Quick Answers to Quick Questions Part 3 (Blog)

[Erin Pavlina]

Use this thread to discuss the following entry from Erin Pavlina's blog:

Quick Answers to Quick Questions Part 3

[ssandra]

A good video game that has a lot of moral in it is Fable 2.

You have to choose to be good or evil AND pure or corrupt (eating meat makes you corrupt

It has a great effect on the caracters, surroundings etc.

It is also a very nice game to play in general.

(I really liked to make my husband feel bad because he choose evil and sacrificed his wife, the mother of his children!) I choose good even when it only cost me (like feeding starving prisoners, who were begging for food).

[Bruce Achterberg]

Originally Posted by From Erin's article

Do you know of any video games that raise the player’s vibration?
That’s a great question. I know Steve was always yapping on about the Ultima games. He liked them. I’m sure someone has come up with something that challenges the players and holds them to a high moral code.

I'm not 100% sure how the person who ask this question defines "raising your vibration," or even how Erin's defines that term in this context, but for this post I'll assume it refers to the broader meaning of "something that helps you to improve and become more conscious, aware, and intelligent ("intelligent" in the truth, love, power sense)."

In my 10+ years experience with games, I found that almost any game can help you to improve--help you to raise your vibration. That said, almost all games do this indirectly rather than directly. E.g. Instead of taking a player through personal development-like exercises, games help people improve regardless of what they demand of the player. In my experience, a 2D fighting game where 2 people fight each other can be as helpful as playing a game like chess. It might even be more helpful (or at least, successful) at helping people improve than games which try to directly tackle the task (such as math games, which generally don't seem too popular. [Although the Brain Training games seems to be fairly popular.]).

In this (somewhat infamous) article, David Sirlin talks about how the game Street Fighter taught him many important life lessons. In the article Sirlin says he is "rich with reward" from his gaming background. (For those who want to check out Street Fighter as a tool for self-improvement, I recommend the newly released Street Fighter HD Remix, though you might have to invest quite a bit of energy in it before you get results that translate over to, and are helpful in, "real life").

I think games that accomplish the task of helping to raise their vibration--to improve someone and their life in some way--ultimately serve as a mirror for players. In other words, players see their emotions, their skill (or lack thereof), knowledge, values, and even their self awareness reflected back at them by the games they play and can become more self-aware and even make decisions about how they would (or would not) like to develop themselves based on what they see.

Specifically, I find competitive games are particuarly helpful for self-improvement, as are games that tell a story (much like movies allow us to explore themes that we also experience in real-life situations, games with a decent story can also contain such themes).

I could go into detail about how games teach lessons and help people improve, but the topic is kind of vast (see the article I linked to above--it explains things well enough).

Really, almost any game allows a player to explore themselves in some way (and in the safety of a digital environment where a player can learn about notions such as 'right' and 'wrong' without much or any real-world consequences, which I think is great).

I've noticed that many people see games as an excusion away from reality, and I think they can become that if used in a certian way (like almost anything, whether it be a game or anything that pulls your attention away from a more balanced, constructive life), but for me, games were and are just like any other life experience--it's just that games allow you to explore a virtual world (and your responses to it). (Games are virtual worlds--miniature universes with their own laws--whether they intend to be or not.) Since virtual worlds still exisit within the real world, what you learn and experience while playing games (i.e. while in virtual worlds) can translate over to "real life"--i.e. non-virtual experiences.

In my experience, games are a poor substitute for physical interaction with other people and other non-virtual experiences, but like Sirlin, I too feel quite rich with reward from my gaming background, even if I now focus more on the physical world rather than virtual worlds (although, the internet seems pretty virutal, so hmmm ).

I would have liked to list a few games that I think are great for raising your vibration--great at helping you to improve your life--but in my experience, almost all games have potential to do this (some more than others), and I think what improvements someone takes away from a game might vary (although there will be common themes), so it's hard to single out any one game and say it will help people raise their vibration.

That said, one game that does come to mind as a particuarly "reflective" game (in that it helps you to see yourself and thus, explore yourself and your reactions to the game) is Shadow of the Colossus. The game doesn't "say" much and leaves it up to the player to interpret and learn from (and about themselves from exposure to) the themes presented. It's a very cinematic game, and I found I was really able to feel the impact of my actions in that game world. Unfortunately, it's not too easy to find this game anymore since it's no longer in production. I managed to pick up a copy on Ebay (a sealed, special edition copy ).

