Faculty 1: Atmatype
The Secular Self
Atmatype Anthem: I have a name.
DewBee Tales: The Core Story
"The road to the sacred leads through the secular." - Abraham Joshua Heschel
The Secular Self is the main character in Faculty 1 and represents our human existence as seen from the outside in perspective. We need verification of things like a name, address, social security number, birth certificate, driver's license, passport and transcripts to prove we exist in time. The Secular Self is our personified resume, without one it's difficult to be a player in the game of life.
The Secular Self is subject to gender, heritage, society, culture, current events, tradition and generational trends. Many times, our Secular Self is defined by external factors more than a clear understanding of what's needed within. The expectation to fulfill a certain role in a family or community can exert tremendous influence on how we choose to express our identity to the world. The challenge comes in authoring authenticity to reflect and relate with what we care about the most.
From a cosmic perspective, however, The Secular Self embodies a unique blueprint encoded with all of the karmic lessons that our Soul needs to learn in this earth-walk. In many spiritual paradigms it is thought that each Soul selects their blood family based on the factors needed to shape liberation.
Tread softly with this proposition, as the idea can often be an inflammatory one. But, at the right time in destiny's course - carefully consider these poignant questions:
- What if my soul chose my parents as well as the details of this body in order to amplify the themes needed for growth and realization?
- How would this perspective promote healing, forgiveness, personal power or accountability?
- From this point of view, what's the relationship between fate, faith and free will?
Animal
“How does one become a butterfly?” She asked. “You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.” -Anonymous
The Caterpillar is symbolic of profound potential and metamorphosis. Like the infant stage prior to spiritual maturation, the caterpillar represents the gestational prelude to portals and passages in evolution.
Just like the majestic butterfly, we must emerge from the cocoon to engage with the dance of shadow and light. The moment we arrive in space and time we are already more than just name and form. When we transcend this S.ocialized E.xpression (of) L.earned F.actors (self) we come to realize our true nature as S.upremely E.levated L.ife F.orce (SELF)!
Numerology
"The one thing we can never get enough of is love. And the one thing we never give enough is love." - Henry Miller
The number one is symbolic of both individuality and universality. One represents the role of The Secular Self in the journey to link individual power with the unified field. From the need to be favorite and best, to blue ribbons, gold medals and being first choice - the number one speaks directly to the very human need to feel special and loved.
When this craving for attention becomes all- consuming, however, we can lose sight of our innate worth. We get unplugged from source and one feels dependent on two and loses sight of infinity. Feelings of aloneness are at the core of our worst collective pain. But, ultimately one-ness leads us back to the light. In many paths, but residing in one truth --we have the potential to know unity, fulfillment and even bliss. (If only one day at a time.)
Numerological Pairings:
Faculty 1: The Secular Self, I have a name
Faculty 10: The Diviner, I can see without judgment
Faculty 19: The Student, I am still learning…
Color
"God has made us to be conduits of his grace. The danger is in thinking the conduit should be lined with gold. It shouldn't. Copper will do." - John Piper
Copper is a catalyst! As one of the oldest and most conductive metals in use, copper is often associated with love, beauty and the sun. Even though one cent doesn't buy a whole lot these days we still covet the many phrases that rely on it to define merit. Whether we have a penny to our name, a penny for our thoughts, we value the pretty penny as a shiny measure of worth. We save our pennies to earn our way, little by little, to our fullest potential.
Aroma
"After all these years, I see that I was mistaken about Eve in the beginning; it is better to live outside the Garden with her than inside it without her." - Mark Twain, The Diaries of Adam & Eve
Myrtle is a reminder of who we are at our core being. Far beyond personal features and socialized constructs, we exist as unique expressions of consciousness. Inhabiting both male and female traits, Myrtle transcends gender and reminds us of our divine nature.
When Adam was banished from Eden he was allowed to take with him Myrtle, chief of scented flowers and fragrance of Paradise. In Jewish mysticism, myrtle represents the masculine force at work in the universe, similar to the copper access of the Anya Mandala. In Roman and Greek mythology, however, Myrtle was associated with Venus and Aphrodite, Goddess' of love and beauty.
