Positive and Negative interpretations of catalyst

[Plenum]

I was out with a friend last night, and he was rather exhausted, and in his frame of mind he was rather misinterpreting/misunderstanding much of what I was saying or trying to say.

he kept accusing me of being sarcastic and trying to undermine him

now, as some of you might appreciate, I may take many approaches to what I do and say, but the use of sarcasm is one of the rare tools I may pull out of my toolkit, and employ for specific occasions (as a comic reply to a spambot, for eg). Its not something I employ very often, and its not something I use lightly, without truly considering the circumstances.

anyway, my friend was tired, and rather skewing my words to being attacks.

I was sort of reminded of the positive/negative interpretations of catalyst.

now, to my understanding, a positive use of catalyst is one in which one ends up with the end-result of feeling closer to the other individual, or there is an acceptance, and final resolution to a loving/understanding attitude. Despite whatever the catalyst may be (it may be quite harsh, something deliberately hurtful, it may indeed be someone questioning you or mocking you), you come to a point of view where the other is not seen as separate.

the negative interpretation of catalyst, however, is the filtering of catalyst so that one sees the self as distinct from the other. The catalyst is turned into - "you are attacking me", "you are mocking me", "I am superior to you", etc etc despite what the original (maybe positive intentions) of what the other person originally were.

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now, as these forums illustrate (and the many cognitive distortions that result), one can turn almost any positive catalyst into a negative interpretation, and almost any negative catalyst (that which is delivered with disdain, sarcasm) into a positive catalyst.

how you have interpretated the catalyst depends on how you are feeling after the catalyst is processed. Think of the individual who said the words that delivered the catalyst, and if one thinks loving thoughts, accepting thoughts, happiness to be around that individual (despite whatever catalyst was offered) it is most likely that a positive interpretation of that catalyst was the end result.

if, however, if you say that persons's name, and the image is of being hurt, or being attacked, or 'I'm going to offer the best rebuttal to his argument", or I don't want to be in the same room as that person, or I don't ever want to interact with you ever again, or anything like that, then the catalyst is most likely to have been turned in a negative fashion (increased separation from the other self).

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I have said this before, but in my experience, these forums offer some of the most abundant, dense, various (lots of variety) and challenging catalyst that I have come across in my life. Used in a positive way (positive interpretation) you can decrease the amount of reactivity (increased acceptance) you may have in the most remarkable way.

"The nature of polarity is interesting in that those experiences offered to the Significator as positive frequently become recorded as productive of biases which may be seen to be negative, whereas the fruit of those experiences apparently negative is frequently found to be helpful in the development of the service-to-others bias. As this is perhaps the guiding characteristic of that which the mind processes and records, these symbols of polarity have thusly been placed."

[Bang Kaew]

I see catalyst as being neutral and one then chooses to, or not, use that to polarize more. I personally try to meditate on the event until I can see how to use it to become more positive.

[Melissa]

What did you say to your friend, if you don't mind me asking?
See, I interpret your responses as sarcastic too, sometimes. For instance; I don't understand what's so funny (smilie) about a friend who feels you're undermining him.

[Melissa]

[double]

[Plenum]

What did you say to your friend, if you don't mind me asking?
See, I interpret your responses as sarcastic too, sometimes. For instance; I don't understand what's so funny (smilie) about a friend who feels you're undermining him.

because that wasn't my intent.

anyway, I eventually got my friend to connect to his emotions, and acknowledge the absurdity of the situation. He started chuckling, and I did too, and he basically shifted his emotional state from one of being 'attacked' to one where there was love present - ie, me there as a patient listener.

I know the state well ... that of exhaustion and twisting and distorting the words of another (being over-sensitive etc). It was something I experienced quite a bit of during my first few years of nightshift, and definitely a condition I am most compassionate towards.

[Melissa]

I get it now Apologies if I came across a bit judgmental and thanks for elaborating.

[reeay]

Bang Kaew's point is v. interesting. The event is neutral, and that we continuously ascribe meaning to it, depending upon how we interpret catalyst. I think when people are drunk or tired there's a level of disinhibition + moods state that influence cognition.

