brain dump

THE COMET brain dump: my dog loves me

by KRISTEN ACESTA

We think of the ego as both a coverer and an entity.

The paradox comes as you cannot have a thing whose one purpose is to cover up something, and also have it be an independent entity from the covered.

Thus the only resolution is to recognize the ego as having a purpose besides shielding/ protecting/comforting/etc the inner self.

The western world looks at the ego as a negative, overbearing thing that develops within us typically when we are either arrogant or bad. Or both.

The ego is taught to be subsided.

In a way these teachings create the story that the ego needs to be peeled back in order to reveal ourselves. Once again, reaffirming in the positive, that our ego is something to be destroyed.

Now this is true. You can peel away the ego layers as a way of revealing the self, but it is not the only way.

Ego dissolving is not necessary. What is necessary is learning the balance, and when to listen to who and what. The first step in this process is differentiation of the ego and whatever is behind it. ←- this is a super difficult practice, by the way.

So where do we hash it out? Well, I firmly believe we should all have an arena in life that allows one to be fully present and without judgement. A safe space for the ego to do it’s thing.

We need this space not to stretch out the ego’s arms, but to provide a container in which we can watch it. Witnessing the ego, in all its glory. You may actually find that it’s rather boring, monotone, predictable, and robotic. This makes sense since it’s made up of a bunch of programs and patterns conducted by the psyche.

If you allow the ego to do what it wants, you’ll find that the majority (if not the entire) time it is running on autopilot.

The ego is the software system of our body. Which makes the collective consciousness the cloud. And what does that make you? You know, the soul part of you.

Well, you are the spaces in between. You are all that, baby.

But back to the safe ego space. The point of all of this is to allow it to do it’s song and dance, as we sit back and enjoy the party. But there is a time limit. Try 30 minutes to start. We don’t want this thing running free all night.

You see, the ego needs to be watched. It has been developed in order for the person it services to be seen as whole. And in order to shift and change the patterns that have given birth to the ego, we certainly must first watch how it behaves in order to better understand it.

Here is a perfect working example: I project the shit on to my dog.

Anyone who has been around the shop and knows my dog, would agree that she is probably one of the cutest dogs ever. And she is super in love with me. At least that’s the story I tell myself.

It actually goes something like, “she loves me even more because I saved her from the pound” and she super loves that dumb little sweater I got her. The positive affirmations I give myself thereafter include cooing and repeating out loud, exactly what my dog just did that everyone was already watching, and proclaiming how cute she is when she does xyz.

So there is the original story, and with each retelling the ego comes out in his fancy swag and tells it one better. Constantly reaffirming. And sometimes even reformulating if it produces positive results. Hell, my dog is so cute she has been snuggling this entire time I’ve been writing this. Because she loves me.

She also really loves the peanut butter apple mess I’ve made for myself here. And the sausages cooked almost every morning that I inevitably get on the front side of my shirt.

If I was actually to look at the ego, maybe I would see the patterned reactions my dog has to the patterning of my eating habits. But then I might fall into the conclusion that she super loves food, and I am a mere worthwhile contender.

Either way, the point isn’t necessarily to change the ego’s behavior, but to witness what it likes to do.

Dr. Kristen Acesta, ND, RH Naturopathic physician and registered herbalist at Mission Health & Wellness, co-owner and formulator at Salt Creek Apothecary becomeyourmission.org saltcreekapothecary.com