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Motivations

There comes a time when we need to act, share our voice, quit ruminating, and say “Fuck it”. This is where I stand. This is my primary motivation for publishing anything found within this blog. The attachment to the concept of “Involutions” is born from my personal trajectory and pursuit of self-knowledge. It embodies the notion that the path toward self-actualization is one in which the individual must go inward and gradually develop an increased awareness of their nature and, as a result, discover a conviction to their own path and purpose in life. There are countless examples of this from various disciplines over time. Every spiritual tradition heralds this quest in one form or another. Humanistic Psychologists like Maslow have pointed to our innate ability to transcend mundane existence into a way of being that is a more vivid expression of human potential and joy. Philosophers have sought to illuminate the varied steps toward living an ethical and morally superior life. Mythologists like Joseph Campbell have even developed frameworks for pursuing the ever-deepening bedrock of knowledge of self and expounded on the implications of what is on offer for the populace as a result of accomplishing such a goal. I’ve been drawn to the image of the involuted spiral as a metaphorical representation of the journey toward self-realization or transcendence from an early age. A traversal from the outside of the spiral to the inside (self-inquiry and discovery) and the inverse movement from the center back to the starting point (self-transcendence and radiance of expression).

Upon further exploration you will find a range of offerings; blog posts with current thoughts and reflections, posts consisting of personal journal entries and poetry, some of those selections ranging back nearly two decades that will at times undoubtedly read as sophomoric and/or naïve. You’ll find media recommendations, quotes that have inspired me, and additional elements as time goes on. There is also an intention to include a selection of short stories in the future. I intend to stay anonymous and, as such, names of persons mentioned will likely be pseudonyms.

I’ve wrestled with the notion of publishing my most intimate reflections for others to consume. My intention is not to aggrandize my life or to congratulate myself publicly. Far from it. I recognize that there are lessons that I have learned (and have yet to learn) that will be reflected in the writings and ultimately, I leave it up to the discerning reader to parse and use the content as they see fit.

Fair warning – there will be mention of spirituality, often presented in a way that is not secular. An inordinate amount of my life thus far has been spent on a spiritual path under the tutelage of a teacher who espoused the old-world virtues of the Yogic Guru/Disciple relationship. Despite my severance of that relationship, I believe the wisdom gleaned from that journey can be of use regardless of one’s worldview or system of beliefs. Any archival journaling that finds its way onto the site will have minimal edits made, namely for grammatical accuracy, formatting purposes, and for the sake of anonymity. This means that there will be posts in which my writing will have a rhetorical tone and presuppose metaphysical notions as axiomatic truths. Realistically, I am still searching for truth and my notions of what that word means continue to evolve over time.

I encourage you to read on with an open mind. If you disagree with something take the time to reflect on why that’s the case and how your difference of opinion regarding a certain topic shows up in your own life and influences the way you show up in the world. Conversely, if something resonates with you or rings true, consider those personal implications, as well.

Thank you for your time and energy.

~ Humanis

Thanksgiving 2024 – Eulogistic Revery and Mushroom Tea [11.28.2024]

Going into the holiday I found myself sad. Sad at the realization that there weren’t any invitations to attend gatherings (save for one) coming my way. The contrast and contradiction of this melancholy is comical given that I wasn’t inclined to attend anything and had my sights set on a quiet day in an empty house. I stirred and went on a mellow bike ride staying primarily on paths. During the ride I visited areas close to people who may be available, a gesture of impersonal interaction and a good sign that I was craving connection. 

I then went to Fort Lewis and biked around the empty campus stopping to spread a vial of my mother’s ashes in the four directions with acknowledgements to the eternal and the physical. I approached this half-baked ritual almost as a totemic means to give myself permission to attend the college, seemingly the act was a sad self-negation, one of deference to a historical narrative I have allowed myself to be controlled by for most of my life. Despite my mother’s acquiescence to death,I continue to chain myself to the conditioning she bestowed upon me. It’s like donning an illusory garment which, when worn for a long enough period of time, becomes a heavy drapery of affect and perception veiling reality, which inherently is burden free. During the “ritual” I found myself weakly hoping that someone was observing me. My mind fell into a narrative around the casual implications being witnessed could have on potential future interactions; I was desperate to effect a hypothetical public perception of myself in some non-existent future. The exercise was 75% vanity and 25% bumbling intention. The chains I’ve chosen to drag are a great example of how codependency lingers even after the other party is dead. 

