The Elven Star Interpretations

Mystery 1: The Establishing of Self

Course Introduction Video
Use your first Sabian Symbol to study the word No
Such is today’s world that without being strong enough to hold our own we will probably become victims. So the first principle of happiness and well-being is to command a position of sufficient strength that we sustain our integrity of being and defend our valid claims. This begins with learning how to create and maintain clear, enforceable boundaries.
Elven Star Mystery 1

7 Words Questionnaire

Please complete the 7 Words Questionnaire 

​By studying the feedback carefully, we can get a much deeper and more accurate perception of our strengths and weaknesses, which thus reveals more of who and what we really are, rather than our own skewed and very subjective self-perception.

Muhasaba

​Muhasaba is a process employed in Sufism in order to achieve clarity and self-honesty. It serves as a way of keeping track by uncluttering the mind. It is a self-reckoning, a drawing up of accounts, a full and frank report by oneself to oneself of oneself.

As a one-off exercise it is especially relevant at the end of project or a chapter of life, in order to take stock and review one’s position before launching off into something new. Yet it also serves very well when carried out as a monthly discipline, since it has an incremental benefit which moves us towards the perfection of clear-mindedness and detailed self-understanding.

A clear mind cuts through confusion and doubt like a hot knife through butter. Then each step we take in life promotes either the completion of a creative project or the untangling of an obstacle or problem.

The task is simply to make a written appraisal of your life circumstances by recording the facts of the matter. When we do this clearly and neatly as a sacred task, we notice any fogginess in life clears away. It seems such a simple and obvious process that we cannot believe why it has such a strong impact – yet the tiniest minority of people actually know, metaphorically, where they’ve been, or where they are. So how would it ever be possible to know where they are going?

It is helpful to structure the Muhasaba exercise using the 7 Words System; this allows us to expand our investigation to include all aspects of life, and helps us not to forget anything important. Use these categories to help:
  1. Health
  2. Interest, hobbies, friends
  3. Home life
  4. Challenges
  5. Aspirations
  6. Spirituality
  7. Attitude to death

For example:
  • I am 47, in reasonably good health yet overweight and having some issues with digestion
  • My friendship circle is small and yet very warm and dependable; I have hobbies, although I am sometimes a little bored, lonely and misunderstood, especially at home
  • My relationship feels mostly secure yet we have problems with money that often trigger fights. My eldest child is going through a very troublesome phase.
  • My job is very demanding and brings a lot of stress; I was happier with less responsibility
  • I am seriously in debt financially
  • I have no career aspirations. I hope to see my kids happily married and have their own kids
  • Although I feel the need for furthering my spiritual knowledge, I have not found a path that calls me
  • I do not like to talk about or even think about death; it scares me
Even without any special skills at analysis, any intelligent and sensitive person could ask a few very telling questions about this report! Yet it is mainly for you to study alone.

The Organiser

Anyone successful at management keeps some version of a job list and, with this, keeps on top of life by keeping track of what needs to be done. Building on this simple idea, The Organiser takes a more subtle, psychological approach and supports maximums achievement whilst minimising stress and confusion.
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Keeping this system as a daily exercise has great benefits, some of which are hidden. For example, certain tasks get done quickly and easily while others remain outstanding for a very long time, until eventually we come to accept that we simply are not willing or able to deal with them. Then we can ask ourselves why we accepted the task in the first place. Were we unable or unwilling to say No? Did we ‘bite off more than we could chew’? Have our priorities shifted? Was it ever real at all or just a silly fantasy? The answers to these questions will possibly change our future behaviours.

Also by writing down our decision to do something, we clearly inform the mind about what we want and it operates unconsciously towards that end and attracts resources, information and solutions. Thus we minimise effort and optimise what is called luck, or coincidence, or synergy. Certain jobs, which take real effort when we are not in the mood, can be done in a flash at the right time. Anxiety about whether we have forgotten to do something is eradicated, provided we learn to record every task as soon as it arises in the mind.
The brain operates differently according to whether it is in ‘judicial’ mode or ‘executive’ mode. The first makes judgements about what to do; the second does as it is told without concerning itself with whether it is the right thing or not. Trying to think at the same moment as trying to do is both inefficient and stressful, so we move our brain into judicial mode when managing the job list, and later get on with the execution of tasks sure in the knowledge that we are doing what needs to be done now, with nothing mor important that we should be doing instead.

