Vacuums, Vortices, and Dead Cats

So much regrettable behavior is born of fear. Because we fear being judged for all kinds of reasons from all kinds of sources, we sometimes neglect to be “real,” to expose our personal “lack.” It can be lack of specific knowledge, experience, money, things, or “important” friends. Yes, and this fear of exposing our vulnerability can prevent us from gaining the exact things that we hope to gain by hiding our fear.

Yeah, yeah, yeah… that’s a wide-open, nebulous statement. What exactly does it mean?

I’m saying that sometimes the expression of “arrogance” can be the most harmful of human attitudes, on so many levels. And it often originates from very deeply and personally felt vulnerability. There is a term for speaking with authority when you’re out in left field. It’s called “bluffing.” Some are better at it than others.

“What will the neighbors think?!”

Have the neighbors ever asked me what I think?

My theory is that where an emptiness exists; say a lack of knowledge, experience, or friendship; by natural law a sucking vacuum is created. And into that vacuum the spirit of something, anything rushes in to fill the void. It creates a swirling vacuum that might suck you into a scary netherworld from which you might never return. This is the origin of nightmares. If you venture too close to the edge of that vortex, that whirlpool or vacuum, you may not have the strength to resist. Though you may struggle, you will be sucked in if you cannot grab a branch, a hand, something stable to anchor you to safety.

That branch could be evidentiary reality, lacking that, maybe arrogance, a pretense of superior knowledge. Your struggle is mighty and well-practiced, creating a lifetime of failing to succumb to the dangerous swirling, but not succeeding to overcome.

But, wait! What if the fear is unfounded? What if that swirling is not a hungry drain into the septic system, but instead is a wormhole to the brighter side of the universe? What if you spend your whole life struggling to stay on the dark side because that is all you know?

What is the accepted saying: “Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t?” And what does that mean? Basically, it means you might prefer to deal with someone or something familiar to you, even if it is horribly flawed than to risk the unknown, even if it is the answer to your prayers.

That is, flat out, a coward’s logic.

Sure, we’re ALL cowards from time to time, but must we permanently adopt that path for all eternity, or can we make a break and choose a potentially more rewarding path?

What if we DO appear to be foolish to other cowards when we do this? Who CARES what they think? Honestly, they are more concerned with what you think about THEM than with what they might think about YOU! Shall I repeat that, or are you starting to get it? What makes you assume they are thinking about you, at all?

You guessed it, I’m talking about maintaining the status quo. There are so many constructs to keep us in line, to lead us into acceptance (compliance) without question.

“Curiosity killed the cat,” or so THEY say…. Hey, wait… I thought a cat had nine lives, so who cares if he loses one to curiosity? Remember to ask who THEY are and what motivation(s), if any, THEY might have. Maybe THEY are just sheep following the commands of some Border Collie. But who controls the dog? And what are his motivations?

Start your journey by asking questions. Oh, and by the way, that is how you “follow the science,” by questioning things you are told are obvious, like the Earth is flat and the sun and moon revolve around it. That’s so obvious! What are you, some kind of a conspiracy theorist?