“If you see your path laid out in front of you -- Step one, Step two, Step three -- you only know one thing... it is not your path. Your path is created in the moment of action. If you can see it laid out in front of you, you can be sure it is someone else's path. That is why you see it so clearly.” -- Joseph Campbell
Can we trust ourselves to carve our own trail?
“To know how to choose a path with heart is to learn how to follow intuitive feeling.” -- Jean Shinoda Bolen
2007-09-23 03:50:57 · 21 answers · asked by Kallan 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference
robert frost
i love that poem. i believe we all need to take our own path even if we have to create it as we move along it.
bright blessings to you.
2007-09-23 06:56:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
We must trust ourselves to carve our own trail, for if we do not then we give up free will, which is what separates us from robots and we would be nothing more than automatons. We would be stifled and crushed like those in "1984," where Big Brother would be the one to make our decisions for us, to ensure that we heed the call of an earthbound source rather than that which calls to us beyond the physical. Intuitively, we follow our Source, whether it be God / Goddess / All That Is, or Us at our Highest State of Being. Intuitively, we set our feet, one in front of the other, and we make choices, some of which destroy us, some of which recreate us, some of which teach us through pain, others through pleasure. It is through these choices that we learn, experience and acquire balance -- regardless of how imbalanced we perceive our lives to be.
When we perceive we have erred, we have probably made a wonderful choice, for through our errors we learn as much if not more as through our "good" choices. And if we waste our lives, it was our choice.
We suffer not because of another, but only because of our own free will. Likewise comes our joy. It is all about personal responsibility. I would not have it any other way.
(((Kallan)))
2007-09-23 14:10:20 · answer #2 · answered by Shihan 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Joseph never crossed a mine field has he?
sometimes the path is safe because it is been taken.
When you cross a shallow stream and you do not want to get your feet wet, you will jump from stone to stone, ( taking into account that they are there). but you get the understanding.
But, if your faith calls for you to walk on water, then there are no need for rocks, just faith.
Maybe it is more important to know where the path is leading to. Then you can always carve out your own trail.
2007-09-23 11:02:27 · answer #3 · answered by Diver Down 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I do.
Yet here is the difference. I care less about the destination than I do the path.
Think about a bus tour in the magical city of Vegas. The bus is going to end up exactly where it started, yet it was all the great things along the way that made the tour wonderful.
Life ends in death so you better make the tour worthwhile.
2007-09-23 11:34:55 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
That is a great quot from Campbell! :)
and it is so true. I don't see why we couldn't carve our own trail, the people that created religions did it! lol.
But then again who is to say that you can't follow someone Else's path And still be following your own? if your beliefs are different from others in your religion, then you are following your own right? Like for the Wiccans, and Christian~Wiccans.
Now tell me they aren't following their own path :)
2007-09-23 11:13:56 · answer #5 · answered by Bobby 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your questions are always thought-provoking, pleasant alterations from the usual in this section!
Of course, we must trust ourselves, because if we can not, we can not trust anyone! As for the path or trail, we may require guides (benevolent and not too narrow-minded) while we are young and inexperienced, but ultimately we must indeed be responsible for selecting our own ways in life. If we are unable to choose for ourselves, we shall not be living independent lives...
2007-09-23 22:49:30 · answer #6 · answered by Lynci 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I absolutely agree with the Campbell quote...
I would add my rational mind to the intuitive feeling as a means to find one's own path.
2007-09-23 11:26:40 · answer #7 · answered by Ũniνέгsäl Рдnтsthέisт™ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As a Christian Preacher I follow the path that God has laid out for me.
I know not from day to day where that path will take me.
2007-09-23 11:00:00 · answer #8 · answered by drg5609 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that, is the true meaning of free choice... you can, however, use parts of other people's paths to make shortcuts, until you reach a new intersection, a junction where you got to choose to take the trodden path, to take the hidden path or just sneak between the trees and see where it leads.
so much easy it is to go on the well trodden road, keeping traditions and such alive.
so... even when i walk upon a well laid path, i try to walk on its margins and stomp off it when i can :)
2007-09-23 14:30:56 · answer #9 · answered by joe the man 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can start a new path only when God reveals new knowledge to you and wants you to lead mankind down a new path. Such as He did with Moses. Believe me you will know this the day God contacts you about being the leader of His new plan to pave a new path for mankind. Moses did and now I do.
2007-09-23 11:13:24 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