Bodily Ego
The Bodily Ego (BE) is the ego that emerges from the neuronal operations of the Default Mode Network of the physical brain.
The Bodily Ego is a key psychic structure of the Physical Unit. It emerges as a consequence of the interaction between...
- Consciousness
- The Environment
- The Physical Unit itself
As ego, the Bodily Ego consists of the following three psychic elements:
- Self Identity (Awareness of Self)
- Self Esteem (Love of Self)
- Self Efficacy (Will)
The bodily ego is the "navigational computer" of the physical unit. It is responsible for (Sosteric, SA1)
- ensuring the survival of the physical unit (i.e. preventing accidents, defending against assault)
- fulfilling the Needs of the physical unit (food, shelter, healthy body, healthy mind)
- reconnecting with Consciousness (i.e. raising the Consciousness Quotient of the Physical Unit
- fully expressing the intent and will of the Resident Monadic Consciousness which inhabits the body
Notes
The bodily ego is often taken, especially by materialists, to be the locus of an individual's identity and the ultimate ontological source of being. "I think therefore I am," says Descartes. It is understandable how this conclusion may be drawn, especially by someone whose only experience is of Normal Consciousness, but it is erroneous. The little "i" of the bodily ego is a mere refraction of the big "I" (Spiritual Ego) that animates the physical unit.
The bodily ego has no independent existence. Without the animating embrace of Spirit, the brain may show basic autonomic functions and random cerebral activity, but there is no presence. Without the embrace of Spirit, there is no "I," and no "me." However, when Spirit embraces a living body, eyes open, identity is refracted, and Consciousness slowly emerges into the world that surrounds.
The bodily ego, which is rooted in the programmable structures and energy flows of the physical unit, automatically shapes itself in efforts to ensure survival, meet needs, and (if survival and needs are met) full reconnection.
Pleasure is a general, but by no means exclusive, indicator of survival and needs satisfaction.
Substances which are medium or long term destructive to the bodily ego/physical unit (for example Heroin/shopping/distance running) that provide pleasure (serotonin release) may become neurologically and psychologically confused with pleasures (eating healthy, exercising).
Healthy Ego
A healthy Physical Unit contains a healthy bodily ego. A healthy bodily ego consists of strong sense of self, high self esteem, and a grounded and realistic sense of self efficacy.
Healthy bodily ego is achieved when children are raised in healthy, safe, loving, and supportive environments (a.k.a. Right Environment.
Healthy environments are environments that provide for all the Needs of the [[Physical Unit].
Safe environments are environments that protect the child from all forms of assault and abuse, and that provide realistic and grounded guidance on how to "interface" with the world.
Loving environments are environments that provide Unconditional Love, acceptance, and support.
Supportive environments are those that support the realization of the full psychological, emotional, spiritual, and physical potential of the physical unit as container/vehicle of Consciousness. Unsupportive environments are environments that undermine full potential.
A healthy society that offers a Healthy Socialization process will ensure that all children are raised in healthy, safe, and loving environments. However, under current psychological and sociological conditions we endure a Toxic Socialization process. This toxic socialization process does do not support healthy ego development.
Capitalism, because it depends on disconnected / alienated workers for exploitation, provides unsupportive, unhealthy, unsafe, and unloving environments. Capitalism is a toxic system that damages the physical unit, undermines full potential, and distorts the bodily ego in the interest of private profit and accumulation (Sharp, RSGME).
Toxic societies that create and enable Toxic Socialization will neither pay much attention to, nor expend any effort or resources on, the provision of safe and nurturing environments.
The "normal" experience of a bodily ego damaged by toxic socializaton consists of low grade neurosis accompanied by rigid belief systems, uncritical compliance with establishment norms and values, and lack of empathic Connection to Self (which includes family, community, Gaia, etc). Under those conditions where the Physical Unit is subject to continuous abuse, and/or where the physical unit experiences premature crown chakra openings, low grade neurosis may expand into full blown psychotic dysfunction.
Dysfunction and Pathology
The bodily ego is a sensitive manifestation of cellular consciousness and, when improperly nurtured or actively assaulted, is subject to easy damage. Damage may range from the easy to treat outcome of mild physical abuse to the severe, intractable, and sometimes fatal ego destruction that occurs when children experience chronic neglect and assault. Damage may fall into several categories. Arranged in ascending order of damage and dysfunction, these categories are:
- Mild Ego Damage
- Ego Pathology Ego Dysfunction |
- Neurosis
- Psychosis
- Schizophrenia
Healthy Ego
It is difficult for extant science to identify the characteristics of a healthy functioning ego because there are currently no adequate reference points. The closest "modern" psychology has gotten is with their research on Peak Experiences. The closest we get to fully functioning physical and psychological systems may be found in the biographies of this planet's Avatars (e.g., Jesus Christ, Mohammad, Buddha, etc.). However even there, pathological social and psychological conditions, and political limitations, prevented full and healthy development.
Despite our limited experience with healthy personality structures, defining a healthy ego is simple. By definition, a healthy ego is an ego that is aligned with the Resident Monadic Consciousness thereby allowing the physical unit to contain a full measure of the animating Monad. In other words, a healthy ego allows full presence of Consciousness.
See Also
Ego | ( Spiritual Ego | Bodily Ego ) | ( Spiritual Consciousness | Bodily Consciousness) | (Outward Man | Inner Man)
Syncretic Terms
Bodily Ego | Little Ego | self with a little "s"
References
Sosteric, M. (2016). Maslow's Hierarchies. The Socjourn.
Sosteric, Mike. (SOA). The Science of Ascension. Unpublished. [1]
Sosteric, Mike (2017). The Rocket Scientists' Guide to Money and the Economy. St. Albert, Alberta: Lightning Path Press. [2]
Further Reading
Sosteric, Mike. (SOA). The Science of Ascension. Unpublished. [3]