Talk:The Art of Creation (book)

Chapters

The Art of Creation

The Law of Nature, a description of the creation of the physical universe as a process that proceeds from pure desire through thought and finally to manifestation, in both the natural world, and through the apparatus of the Physical Unit.

There is the first birth of dim vague Feeling or Desire; then the growth in clearness and intensity of that Feeling; then its shaping into distinct Thoughts or Images; till these latter become intensely real to ourselves; then the descent of Thought and Feeling into our Nerves and Muscles, our Habits and Manners, the expression of our Faces, the very forms of our Bodies; and their ultimate translation into Action, and the results of our actions in the Outer World. Of this process there is no doubt. And thus we see that there is in Man a Creative Thought-source continually in operation...

Matter and Consciousness

A remarkable chapter where Carpenter philosophically deduces that

...(the ego) is a kind of widely-diffused substance of Mind, of which thoughts are modifications. Indeed, the idea is suggested that possibly all egos are in essence the same—that they are portions or branches of one universal mind-stuff, of which all thoughts and existences are modifications.

In this chapter Carpenter dances around the idea of a cosmic Fabric of Consciousness

The Three Stages of Consciousness

In which Edward Carpenter outlines a three-stage model for the evolution of Consciousness in humanity from Simple Consciousness through Self Consciousness and finally to Cosmic Consciousness which is a stage where humanity is capable of realizing and "reflecting" the universal I.

The Self and its Affiliations

In which Carpenter considers the Self "from the within point of view." Here, Edward Carpenter plays with notions of ego, attempting to distinguish Spiritual Ego from Bodily Ego, attempting to document the "evolutionary" emergence of Bodily Ego as an interim step towards Connection (what he calls Cosmic Consciousness). Note, Carpenter sees this in evolutionary terms, thinking that the bodily ego, what he calls the "Me" or the Elusive Self must develop before it can become "large enough...to reflect the universality of the I,"

In the final words of this chapter Carpenter vaguely points to a necessary process of Integration which occurs once an initial realization/Connection is made.

When I say the idea of the true Self arises, I do not say that at once the complete and final Individual is realized. Nature does not proceed per saltum. On the side of the past, there may yet be much “clinging to the old self”; and again, on the side of the future, there may be many new disclosures and revelations still to be made. But this stage—in which the human being begins at least to realize his universal life and identity; in which he, as it were, comes within sight of the end—forms such an epoch, that it may be taken as one of the great landmarks on his immense journey.

The Self and its Affiliations (cont.)

a remarkably sophisticated, for its time and level, look at how the relationship between Bodily Ego, Spiritual Ego, Collective Consciousness (what he calls Race Consciousness, and the Physical Unit. He Uses the cells of the body to illustrate the logic potential of Fabric of Consciousness, and the reality of disjuncture, which he calls "discrepancy" between the Spiritual Ego and Bodily Ego.

In these lights it does not seem difficult to think of the egos of the body-cells as one with the total Ego which represents the fusion of their separate consciousnesses—one with it, though each less adequately manifested than the whole. And indeed I believe they love to feel this affiliation; dimly they are conscious of it, and it vitalizes them, presiding over and directing their activities.

In the same chapter Carpenter also recognizes the reality of Disjuncture when he discusses the discrepancy that occurs when the cells "fall out" and "do not always do" what big Ego wants. Here he points vaguely to instincts, "hereditary thought and habits," and archetypes in the "Race Consciousness" as the source of "discrepancy."

In this chapter, there is also a recognition of the reality of Information Channels. "Let us return for a moment to the elementary act of knowledge or perception..."

Platonic Ideas and Hereditory

A chapter on "archetypes" and an examination of

• where they come from (i.e., hereditary, existing within The Fabric as platonic forms originating in "feelings') and
• how they work (i.e. by guiding how we perceive things and the actions we take).

Not really archetypes by the LP definition, which is human-made ideological constructions which attempt to provide answers to Big Questions, usually with nefarious attempt in mind (as in the case of the Masonic Old Energy Archetypes)). More of a realization of "primal ideas" as they exist within The Fabric, and an analysis of how these end up in physical creation as they travel down and are modified/tempered by individuals and experience.

The Gods as Apparitions of the Race-Life

In this chapter, Carpenter attempts to elucidate the power of "archetypes" have over the consciousness of individuals. He mentions mania and spiritual ecstasy, and points to various interesting phenomenon, like experiences of wonder at nature, the power of archetypes to move individuals to worship of Kings, to war, etc.. He even mentions some commentary by Dr. Bucke concerning a meeting with Walt Whitman in which he was overcome by a spiritual intoxication after being merely in his presence.

He suggests it is because these archetypes derive the power from the "life of the race," racial experiences, a blending of ideas, expressions of human physiology, etc. (precursor to Jung perhaps), but there are some problems with this.

For one, he doesn't seem to be aware that archetypes come to us through human intermediaries, Agents of Consciousness, and that these agents often work for the .01 percent., and that in this work they often devote many resources to using elite sourced archetypes to manipulate and control human behaviour.

For two,

=The Gods as Dwelling in the Physiological Centers

jesus christ a "real power"