Leveling Up

WHAT IS TRUTH?

Merriam-Webster defines "truth" as - 1.the body of real things, events, and facts; actuality. 2. the state of being the case; fact. When capitalized, "Truth" takes on a transcendent fundamental, or a spiritual reality. But, where does truth exist? Can I point to some thing, some place, some event and say definitively, "This is truth"?

I have found the more I examine and question the history and motivation behind my "truths", the more I discover that they are merely variations in perspective. The ultimate "truth" is that there is no "ultimate truth". As Socrates says aletheia (truth) is a compression of the phrase, " a wandering that is Divine"...we are ever seeking "truth".

"I ONLY TRUST WHAT I SEE"

The wide array of colors in the accompanying photo are all different shades of "blue" (which we will use to illustrate our truth). Those of us with what we consider a "normal" range of visual acuity will agree that each of these 6 color samples would fall into the general category of "blue" (remember to think "truth" every time you read "blue"..."true blue" get it?), but each distinct color has its own descriptive name. There are North Pole Blue, Beacon Blue, Frisky Blue (I like that one), and Empress Blue. The other two colors don't identify as "blue"....Inked and Mayan Treasure, but are easily linked to the general idea of blue. These cards all come from the "color church" of Behr Paints, and is only a portion of the spectrum available. Each of the cards is exposed to the same light and angle, the same temperature and altitude. The cards are all made of the same substance, from the same manufacturer.....

QUELLE DIFFERENCE?

Let's look at a brief history of the color blue. Scientists generally agree that humans began to see blue as a color when they started making blue pigments. Cave paintings from as far back as 20,000,000 years ago lack any blue color, since blue is rarely present in nature.

Even as the English language developed, blue was late to the table relative to other colors. "White" and "black" were the first color words in English (and most other languages). The next color to appear was "red" (wine and blood), then "yellow" and "green", until finally "blue" made its way onto the scene.

In 431 CE the Roman Catholic Church decided to color-code the saints. Mary, seen as the epitome of innocence and trustworthiness, was given a blue robe in a shade that became known as "navy blue". The military and police soon adopted this color in an attempt to convey a similar essence of trust.

As "navy blue" become increasingly associated with authority, people sought to develop different shades of blue to convey the color's original, peaceful, subdued meaning. "Robin's egg" and "powder blue", over time, became the incredible and varied spectrum of colors we now consider as "blue". The only difference is the intent, the desire of EXPRESSION, that each variance in shade represents. Even as we observe and examine each of the cards, what we see is unique to the individual. And these differences arise from our own expectations (verified by the double slot experiment).

In fact, it has been theorized that before humans had words for the color "blue", they perceived the sky as another color. When a child who has never had the color of the sky described to them struggles to describe its color. An ancient Nambian tribe, with no words for the colors "green" and "blue" was shown a set of 11 green and 1 blue square. Members of the tribe were unable to distinguish between the two colors.

And so we see, the development of color was a direct result of a desire to communicate our individual perspective. The subsequent expansion from a single "blue" to the myriads of shades available (and becoming available) is the result of each individual expressing their own unique "shading", from their own unique perspective.

SO....

That's really interesting, but what has that got to do with "truth", right?

Each of the "truths" we hold was, like the "navy blue" assigned to Mary, charged with meaning. In the desire to express, or communicate, our "truth" we seek confirmation from others that they are perceiving the same phenomena. A back and forth occurs until an agreed upon representation of the "color" has been adopted. This process can take quite a long time. In the case of the Nambian tribe members, it would involve multiple layers of communication to establish even the existence of "blue".

Our "truths" are not something to hold onto, places to hang out, castles to defend. They are simply observations....perspective. They are the shading that our Individuated Expression reveals to the world. They are neither "right" or "wrong", "good" or "bad". They just are. Embracing my truth does not invalidate your truth. We express our truth, seeking confirmation, and hopefully the layers of communication begin and an agreed upon perspective can be attained.

Too often, the emotions attached to our "truths", cause us to erect shrines to them in our hearts. Any challenge to the "truth" is seen as an attack, driving us to defensiveness and division. We shrink back from any exchange that weakens our willful grip, seeking further and further confirmation until we find ourselves in a group...a religion, a team, a political party, a class, an ethnicity...in order to confirm and cement that what we hold is absolute truth.

But, it is in those exchanges we avoid, those challenges to our "truth", that we grow. In observing the other perspective in the seeking to communicate the truth of who and what each of us is, we grow. We explode in understanding and empathy and courage and hope as individuals. Our collective knowledge and perspective and compassion "level up". We become the true Individuated Expressions of the Divine Whole we created ourselves to be.

WHERE WE ARE

And so we find ourselves on the cusp of a great evolution. We are moving into a new realm of thought and understanding. Old "truths" will be challenged, old beliefs will develop holes, ancient landmarks will crumble. It is necessary. This baggage cannot be carried into the new paradigm. Hold your "truths" loosely. We are leaving the cocoon. New "truths" are arising.

Namaste- RC9