Moral Development

The American psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg (1927 - 1987) applied Piaget's epigenetic model of cognitive development to the development of ethics and moral reasoning in children and adults. To determine stages of moral reasoning, Kohlberg used moral dilemmas, that is, short stories that require a moral decision. 

From his data, he distilled two preconventional stages: (1) obedience/punishment, and (2) self-interest; two conventional stages: (3) interpersonal accord/conformity, and (4) authority/social order; and two postconventional stages: (5) social contract/human rights, and (6) universal human ethics. Like stages of cognitive development, Kohlberg believed that regression to lower stages was not possible.

In the preconventional stages, morality was highly egocentric and based on an action's consequences. In the obedience/punishment stage (1), individuals focused on the direct consequences that their actions. Actions were judged to be morally wrong if the person who committed them was punished. Morality was defined as obeying rules and avoiding negative consequences. The actions of parents or parent substitutes determined moral law. There was no recognition of the others' points of view. 

In the stage of self-interest (2), one's own best interest defines what is moral and good. The interests of others are taken into consideration in so far as how they might affect one's own interests. 

In the conventional stages, morality is determined by comparing one's actions with societal norms and social expectations. Most adolescents and adults function at this level. In the stage of interpersonal accord/conformity (3), individuals possess an understanding of what others expect from them in terms of fulfilling a social role. Being good is valued. Additionally, there is an appreciation of how one's actions affect interpersonal relationships. One's intentions are taken into consideration. 

In the stage of authority/social order (4), the individual feels a duty to obey laws, rules, and social conventions. Laws are valued because they maintain society. Obligations and expectations should be met and fulfilled. A particular idea or ideal may be seen as the basis of right and wrong.

In the postconventional stages, the individual recognizes the value of the individual as opposed to the good of society. The person values his or her own perspective above society's laws and regulations. This disregard of social morality can be mistaken for preconventional morality. 

In the stage of social contract/human rights (5), there is a recognition of differing values, opinions, and mores. Laws are seen as social contracts instead of as absolute, rigid entities that have their own, independent existence. They vary from group to group, from place to place, and from time to time. As social contracts, laws are determined through compromise and majority decision. Laws should bring about the greatest good for the most people. 

In the stage of universal human ethics (6), morality is based on abstract reasoning. The person is capable of understanding and judging his or her personal rules and beliefs. He or she can understand both his or her actions and those of others in terms of universal ethical principles. He or she is quite capable of taking others' perspectives. What is right and wrong depend on the surrounding circumstances. Laws are valid to the degree that they reflect justice. One is obligated to disobey unjust laws.

Kohlberg noticed certain inconsistencies in the data which led him to propose the possibility of intermediate stages or substages. In particular, there were many individuals who functioned morally between the 4^th and 5^th stages. Individuals at this sub-stage display considerable annoyance with arbitrary nature of laws and mores.

Kohlberg also recognized that a few individuals seemed to be functioning in a seventh stage. Kohlberg suggested that this seventh stage, which he referred to as transcendental morality (7) and as the morality of cosmic orientation, might combine moral reasoning with religion.

Ego Development: Milestones along the Path to Psychological Maturity

Ego development is a basic human characteristic that reflects significant differences and similarities among individuals. Our level of ego development determines how we perceive our social environment, how well we handle our interpersonal relationships, and how well we handle our inner conflicts.

Broad levels of Ego Development -- Psychotic, Borderline, Neurotic, Normal, and Self-Actualizing.

As a clinical psychologist and a psychotherapist, I was used to conceptualizing degrees of ego developmental organization in terms of five broad categories of psychotic, borderline, neurotic, normal, and self-actualizing. I have found these categories to be extremely helpful regarding how best to treat patients according to their level of ego development.

For example, someone functioning at the psychotic level would need supportive therapy and probably psychotropic medications or even custodial care. A patient functioning at the borderline level would manifest considerable emotional drama. He or she might take one step forward and then two steps backward. Working with someone who functions at the borderline level of development requires much patience, reassurance, and structuring.

Someone with neurotic development may need what most people think of as psychotherapy. The normal client may be seeking coaching. A self-actualizing individual is more likely to be interested in transpersonal psychotherapy.

Understanding these categories has been extremely helpful when dealing with others outside of therapy as well. They have proved their importance when choosing which relationships to pursue and which to avoid. If you are not a mental health professional or a concerned and responsible friend or family member, it is best to confine your relationships to those who are functioning at least at a neurotic or normal level of ego development.

Measuring Ego Development – Loevinger’s Discoveries

Psychologist Jane Loevinger (1918 - 2008) published her ground-breaking work Ego Development in 1976. I first ran across it in 1979 in the library of the J. Hillis Miller Health Center of the University of Florida's College of Medicine and Department of Clinical Psychology, in Gainesville, Florida.

To me, Loevinger’s comprehensive model of human development was like the psychological equivalent to anthropology’s hypothetical missing link. She filled in missing details and stages, explained the process of development and the failure to develop, and, for the Western-minded psychologist, legitimized the upper end of the spectrum.

Loevinger’s theory of personality emphasized the gradual internalization of social rules and the maturing conscience as the origin of personal decisions. She focused on what she called ego development. Ego development comprises a series of changes in impulse control, interpersonal style, and conscious preoccupations.

