One of my favorite parts of these daily contemplations is starting with the title, reading only that, then putting the text down and sitting with only the title for several minutes. So, after reading today’s title…
*shakes fist at monitor* “Tell that to the underprivileged, and marginalized, Mr. Holiday!” Grrr.
After my initial reaction, usually as self-entertaining and righteous as the one above, I read the remainder of the daily entry. Metaphor unpacked, I now see the title’s relevance to the month’s practice-theme, awareness, and the Stoic objective, mastery over desire.
*shakes fist at monitor* “Tell that to the underprivileged, and marginalized, Mr. Holiday!” Grrr.
After my initial reaction, usually as self-entertaining and righteous as the one above, I read the remainder of the daily entry. Metaphor unpacked, I now see the title’s relevance to the month’s practice-theme, awareness, and the Stoic objective, mastery over desire.
... freedom isn’t secured by filling up on your heart’s desire, but by removing your desire.”
(Epictetus, Discourses, 4.1.175)
It’s not about getting everything we want. It’s wanting everything we have. From where I’m sitting, it would appear one path to be naturally occurring, while the other in much need of “landscaping”.
Reframing what is desired is how we get to the point of wanting what we have… in other words, contentment in the now. Specifically, the “now” that we have control over. Ourselves.
I asked myself, “what wealth cannot be taken by outside forces?” That is the “free” wealth Holiday is talking about in the title. What freedom isn’t contingent on circumstances beyond our control? That’s really the only “freedom” that’s truly free.
Unburdening ourselves from desire’s trap IS the practice; however, we’re so hell-bent on staying attached to the pseudoreality of societal wealth and freedom, we think we only have to unburden ourselves once (myself definitely included). Liberation, like magick, is a process… not a thing. It’s a lot of ongoing hard work, blood, struggle, loneliness, and strength born from our own individual journeys, complete with humble aspirations, gracious successes, and resilient failures.
Like liberation, and magick, the unburdening practice is ultimately our own individual responsibility.
(See y'all tomorrow)
Reframing what is desired is how we get to the point of wanting what we have… in other words, contentment in the now. Specifically, the “now” that we have control over. Ourselves.
I asked myself, “what wealth cannot be taken by outside forces?” That is the “free” wealth Holiday is talking about in the title. What freedom isn’t contingent on circumstances beyond our control? That’s really the only “freedom” that’s truly free.
Unburdening ourselves from desire’s trap IS the practice; however, we’re so hell-bent on staying attached to the pseudoreality of societal wealth and freedom, we think we only have to unburden ourselves once (myself definitely included). Liberation, like magick, is a process… not a thing. It’s a lot of ongoing hard work, blood, struggle, loneliness, and strength born from our own individual journeys, complete with humble aspirations, gracious successes, and resilient failures.
Like liberation, and magick, the unburdening practice is ultimately our own individual responsibility.
(See y'all tomorrow)
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