From the college I rode to the cemetery where I meditated at the grave of a deceased spiritual teacher. I asked for support in seeing the underlying magical condition of reality again, said that you, and again hoped someone might notice the “noble” act I was engaged in. A sense of self-sacrificial pride and indolent piety surged through me as I rode out of the cemetery. While these acts are in line with who I believe myself to be, the quality of resoluteness and intentionality were extremely wanting. Perhaps the purpose and value of these ceremonious activities lies in this chance for reflection…

From there I headed home. I made dinner, connected with some people I care about, and then got the notion to make tea from the three year old bag of dried mushrooms I had been toting around and repetitively forgetting. The dosage was probably 3.5 – 4 grams and I was unsure of the potency given the age of the mushrooms. I made two cups and drank them with a 3rd cup on reserve, to be consumed 1 – 1.5 hours later (which I later chose to pour out). I can confidently say that I underestimated the power of the old mushrooms. I was swallowed into the experience… most of which is fragmented and foggy at best. I laughed, cried, and physically expressed myself in unique ways that provided a sense of voice and freedom of agency. I circled around the notion of how to fix my intrapsychic disdain and kept pulling myself out of sophomoric circular reasoning to land (again and again) at the need to think less and act more. To focus on the inflection point directly before action to assess the skillfulness and then to decisively step through the threshold. The irony of this inquiry is that I had to come back to the statement “ACT” by way of wrestling my attention away from dithering pontification no fewer than five times. Oi vey…

I spent time considering how “Nick Rebar”  does not matter. How the energy spent ruminating over who I am and how the implications of past, present, and future actions will impact a reputation (or public perception of me) is wholly foolish. It occurs to me that once again I approach life from a place of subservient deference, giving my power and sovereignty away at the drop of a hat. The wasted mental and emotional energy I expend worrying about how the world perceives the moniker and symbol that is “Nick Rebar” seems to be a subtle manifestation of the baggage I’ve carried as a result of my childhood and ultimately represents an exhibition of my lack of skill in validating myself by internal means, a concept I would assume I would be better versed in given my time spent in solitude, personal amusement, and exploration as a child. Coping mechanisms employed in opposition to the environment of neglect I was raised in. It occured to me that ultimately, what I do and the impact my actions have on others is all that matters, there is no fruit in the mental activity of curating and speculating about the ethereal manipulation of the world’s perception of me. Of course there is credence in honing the ways I relate to myself, in honing my mechanism of being, but often what is right in a given situation is glaring. The issue is that choosing what is right is usually the harder choice, despite the suffering choosing the alternative path so often causes. Find the truth in the inflection point, act on that, repeat. 

Lastly, I took time to look at the photo of my mother and I when she was lucid (sober) and recovering from her hip injury. While there is a sense of love in the photo two things struck me as I gazed upon the image. One was the sense that there was a vampiric element in the scene. The capturing of my mother’s joy and my physical affection seemed to signify a vacuous need. My love in her state of desperation and frailty seemed to give her permission to be joyful, a never ending cycle that had been present many times throughout our history, though with less presence and lucidity from both of us. I was also struck by the photo’s appearance. It looked fake. Like the scene itself was a holographic manifestation of a reality that never really was. It seemed to represent a tableau of my own regret, a solitary moment encapsulating a reality that never came to be, a perverse reminder of my inability to fix her and our dynamic. I have prided myself on what the photo represented and yet – to some degree – it has existed as a totem of my shame, a totem which would give me momentary feelings of pride while subtly reminding me of my own failings. 

Despite the conventional advice to avoid looking in the mirror during the peak of a psychedelic experience, I also did that…. But, that’s a story for another time. 

Freewriting [8.12.2022]

Let’s see… What has been on my mind lately? I’ve felt a bit of tension around trying to break out of old habits to inhabit a new mode of living in/relating to the world.

I notice that my internal desire and push toward being more active and social is exactly what I need at this moment… and yet, there is resistance. A resistance emotionally and mentally, a type of wavering, that will go from empowered and determined to be seen and part of the world to a place of personality shrinking and a fear of being seen. Given my struggles to be socially engaged over the last couple of years, I intellectually understand that this friction between these polarities is to be expected and is, in fact, a struggle that is necessary if I’m to overcome the maladaptive behavior. I can’t help but feel discouraged when the fear presents itself, the chest tightens, and I shrink. Patience and perseverance are called for, I know. The somatic and mental resistance presents a hard challenge. The same goes for physical activity. I know that to surmount the stiffness and lack of motivation and to stay proactive to avoid falling into depression again, I must be active.

Other reflections – There is definitely grief still inside of me with the dissolution of my relationship with my ex. There is a feeling of wanting time to speed up so that we can embrace a friendship and be comfortable in one another’s lives… and yet I want to be exactly where I am now without time passing too quickly. It’s a bit of an “emotional cake and eat it too” scenario, I suppose. I love her still but it continues to be clear to me that we were misaligned, and despite our best efforts this outcome was likely inevitable.

