Editorial Style and Frame of Reference
About Information and Comments on this site
In a world hungry even desperate for knowledge, more specifically perspectives about the milieu of issues facing the human race in this modern era; channeled information, for some, is seen as a lifeline. It represents an out-of-the-box context that offers something transcendent, a source of spiritual realism rather than naive idealism or escapist cynicism.
By transcendent, I mean a sense of more universally applicable perspectives which can provide the mind with a rationale’ to understand its’ own power and frailty, without having to couch it under the religious concept of sin or limitations of your DNA. It is just you being human.
I am a metaphysicist. I too am looking for structure and causation beyond the limits of either current scientific or religious canon. I seek knowledge of the processes which motivate our bio-spiritual existence. I do not always desire an “answer” but rather a more rigorous and holistic way of assessing real options and precise tools to weigh them and then decide on my own. I do not have to rely upon the “one size fits all” modern method of reductionistic thinking. Oversimplifying complex problems for reassurance of my beliefs, the convenience of not having to evaluate and thus avoid my own ignorance, is the seminal hurdle we face as a species. In that regard, like philosophers, scientist, and even well-meaning spiritually-driven religionists, both past and present; my pursuits – and thus what I write and share with you – are compelled by a need to become courageous in the face of the vast complexity which is life itself. That means I stop self-deceiving. I am on guard of my willingness to believe misleading or unsubstantiated arguments just because they agree with my opinions, or have the support of a community of thought I might generally agree. But I also stop passively accepting or avoiding the morass of background noise called culture, without honing in on the congruity between their message in principle and their actualization in society via equity, justice, and transparency.
Located in these pages are the views of what I term myself as a skeptical psychic or a practical spiritualist. I care little for simplistic explanations, even when they cascade through me in response to someone’s question, unless their import and description can be translated into some useful worldly application. Application of which produces compassion, clarity and solution which perpetuate life and more fulfilling living…for all!
Thus, I assert that these are simply my opinions. However, I attempt to be in integrity with my principles by substantiating them with facts, references and sound logic. When I assert a new premise, I aim to make the descriptions understandable, relevant and applicable. But not rely on ad-hominem argument (name calling or personal attack). They are not THE truth JUST BECAUSE I SAY SO! In fact, that ego-driven stance to be right(eous) and thereby fluff up one’s own sense of power is only useful to foster esteem to not be overwhelmed by the many problems that confront us in our daily living. Like never before, that historic mechanism of psychological avoidance of responsibility has become one of the most dangerous to our survival as a species. Much of what I write will challenge you to examine your own thoughts. That process IS useful for our species! To be more contemplative, thorough and less attached to our beliefs while being more interested in locating facts and knowing how to accurately place them in context; is what I strive to do in the pursuit of truth.[1]
As a deist, I am predisposed to anti-theological[2] explanations or the purely mechanistic ones offered by our scientific investigations. My admiration of the intellectual rigor in the scientific method approaches almost sacred as a means of testing our assumptions to uncover facts. Thus, I do not believe in a god using magic nor a purely animalistic ‘invisible hand’ manipulating our instincts. Whatever truth of existence there may be, it is clear to me that we have not reached it. No religion to date has ever arrived at a sufficiently elegant description of the vast complexity of what God is. All are partial. Most serve a hierarchy trying to manipulate others, not liberate them. They paint the usually binary good-evil notion of the supernatural; and science purely behaviorist picture of human nature, neither is doing much to stem the incendiary wave of destruction humans are unleashing on the planet and upon each other. It is accepting that whatever the TAO is, as the totality of all things as referred to in the Michael Teachings; no single narrative from either domain has, or even could, define this driving force adequately. However, it is not a ‘mystery’ either, as theologies often paints anything they cannot understand nor predict. Instead, it is the trajectory of the direction of where to search next. There just over the horizon of our imagination in the as yet undiscovered country of our evolution in consciousness. So let’s stop arguing who is right an everyone have a little humility, eh?
My writings are crafted with the intent to face those so-called mysteries, not pretentiously cite dogma, but to reorient ourselves and our race in the direct of exploration, eschewing the competition for some supremacy of opinion as righteous truth. Ironically, in this search I have uncovered a rather paradoxical axiom about human nature: it is not governed by truth – it is driven by emotion! And the most potent assistance I can possibly render is this fact! Then secondarily is to help people gain emotional literacy! To educate people about the many variants of emotions, the purpose of each and how one might best embrace them as a source – not only for their human beingness, but as signals from the Source of all that is. Emotions do not use words! The mind, however, in an effort to understand them is constantly trying to put words to them. All invention of concepts and technology have been a combination of the inspiration originating from deep emotion, and reasoning mind attempting to assign of some significance to them. Emotion, also called inspiration, may originate in the co-mingled processes of the brain; but the mind is informed and shaped by what we love and what we fear; not just neurons firing synapses.
If in some small way, if these enliven you to ask better questions, awaken your curiosity, expand your compassion, or just improve your ability to notice and increase attention span; then this endeavor of self-review and intellectual probing will have been worthwhile. I cannot shape the race, I cannot change the race, but I can present to the race all that I have learned and surmised. Whether enough people consider the propositions presented here, then use them to become more aware of their emotions and rationalizations driving their behavior, is any one’s guess. But this is my exercise of both free will and freedom of speech as I spend my time of life in this way. So as you read these pages understand that the precepts of the Applied Michael Approach™, its learning aid The Michael Motivation Cards™ and the techniques of the No Fault Communication Methods underscore the articles and my own commentaries, herein. And if you disagree, do the world a favor…rigorously account for WHY you do. Employ verifiable facts from credible sources. Use sound reasoning clearly stating your premises and conclusions. Then when you assert your claims do so with more than “because I said so” as the underlying last word. You are entitled to your opinion, just own it as such.
I acknowledge no perfection nor superiority in my opinions here, just the pursuit of progress. May we realize that no one possesses the truth, but that we are all in pursuit of the truth.
May you find something to challenge your beliefs, expand your mind and open your heart.
Yours truly,
Stephen Cocconi
[1] “The pursuit of truth shall set you free-even if you never catch up with it.” Clarence Darrow- Defense attorney of the Scopes Monkey Trial in 1924 – Challenging the Teaching of Evolution in Tennessee Public School
[2] A term defined by Christopher Hitchens