Loevinger used the term ego to refer to the person’s core frame of reference. She defined the ego as what the person thinks of as him- or herself and described the ego as a part of the personality but not the whole personality. Integrating various lines of thought, she approached the ego as: (1) a process; (2) a structure; (3) being social in origin; (4) functioning as a whole; and (5) being guided by purpose and meaning. Loevinger acknowledged that consciousness and freedom as well as dynamic unconscious forces influence ego development and functioning.

Loevinger used the Washington University Sentence Completion Test (SCT) to measure ego development. This sentence completion test consists of 36 sentence stems to be completed. The stages of ego development are determined from the degree of psychological complexity seen in the completed responses.

Loevinger identified ten stages and sub-stages in the process of ego development. Each stage implies the existence of an underlying, coherent structure with its own characteristic way of perceiving and responding to the social world. Each stage is a frame of reference or lens through which individuals perceive and understand their social world.

Beyond early infancy, Loevinger found a range of ego development levels at every age. That is, at every chronological age there are individual differences in ego development with respect to impulse control, time perspective, and the ability to take perspective. At any given age, there are persons functioning at various stages of ego development. The pace and extent of individual ego development appear to be influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. However, ego development appears to be relatively independent of cognitive reasoning and intellectual development. It does correlate with affective sensitivity, emotional complexity, moral development, internal locus of control, and verbal fluency.

Enriching Our Understanding of the Higher Stages

In 2000 I became aware of the work by research psychologist Susanne R. Cook-Greuter in Ken Wilber’s Integral Psychology: Consciousness, Spirit, Psychology, Therapy. Cook-Greuter added details missed by Loevinger, and she especially expanded our understanding of the high end of ego development.

Research psychologist Susanne R. Cook-Greuter has continued and expanded Loevinger’s work, fleshing out each stage of ego development and further differentiating the higher stages of ego development. Cook-Greuter treated Loevinger’s presocial and symbiotic stages as one, added a subphase—the rule-oriented stage, renamed Loevinger’s integrated stage the unitive stage, and divided the integrated stage into two stages—the construct-aware stage and the unitive stage. Cook-Greuter placed her work with ego development, self-actualization, and leadership within the context of Wilber’s integral, all-quadrant model.

Regarding stages of ego development, Cook-Greuter categorized the presocial, symbiotic, impulsive, self-protective stage, and rule-oriented stages as preconventional; the conformist, self-conscious, and conscientious stages as conventional; and the individualist, autonomous, construct-aware, and unitive stages as postconventional.

The stages of ego development have also been divided into three tiers. The first tier includes the presocial, symbiotic, impulsive, self-protective, rule-oriented, conformist, self-conscious, conscientious, and individualistic stages. The second tier includes the autonomous and the construct-aware stages. The third tier includes the unitive stage.

The Twelve Stages of Ego Development

The following work represents my understanding of the theoretical work of Loevinger and Cook-Greuter. Together, it can be said that Loevinger and Cook-Greuter identified twelve possible stages and substages: (1) the presocial stage; (2) the symbiotic stage; (3) the impulsive stage; (4) the self-protective stage; (5) the rule-oriented stage; (6) the conformist stage; (7) the self-conscious stage; (8) the conscientious stage; (9) the individualistic stage; (10) the autonomous stage; (11) the construct-aware stage; and (12) the unitive stage.

Stages 1 and 2 -- Presocial Stage and Symbiotic Stage

According to Loevinger’s early work, the ego is absent at birth. Cook-Greuter described the ego of the newborn as undifferentiated. For both Loevinger and Cook-Greuter, this first stage--this presocial stage—begins with a complete lack of differentiation between the self and the world. The presocial infant’s task is to learn to separate the self from the nonself.

Once the self is distinguished from the rest of the physical environment, the symbiotic stage begins. The symbiotic stage is characterized by object constancy--that is the understanding that objects take on an independent existence which continues when they are outside of the infant’s visual range. The infant comes to differentiate between himself and his mother. The symbiotic stage is characterized by a strong attachment to the mother and an exclusive focus on the immediate gratification of basic physiological needs. Both the presocial and the symbiotic stages are preverbal or nonverbal. The infant is constructing a world of stable objects and beginning to learn a verbal language.

Adults who never grow out of the presocial and symbiotic stages as well as adults who for some reason regress to one of these stages are unable to care for themselves. If they are to survive, they must be institutionalized and cared for by adults who are functioning at higher stages of ego development.

Stage 3 -- Impulsive Stage 

During the impulsive stage, the child is demanding, dependent, and present-centered. He is concerned with bodily feelings, especially sexual and aggressive feelings. Impulses are curbed by restraints, rewards, and punishments. The child is conceptually confused, and he thinks in dichotomous terms. Causation is seen as physical only. There is no understanding of psychological causation. Other people are seen in terms of what they can give. Good and bad are seen in terms of how they affect the child, i.e., they are nice to me or mean to me.

Adults who function in the impulsive stage are unable to grasp the complexities of adult life. They appear to be confused, anxious, or overwhelmed when forced to deal with the world in a typical adult manner.

Stage 4 -- Self-Protective Stage

In the self-protective stage, the child continues to be hedonistic, opportunistic, and exploitive. He is learning rules and self-control. He tends to be wary of others and is preoccupied with staying out of trouble. The child anticipates punishments and rewards, fears getting caught, complains, and externalizes blame. Frustration results in temper tantrums. This is the stage of the toddler.

