existential angst

On www.formlessmountain.com there's a cool artistic page on levels/waves/stages of development in relation to SDi

On consulting the yellow wave details and its new pitfalls I read:

In Yellow there can arrise a kind of existential angst as one views the landscape of multi-level conflicts across the globe. Aborted self-actualization. Struggles with higher orders of complex solutions. Impatience with polarized first tier views. …

I would love to have some feedback on that issue. Who can report on that feeling and what do you do to owercome this senations of existential angst?

Diana

Re: existential angst

wow! thanks for reminding me this and bringing this up! btw, i love formlessmountain too. it rocks!

this is a good question. maybe that's why Zaadz has Patience 77%. in my case it's more like 50% on a good day, and 15% on a really bad day.

i found that blogging/journaling really relieves this existential angst. that's why i continue to blog my Existential Memoir. i highly recommend doing this to all who are brave enough to dig deep into their so-called second-tiery guises.

another coping mechanism for me is playing the blues. yep. paradoxically, playing the blues takes the blues away.

and another is to take pictures. lots of pictures. this way, i get to appreciate beauty and practice witnessing at the same time.

i would love to hear from others as well how they cope up with their existential angst.

Re: existential angst

I do the same playing guitar.  If I'm humming with uncomfortable energy (I don't know how else to describe it – I believe it's angst), I pick up my guitar and futz away until I calm down.  I've got an ongoing set of song-ish bits to play with and returning over and over to goofing with them is incredibly helpful

Re: existential angst

What I find helps with the existential angst is to connect to the formless, unmanifest source.  Blogging can actually help with this, but I also find that I can “talk” myself into a state experience of the Witness that will then often lead into a nondual feeling of One-ness.  At this point, the angst usually subsides as an attachment.  And when I hold it in that space and marry it in nondual, it tends to dissolve into wisdom. 

This feeling of angst has actually been happening with my wife recently as she's been experiencing some frustration with her co-workers at the Coop who just don't “get” it yet.  I talked her into a state of the pure transcendental witness last night when it was happening, and her angst subsided for the rest of the night.

These methods tend to work for me, and so for the most part, the angst is not as threatening as it once was.  I know I have a way of softening the blow and transforming it into a welcome experience.

:-)

Re: existential angst

Hey Matthew,

Thanks for your helpful reply. Can you explain what exactly you mean by “I talked her into a state of the pure transcendental witness…”

Diana

Re: existential angst

Ok, so she was feeling some existential angst and couldn't stop ruminating about it.  So I felt it might help if she connected with the silent space of transcendental Witness.  So (with many pauses to let the silence become obviously present) I said something like, “Ayako, right now your mind is filled with some type of turmoil, and the problem is that you are identifying with those thoughts.  You are attaching to them as if they are real and treating the characters as if they are present.  Please step back into the silent space that holds this turmoil.  Because you can 'see' these thoughts… these characters… these arguments, you must not be them.  Hold this space that 'sees' them as your present state of being.  It is, in fact more Truly you, is it not?  Join me in the Now and Witness these objections that arise.  They cannot touch you because they ARE not you.  They try to convince you that they are you, but for now, just let them be.  Let go of any need to attach.  Just watch.  Keep coming back to the present moment… the silent Now.  Be at peace, my Love.”

Something like that.

Re: existential angst

Hi Diana,

I get into that space quite a bit. For more than a year, I ran a political blog as an outlet for the angst, anger, frustration – it felt like I was doing something. But it turned into a source of even more angst.

I still blog at Integral Options, which helps because I feel as though I am part of a community of others who want to see a more balanced, compassionate world – an integral world.

And I have begun to study haiku as a way into a peaceful state of being and a way out of my mind.

But meditation helps the most. Well, that and intimate time with my girlfriend. Intimacy, even just casual conversation with close friends, can remind us of what really matters.

If I could play guitar, I'd do that, too. But Matthew has a good approach, as well.

Peace,
Bill

Re: existential angst

WH said: “Intimacy, even just casual conversation with close friends, can remind us of what really matters.”

amen to this. this is especially true when long distance sucks!

Re: existential angst

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on that. You are perfectly right. I also feel beter when I have my beloved one by my side and blogging is a helpful way of getting out of a lot of trouble…it's like meditating!

Oh, and thanks for sharing your interesting blog! Wow! A bunch of new links for me!
I would like to present your blog on my homepage is
is that OK?

Namaste,
Diana

Re: existential angst

Hi again,

I hadn't seen your post when I replied a few minutes ago. It would be great to be on your page, thanks. I've added your blog to my feeds. I look forward to reading everything I have missed so far.

Peace,
Bill