[Bruce Achterberg]

Originally Posted by From Erin's article

Is it possible that my spirits guides are also spirit guides for other people who are currently incarnated?
Yes. Some guides will pop in and out of your life, and while they’re popped out of yours, they’re popped in to someone else’s. But it takes a great commitment to guide an incarnated soul. If the guide is helping multiple people he or she is qualified to be doing so.

Just some info for people who are interested in this topic:

I recently learned that guides that help multiple people are called "outer circle guides." Apparently, your inner circle guides are usually committed to you (although not always for your entire life... guides can come and go) and only serve one person at a time, but outer circle guides can flit between people as needed.

I guess inner circle guides are similar to your immediate family in that your family usually hangs around and keeps in touch with you. Outer circle guides are more like people outside your family, such as school teachers, policemen and women, doctors, lawyers, and other such people who have a role to serve at times, but usually don't focus as much attention on you or stay in touch like your family might.

That analogy isn't perfect, but you get the gist.

[carenkh]

Are suicides ever pre-planned before you incarnate?

I don’t believe so, no. By definition you are choosing to end your life before dying naturally (or by the free will of another’s actions, like murder or accident). Setting yourself up to suffer physically or mentally is often pre-planned. But you go into it with full knowledge of why you’re setting yourself up to be in that condition. It’s just too bad you forget why you did it.

I see this differently; sometimes, they are pre-planned. In much the same way a person with a physical disability might choose that life to bring out others' compassion, etc., someone who commits suicide possibly planned that to affect others' lives.

Every case is different, but it is a possibility.

[Albalida]

Persona 3 FES and Persona 4 on the PS2! They draw you in with gore and emotive hardcore, but it becomes an anti-suicide pro-critical thinking interactive Public Service Announcement. Instead of battle stats like strength, dexterity, magic, etc being most important... you're made to buff up on Understanding, Academics, Courage, things like that. It's like a social skills simulation game, except at night you also get to fight evil otherworldly nasties.

Here's a youtube of my favorite of the Social Skills sidequests: you counsel a young man with a degenerative illness, to find the strength to finish his novel. Ranking up in "The Sun" link will boost the battle stats of your "Sun-class" magic spirit summons, but to rank up in any social links, you'll need to have the courage stats up to say some things that need to be said, or the understanding stats up to say other things without sounding fake and making them angry. Nothing at all like real life, but...

Part One
Part Two
Part 3

[Hyperchiller]

Do souls reincarnate on other planets as other species besides humans?

Yup apparently so. There's loads of evidence of this if you do your research.

There's a Project Camelot interview with a guy who talked about aliens in our own Milky Way. Apparently there are 37 (I think) humanoid species in our galaxy alone. He said there's one species that have a fusion like quality with vegetation - as in they photosynthesize with their green skin.

[Erin Pavlina]

Not saying there are no other species out there, just not sure we incarnate as them.

[Samuel Poon]

Well what happens after earth blows up? I hope that doesn't mean you're gone... we probably have to incarnate somewhere else... which means we'll be a different species.

[merveilles]

I am a writer, and often it feels like my characters are real people that I’m talking to in my head. They seem to have a life of their own. Is this possible?
Many writers report that their characters introduced themselves to them one day. I believe a lot of writers are getting material channeled to them from their guides, from muses, from other beings, or even angels. In fact, I personally think J.K. Rowling got an entire download when she tapped in to Harry Potter. Some of my best blog entries were written by my guides. I had very little to do with them. I feel so used.

What exactly do you mean? Could you explain a little more about that??

[erego]

Heh. I had that idea about JK Rowling too.

[Erin Pavlina]

I've read her story of how the Harry Potter book came to being. She said the thoughts were coming so fast she had to simply just write them down. In other words, she didn't feel like she was logically thinking up this world, it was being presented to her and she just had to get it all down on paper. Of course, she had to weave the tale, but I believer her guides, her muse, or some such being was helping her out a little.