Adults functioning in the self-protective stage see the world only from the perspective of their own needs and wants. They may appear opportunistic because their behavior is obviously self-serving. They go after whatever they want without forethought or patience. Thinking is concrete and dichotomous. Relationships are volatile. Feelings are projected outward. With respect to morality, they see actions as bad only if they are caught and punished. They fear being controlled, dominated, or deceived and may appear hostile in an effort to protect themselves.

Stage 5 -- Rule-Oriented Stage

The rule-oriented stage tends to begin around the time that most children enter school. In regards to cognitive functioning, children in this stage begin to use concrete mental operations. They are discovering the second person perspective. That is, they wonder how they look to significant others. They now recognize external differences regarding features or behaviors and make simple comparisons based on these externals.

Adults who continue to function in this stage are preoccupied with discovering the rules for acceptable behavior and similar social conventions. They want to be liked and accepted, and they confuse looking right with being acceptable and accepted.

Stage 6 -- Conformist Stage

The conformist stage is that of early adolescence. In this stage, the need for belonging and being part of a group is at its peak. Security is dependent on belonging to a social group. Being part of a larger group allows them to share in the group’s power. The individual experiences a loss of self if not a part of the group. The boundaries between oneself and the group are blurred. Outsiders are rejected. Those with differing views are condemned. The adolescent has successfully internalized the rules of the group but fails to distinguish between rules and norms. The rules are partially internalized and obeyed without question. Behavior is subject to both fear of punishment and the disapproval of others. Behavior of both oneself and others is seen in terms of externals and not intentions, giving rise to superficial niceness. Feelings are understood at a banal level. Concepts are simple, and thinking is still dichotomous.

The adult who is functioning in the conformist stage does not yet have a self in the sense of a separate adult identity. He values being good, nice, and pleasant. He may be described as conventional, moralistic, sentimental, and rule-bound. What is right and wrong is clear to him—namely, what his group thinks is right or wrong. His feelings tend to be simple, his thinking is dichotomous, and he approaches the world through stereotypes.

Stage 7 -- Self-Conscious Stage

In the self-conscious or self-aware stage, there is the emerging of a rudimentary awareness of one’s feelings towards both oneself and others. Self-awareness is present but limited. Feelings are banal and always in reference to others. The individual recognizes himself as distinct from both norms and the expectations of others, and he can be self-critical. There is a limited recognition of traits. Reflections on life issues, such as God, death, relationships, and health, are limited. He is beginning to appreciate the multiple possibilities available in any situation.

Loevinger believed that the self-conscious stage was the modal or most common stage found among adults. Adults in the self-conscious stage are able to step back and look at themselves as objects from a distance. They are good at seeing multiple alternatives, options, and solutions. They assert their own needs and wants and express their own unique personhood or identity. These adults want to be accepted by others for their differences. Self-conscious adults fear losing their sense of uniqueness and resist getting drawn back into the fold. They know what to believe and are quick to label those who disagree as wrong. They are self-righteous and feel morally superior. They are competitive, intellectually aggressive, and have a hostile sense of humor. They criticize and ridicule others. They offer advice and share their opinions without any awareness that their opinions are only opinions.

Stage 8 -- Conscientious Stage

In the conscientious stage, the individual has a rich and differentiated inner life. Behavior is seen as traits instead of isolated events. True conceptual complexity is displayed and perceived. There is a consistent sense of self apart from social groups. This is the achiever stage. The conscientious individual values achievement, has long-term goals and ideals, and can see the broader perspective. Standards are self-chosen and distinguished from manners. Behavior is controlled by a sense of responsibility as well as by feeling guilty over hurting another’s feelings. Morality is based on principles. Behavior is judged according to motives and not just actions.

The conscientious person is an independent thinker, capable of self-reflective thinking. He can think in terms of formal operations and is beginning to appreciate conceptual complexity. A conscientious individual tends to ask lots of questions. He can see himself from others’ perspectives or points of view. True empathy is present. The conscientious adult is rational, analytical, conscientious, fair, competent, and successful.

Stage 9 -- Individualistic Stage

Adults in the individualistic stage realize that things are not necessarily what they seem. One’s interpretation of reality always depends on the position of the observer. The individualistic adult is preoccupied with the idea of the participant observer, i.e., the observer who influences what he observes. No one can ever be totally detached or objective. Individualists distrust conventional wisdom and rational, scientific truths. They no longer need to explain everything. Adults in this stage often withdraw to some degree from external affairs or the daily workings of their companies. They turn inward in search of their unique gifts or pursuing their own burning questions.

Individualists display a non-hostile type of humor, often directed towards themselves. There is an incipient awareness of inner conflicts and personal paradoxes, without a sense of resolution or integration. One’s sense of individuality is heightened. The individual expresses himself in unique and vivid ways. There is greater tolerance for both oneself and others. Subjective experience is valued more than objective reality. Inner reality is more significant than outward appearance. Distancing of oneself from social roles begins. Interpersonal values become more important than achievement. Relationships provoke feelings of emotional dependency, which may become a source of concern. The comprehension of psychological factors is present.

Stage 10 -- Autonomous Stage

The individual in the autonomous stage exhibits considerable tolerance for ambiguity. Individuality and uniqueness are cherished. Feelings are vividly expressed. There is an increased respect for the autonomy of both the self and others. The individual has an increased capacity for coping with inner conflicts. Conflict, both intrapsychic and interpersonal, is seen as unavoidable due to the expression of the multifaceted nature of people and of life in general. There is a concern for emotional interdependence.