[Unbound]

I see catalyst as being neutral and one then chooses to, or not, use that to polarize more. I personally try to meditate on the event until I can see how to use it to become more positive.

Would you say catalyst is seeded as potential, and is made kinetic when it is polarized?

[Unbound]

Double post.

[AnthroHeart]

Fascinating that what we get out of catalyst is how we interpret it.
I hadn't really thought that catalyst could be interpreted in a positive manner.

[zenmaster]

I hadn't really thought that catalyst could be interpreted in a positive manner.

Why not?

[Bang Kaew]

I see catalyst as being neutral and one then chooses to, or not, use that to polarize more. I personally try to meditate on the event until I can see how to use it to become more positive.

Would you say catalyst is seeded as potential, and is made kinetic when it is polarized?

exactly. Ra said most catalyst is not acted upon and therefore they are offered more until they make a choice.

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Fascinating that what we get out of catalyst is how we interpret it.
I hadn't really thought that catalyst could be interpreted in a positive manner.

interesting study that shows that about 30% of criminals AND high achievers have lost a parent as children. The first catalyst in my life made me consciously choose to be bad (i deserve it right?) the 2nd one slowly made me a better person. Reading the Law of One was a massive help!

[AnthroHeart]

I hadn't really thought that catalyst could be interpreted in a positive manner.

Why not?

I always thought that catalyst = challenge.

[zenmaster]

Why did you equate catalyst with challenge?

[Parsons]

Actually, I would tend to agree. Catalyst, by definition, is going to be in an area where you need 'improvement' (for lack of a better term). I would expect catalyst to be in direct proportion to the severity of the distortion being worked on.

I suppose some of the very mild catalyst tends not to be recognized as catalyst since it is not very challenging.

[Spaced]

cat·a·lyst
noun \ˈka-tə-ləst\

1: a substance that enables a chemical reaction to proceed at a usually faster rate or under different conditions (as at a lower temperature) than otherwise possible
2: an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action

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Not necessarily a challenge, just something that causes you to act/change

[zenmaster]

If catalyst can be ignored, then how can it be defined as something that causes you to act/change?

[Parsons]

I would call it an impetus for change, but not an imperative.

[Spaced]

If catalyst can be ignored, then how can it be defined as something that causes you to act/change?

good point

[zenmaster]

Ra defines catalyst as something to offer experience. "In fact all that is unprocessed that has come before the notice of a mind/body/spirit complex is catalyst." And if catalyst is consciously processed (for example, evaluated) it becomes experience. It seems that the main determinant for particular experiential catalyst being drawn to a person, relative to their particular evolutionary needs, is none other than their own pre-incarnative programming.

[AnthroHeart]

There were a few times when I was doing spiritually very well, and I wanted to rewrite my soul contract based on the experiences I had to that point. I sort of regret doing that now. I hope that I never made a change to my contract for real because I can't see the bigger picture, and I realize I couldn't take my experiences at face value.

[zenmaster]

There were a few times when I was doing spiritually very well, and I wanted to rewrite my soul contract based on the experiences I had to that point. I sort of regret doing that now. I hope that I never made a change to my contract for real because I can't see the bigger picture, and I realize I couldn't take my experiences at face value.

"The bigger picture" and a "soul contract" are the same thing.

[ChickenInSpace]

Actually, I would tend to agree. Catalyst, by definition, is going to be in an area where you need 'improvement' (for lack of a better term). I would expect catalyst to be in direct proportion to the severity of the distortion being worked on.

I suppose some of the very mild catalyst tends not to be recognized as catalyst since it is not very challenging.

I would count inspiration to 'catalyst' as well. Inspiration need not be a challenge as such.

But as zennie pointed/quoted out, all experience becomes catalyst should you choose it to be.

[Bang Kaew]

Actually, I would tend to agree. Catalyst, by definition, is going to be in an area where you need 'improvement' (for lack of a better term). I would expect catalyst to be in direct proportion to the severity of the distortion being worked on.

I suppose some of the very mild catalyst tends not to be recognized as catalyst since it is not very challenging.

for an area needing improvement would be planned catalyst but I think most catalyst is random. What do you guys think?

