Path: typhoon.sonic.net!not-for-mail Newsgroups: alt.magick.tyagi,alt.satanism,alt.islam.sufi,alt.sufism Subject: Shades of Refinement (was mirror mirror...) From: haramullah Reply-To: spam@yronwode.com User-Agent: nn/6.6.0 Lines: 46 Message-ID: <89ZK8.7663$3w2.35768@typhoon.sonic.net> Date: Tue, 04 Jun 2002 06:31:32 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 208.201.242.18 X-Complaints-To: abuse@sonic.net X-Trace: typhoon.sonic.net 1023172292 208.201.242.18 (Mon, 03 Jun 2002 23:31:32 PDT) NNTP-Posting-Date: Mon, 03 Jun 2002 23:31:32 PDT Xref: typhoon.sonic.net alt.magick.tyagi:32855 alt.satanism:207256 Orig-To: tariqas@europe.std.com 50000410 IVom assalam alaykum, my kin. > i was wondering, we have these spurts on tariqahs off and on... we all > react... some strongly, some wisely, some over react, some caution, some > instill fear, some encourage, some ignore, some laugh it off > (he he he, thats > me ;-)... and so on. stimulus, the incitements to love and hate > but we all react..... so how are we getting hooked? what do we > see in the mirror that veil lady or amany or others holds up to us? > (not everyone is hooked by the same person tho) our own shadow? precisely. Shaitan manifests to us that which we fear most through the mechanism of a kind of projection. we see protrusions into our lives, thinking them invasions or offenses, and do not realize that the event or person with whom we are interacting becomes the projection screen for these weaknesses in ourselves. this shadow through which Shaitan projects our hidden weaknesses is our rejected and repressed nature, the raw materials of our beauty, which we can see as ugly and horrid if we are unprepared for dealing with nature in unrefined and powerful states. the more we repress and hide, the more material Shaitan has that SHe can use to goad us and trip us up over our highest ideals. too often we see Shaitan as The Adversary and Ultimate Foe, yet when seen from the eyes of the mystic, SHe becomes a kind of friend, helping us to see our weak points and areas where we need refinement and discipline. saints (or ideal mystics, whatever their name -- some may even call these 'sufis') integrate their shadows as important parts of themselves and their spirituality, hiding nothing from their kindred and attempting to hide nothing from the All Knowing One. it this holistic or well-rounded approach to living which makes the saintly so sensitive, deep and popular with those in need. peace be with you, haramullah nagasiva@luckymojo.com