The autonomous individual recognizes the systemic nature of relationships. Relationships are seen as interdependent rather than in terms of independence versus dependence. Ideas that were previously seen as incompatible are integrated. The individual also integrates diverse roles and identities. There is a loosening of conscience. An individual at this stage is motivated by concerns for self-actualization and self-fulfillment.

Stages 11 and 12 – Integrated Stages

Very few individuals reach the integrated stages. The integrated individual is seen as wise and broadly empathic. There is a reconciliation of inner conflicts and personal paradoxes. This individual has fully worked out his or her sense of identity. At this stage, the person is similar to Maslow’s description of self-actualizing persons. He is growth motivated, seeking to actualize his or her potential capacities, to understand his or her intrinsic nature, and to achieve integration and synergy within the self. As previously mentioned, the integrated stage consists of the construct-aware stage and the unitive stage.

Stage 11 – Construct-Aware Stage

People who reach the construct-aware stage are aware of the constraints that ego-centricity brings. They have a profound desire to explain human nature and the mysteries of life, but they recognize the futility of trying to attain a true understanding of anything while limited by reason, language, constructs, and rationality. They easily create theories that explain existence and just as easily discover the holes in the theories they create.

Stage 12 – Unitive Stage

The rare individuals who go beyond reason, language, and similar limits of the conscious mind attain the unitive stage or unitive consciousness. They are capable of taking multiple points of view and can shift from one perspective to another. They are said to take a universal or cosmic perspective. They are capable of changing their state of consciousness at will. They view themselves and others in the context of an ongoing, evolving universe. Their thinking is holistic. They are aware of the interconnections among all things. They understand that each person has his own destiny to fulfill, and that by fulfilling his destiny, he is contributing to the destiny of the whole. They know that no stage of development is better or worse than any other because all stages are necessary to the whole.

References and Resources

1. Cook-Greuter, S. R. (1994). Rare forms of self-understanding in mature adults. In M. Miller & S. Cook-Greuter (Eds.), Transcendence and mature thought in adulthood: The further reaches of adult development (pp. 119-146). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.

2. Loevinger, J. (1976). Ego development. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

3. Wilber, K. (2000). Integral psychology: Consciousness, spirit, psychology, therapy. Boston, MA: Shambhala.

Strokes: Warm Pricklies & Cold Fuzzies—Mixed Messages

I haven’t been able to find this information on the internet, so I decided to post it myself. It is a brief discussion of the effects of mixed messages given to both children and adults in TA terms. Teaching people how to recognize mix messages and how to confront and reject them is often an essential part of the psychotherapy process. Mixed messages are often a source of distress in love and work relationships. Parents continue to use mixed messages when they address their children, passing on needless suffering.

It is helpful to identify four kinds of strokes. Early in life people get addicted to one of the four kinds, defining the particular kind they like as a necessity and seeking that particular kind of stroke in their involvement with others.

The four kinds of strokes are as follows: (1) positive strokes (+) which feel good and say you’re O.K. (“warm fuzzies”), like being smiled at, hugged, admired, or chosen for something good; (2) negative strokes (-) which feel bad and say you’re not O.K. (“cold pricklies”), like being spanked, criticized, put down, snubbed, or sent to bed without supper. In addition to warm fuzzies and cold pricklies, there are two other varieties, (3) warm pricklies (+ -) and (4) cold fuzzies (- +), both of which are pleasure and love offered in combination with pain and degradation. “Hi, you lovable dingbat,” is a warm pricklie, as is “Well, how nice! You finally combed your hair!” A cold fuzzie is the giving a treat in the attitude of anger and resentment. Willie wants $.25 to get a toy, and his mother throws the quarter at him with an attitude of “take it, you rotten lousy kid, which makes getting the treat a bittersweet experience. Children need strokes to survive and will die without them. And although children survive best on positive strokes, negative strokes will keep a child alive, as well as the mixed varieties.

People who are used to positive strokes, who expect positive strokes and seek them out usually do not come for psychotherapy. What we find is that people go through life seeking the very same kind they received as children. For example, a little girl asked for something she got a response like “Take the cookie and choke!” with is a gift combined with anger and hatred, she pursues responses of begrudging generosity later on in her life. Some people have learned to live on + -.    

From Haimowitz, Morris L., & Haimowitz, Natalie R. (1976) Suffering Is Optional: The Myth of the Innocent Bystander, pp. 3-4.

Karma Mechanics -- How to Take Charge of Your Karma

Are you trapped in a karmic relationship? Are you stuck in a bad karmic cycle? Just what role does karma play in your life?

Most people have some familiarity with the Vedic concept of karma. Many such exotic concepts entered the consciousness of Westerners during the Romantic period of the 1800's. The countercultural revolution of the 1960's reintroduced the use of these spiritual and philosophical terms, and the New Age Movement has continued the legacy.

More recently, the award-winning television series My Name Is Earl has contributed to making karma a household word. We have come to speak of good karma, bad karma, your karma, my karma. We say that something or some relationship is karmic.

However, most people use the word karma [English—action] when they are actually talking about karmaphala—the results of one's actions. There is considerable confusion as to the true meaning of karma, leading many to suppose that the information on the subject is generally inexact and speculative—a mere hypothesis incapable of definite proof.

