney AI ©CatyHartung

Spiritual Teachers sometimes talk about “taming the mind,” meaning we calm down our all-over-the-place sensations, thoughts, and feelings with skillful means. It’s like calming a wild animal in a cage, observing and feeding it regularly — here with meditation and similar tools. As one recognizes that all thoughts and feelings are impermanent, immediate reactions become futile. It is an enriching and practical insight. The result is a calm, kind, and well-adjusted mind that can, over time, no longer be triggered. This might work for some lifetimes; however, it’s essential to be cautious: if too much raw and unaware material is hidden inside, the ‘dragon’ (our fears, traumas, and unresolved issues) might one day burst out of the cage.

In mindfulness, we get to know ourselves by behaving slowly differently. We use everyday life situations to fine-tune our reactions and patterns. We become attentive and aware. Without a good teacher who confronts the ego and points out, the result is good, but one easily stays self-focused.

What if we understood the mind in all its facets? Yes, also our shadows. Learned the means to be compassionate and well-balanced and, at the same time, looked actively at our fears, passions, and detours to master the challenges. Not to behave adequately to the situation but empowered with a free mind that can see the full 360 degrees.

How would our world look if we used the inherent power and rode the dragon elegantly and joyfully while feeling as free as a butterfly?

Champagne for the Mind #70 — February 22, 2024 (published first on medium.com)