An interesting article entitled, “Oily Beast” offers a perspective of archetypal balance between the forces of light and dark energy; that dark is necessary for light.
With the recent initiation of war on our behalf being top of mind these days, it makes sense to take a look at the “thing” that is basically at the center of this great contention – oil.
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Like water, oil is ubiquitous, fundamental to our lives, and incredibly powerful in our politics. One could argue that both are life-giving and health-sustaining—from intimately personal to geopolitically worldwide.
But from a Contrast perspective, there could be no greater illustration of distinction between opposites.
OIL AND WATER DON’T MIX
In her article, Su Terry speculates: Is oil alive?
Of course, not in the physical sense but perhaps as a metaphysical energy; one that wishes to express itself.
And indeed, it has touched every aspect of our lives around the world in every imaginable way. Ever since it originally bubbled from the ground to the days when wars were fought over it; oil has made its everlasting indominable impression on our planet. Of that there’s no denying.
“Colloquially, we say something is alive when we perceive its energy. So we may describe many objects, or music, art, poetry, as “alive.” Crystals are alive. They receive and transmit energy…”
Crystals have been used to power radios and computer chips as well as healing and meditation.
“Things” have their own energy.
“And now Oily Beast is having its moment. Its power has become independent of the countries where it’s extracted and refined. It emerged from the womb of Mother Earth, became a juvenile delinquent, grew up, got a job, and is now CEO of the company.”
https://open.substack.com/pub/templeofartists/p/oily-beast?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
Water, on the other hand, is a substance that is NECESSARY for life.
It makes up 70% of our bodies and 70% of the Earth.
Japanese author and speaker Masaru Emoto has experimented with the effects of thoughts, words, sounds and intentions on the crystalline structure of water. He photographed ice crystals after exposing them to different words, music and emotions.
Even with just the words of emotions taped to bottles of water, his photographs clearly reveal dramatic negative and positive influences.
Masaru Emoto – Water Experiments
WATER: LIFE support system, OIL: Life-STYLE support system
Both are foundational natural resources, both drive global geopolitics, both shape economies, both require massive infrastructure, both are unevenly distributed, both vulnerable to pollution and overuse and both are tied to climate change.
Water is necessary for life itself.
Every organism depends on water for survival and there is no substitute for water. Without it, life ends.
Oil is necessary for a way of life. It powers transportation, manufacturing, plastics, fertilizer and global trade. It’s central to modern economics. It has substitutes—solar, wind, nuclear, geothermal and EVs. Without oil, society must adapt but life goes on.
Water is woven into the fabric of biology and oil is woven into the fabric of modern civilization.
CONTRAST = CLARITY
All this to say, Contrast can be very revealing of Clarity; Clarity about what is important, what is positive, Life-Giving and Life-sustaining.
And as Su Terry says, “…is not scientific-it’s archetypal. And the world runs on symbols, gosh darn it.”
As far back as Bible days, elements of the black goo—pitch– a distilled form of bitumen was used to seal boats, including the Ark.
As Terry describes the archetypal aspect of oils influence, “flood tales” symbolize a type of “Great Reset”. “Boats were humanity’s salvation. They were sealed with pitch and bitumen from the underworld to withstand the forces from above. That which comes from below is required to survive that which comes from above.”
Jesus, by way of the Gospel of Thomas, said, “If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you; if you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you.”
THIS.
This very poignantly ties together my point.
We live in the World of Form where the energies of both, Light and Dark coexist for the purpose of Contrast so that we may have Clarity and therefore, Meaning.
Ancient Hawaiians delineated between positive and negative forces as malu and Akua. Malu are life-taking energies that give us thoughts and feelings that produce Contrast when we act out out-of-balance scenarios. Akua are our inherent Life-Giving Energies that restore Balance.
Life water, Akua are life-sustaining. Like oil, malu are life-enhancing in that they provide the backdrop of contrasting relief for Light energies.
Just like we can’t see brilliantly bright stars in the daytime, at night those same stars dazzle us with their sparkle and shine.
Energy Discernment is the fine art of noticing the difference, the contrast, and the Meaning derived from that discernment.
Oil, like malu, is the actor on the stage that gives backdrop to the hero of the story.
Akua, like water, is the essential that provides the energy of ‘Hero’.
Yes, there is a Balance that is maintained in the World of Form, between these two forces or elements. The difference though, is that one is illusion and the other is Real.
As the Jesus quote states so succinctly, being willing to bring forth and look at that which is within you will save you.
As a kahuna, I would say, being willing to see that which is life-taking within you, requires one to be Willingly Conscious, to bring it forth and look at it.
And that Willingness requires an identity shift, from that which you are unconscious of, to that which is Willing to see it– your Divinity, your Authentic Self.
See the difference?
In Huna we say, malu take your power away wherever you are unconscious by giving you thoughts and feelings that are not yours but that of the energy that they are: anger, despair, greed, fear, etc. To the extent you IDENTIFY with those energies, is the degree you will act them out, unconsciously.
Or perhaps, they are harbored deep inside in which case they pop up when least expected, triggered by some catalyst; and then of course, leaving you with consequences to deal with, but hopefully, wake you up to that which hides within you.
Humility is the medicine for Waking Up–being Willing to see what you don’t like about yourself, and Realize that it’s not really you.
We all have negative emotions from time to time, but the emotion is not who we are.
Therein lies the Key to Enlightenment: Willingness to see what you don’t want to see. Oil and water not wanting to mix.
The experience of “the scales falling from your eyes” is a Biblical reference to the experience of finally being Willing to see what you previously refused to.
Willingness requires a degree of Humility, letting go of illusion in order to embrace Reality.
The Oily Beast represents the primordial black goo of the depths, hidden within, which gives Life Contrast and Meaning. Water represents Clarity that washes away the stickiness of that which blinds us.
Life is about Choices. What will you choose? Live in the seemingly comfortable trap of darkness or the vulnerability of Light and Freedom?
Oil and water don’t mix, unless you apply the degreaser of Humility, Willingness and Clarity.
Aloha!