Let’s try this again. You are a wave on the ocean of Being. Its essential mystery is rising into manifestation as you in this very moment. As it rises and becomes conscious in you, what you see looking around is a vast web of participation among countless other waves. By the principle of manifestation, theContinue reading “One Way or Another”
Author Archives: tractsofrevolution
Human Natures
In the illustration on the right, three squares are labeled Body, Soul, and Spirit. Together and holistically these three elements constitute a human being’s essential nature: An animal biology (Body), an inner presence (Soul), and an impetus toward transcendence and self-actualization (Spirit). Body and Soul are united in the taijitu symbol of Taoism, representing theirContinue reading “Human Natures”
A Post-Theistic Theology
Behind the multiplicity of personality profiles that make up the expansive catalog of gods across the traditions of theism, we find four – more than mere attributes, so let’s name them principles, that serve as its architectural framework. These four principles are not always apparent in every deity, particularly in those that function more asContinue reading “A Post-Theistic Theology”
The Two Centers
Individuals of the age 17-24 are at a time in their development when the general task of their Hero’s Journey turns on the challenge of charting a path into a future of freedom, purpose, and meaning. Through childhood they had lived under a regime of taller powers (parents, teachers, coaches) who guided their steps andContinue reading “The Two Centers”
Words and Reality
Along the winding road of my career – first as a pastoral counselor, then as a community counselor, and now as a career counselor working with college students – I have developed a particular skill of deep listening that I call “listening in.” Of course, counselors of all types need to listen to their clients,Continue reading “Words and Reality”
A Storyline of Faith
It’s always presumptuous and frequently dangerous to assume that your experience, perspective, and path in life constitute a norm against which that of others might be meaningfully compared. Not long ago, thinking in terms of types and standards of normalcy was widely used as a method for understanding ourselves and each other. Nowadays, however, theContinue reading “A Storyline of Faith”
Under the Hat
According to the worldwide spiritual wisdom tradition known as the Perennial Philosophy or Sophia Perennis, the one thing each of us must realize is that we are not who we think we are. Who is a term attaching to a personal identity, which is all about playing a role on the social performance stage. TheContinue reading “Under the Hat”
Seeing the Truth
When you were just an infant, your experience was, in the words of William James, a “blooming, buzzing confusion.” You had no language and hence no discrete categories of thought to label, classify, and organize your perceptions. Everything just swirled around you, bombarding your senses from every side. It was fascinating – and frequently overwhelming.Continue reading “Seeing the Truth”
Working on Ourselves
When it comes to understanding ourselves, humans tend to be a fairly confused species. This is not to say that other species really understand themselves, either. It’s likely our evolved talent for self-conscious reflection and contemplation that makes understanding ourselves even possible, as well as what’s behind our confusion – and a lot of ourContinue reading “Working on Ourselves”
The Path Through College
It is common for college students to envision their career as something that’s ahead of them, as the anticipated next step after graduation. As they make progress on their degree plan, many are secretly hoping that their credential will open the door to a job that pays well and doesn’t suck. A significant number ofContinue reading “The Path Through College”
Tracts of Revolution 