Karma is a term borrowed from the religions native to India. Outside of its original context, the word karma has been most associated with the idea that one is the ultimate recipient of his or her actions. But some call this the law of karma. Which is it? Is it karma, the law of karma, or maybe both, or neither?

And how does it work? How does the source of the action—the actor—become its recipient? Is the law of karma a physical law, a spiritual law, or some act of God? Can or does God ever intervene when it comes to karma? What is the place of karma in religions other than those of India?

My intent here is to present the detailed mechanics of karma and the karmic cycle as they have been known for thousands of years. I intend to show how karma is expressed precisely in our lives every day and how we can make positive changes in our lives that bring the benefits we desire. 

Karma is not the simple subject that many take it for. Its complexities have been preserved by the dharmic traditions of Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. In comparative religion, the religions that originated on the Indian subcontinent are referred to as the dharmic religions. Each of these great traditions has its own particular metaphysics and offers slightly different perspectives on the topic of karma.

I mentioned here the word dharmic. Few Westerners are familiar with this closely related concept of dharma. There was the television series Dharma and Greg that ran from 1997 to 2002. More recently, there was the "DHARHA Initiative," a secret project on ABC's Lost. But dharma just hasn’t caught on like karma has.

The Indian concept dharma is a fundamental principle found in the same central Asian philosophies that brought us karma. In fact, the notion of dharma may be even more fundamental than that of karma.

Karma and dharma are terms used by adherents of religions originating on the Indian subcontinent, but similar beliefs can be found in almost all religions. Karma is the principle that one will experience the consequences for one's behavior, and dharma is the principle that one has certain duties to perform or roles to fulfill in life.

At a deeper level, dharma refers to the essential truth of a being as well as the essential truth of all being. Our dharma tells us what we should be doing, and karma is the feedback we receive regarding how well we are fulfilling our dharma. In short, dharma is RESPONSIBILITY and karma is ACCOUNTABILITY.ma play in your life?

The Universalist Unitarian Church of Peoria

Well, I attended the Universalist Unitarian Church of Peoria (http://www.peoriauuchurch.org/) in their new building. It’s been 45 years since I’ve been there—yes, since the 1960s. The pews were full, and the congregation friendly. The sermon was good, but I never met the minister. There was a fire drill at the end of the service, which went very well.

I was so very fortunate to run into a dear, old friend of mine who had been essential in the course of my life! I wonder what fate, chance, synchronicity, serendipity, or whatever has in store for me if I return next Sunday. I am hoping to connect with others there who are interested in New Thought, meditation, astrology, reincarnation, theosophy, etc., and/or meet other members of the LGBTQ community.

Sometimes destiny doesn’t reveal itself immediately. That seems to be especially true in my old age. At one time one event quickly led to another. Meeting one person led to meeting the next. My life was obviously divinely guided. This process seems to have stopped since I moved to Illinois.

http://www.peoriauuchurch.org/

The Sylvia Browne Error

Browne rose to fame in part because of her frequent appearances on the Montel Williams Show between 1991 and 2008, where she would claim to speak to the dead and offer information about missing people.

One of her most infamous predictions came in 2004, when she told Louwana Miller, the mother of Amanda Berry, that her kidnapped daughter was dead.“She’s not alive, honey,” Browne said at the time, according to NBC affiliate WKYC's report on the segment. “Your daughter’s not the kind who wouldn’t call.”

In May, it was discovered that Berry was still alive and had been held captive by Ariel Castro for nearly a decade. Miller died in 2006 and was not alive to hear the good news -- or the news that she was exploited by Browne.

Browne responded to media questions with a prepared statement that included this line: "Only God is right all the time." from

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/21/sylvia-browne_n_4317470.html

I hate to call this the Sylvia Browne Error, but it seems that this is the best label for getting the attention that this phenomenon deserves.  Right this very minute there people all over the world giving "psychic" or "intuitive."

An old man came to our group yesterday, claiming that Dale Carnegie was guiding his life and telling him what he is to do. He also claimed that God, his mother, and UFO's were communicating with him. He kept forcibly pushing the planchette in whatever direction he wanted it to go. He was very obnoxious.

I have been attending a Meet-Up that meets several times a week for spiritual advice on metaphysical topics. The local woman (central IL) who gives out this advice claims to have special abilities since birth. She meets online twice a week. She just says ridiculous stuff and these other women believe her without any critical thinking of their own.

These are signs of very poor reality testing in narcissitic personality disorders. And these are things that are going on all over the world right now--all these psychic advisors and their clients.

The guy at the group said that it wasn't hurting anyone, but it is. For exmple, the late Sylvia Browne. These psyhics should make it clear that they could easily be wrong. Sylvia's response to her errors was that only God can be right all the time. Then she shouldn't have been pretending to be God.

I am not saying that I don't believe Dale Carnegie's student or the Meet-Up psychic. What they claim may be true. They both claim that because the thought came to them, is must be true and from a higher source.

I'm 61 and was raised in an atmosphere that was positive towards psychics and others who claimed to have some special connections. I can't even begin to tell of all the people I have meet who claim these special powers and who went on to hurt others and even themselves.

The Journey of Here and Now

"It takes every step of our long, winding journey to arrive to the realization of this moment. We cannot awaken one minute sooner; we can only arrive to this moment right on time - right now. We know this is true because it is the way it is."

