The Field – Fate

Even Warriors Are Caught in the Mesh of History. The field is too large for us to see it clearly. We can feel the pull of forces too vast to resist or even rise above. Those caught in wars, in genocides, in natural disasters, are brutally unlucky. The techniques of the Warrior can Save, Alter, Improve their fates. But sometimes we are crushed by the gears of chaos. Still, the Warriors’ Code is “Never Surrender”.

Warriors’ Challenge – Always try to see the bigger picture. Were those who fled Germany before Hitler shut it down, France before the Terror or Indonesia before the tsunami just “lucky” or had they learned to read the signs? Rulers by whim are even more dangerous than the weather, for their brains inevitably become echo chambers rotting from within. The larger the council the better – true democracy is best, but even then there are those self-destructive ones among us desiring to “shake things up”; loving chaos for its own sake. They may dream of riding a whirlwind but no one can ever truly ride a whirlwind. As the Chinese say, you can ride the tiger but you can’t get off. The challenge is to see the whirlwind – and the tiger -coming.

Warriors Inhabit Danger – Is the danger learned helplessness, our old enemy? Or is it comfort – we’ve created a berth for ourselves that’s just too cushy to leave? Sometime the danger is an inability to imagine evil: “it CAN’T get that bad” or “These people are my friends.” Famous last words. Or is panic the enemy? Never risk becoming too terrified to think.

Warriors Seize Opportunity – Have you noticed, yet, that it’s always the same opportunity? To grow up. To accept maturity. To become more like God, or as the Gnostic gospels call the Creator, “Good”. To regard each other with the wise generosity of compassion. Study all input intelligently. Learn to recognize and repudiate garbage. Don’t be lured by fantasy thinking. In order to claim our opportunity we must seek out and create safe spaces to grow, think and learn.

Models – “We are spinning our own fates, good or evil, never to be undone” – William James

“No matter how dirty your past, your future is spotless” – Drake

“Our destiny is not written for us, but by us” – Barack Obama

“If you can influence, direct or control your environment , you can make your life what you want it to be” – Napoleon Hill

“Life is choice, not chance,” –Jean Nidetch

“Winners fail until they succeed” – Robert T. Kiyosaki

#Haiku: Controlled Accidents

All art’s
“Controlled Accident”
You plus God plus
Fate:
Steer into the skid