(5 minute read)

Or More Importantly, What The Hell Are We Doing?

Coming into this particular body, and being born of these particular parents, and in such a place, and in general what we call external circumstances. That all happenings form a unity and are spun together is signified by the Fates…

Plotinus, Second Ennead

Greek philosopher, Plotinus, lived, wrote, and taught during much of the third century. He is often cited as the third most influential philosopher, behind Plato and Aristotle, in that order.

Good list to be in if your a philosopher.

He spent most of his life interpreting Plato for the learned class of the third century. He thought Plato’s works needed translation to be more hip for the third century elite. Plotinus’ writings were cherished over the years eventually influencing the great writers of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. He is cited throughout the centuries by influential theologians of the major religions.

The quote above is included here to continue the thought of Hillman’s “acorn theory.” It discusses living “the third way,” a way of life that elevates our internal thoughts. This perspective elevates us to more than only being victims of genetics or environment.

So the question now being addressed is how do we elevate our thoughts? How do we make sure we are planting our acorn in fertile soil? Like the gardener, is there an optimal way of planting, feeding, and watering the acorn to guarantee growth? How do we know we are not wasting our time chasing after one philosophy over another?

As a species we are really good at providing manuals for things. Maybe we don’t read them but we sure know how to produce them. From printers to automobiles, we can expect a manual to show us how to answer every question (maybe). Manuals also provides steps on taking care of the product to guarantee ease, happiness, and longevity of the product.

We do a pretty good job with producing manuals for humans, as well.

Want an specific education? We’ve got classes and books for that. We can tell you what classes are important to take for your chosen career. We’ll even give some documentation that proves success and completion when you’ve satisfied the requirements.

How about joining or converting to a particular religion? Yep, classes and books for that, too. We might not have documentation to prove completion. Yet, we’ll celebrate the completion with some kind of rite of initiation. Finish them and we’ll welcome you into the group.

Civics groups, corporate boards, freshman politicians, new employees, etc., like all other groups are initiated into the tribe. The beginners are provided informational meetings or seminars to help guide the initiate through the process. This prevents them from wasting time on trying to figure out things for themselves.

The completion of these tasks is vital to knowing what is expected of us. Instructions are a help to our society at large. However, they are often seen as only a means to an end. The real fun comes from moving beyond the “newbie phase” out into the world to find our place in it.

All of the great thinkers, from Plato on, emphasized the importance of nurturing the mind, soul, and life force. They believed it must be regularly fed the “good stuff,” including culture, nature, mind challenges, and proper moral lessons. The soul needs models to help it grow downwards and upwards. Deny one or the other, or worse, both, and the life force will die, the “genius” whither.

And so, we created myths. These stories are intended to convey eternal truths. They offer “soul food” and “fan the flames” for the soul to burn.

• King Midas – granted the ability to turn to gold everything he touches only to fully realize that the gift is a curse after turning his daughter to gold
• Narcissus – becomes obsessed with his beauty after seeing his own reflection. Vowing to stay until the reflection “loves him back” he eventually dies withering into a flower
• Sisyphus – cheats death and lives to a ripe old age. When he eventually passes he finds himself in the Underworld condemned to pushing a rock uphill only to have it roll back down, a task he must repeat forever and ever

In America, we have replaced the Greek gods for Tech gods. They and the culture they create are the new hero worship.

Each of these myths are told to convey truths. We are given opportunities to ascend from our worldly concerns. This is especially true during times of strife. The myths inspire us to move upwards out of our circumstances, even if it is only in our mind.

All of the major religions offer their own unique language that gives value to “reaching” the heights. In the Christian tradition alone the heavens provide a special value. The admonishment to “look up” when things are dire encourages the idea that better things are up high. Examples of things descending suggest that worse things are down below.

The sentiment translates to Western morality, as well.

• Darwin’s thesis, The Descent of Man, is transposed in our minds to the ascent of man
• Whole groups of people become mobile, moving upwardly in social ranks and literally moving from downtown to uptown to more affluent neighborhoods
• To be an adult is to be grown up

The metaphors we’ve created for maturity or spirituality focuses mainly on the upward part. However, the oak from the acorn doesn’t grow on top of the soil. It grows in both directions after establishing the roots needed to survive the elements above.

Enough has been written about upward mobility. It is the growing down part that needs to be looked at here.

So let’s dig down.

Read The Acorn Theory, Pt. 4