[Updated 6/11/12 to be the Eight Truths.]
There is never a single truth about anything. This is a structure I created to help uncover the truths about a complex and troubling situation. Like the five rings of the samurai, there are actually six. [And now, years later, eight.] I will give the structure, then give an example.
STRUCTURE
0. Pick the topic you want to examine.
The default topic is, "My life right now." But it could also be, "My job," "This relationship," "My car," whatever is chewing at you.
1. The Apparent Truth
How it looks from the outside. To you. To anybody.
2. The Real Truth
What it's really like for you, on the inside. There are usually a lot of these, and they don't necessarily line up. If you haven't said a lot of them, keep going. Keep saying, "The Real Truth is..." "The Real Truth is..." The early ones reveal the middle ones, which reveal the later ones. Go until you run dry.
3. The Spirit Truth
If this were serving a spiritual purpose in your life -- if there were a spiritual lesson in this -- what would it be? Or, to put it another way, if you had created this situation deliberately, from some deep inner wisdom, in order to learn a Lesson you really wanted to learn, what is it? If you are religious, this might be a religious parable or proverb. If not, it might be something from nature. "This is the sowing of the fields." "This is the return of the Prodigal Son." "This is the heading out into the wilderness period."
4. The Shadow Truth
What is the dark side, the thing you don't want to admit you're getting from this? A true shadow has a juiciness to it, a savagery, a zing. It may relate to death, bleakness, cruelty, vengefulness, suicide, sabotage; it may be the thing you are spending a lot of energy trying to ignore.
5. The Fairy-Tale Truth
If this were in a fairy tale, known or unknown, what would it be, and what part are you? This could be, "This is Cinderella, and this is the part where I am returning from the ball with sore feet, one shoe, a pumpkin, and some mice." Or, "You know how in every fairy tale, there is a Prince? Well, this is the part where the Prince is saddling up his horse in the stable, and I am a mouse under the straw watching him." Or, "You know how in Star Wars, when Luke..." It can come from any archetypal story -- movie, book, myth, game, legend -- that your unconscious pops up for you.
6. The Unsaid Truth
If there is any truth remaining, that is arising for you after all those have been said, what is it? If there is one -- and sometimes there is not -- it might be related, or it might be something that seems completely sideways and unrelated, but is somehow needing to be said to complete this. "I miss my grandmother."
Some years later, I found there was also a seventh truth.
7. The Sexual Truth
If this were a sexual act, which sexual act is it and which part are you playing?
Some years after that, I found there was an eighth truth.
8. The Song Truth
If this were a song -- or, rather, if there were the perfect song to describe what is going on -- what song is it? Can you sing, or say, the lyrics you remember? Don't try to think of the song. Just go kind of blank, focus on the problem, and listen for what song your unconscious gives to you.
When you are done with all Eight Truths, you will feel refreshed and clean. Usually, one or two the lenses have given some truly unexpected insight. They have, finally, helped explain this confusing situation. So finally, instead of worrying over and over in the same patterns, you have some new paths that can lead you out. You feel peace.
There are no lenses which are always more powerful, or less powerful. Just answer each one simply, while listening to the nudges from your unconscious, and it will work.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
EXAMPLE
0. Truths about: My life right now.
1. The Apparent Truth about my life right now is that everything's back to normal. After a few months off to check out group theatres in Eastern Europe, I'm back in my house, rehearsing a new performance like always, living with my housemate, driving my old car, about to go get another job.
2. The Real Truth about my life right now is that I carry the Odin like a glowing golden egg in my chest. I am translucent. I am in the slow process of saying goodbye to America and my house, and moving to Denmark. I have outgrown most of the way I am rehearsing. There are Himalayas in my soul. The Real Truth is, I am holding on as long as I can, feeling it slip through my fingers like silk. The Real Truth is, this isn't nearly as easy as I make it sound; it is just happening, all by itself.
3. The Spirit Truth of my life right now is Plate Tectonics. Truths which have served me all my life are being ground slowly to dust against harder, purer truths which are emerging.
4. The Shadow Truth of my life right now is Destruction. There is a savage deliciousness in destroying. I could go too far. I will go too far. I am already too far.
5. The FairyTale Truth of my life right now is I am Wart, young King Arthur, in The Sword In The Stone, just after he has pulled the sword from the stone. It is silent. No one is there. Just leaves rustling in the sunny courtyard. He doesn't know what it means. There's just that... presentiment... that shiver, and the incredibly natural feel of a hefted iron sword. "I was born for this," you realize, even though you don't really get what "this" is.
6. The Unsaid Truth of my life right now is that this is all happening perfectly. Clumsiness, slowness, and all. I feel like I'm pregnant. Great changes are in motion. If I were painting myself, I'd draw rosebushes coming out all over my body, budding toward flower. When they're done, there might be no body left, only rosebush. Destruction, creation -- same thing.
7. The Sexual Truth. Pregnancy.
8. The Song Truth. "May the circle... be unbroken... by and by, lord... by and by."
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
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