- Lynne Forrest

This morning I ran across an interesting article on Astrology--

"Revisiting the question of astrology skeptics."

I believe this astrologer has good intentions and is sincere and helpful in her practice, and I would not discourage anyone from seeing her.

In one of her latest blog entries she was confused regarding astronomical facts that anyone--astrologer, astronomer, or whoever--should know before entering a discussion concerning the differnces between the tropical zodiac, the sidereal zodiacs, precession of the equinoxes, the ayanamsa corrections, the Ages of Man, and the Great Year.

I really hate to see laymen get confused from reading misinformation. I was taught many of these facts and definitions in grade school and high school. Some in college. Perhaps educational standards have fallen since then.

While going through what little I had left from my last move, I salvaged a paper with the following affirmation -- 

The divine purpose of my life and the dreams and desires of my heart now express themselves in wonderful ways that bless me and all those whose lives touch mine.

I haven't been able to find the author or a source. 

To that I would add from Richard Bach's Illusions, 

In the path of your true happiness lie the lessons you have chosen this lifetime to learn.

Taken together, these two statements capture the deepest understanding of contemporay western astrology.

The affirmation given in Unity's Daily Word yesteday (Saturday, October 11, 2014) was "I accept the activity of God in me and in my world."

The key word was "Grace."

That's one of the simplist and more refreshing definitions of astrology I have seen for a while.

Soul Age Determines One's Understanding of God

God -- the Infinite beyond all forms and attributes – is the ultimate and only Reality, best expressed as Nirguna Brahman. God is spirit and all that emanates from spirit is spirit. Different rates of vibration are perceived as different planes of existence. Conscious awareness focuses on one plane of existence even though being in the form of pure consciousness continues on all planes. Senses designed to provide a finite awareness of a limited range of vibrations gives rise to the illusion of separateness.

The Michael teachings present seven broad levels of soul or spiritual development: Infant Souls; Baby Souls; Young Souls; Mature Souls; Old Souls; Transcendental Souls; and Infinite Souls. Souls at different levels of spiritual development have different degrees of understanding of God. As a soul matures, its perception of existence enlarges and its understanding of God increases.

Awareness of higher dimensions, of the presence of God, and of the connection of all things comes from awakening the function of intuition. When trying to comprehend the higher dimensions from the lower dimensions, we can never get it all right. A lower state of consciousness cannot completely conceptualize a higher state of consciousness. As we grow, we learn more, but the finite can never completely comprehend the infinite.

Very young souls imagine God to be the incomprehensible forces of nature. They find comfort in Polytheism. Older souls see God as the “Lord” and “Creator” of the manifest universe – Ishvara. Ishvara (Elohim, Jehovah) is often seen in the creation myths of primitive peoples who imagine God as a superhuman being.

Three concepts of God have emerged: God without attributes of the worlds of form (Nirguna Brahman); God with attributes of the worlds of form (Saguna Brahman); and God the Lord of the Universe (Ishvara). Young souls worship Ishvara. Mature souls worship Saguna Brahman. And old souls experience Nirguna Brahman.

Whether Ishvara, Saguna Brahma, or Nirguna Brahman, the finite universe exists within God since God is infinite and everywhere and contains all things. The number of possible universes is infinite, all existing within God. And God exists infinitely beyond all the finite universes.

Life After Death on the Various Planes of Nature -- A Brief Synopsis

The following is a brief synopsis of my synthesis of all of the teachings I've studied, of all of my personal experiences, and of all the experiences that others have shared with me concerning death, life after death, and rebirth. Remember that when trying to comprehend the higher dimensions from the lower dimensions, we can never get it all right. As we grow, we learn more, but the finite can never completely comprehend the infinite.

In most Wisdom Traditions and tribal or aboriginal religions, the newly deceased individual remains in the etheric plane (the higher dimensions of the dense or physical plane (the etheric double)) and the lower astral planes for a while from which they can view, communicate, and influence the physical plane.

Most people leave the etheric plane after their funeral. A few get stuck there due to various types of problems. A few people reincarnate within 10 years or so after their physical death if they died young and have some very important business or strong ties to certain loved ones.

The average person or soul remains in the various astral planes for hundreds or even thousands of years. Once they complete what they need to do there, they experience the second death and move on to the mental planes. Buddha reportedly experienced 39 planes, but most traditions stick to seven planes with seven possible subplanes in this particular universe.

Despite all this “fragmentation” we are always connected to everything in and out of the universe. We may become aware of these connections in many different ways and to many different degrees. No matter where someone is among the higher planes, they are forever attached to their loved ones or certain situations either by cords of energy (modern Western occult teachings) or “dents” (samskaras) in their being (Major Indian religions).

In time the deceased dies on the lower mental planes. The Self rests on the higher mental plane called the causal plane. Eventually, the causal self or causal body creates on new mental body, astral body, and physical body (The etheric body is part of the physical body) that carries on accumulated characteristics of the deceased. These new bodies are the reincarnation of the deceased and they carry on where he left off.

Most people do not change much after death. Therefore, they have many similarities to their previous lives. They do not become worms or other lower forms of life. They can only become what they carried with them. The changes between lives are miniscule. Some animal souls who have demonstrated higher qualities may move on to human form.

Spiritualism, Spiritism, Swedenborgism, and recent teachings talk about how higher intelligences on these planes guide us and help us prepare for reincarnation. These guides and teachers may continue to be with us in various forms after birth.