A word of advice: The Organiser is a complete system; if you are following only part of it then you are not following the system.

INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Firstly, accept that a physical document is more powerful than an electronic one. The physical act of writing and holding the paper is a part of this system because it triggers unconscious benefits. Print The Organiser and keep it frequently refreshed and up-to-date so that it always look neat and pleasant. According to usage, daily or weekly updates are recommended.
  2. Whenever you take on a new task, write it down on the sheet immediately – never rely upon memory if at all possible because this would add to stress.
  3. Make a note of any deadline, and allow time for unforeseen delays
  4. Categorise, and frequently re-categorise each task:
    1. A1: Urgent, to be done today come what may
    2. A2: Today’s task if possible
    3. B1: Will become urgent soon
    4. B2: Not especially urgent
    5. C: Sometime if ever
  5. If a task is very big and demanding, then chunk it down into smaller bits. (e.g. Instead of ‘Do Christmas Shopping’, have three tasks: a) shopping list; b) major gifts; c) minor gifts)
  6. If C jobs remain on the list for ages, then ditch them or move them up to B.
  7. Look at The Organiser every day and form this write a separate list on a postcard. Put A1 tasks on one side and A2 on the other, then forget the main sheet until tomorrow, unless you take on a new task.
  8. Make a life decision – always to complete A1 tasks today
​Template to download:
organiser_template.doc
File Size: 134 kb
File Type: doc
Download File

Primary Word: No 

Do you prevent people from taking advantage of you?
“That’s not fair!” we proclaim as a heartfelt complaint against injustice in the world. And we do it again and again as though we are surprised, unable to grasp a simple truth that actually life doesn’t dish up justice very often. People mostly take what they can and somehow find a way to justify that as OK… unless we stop them. It is for us to make our boundaries clear and enforceable so that others respect us and our choices. If we don’t do that, well then actually it’s our problem.

Do you stick to your No decisions?         
A true No is strong and consistent, not often changed by the persuasive voice of another. If it isn’t, then it’s just not real and will be frequently challenged or ignored. It doesn’t work to offer a wishy-washy hint at No. Let it be said clearly, firmly and once, then the tone of voice, the posture of body and expression of face will convey certainty and be respected.

Do you mostly feel free from imposition?
Whatever we may think we’re doing to keep strong boundaries, it is important to notice how we feel. If unable to be true to the inner self then somewhere our personal boundaries are compromised. This could be because we are projecting a false image – one that pleases parents, bosses and peers – and pretending all is well instead of clearly refusing to play their silly game. The resultant discomfort and inconvenience of making a stand is temporary, and more than compensated by the sense of dignity that develops within us
Lack of good boundaries shows in any feelings we may have of sustained imposition, also confusion and anxiety arising from uncertainty of principles or choices, and any inclinations we may have to deceive or manipulate. Being respected is evidence of good boundaries; so too is showing respect.
Identity becomes identified by exercising choice, therefore choice is the outer expression of selfhood. We choose what to do, what to say, what to eat, where to be and who with; an advanced person can even choose what to think and what to feel. We write our story upon life’s blank pages as we make these choices, and then we observe and experience resultant consequences.
That which empowers us to apply strong, clear boundaries is Identity. It is inconceivable for a person to be consistent with their boundaries unless their sense of self is well-determined. Equally, it is the application of strong, clear boundaries that creates a specific, unique identity. The snowflake is often celebrated as an example of uniqueness, and the fact that each one is unlike any other is considered a good thing. How incongruous then that the human ego receives such a beating in spiritual teachings! The ego is exactly that which defines the identity as unique; surely it should be celebrated? In Latin it simply means ‘I’
Truth as a philosophical concept is beyond the scope of our intelligence; no thinker has been able to come up with a pronouncement that deals with this question convincingly. So we need not concern ourselves with it in that sense. However, we do know what it feels like to experience untruth; it feels wrong.
The Sabian Images on this site are by Ruby Fumizki