I find myself delving into distraction… be that frequenting a Cafe where a cute and (clearly unstable) girl visits – at the prospect of intimate engagement – or the micro-binges of Netflix. I’m accomplishing a lot and doing more for my future and myself than I have done in years, so holding myself gently and with compassion as I reconfigure my habits and lifestyle is necessary. The inner “taskmaster” keeps making an appearance to offer some useless shame for me to (often) embrace.

I am feeling optimistic about going back to school and have made a concerted effort to handle all of the logistics in an intentional and organized way. I’m embracing my “25 pages a day for a year” challenge and the progress I’ve made is definitely empowering. I worry that I will struggle to hold the added lifestyle pieces together in a sustainable way… But hey it’s time to try!

Trip to Intensive Retreat [9.5.18]

Here I am waiting for my connecting flight in Denver, CO. On my way to my hometown and another month on my teacher’s property. Several people have asked me if I am stressed or excited, but I feel somewhat indifferent. There is a general neutrality in regard to the trip, and any sense of novelty or nostalgia is absent. I know that this month ought to be exciting or provoke some emotion, but despite the implications, all I can do is push forward. It’s important I remain unattached to the outcome and focus on dedicating myself completely to the work while analyzing how the environment is affecting me. Should be exciting, right?? I suppose there is a slight tension in the chest. A minor anxiety, but I have to focus on the work and make strides to better myself in the joyous environment.

I still get a kick from traveling, but I realize part of the joy is from the anonymity and ego. I feel like a rogue vagabond while traveling, without a clear identity or history, a specter free to accentuate that in public and keep people guessing… like I said, there’s some ego involved. I do feel generally confident, though. The wind has been steady, and those directional drafts arent for no reason. Here’s to the future!! Cheers! (Holds a coffee cup up).

Thoughtless Clarity//Counsel from the Soul [9.1.2018]

There is a phenomenon that can manifest during discussions, in which the ego is quieted and the mind falls silent, from this timeless place springs vivid truth, and genuine compassion. The person’s troubles don’t energetically attach, yet a deep sympathy and multi-vantaged perspective takes the forefront. One of truth. Crystalline yet so simple and unattached. From this place, the cathedral of the soul, the sermon transmits. With no agenda or high-minded ideal of spiritual purification or intention to remedy the other party’s woes. Just a strong kindness and openness. Despite the lack of intention to fix the problem, the wisdom, honesty, and truth transmitted ends up having a lasting effect… Or at the very least has a better chance to penetrate and inspire the participant as a result. This state also occurs when there are no woes to fix. The light seeks refuge in all temperaments.

Nurturing the Light [8.29.2018]

Darkness. Alluring. Subtle, yet insatiable. The momentum builds and can often appear to be the easiest to submit to. The light builds and reinforces as the darkness seeks to supplant the movement of growth. Often the simplest decision can change the course of a day. That day changes the week, changes the month, changes the character.

Exposure to the darkness seems inevitable and necessary, in fact. The polarity and subtleties of its effects need to be explored, and at times, endured in order for the salience of direction and intention to take root. I have felt a depth of darkness and despair, vivid and seemingly invulnerable to defeat. A darkness so consuming the state became normal and didn’t carry an overtly negative mental conception any more. That depth, in retrospect, was a necessary trial. The break in the half-decade storm was sudden. The light shone through in a sterling moment of clarity. An insurgence of self-worth, self-love, and self-respect, was accentuated by a spontaneous oath to myself, for myself. I chose to be happy, vowed to never mute my self-expression, and swore to embrace love. This was the initial step out of the darkness. The work and commitment endure to this day. The darkness beckons yet, but as I observe that grappling for influence and temporary relief or indulgence, the transience of the movement is clarified, and the lasting effect of the light in its ever-developing presence, steadily becomes the only logical influence to embrace.

Rigidity and Austerity [8.28.2018]

In my limited experience on a spiritual path, these notions have been a source of both progress and stagnation. The initial acquaintance with aspects of the “higher self” and the self-perpetuating aspiration for union with the universal source can lead one to feel compelled to be better and “purer” that their current state. This realization and compulsion to strive is initially paramount to the aspirant’s progress and should be regarded as such. However, through my experience, I have found a mental attachment to purification and reinvention to be, at times, a generator of shame and grief, guilt, and the diminishment of self-esteem and self-love. The quest toward a deeper understanding of your higher self and the supreme love conflicts boldly with this self-flagellation. This issue is a complicated one to comment on because, on one hand, I know this advice to be true, on the other hand, I feel enduring the throes of that self-degradation and relentless mental anguish was a necessary experience leading me toward the softening state in which I now dwell. A state in which the mental coarseness of an ideal me is generally overshadowed by a joy and acceptance of my shortcomings. This way of approaching personal growth has been a godsend, as my level of mental struggle has begun to fade. As a result, the transformations toward purity, or in favor of it, come of their own accord, from a gestation undisturbed by the stormwinds of the mind.

