When an open heart implies chaos

[Stranger]

A terrifying cautionary tale?  No, this is actually a nice illustration of how healthy and protective staying in a loving state is. 

Interesting perspective on Carla's case. I see the issue with over-activating the green ray, beyond what the lower chakras are naturally capable of, is the potential for a big crash afterwards (much like taking a drug such as MDMA). I see this as possibly leading to periods of depression when one's energetic resources are spent.

Just to make sure any misunderstanding is avoided, I was not referring to conducting any manipulation or over-activation of any ray.  Rather, I refer to: choosing to approach people and situations in a loving, compassionate way.  I assure you, nothing gets over-activated when such a choice is made.  

In fact: making the effort to find love despite our automatic negative reactions - vs - going along with whatever negative emotion a situation automatically triggers: that is the fundamental choice when we encounter catalyst.  That is the choice that determines whether you are using that catalyst to incrementally polarize STO or STS.

Even when there is no catalyst and our state is more neutral, finding love toward anything is STO-polarizing.  

This isn't something controversial, either: Q'uo repeatedly states that the answer is to find love in every situation.  In all honesty, this is the foundation of the entire practice and teaching.  If getting into the concepts of rays and whatnot distracts one from that basic truth, then all those concepts are actually doing a disservice.

Moreover, if one has not learnt to identify subtle (and not so subtle) manipulations from others, or aren't practiced enough in setting boundaries, then that person would more easily be taken advantage of as they attempt to express unconditional love without an appropriate level of self-love to balance their choices.

No question - love for others and love for self need to be equal; all is One, and the answer is love for All, oneself included.  

Until one reaches that perfectly balanced point, however, it is important to distinguish earthly benefit from spiritual benefit.

The only thing the larger/truer You - the You outside of incarnation - cares about is polarizing, being of service, coming closer and closer to God.  To achieve that goal, the larger You is willing to endure all kinds of suffering - in fact, intentionally programs all kinds of suffering for itself - because from the other side of the veil, it knows that the Love you farm inside yourself while on this planet is what you get to keep.  Emotional wounds heal, the physical gets left on the physical plane, but the Love you grow makes you ever more radiant and whole.

So, clearly, from the point of view of our more clear-headed (unveiled) Selves, if you sent love to someone and they've taken advantage of it - and you've been able to meet even that catalyst with love - then guess what, you've just "won" in the only way that matters.  Consider the example of Jesus on the cross, forgiving and loving those who put him there "for they know not what they do", and forgiving and loving those crucified next to him.  

There is also a great allegory about this by Isaac Bashevis Singer - a short story called Gimpel the Fool.  Gimpel is continuously being taken advantage of but remains a steadfastly decent, generous, kind, service-to-others soul; spiritually, he is the "winner" of all those interactions.  His love was not balanced by wisdom, but that's not the goal of 3D.  If he were real, he would have graduated to 4D with honors.

Clearly, if you're being taken advantage of, it makes sense to walk away - but to walk away with love, without bitterness or retribution; and if those feelings are there, then definitely they need to be met, within oneself, with love.

I agree that one should err on the side of acting respectful towards others to the best of their ability. However in my personal experience, forcing a loving state internally has only been detrimental to my long-term ability to express unconditional love. I have found it much more efficacious to sit with whatever emotion arises in the moment in non-judgment in order to better understand myself (yet I suppose this is an extension of unconditionally loving the self).

That's exactly right - by meeting your emotions with compassion, you are reacting to the catalyst in a loving way.  The most wholesome response, again, is love to all parties involved at all times; it does not have to be either /or (compassion to self or to the others in the situation).