Not everyone reincarnates. They may be ready to move on to some higher plane in some higher form. Moving up is a gradual process like any other change on all planes.

Also, the causal self may create other persons on the physical plane that may or may not be carrying on the spiritual or karmic influences of the deceased. They may create personalities in other time frames, both the past and the future.

And the causal self is part of a higher self (the Buddhic/Christ/Krishna body/plane or level of the Master). Each Buddhic Self gives rise to many other causal bodies. The Buddhic Selves are connected to the Atma, which is connected to the Monad, which is connected to the Adi -- the First, the Infinite, or God.

Astrology – The Celestial Tool of Self-Discovery

Holistic Health Center – September 4, 2014, 7 - 8 pm

Become your own astrologer. Astrology – The Celestial Tool of Self-Discovery is designed for both beginning and intermediate level students. We will begin by exploring the basic elements of astrology -- the signs, houses, planets, and aspects – and conclude with how these elements work together in the natal chart to portray why we think, love, and act the way we do. Learn how astrological archetypes reveal that each of us contains a unique combination of subpersonalities longing for expression.

Bring your laptops. Computers preferred but not necessary. Participants will receive two free natal charts of their own choosing – family, friends, lovers, celebrities, or whoever – at each session attended.

Each Thursday September 4^th, 11^th, 18^th, and 25^th. Cost -- $80.00 for four-week class, or $25.00 per session. Sign up today! Must register by September 2.

WHEN:  Thursday, September 4, 2014

7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

WHERE:  Holistic Health Center

4809 N Sheridan Rd.

Peoria, IL 61615

309-685-5777

COST: $80.00 for 4-week class, or $25.00/per session

For More Information and to RSVP, Please Call:

Dr. Gene F. Collins, Jr., Ph.D. @ 648-4262, or email @ drgfcollins@yahoo.com.

Gene F. Collins, Jr., Ph.D. has been counseling, consulting, teaching, and writing in the areas of astrology, numerology, tarot, meditation, metaphysics, psychology, psychotherapy, transpersonal psychology, and parapsychology for over 45 years. Dr. Collins received his B.A. in Psychology (1974) and his M.A. in Clinical Psychology (1975) from Bradley University, and his Ph.D. in Clinical-Community Psychology (1985) from the University of South Florida. He has published numerous articles in professional psychology journals. He is now a retired Licensed Clinical Psychologist.

Dr. Collins is certified in Natal Astrology (1974) by the American Federation of Astrologers. He is the author of Justin Bieber: Believe in the Magic: Justin Bieber's Astrological Portrait, Relationships & Forecast for 2013 (2013), Natal Astrology for Beginners (Volume 1: A Beginner's Resource Guide to the Signs, Houses, Planets, and Aspects (2012), Cosmopsychology – A Holistic Approach to Natal Astrology (2011), Harmonic Numerology: The Numerology of the Pythagoreans (2011), and Cosmopsychology – The Psychology of Humans as Spiritual Beings (2009).

Is Oscar Pistorius a militant Muslim? Or is he a wanna be. He should be castrated by the women of Nigeria with the others terrorists there. So he's white and South African. That does not give him the right to shoot and kill his girl friend. Just break up, idiot. Was there some type of palimony? Superhero goes bad.

There was no one else there. I suspect that is why he is being denied a trail by jury, but that is probably more of a fluke than a descent strategy. No one is buying his story. No one believes his phony cries. He seems to believe that his legs give him a moral superiority over others, playing their executioner. He needs to watch a few "Saw" movies. He should never be allowed to see the sun again and never wear those legs again. He did the crime. There is no confusion there. I'm a bleeding heart liberal, but indiscriminate killing should remain a crime.

Whatever happened to Biafra? All the recent fraud originating from Nigeria clearly describes it as a non-nation. They have made untold attempts on my accounts. I hope that the coming up conference will be successful. If not, Nigeria has lost its right to be an independent nation and should be completely expelled from the UN. It's time for Nigeria to become mandate status.

I'm sure life in Nigeria is unbelievably bad for many people there. And in my country criminality is truly popular. Nigeria is hardly the only country that should be treated properly here. Life is bad all over.

To claim that Islam gives one permission to treat people so badly...such perversion.

Listening to Blasphemy in Wal-mart

About two years ago, I was picking up some things in the pharmacy area of Wal-mart, when I overheard--and she did want everyone to overhear--about a two-month-old baby getting hurt. A worker there expressed remorse and concern. The customer told the worker that the baby wasn't innocent, but a sinner instead. I've heard a few other people say such stupid things before so I knew there was no reason to say anything.

This bitter old woman was projecting her inner hate in such an powerless was. She continued to misuse the Bible instead of looking at her awful life. There should be some kind of law against this.

Oh! There is! It's blasphemy. I have had difficulty understanding blasphemy. What could be said of God that doesn't have some or much truth to it. The qualities of God need to be discussed honestly and openly. Was Jesus the Son of Man as he said or the Son of God as others say.

These are very debatable topics with similarities in many religions.

The customer's hate for the 2-month-old baby and blaming that on God--well that is also a debatable topic, but this woman's hatred pushes it closer to the blasphemy edge.

Yes, there are many people in many religions who try to maintain that people are born sinful or evil. No one has proved that one yet and they have had plenty of time.  