All is God 8.24.2018

I often wrestle with this intention for a deeper perception of the universal, ever-present. There is a deep urge within me to see all as God. To have some inkling of the scope in which the Divine’s dynamism is at work. I have experienced numerous flashes of this, brief moments of sublime synchronicity and beauty, only to have them sifted away by the intellectual urge to probe into that experience and solidify it.

Upon returning from an intensive retreat on my teacher’s property in June of 2018 I felt a lasting strength and joy. There was an outpouring of love to each person I passed, a transient acknowledgment of the ever-present beauty within each person, and a deep sense of belonging and peace. I realize now that that experience was but a fraction of the true depth of bliss and balance this work will bring about. I’ve begun to crave the realization of a deeper unity and the subsequent sense of purpose that will enact. I seek the homecoming and can see now that it is attainable. Perhaps in future writings, I will have come to the integrated realization that all is indeed God, but for now, I will maintain stride and surrender to the itinerary that illusive God has set before me.

Determination/Action out of Necessity January 2019

This is the first entry I’ve made since my hasty departure from PDX. Fate/God has an interesting sense of humor. I felt an urgency and immediacy toward action that I haven’t felt in some time… a push toward accomplishment by any means necessary. Despite the financial mishap and any potential stigma of failure that might accompany it, I feel as though this transition is one that is/was needed. The laxity and inappropriate/irresponsible Bohemian lifestyle I had adopted wasn’t sustainable in the long term.

Between depending on the kindness of friends/family, adopting three jobs, and facing the intensity of this winter my character and the caliber of my resolve to overcome my situation and rise above it, have become paramount. I feel uneasy and blessed simultaneously. On one hand, I know this is all happening for a reason, on the other hand, I feel it’s impossible for me to take a breath and fully relax until I move into a place of self-sufficiency and upward growth. The hammer continues to strike the anvil and the shape and quality of the blade is uncertain yet, but what I do know is that my best effort is the requisite now, and with patience and slight modulation, the blade has the potential to cut through the eternal.

Forward, never backward from this day forward.

Losing Faith/Questioning that which has been taken as fact without proper criticism –

I’m not sure how to broach this subject… but I find (increasingly) that my conceptions about the esoteric nature of reality and my own personal cosmology are of a narrow perspective. Potentially one that I’ve never actually questioned properly. I do feel resonance with specific ideals and beliefs that I’ve formed since the age of 16 when I first met my teacher. Call it (if you’d like) an undisclosed Agnosticism. I now see the error in my extreme distaste for the specific string of Buddhism I encountered in India. I remember revolting from the Dogma and rigidity of the lesson we experienced during the silent retreat only to, nearly a decade later, see that my own faith in Sri Aurobindo’s cosmology has been equally rigid and stifling. This is certainly true in so far as my unwillingness to question or deeply analyze any of the beliefs I held dearly. The beliefs I espoused as axiomatic.

I realize this scrawling is hardly organized or concise. The truth is, I’m still working through these revelations. Ideally, I will spend enough time contemplating this to gain a depth of perspective that will allow me to formulate a practice and spiritual discipline that isn’t predicated on elitism and an US vs. Them mentality, or some other subtly restrictive maxim. I hope to not experience a deep sense of loss or revolt as a byproduct of the unraveling of the Gordian knot of my own spiritual conditioning, which for better or worse I have accepted as the ultimate truth somewhere along the way.

Pushing and Tracking Vs. Feeling without Tracking [6.25.2017]

This table is a loose subjective comparison taking a look at the qualities experienced in meditation when there is effort or (pushing) and intellectualization of progress or (Tracking) vs. simply feeling without the need to label.

No TrackingPushing/Tracking
Calm/Stillness
Wideness
Lack of a need for direction or Proof of progress
Lightness
Reduced tension
Descension
Some ascension
Acceptance
Receptivity
Minimal vibrational Resistance
Peacefulness
Control
Heat
Assurance of progress
Shaking
Straining
Pain
Vibrational resistance
lLghtness
Ascending force
Tension
Purity
Freedom
Silence
Rajasic: Efforting
Tamasic: Need for reassurance and desire to feel like the work is validated
Tension
Heart rate increase
Partial surrender to the current state of being.
Wideness
Ease of the Quieting of the Mind,
No expectations,
Minimal physical tension,
peace,
acceptance.
Need for progress,
Purifying warmth,
Rajasic traits,
Lack of complete surrender/conceptual or intellectualized surrender.