Finding My Way ...

Howdy all,

I heard recently from a friend that I'm displaying a pattern of "philosophical density" in waves ... on ... off ... on ... off ... and so forth. The comment was preceded by an acknowlegement, correctly stated, that my tendency can be to become entralled with an idea and pursue it almost obsessively, yet in doing so leaving some folks behind as I've left behind what seems to be the basic form I speak from. Yet this is only true on the surface.

Yes it is true that I am entralled with certain ideas and pursue them almost obsessively, but always from within the frame of the basics ... which for me remain fully grounded in the embodied sense of self.

The basics are essential to build upon, as the entire structure of what I've come to call the MythoSelf(tm) Process rests solidly on this foundation. What has occured most recently for me - oh, maybe six or eight months in coming, has been the remarkable clarity I perceive within the model in regard to this foundation. In it's simplest form ...

The essence of all experienc is somatic.

Yet that is a false statement standing on its own. I'd have to state clearly what I mean by somatic, which as I use the word refers to the entire physical organism and how it's formed in the moment of the experience being referenced. This, using the language I prefer, is the ontological ground of the individual, i.e.: the entirety of their physicality including the entire neural network though which they perceive and process sensation and thought.

This later part the processing of sensation and thought gives rise to a semantic form. This form, the semantic, gives rise to what the individual perceives something (an event, an object, an idea ...) means. Yet of course this meaning is applied to that thing by them. This is a subjective process built on the intersubjective experience that contains the individual and forms their subjective stance or perceptions.

As I'm using it the semantic form is any way of representing the experince and/or expressing it that is not the actual somatic representation of the experience itself, even another somatic represenation of it. So the semantic form could be the words used to describe an experience, or abstract symbols used to represent the experience, or a model, vocalization, movement ... whatever have you that is intended to represent the experience.

One of the most powerful aspects of the semantic form is the ability to represent an experience that hasn't yet happened. This can be fed back to the system in a way that generates the somatic response that is perfectly matched to the created semantic form of the experience that hasn't happened yet. This feedback has the effect of generating the somatic form as though the experience was in fact experienced already regardless of the reality of it happening or not.

The semantic form establishes the meaning of things for an individual giving rise to their subjective perceptions and beyond that what they think things mean - as well as generating a reference in the somatic form in reference to the semantic form.

Now if you'll go back you'll see I've already stated that this occurs on the ground of the somatic form the individual holds - the ontological ground - the essence of their being in the world. However, consciously they attach as much weight of "being" to the secondary semantic form of perception and meaning - "thinking" that is ...

So here are the "philosophically dense" basics ... somatic and semantic form ... the technology I call "Soma-Semantic(tm) Modeling" and what the Mythogenic Self(tm) Process rests upon.

Yet there is more that is much, much simpler when it's experienced and not described. Words can indeed generate experience or be used to describe as I have above. However the true essence of the Mythogenic Self(tm) Process is the experience of it NOT the description of it. Regardless of my penchant at times to write like an academic the experience of the Mythogenic Self(tm) Process has very little to do with intellectualizing it. It must be embodied to be experienced.

The audiocasts at http://mythoself.blogspot.com come much, much closer to capturing this essence of the experience. The verbalization of the form brings it much closer to being present for the listerner than these words do the reader. What I know from experience though is that the reader once acquainted with the actual experience often has the sense of the form of the experience revivified from reading these words - as is true of all words these are just reminders and pointers towards the actual experience to be had or had already.

The magic of the interweaving between the somatic and the semantic forms is the exquisite referencing of direct experience that emerging from their entanglement - the "mythic form."

Within this model I've found myself committed to for so long now I've realized that the mythic form is sacred, not just to me but to humanity (IMO). This is the message and the gift of Joseph Campbell ... the transport to the sacred sphere of myth in the hands of a masterful guide. Joseph is the ferryman of Myth and willingly crosses the threshold beyond belief for all those will to journey with him.

Next we meet I'll do my best to honor the late, great Professor Campbell and use some of his flare in retelling this story beyond description, beyond belief and into the sacred body direct.

Best regards,

Joseph

PS - My teleseminar "Beyond Belief ...(tm)" - A Journey into the MythoSelf(tm) Process is happening this week on Thursday the 27th at 2:00 PM and again at 7:00 PM EST (that 14:00 and 19:00 -5 GMT). It's absolutely free but the lines are limited if you are interested get registered ASAP as we are almost fully booked for both time slots ... get yourself in before there's no more room. Looking forward to having you there ...

Get the information and register for the teleseminar at: http://www.beyondnlp.com/mythoexperience.com