Biblical truth cannot be proved by the Bible. That's like proving Playboy stories in Playboy. These resources can provide helpful suggestions, but they can't go any further. They need to be proved in the real world.

Truth is definitely not empirical. We know the human brain doesn't come close to logging in much of the Universe. Brane theory clearly shows us how little we can possibly know.

Putin, Putin, Putin -- Satan? Satan? Satan?

Is there a more disgusting name on the planet?

I understand and respect the deep relationship between Russia, Crimea, and Ukraine. Russia should have some important rights there.

That is not what is happening. Putin has been trying to disrupt the Ukrainian economy for many years. None of this has been necessary.

Putin, you are despicable. I'm not even against the United Russia party. So pulling together of the former Russia isn't a bad thing

It's the most horrible way you do things. Putin, there is no worse name on this planet.

But I have a very difficult time believing that you have said that the fall of the USSR was the worse thing that could happen? In the past two thousand years only one other thing betters the fall of the USSR and that is Jesus.

Sure it's been two thousand years and people keep using his birth to justify their evil actions. It may take another 2000 years before it becomes forbidden to do evil in the name of Jesus.

But please set the record straight--You could never have said that the fall of the USSR was a bad thing.

Bring Back Our Girls

The horrible kidnappings in Nigeria has no excuse. These young women should not have to live like this.

What the hell is going on there? Where is the law? That may sound stupid, but it's not. Those who committed such horrible acts deserve the best possible punishment.

The girls they took should be allowed to castrate their enemies.

There is no earthly religion or any other justification for such acts. If these criminals think that they are Islam, they need to rethink.

I would normally try to keep my country out of this, but no. This is too sick. Is Nigeria asking to lose its sovereignty?   Does it even have any sovereignty? These actions are not those of a sovereign country.

Chinese Sexagenary Cycle

As we know from the Chinese zodiac, turning 60-years-old completes the first phase of living. The first 60 signs have been realized. All signs have had their turn in the 5 moving elements of their zodiac. The person is complete. At such a time one must act or shut up. He or she has seen enough evil. The awakened being must now move carefully to heal problems in society without causing new ones.

60 is grey power. 60 is the power of the elders. What you do not do to improve this world and reduce its suffering, will hit you hard in both this life and the next.

Power to grey people!

Alphabet Medicine

In the past year I have been heavily mangled by managed health care. Managed care was developed in the 1970s to 1980s. It has helped many people and hurt many more. Now after 40 years of mangled care in this country. Illinois has decided to use it. How in the world did that ever happen?

Neutron bombs work just as well. Should we bomb all of the health clinics and hospitals to get rid of the medically needy. This seems to be the logic of the legislators behind these changes, made by people who never had to use mangled care.

There are answers and mangled care is not one of them.  

It is sickening to see what younger people say about the older, pretending that the older will never know.

A little history:

The fall of holistic medicine in Europe occurred in the 17th century ad. In America the American Civil War started us down the slippery slope of allopathic medicine.

Holistic medicine continued and continues to be practiced throughout the world. Many lands invaded by and controlled by the Europeans were forced to give up holistic medicine to some degree. The Indians, North and South Americans, the Chinese, and the Tibetans resisted and rebelled. Some more successfully than others.

In the late 1800s, India reintroduced holistic medicine to North America. In the 1960s the eastern world flooded Europe and the Americas with their holistic practices. Since then we have been blessed by the many holistic traditions and practices. We have choices. The war continues. Many people want eternal youth, instant cures, and no death. Maybe the medical wars will never end, but this is the best I have ever seen medicine in my life.

As a child, I was subjected to horrible, horrible allopathic treatments.

Where I have been receiving allopathic treatments recently, I keep getting the "Food is poison" speech. Sometimes someone will give a "Food is medicine" speech, but that is a very rare speech there.  

I've been forbidden to engage in walking and other exercise. In one day of no walking my feet and ankles swelled beyond belief.

There is such a great disconnect between medicine and healing, neither have much to do with they way we currently understand reality. No one has yet to figure out how to work with our 11 dimensions, or more if we include nonphysical interactions. Eleven dimensions are based on the four physical energies of gravitons, photons, gluons, and weakons.

Are physical bodies as they exist within our four dimensional world are consciously or unconsciously moved and effected by these four powers. Of course there are probably many more physical energies that we know nothing about. We can't begin to predict the missing forces. Then what about spiritual forces. After Newton died, there was an extreme effort to remove the foolish ideas held by Newton and his friend.

Outside Europe and European culture, people held onto their spiritual beliefs and the spiritual elements that are part of the Universe. Quite frankly that means we know about 1% of the physical universe and .000000% about the spiritual universe.

Trying to control the universe by limiting it to a handful of forces and dimensions is not ever going to work.

Internet Fraud is the Answer to Unemployment

What should one do when an amazon seller steels bank card money codes and buys gifts with the card for his friends?

Yesterday a seller on amazon kept running up my bank account something fierce. I worked with some people from amazon all day long to get my money back. That went very poorly. 

Then surprise, today someone on ebay did the same thing. I closed my ebay account. I am waiting to get my money back from amazon before I close it.

Then I have to go to the bank and get a whole new account.

Internet fraud is such a big and powerful career choice. If we count all the available opportunities for internet fraud, there are enough business positions for employment for everyone. There may never be enough people to fill these positions."Now isn't that special."