Know thyself is what is one of the 147 maxims (a short, pithy statement expressing a general truth or rule of conduct. Not the same as a principle, but there are many overlaps… Most of these maxims are virtues. My favorites are “Know what you have learned” and “Be/Know yourself”, because they are maybe the most important. Do yourself a favor, and read them, and ponder.) inscribed in Delphi… 1
In fact, it is a principle.
A principle is something to live by, something to get guidance from.
When we talk about principle driven life, any of those 147, and countless other principles will do your life justice.
When I look at people, when I observe them, their lives have no rhyme, no purpose…
Looking good is not a principle.
Wanting to be right is not a principle
I am pretty/smart/stupid is not a principle
I want to be rich is not a principle
All of those are desires. All keep you anchored on the horizontal plane, the Valley of the Shadow of Death.
Principles, on the other hand, can take you all the way to the vertical.
Principles are also not rules.
You have enough rules that keep you stuck and miserable and powerless…
Know Thyself is a guidance, as all the principles.
All principles lead you to the strait and narrow, all rules keep you from it.
The trick is to know the rules that run you, that run your life.
You can’t catch something that you cannot see… So the job is to see your rules, so you can catch them, and let them go… like a butterfly.
Almost all rules are in the Systemic Value range.
- I have to,
- need to,
- want to,
- should… or else.
- Republicans are the right party.
- Christianity is
- God is
- Jesus is
- The government is
Catch the “is” in those phrases? It shows a rule (also called myth)
- I am
- You are
- We are
- They are
are versions of “is”… rule, myth, misery maker.
You are stuck on the lowest level of value, and it is not even the whole horizontal plane!
Principles are in the highest level of value, the intrinsic value, the vertical plane.
Some people (myself included) gets returned to the vertical by just whispering one of those principles…
My favorite is “there is never any hurry on the creative plane”.
It returns me to freedom, to sanity, to coherence, to wide cone of vision, to joy… no matter what was pulling me down. Amazing.
So how do you use a principle? Remember, it’s a guidance, and you use guidance.
The first thing is: don’t take it as a rule. It is a gentle guidance. Rule has a flip side to it: punishment if you don’t keep the rule.
Guidance has no flip side… that is how you know it is NOT systemic value, like a rule. It is part of the billions of facets of a diamond, the intrinsic values.
Depending on where you are on the vibrational scale, you’ll have to work on this: you’ll want a rule… but you have to release its grip on you… and mellow it, allow it to guide you.
Not easy, but possible.
If you want, we could do some workshops where the participant tries on some principles, and I help them release that it’s a rule. I can feel you inside… I can feel if you are obeying, or using, if you are grasping, or allowing. That’s why you want an empath in this with you.
Know Thyself is one of the most difficult guidances, because you don’t.
You don’t know yourself.
This is why you do so many psychological tests, read so many articles, because you don’t know yourself.
You don’t know what is relevant, what isn’t. You think it is good or bad… systemic values.
But it is a lot more interesting than that.
One tool I have found really invaluable is the Spirit Animal 2 book is the guidance.
3 My spirit animal is the skunk 4 . They are your “keep your distance bud, or I’ll spray you” people… Gruff. Often an empath needs to be like a skunk… keep you at bay, because you are bad news. lol.
I am still a “skunk” but I am now conscious of it, and can play it like a musical instrument, not all blunt and hammer-like.
Here is an actual physical book. I am still hunting for a kindle book or pdf or a quiz…
And some links:https://whatismyspiritanimal.com/spirit-totem-power-animal-meanings/birds/eagle-symbolism-meaning/
https://www.spirit-animals.com
Please remember: the power is in the inquiry, the power is in the question… not the answer. The answer will become a rule… a limitation, and not a guidance.
