The Serene Way

Tolerance, Acceptance & Understanding

The roles that we are ‘assigned’ by society are part of our cultural heritage and environmental experience, often thought of as patriarchal though, I have to admit that my upbringing was much more matriarchal in its construct. The major role of mother/grandmother in the family was much more dominant, from my perspective at least.

Through a cultural/historical evolution we have stereotyped specific attributes as masculine and feminine.

There is a teaching in Yoga that there are three major channels of energy, one central and balanced to which we strive and the other two on either side being sun and moon energy. It is here that I tend to shy away from the association of masculine-sun and moon-feminine and prefer to the description of active and reflective energy or character traits taken to that level. In this way we are no longer making unnecessary associations based on gender only the energetic aspects of personality, both are necessary for a balance to be achieved. One does not exist without the other. Our emotions can be associated with one of these energies, just like the magnetic field of the earth or a battery both are needed to complete the circle of energy, ebb and flow. When we place positive and negative in this instance there is perhaps only a slight thought of good and bad. Yet, when we use that in a description of traits then there is more of a judgement. They are neither, they must be in order to be complete and return to balance, only with one more dominant can anything be accomplished no matter what we call it, masculine/feminine, active/reflective, right/left (again we have an association with right being correct and left being associated with evil if raised in a particular religious environment). The sun energy is the active force and the moon the reflective or nurturing energy. Like the changing of the seasons we need both in order to manifest upon the physical plane we have to act, yet the act can only take place after the idea or thought has been brought to the conscious mind. Thus, the latter is the reflective energy of creation. Both in tandem give rise to the manifestation of anything within that which is All on a path to light.

© T.S. (Tim) White

All rights reserved 

Strengths can be measured as security or support.  

There are strengths of a financial nature which provide stability in the external world as society is currently structured the details of living in a consumerist society weighted to products, balance sheets and bottom lines – a necessity yet can create an impediment to furthering individual spiritual development.  

There are strengths of an emotional nature which provide sustenance for the soul which is at odds with the current social economic paradigm. Both are necessary, however current priority is given to cash flow status, which in effect imprison us within boundaries of an external nature. A balance needs to be achieved in order to function within the confines of our social structure.  

Our overall balance is usually found in another person and within an interpersonal relationship, like many other balances within our psyche. We seek out those that can compliment and balance our individual natures; it is through this process that we can learn to achieve that balance within our selves – the primary and driving objective as long as it is self-realized. 

It is very important that the intention with which either support is given is to be honest and true, if it is not; the vibration of that energy will pervade the situation. It would met with scepticism and distrust for the spirit of the offer or use of a particular strength would be lost. There is an emptiness to it as if it is given with a balance sheet in mind. Scales measuring the balance of something which should be offered in spirit has transformed into a commodity with a price. Can this then qualify as a strength, if another is made to feel weak or beholding to its use? 

In many relationships there is the ‘bread’ winner and the ‘bread’ maker. The financial stability of the household rest with the major ‘bread’ winner or money maker, should this balance be heavily weighted there is a tendency to return to 1950’s stereotypes. In this instance the ‘bread’ winner, feels entitled to put little energy into the emotional aspects of the household and in time sees little value in the ‘bread’ maker’s role. This reveals the power struggle in many relationships. I do this so you have to do that. Of course, the reverse can also be true where the ‘bread’ maker neglects the stability the ‘bread’ winner brings to the household. Neither extreme is conducive to the overall stability of the relationship. There is no difference in the value of either function; one does not exist without the other. None is totally independent.    

There is a wonderful story… 

 Though we may prepare (‘bread’ maker) the food we eat, it has been bought at a store which employs people to stock the shelves, clean the floors and cashiers to ring in the items and take the cash (‘bread’ winner). The food is delivered by trucks which have to be made by people from materials that are mined and refined. The vehicles need drivers, brokers, dispatchers and fuel, which comes from oil well which have other people to build the well to take it to the refinery then to the depot for distribution to the gas stations. The produce has to be taken to market (more vehicles) which is sold by more people. It is from the farmer that the produce is sown in the ground and with the minerals in the ground grows with sun, water and air… 

We are all (inter)dependent on much whether for physical existence or spiritual development. There is value in each part of the equation for without one the whole cannot remain intact. None has greater value for both are important to create with strength the sum of the parts. This is true whether in a relationship or in a business environment, pedestals and hierarchy are creations for the continued power struggle and relates directly to the ‘bread’ winner and ‘bread’ maker analogy. 

When we offer our strength freely; with generosity and for the benefit of the greater picture, then the spirit in which it can be received can manifest great love and generate spiritual development, emotional and financial stability. When one uses their strengths to best effect, they are given freely and we raise our vibration to a level which gives us great joy and leads us further on the path to light.

© T.S. (Tim) White, 2007  All rights reserved