[Plenum]

well, there is this aspect of catalyst:

54.17 The more advanced the entity, the more tenuous the connection between the sub-Logos and the perceived catalyst until, finally, all catalyst is chosen, generated, and manufactured by the self, for the self.

in my mind, catalyst reveals itself by a certain 'reactivity' in consciousness, and through the daily business of living, I think you are right, it is capable of being randomly 'triggered'.

however, in the quietude of contemplation or meditation, one can consciously seek out those areas that one is aware of that one is over-sensitive to, and yet are not brought to the fore of consciousness by any lived experience or event; in this way, a certain responsibility for reducing self-distortions is achieved, as if the balancing is done before the event, there is no need to go through the suffering of the event to learn the lesson.

one can have 'in your face catalyst' (major events, catastrophes, big illnesses) or one can have 'a word to the wise' type catalyst, which are the whisperings and breaths that something is slightly off kilter, and if paid attention to, and addressed, the understanding can be corrected before any need to 'escalate' the prompting.

a couple of Ra quotes on this point:

83.27 You may see, in some cases, an entity which, either by pre-incarnative choice or by constant reprogramming while in incarnation, has developed an esurient program of catalyst.

Such an entity is quite desirous of using the catalyst and has determined to its own satisfaction that what you may call the large board needs to be applied to the forehead in order to obtain the attention of the self.

In these cases it may indeed seem a great waste of the catalyst of pain and a distortion towards feeling the tragedy of so much pain may be experienced by the other-self. However, it is well to hope that the other-self is grasping that which it has gone to some trouble to offer itself; that is, the catalyst which it desires to use for the purpose of evolution.

(that quote always makes me smile; I can appreciate the use of the 'large board applied to the forehead' in my own life very much )

and:

61.7 as we have said, that catalyst not used fully by the mind and spirit is given to the body.

in this way, any distortions in the physical vehicle that are distorted away from perfect, balanced, vibrant health can be seen to be indicative of 'spillover catalyst'. And how many people can claim to inhabit such a physical vehicle? not many, I am presuming.


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the 'triggers' for catalyst may be random, but the actual 'reactivity' is not. Reactivity is a fairly well defined process, and through following through on the mentally projected dramas in the Projection Mechanism, you can backtrace the source of the lack of acceptance that is at the root of all distortions.

find the lack of acceptance, and you will find the source of the catalyst.

[zenmaster]

But as zennie pointed/quoted out, all experience becomes catalyst should you choose it to be.

other way around: any catalyst may become experience, if you choose it to be. When you initially have the opportunity to notice something, that's catalyst for potential experience. Experience is that which has already been processed through some form of determination or conscious application. Merely noticing something is prior to any knowledge of it, although how it is interpreted is dependent upon prior knowledge.

[Melissa]

Is it possible that as you become more self-loving the amount and intensity of catalyst increase when you're in a relationship with someone who triggers/mirrors feelings of negativity?

[zenmaster]

Is it possible that as you become more self-loving the amount and intensity of catalyst increase when you're in a relationship with someone who triggers/mirrors feelings of negativity?

not if you define love as acceptance.

[Fastidious Emanations]

Merely noticing something is prior to any knowledge of it, although how it is interpreted is dependent upon prior knowledge.

I think that, how it is interpreted can be dependant upon prior knowledge.
Though it may be considered rash to let go of all prior knowledge it could be considered an acceptance of the whole to not cling to an singular aspect of the Creator's knowledge/memory/bounty.
Acceptance of the veil and the positivity reaped there from.

[kycahi]

For what it's worth, I remember when Don Elkins, probably right after returning home from several days of flying for Eastern Air which left him out of sorts and cranky, would just spew sarcasm or worse. Not directed at Carla or anybody they knew, he was just venting at the world at large. Carla would raise her voice a little and say, "Don, enough!" Sometimes at about the same time as she said that, Don might spill something on his clothes or drop something. She would laugh and say, "See?" Don quietly would say, "Instant karma," and then change his tone.

This was before the Ra contact started. Afterward, he might have changed that to, "Instant catalyst."