- Follow God
- Obey the law
- Worship the Gods
- Respect your parents
- Be overcome by justice
- Know what you have learned
- Perceive what you have heard
- Be/Know yourself
- Intend to get married
- Know your opportunity
- Think as a mortal
- If you are a stranger act like one
- Honor the hearth (or Hestia)
- Control yourself
- Help your friends
- Control anger
- Exercise prudence
- Honor providence
- Do not use an oath
- Love friendship
- Cling to discipline
- Pursue honor
- Long for wisdom
- Praise the good
- Find fault with no one
- Praise virtue
- Practice what is just
- Be kind to friends
- Watch out for your enemies
- Exercise nobility of character
- Shun evil
- Be impartial
- Guard what is yours
- Shun what belongs to others
- Listen to everyone
- Be (religiously) silent
- Do a favor for a friend
- Nothing to excess
- Use time sparingly
- Foresee the future
- Despise insolence
- Have respect for suppliants
- Be accommodating in everything
- Educate your sons
- Give what you have
- Fear deceit
- Speak well of everyone
- Be a seeker of wisdom
- Choose what is divine
- Act when you know
- Shun murder
- Pray for things possible
- Consult the wise
- Test the character
- Give back what you have received
- Down-look no one
- Use your skill
- Do what you mean to do
- Honor a benefaction
- Be jealous of no one
- Be on your guard
- Praise hope
- Despise a slanderer
- Gain possessions justly
- Honor good men
- Know the judge
- Master wedding-feasts
- Recognize fortune
- Flee a pledge
- Speak plainly
- Associate with your peers
- Govern your expenses
- Be happy with what you have
- Revere a sense of shame
- Fulfill a favor
- Pray for happiness
- Be fond of fortune
- Observe what you have heard
- Work for what you can own
- Despise strife
- Detest disgrace
- Restrain the tongue
- Keep yourself from insolence
- Make just judgements
- Use what you have
- Judge incorruptibly
- Accuse one who is present
- Tell when you know
- Do not depend on strength
- Live without sorrow
- Live together meekly
- Finish the race without shrinking back
- Deal kindly with everyone
- Do not curse your sons
- Rule your wife
- Benefit yourself
- Be courteous
- Give a timely response
- Struggle with glory
- Act without repenting
- Repent of sins
- Control the eye
- Give a timely counsel
- Act quickly
- Guard friendship
- Be grateful
- Pursue harmony
- Keep deeply the top secret
- Fear ruling
- Pursue what is profitable
- Accept due measure
- Do away with enmities
- Accept old age
- Do not boast in might
- Exercise (religious) silence
- Flee enmity
- Acquire wealth justly
- Do not abandon honor
- Despise evil
- Venture into danger prudently
- Do not tire of learning
- Do not stop to be thrifty
- Admire oracles
- Love whom you rear
- Do not oppose someone absent
- Respect the elder
- Teach a youngster
- Do not trust wealth
- Respect yourself
- Do not begin to be insolent
- Crown your ancestors
- Die for your country
- Do not be discontented by life
- Do not make fun of the dead
- Share the load of the unfortunate
- Gratify without harming
- Grieve for no one
- Beget from noble routes
- Make promises to no one
- Do not wrong the dead
- Be well off as a mortal
- Do not trust fortune
- As a child be well-behaved
- As a youth be self-disciplined
- As of middle-age be just
- As an old man be sensible
- On reaching the end be without sorrow
- What is a spirit animal?
For some, a Spirit Animal is an otherworldly guide who appears to offer love, healing, and support during difficult times. To others, a Spirit Animal is the same as a Totem Animal – it’s who you really are. - https://www.spirit-animals.com
The skunk spirit animal may not have the best reputation because of the unpleasant odor that it emits. However, despite is smelly reputation, the skunk symbolism has magical and mystical associations.The adorable and feisty little skunk holds a message of great power. It commands respect and admiration, and you will seriously give it a second thought when you get to know the true skunk meaning.
Common Skunk Spirit Animal MeaningsThe skunk meaning places the emphasis on being distinct. It symbolizes the importance of being who you are and living authentically without caring about other people’s opinions.
When the skunk spirit animal appears to you, it’s to help you build up your self-confidence. It’s to help you develop your strength and sense of independence.
It wants you to trust in yourself more and live on your own terms by setting your own boundaries. The skunk symbolism urges you to rely on yourself more.
