By Lujan Matus
This is a very complex subject so I have introduced a Taoist perspective and a general and his first commander to try to portray something that is so deeply complex.
The Art of War
From a Taoist perspective, alignment through cooperation is key. A Taoist master once told a story of how energy plays a crucial part in conquering an enemy. He spoke of a famous general who was to go to battle.
As they were preparing for the conflict to come, he had noticed within his ranks covert dissent towards his authority. He observed subtle eye gestures, minute tones, that revealed his cohort did not favor him as a human being.
The general quickly seized upon the circumstance and said to his right hand commander that if we go to battle with any form of conflict, in terms of negative energy between us, it will bring grave danger to us all.
“I have noticed your disposition. I am left now with a very difficult decision. If I leave you here to defend my lands and the family of my warriors including my own, the background of my being will be held within stasis, knowing that my greatest wealth, in terms of the bonds of comradely to the warriors that accompany me in this impending battle of power, will be weakened via your intentions.
“Will you avoid being slain because of this and allow the one’s that I care for to be taken in my place – whether it is intentionally or not?
“The energetic precedence is set. Thus I could leave a great part of myself behind, watching what I have left in terms of my unsettled energy towards your intentions.
“So not only is it a blow to my chi but also to the collective power of my warrior’s families.”
The Taoist master paused and continued. He said there are many consequences that exist in the old world that still apply to the new.
As the general was portraying his dilemma to his cohort he said,”now knowing what I know if I take you into battle with me, our village will be safer but the consequence of your presence beside me will not only weaken me but the dissent of your intentions will indicate to my enemies that my field is not complete and my troops are not aligned via this process.”
The Taoist master explained that what is meant by this is that if the general, when engaged in combat with his first blows, if he has the complete support of everyone behind him, his first strike will deliver a powerful impact – not only knocking one person from their center – but up to thirty or forty men will be weakened through his delivery of power and this happens via collective insight. It is an unwavering knowing.
Therefore if the enemy is stronger within their alliance, the general consequently could be struck and injured irreversibly via the energetic weakness of not doing what needed to be done in terms of keeping his power whole, and many of his warriors will fall energetically and may not recover because of this.
So then the general said, “I cannot leave you, nor can you accompany me. For you may bring misfortune.”
He asked then, “where do you reside within?”
As this statement of power was delivered to the general’s right-hand man, there was no recourse for him but to align his energy in accordance with his circumstances, for he realized, at that point that he had put himself in grave danger after being presented with such a dilemma by his general. He quickly internally realigned, realizing all the consequences towards his own being were being reflected in the general’s words towards a truth that gave light to his own personal inevitability as a true mirror to the consequences of what was never spoken, yet so plainly seen.
I’ve been very attracted to the Tao te ching and The Art of War lately, which brought me to this lovely post. Thanks for the distilled information that is key: alignment through cooperation. This info is very much needed, as is the application of compromise during any activity that weakens certainty and creates vulnerability. I love this post and the wisdom herein. It’s a lovely sign to continue also to follow the inclination to peruse the wisdom contained within the Tao te ching & Art of War <3
wow – A beautiful post! Much needed 🙂 Thanks Lujan xo
The storm I felt was completely self-created, and until I accepted that I was holding onto a false premise- being right- I could not see where the turmoil had originated. The layers of justification just kept coming and coming.
I used Lujan’s words from Whisperings of the Dragon, about when one’s heart breaks to be lovingly there for others despite the pain and the storm within. This helped me to return to observe myself.
While I often wish that my fortitude could be grown in somewhat gentler circumstances instead of the old hammer and anvil situations, I get what I need and that’s all there is to it.
And now, to wait for the bubbles to pop.
Agreed Mark and Luma. I allowed myself to be destabilized last week by my own frustrations and anger and by my acting out it circled wider to impact others who should not have been. Such damage is like the crows released that can never be recaptured. While I apologized then and apologize now to all affected who may not even realize it, I cannot undo what was done.
Our responsibility to own and contain our own issues is an integral part of supporting our communal effort to freedom. The many opportunities to be destabilized and drawn off point, and the fortitude required to avoid them have never been clearer to me. I aim for the silence.
Yes, the dividing root of feeling apart.
I’ve been observing my anger this past week. As much as I’d like to feel justified to rage towards the lack of integrity in the actions of others, it weakens me so much I am left exhausted, and my heart, as my general, asks, “Where do you reside within?”
The ‘enemy’ hides behind the actions of others, and it is only an enemy when I allow it to destabilize my silence. When I stand, unwavering, with my heart I am reminded of my strength. And so my enemy dissolves and becomes a gift within the moment for I return to my true place: within the silence.
Lots of love, Luma
cool how the enemies are reflected in the sword.
i understand now that we are all responsible in this battle against the forces and laws we are trying to escape.
and that these responsibilities extend to how we think of and treat each other as well as the Nagual we are fortunate enough to be aligned with.
I was reading this. When I got to this part: “Therefore if the enemy is stronger within their alliance.” It had originally said: “Therefore if the enemy is stronger within their silence.” But then as I was reading the word silence it transformed into alliance. Then after that I felt something that was connected to my energy say you can’t let go of that, and it felt like someone’s energy left me. I know that sometimes when I read your emails I connect to this energy but it has felt like I have been blocked from it, like the energy begins to move and someone stops it. I’ve also had this word changing thing happen with other things recently. I like will read something and one of the words will change on me.
That’s interesting Melissa. I had a book I read many years ago, “Chaos” by James Gleick, a summary of chaos/fractal mathematics. The final chapter or summary was mindblowing, life changing. Then I read it again more recently, only to find that the final chapter was completely, utterly different. How wonderful! If somewhat confusing as well. Perhaps I slipped into a parallel reality, or that particular copy of the book slipped into mine, or maybe only my reading consciousness did so.
Yes Edward. Very interesting.
This really helped me find stillness after reading this morning. I wasn’t feeling well and realized my body was telling me to remember to listen closer and I ended up getting some work done recalling this connection. Thank you for the reminder lujan, all parts working together as a supportive harmonious system.
A new post on an ancient teaching. I Embrace this opportunity to be a participant on this blog site. Seeing in a perspective to be aware of subtle information which informs me when I am out of alignment with circumstances and people, will propel me into moving in a directional choice. Do I align with that which comprises
my integrity or go into a direction unknown and unfamiliar. The learning curve has been difficult by giving away
my power. My former mentor referred to us as “Spirit Warriors”.
As I read the 10th edition of The Art Of Stalking Parallel Perception, at first I was astonishing that I was
Writing to a friend saying a lot of the same words. Of course, That’s why this web site was recommended to
me. To align with those who support each other’s paths.
Pat H
The synchronicity of the timing of this post is wonderful fortunitous for my present circumstance . Thank you Lujan.
Thanks Lujan! I feel I will have to read this several times before it starts to reveal it’s sense to me – but I can feel it’s import in my energy body already.