Focus on the signals that you are sending to people and what they feel or think about you. Learn to accept the good with the bad and use it to make yourself a better person.
When you can accept all your strengths and weaknesses, you can then truly express yourself. You can be comfortable in your own skin.
The skunk spirit animal prefers to do its own thing quietly, so you should do the same. Do not bring attention to yourself just for the sake of gaining popularity or just to get people’s approval.
Either people like you or they don’t. They will see you and notice you every time, so make sure that you control how they notice you.
The meaning of the skunk also symbolizes attraction. People are drawn to you for many reasons, even if you keep pushing them away.
If Your Spirit Animal is the Skunk, read this carefully…Sometimes the skunk spirit animal appears in your life to remind you that you can get attention without being annoying, irritating, or arrogant. It also shows up when you no longer know how to deal with people who annoy the hell out of you.
The meaning of the skunk holds great importance. It awakens you to recognize your abilities and be aware of the power of your sexuality and sensuality.
Your skunk totem wants you to be prepared for disappointments, setbacks, and obstacles. But you don’t have anything to worry about because they are only temporary.
You are made of strong stuff. You can easily get back on your feet.
Just remember that whatever is keeping you from achieving your goals will be sorted sooner rather than later. Trust in the message of the skunk!
Skunk spirit animals as messengers of changeUnlike the Dove, the meaning of the skunk seeks to remind you to build up your self-esteem. It symbolizes the need to have more self-respect.
If in the past you have allowed people to treat you unkindly, your skunk totem urges you to make that change and start respecting yourself. Now is the time to put yourself first and focus on what you need and what makes you happy.
When there’s happiness within, everything else will follow. You will soon see the changes in your life, and you will be ready to take on the world.
Positive Traits of the Skunk Spirit Animal
The skunk totem teaches a thing or two about fearlessness and peace. It’s possible to be brave and aggressive without bringing discord and disharmony into your life.
You are a beautiful, calm, and steady presence. But when you are provoked, or there’s a threat to your loved ones, you will not just sit down and do nothing.
Like the skunk spirit animal, you are easily distinguishable because of your distinct characteristics. You are charming and self-confident, humble yet powerful.
Like your skunk totem, you will only spray an enemy when you are truly left with no choice. You don’t easily blow up, and it takes quite a lot earn your ire.
But once you do lose your temper, people will regret it. You give a fair amount of warning, but when you’ve had enough, there’s nothing anyone can do about it.
Negative Traits of the Skunk Spirit AnimalThe meaning of the skunk speaks about how you treat people you like and don’t like. You use your charm and personality to attract those you like, and use it to repel those you don’t.
You don’t like it when people invade your privacy. You don’t take it particularly well when people cross the line and make you feel exposed or vulnerable.
There’s also a tendency for you to be conceited and pompous because of all the special traits and talents that you possess. This turns off a lot of people, but if you don’t like them, it also doesn’t matter what they think of you.
Call on your Skunk Spirit Animal when:
- You need to build your confidence.
- Be inspired by your skunk spirit animal. No matter how small you may be feeling right now, know that you can achieve anything that you set your mind on.
- You need to be your own person.
- At the end of the day, the only opinion that truly matters about yourself is your own! Don’t focus on the noise and just listen to what your inner voices
- are telling you.
- You need to move on.
The skunk spirit animal is not sentimental and does not dwell on the past. You should be more concerned about what’s waiting for you in the future, and what you should be doing in the present.
My final thoughts on the Skunk Spirit Animal and its SymbolismThe skunk meaning is strong in you because you also love to be solitary. You know that there’s a time to be around people, and there’s a time to be by yourself.
You know where to draw the balance, and that’s good. People who love you don’t end up feeling like you’re pushing them away because you make sure they are loved and well taken care of.
The skunk meaning encourages you to take care of your reputation and your authentic self. Walk the talk, and this is how you will earn the respect of people.
I’m trying to remind myself that “there’s nothing wrong in reality” as much as possible. Can that be considered a principle?
no, it is not a principle. Principles are portable, but there is only one reality, so it cannot be portable… lol. But it is true. All wrong comes from the observer saying so.