[merveilles]

Originally Posted by Erin Pavlina

I've read her story of how the Harry Potter book came to being. She said the thoughts were coming so fast she had to simply just write them down. In other words, she didn't feel like she was logically thinking up this world, it was being presented to her and she just had to get it all down on paper. Of course, she had to weave the tale, but I believer her guides, her muse, or some such being was helping her out a little.

that's soo interesting I want to read more about that now! but I'm not sure where

[Ace22]

Tee Hee, They use to have these big buildings for people that had "voices" in their heads. Some had talking dogs, etc......

Sorry I always wanted to say that when the conversation started up about spirit guides.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Ace22

Tee Hee, They use to have these big buildings for people that had "voices" in their heads. Some had talking dogs, etc......

And some hear the voice of God.

Remember how the Christian Right attacked Rowling and the Harry Potter books because of the witchcraft, the soul-sucking, and worst of all, teaching children to look within for their own inner hero, when they should be looking toward the Savior?

I get the feeling that it being channeled material is not going to help matters!

[Ace22]

Originally Posted by Angela

And some hear the voice of God.

Isn't it amazing how an attempt at humor can triggor a vile, ad hominem attack in response?

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Ace22

Isn't it amazing how an attempt at humor can triggor a vile, ad hominem attack in response?

A vile, ad hominem attack? Upon whom do you see this vile, ad hominem attack? If it's you yourself, I'm sorry that you feel attacked by what I said.

I intended no personal attack; I'm just saying that hearing dogs speak English, hearing the voice of God, or channeling an entire series of best-selling books are all pretty much in the same category for me; if one would land you in the loony bin, the others should, too (I don't think any of them should, for the record.) I think they're all the workings of the unconscious mind rather than anything supernatural, and that doesn't demean any of them, in my view -- in fact, it celebrates them!

And I got your humor, and was raising you -- I find it funny that people who hear and revere supernatural voices get testy when other people hear and revere supernatural voices that express a dissenting viewpoint! Voice Wars!

I love the idea of "channeled" books, and "channeled" instructions from God or spirit guides, etc. I put that word in quotation marks because I don't think it matters what is the source, if the message works well for you. But I know that some people strongly disagree!

For instance, I find tons of value in almost everything Erin shares in her blog, and it doesn't require me believing in supernatural spirit guides to get that value -- I don't think Erin minds people like me enjoying the tremendous gifts she provides, regardless of our beliefs about where they come from.

[Mynder]

I've read her story of how the Harry Potter book came to being. She said the thoughts were coming so fast she had to simply just write them down. In other words, she didn't feel like she was logically thinking up this world, it was being presented to her and she just had to get it all down on paper.

And lo and behold, wide numbers of people get in touch with the concepts of "magic" and the supernatural in a very entertaining way. People who before never considered picking up a "fantasy" novel. I think Harry Potter is a phenomenon of the change currently in the air in the world. Acceptance of everything spiritual is becoming more and more widespread (yes, Erin, I've read your coming out article, but nonetheless ;-)).

Back in my teen days (say 15-20 years ago) I was happy when the librarian didn't look strangely at me for borrowing all the parapsychology, hypnosis and UFO books our local library had to offer. And there was really no one to talk about it.

Things have come a long way since, and I see this going on. It's like humanity is slowly considered "ready" to learn about these things (again), or maybe MUST learn to steer away from certain bad development decisions we are making.

We are being prepared to open our minds, and I believe the H.P. series of books to be one (there are others, naturally) "godsend" towards making this more widespread.

Other examples include movies such as "The Sixth Sense", series like "Medium" or "Ghost Whisperer", and even old films like "The Prophecy 1-3" (I really love Christopher Walken's play).

Oddly, inspite of this I personally feel increasingly distant to our current society. For years, I had considered myself "unfit" for life in this world. I am starting to believe it is the world/our society that is mad, not me.

And as much as I dislike the news, it's supporting that notion.

Cheers,
Eddy

[Erin Pavlina]

Eddy, you gotta go to like the Hay House I Can Do It seminar. That's where your people are, your tribe. You won't feel alone or disconnected when you are standing in a room full of 7,000 lightworkers. The energy is palpable.

[Mynder]

Erin,

thanks for your suggestion. I assume this is a bit far away for me, and I already know and see that there are lots of people in the world trying to open eyes and empowering people around them.

I am currently at a crossroads in my life, and I feel that I need to act now and decisively or waste more years on my own way of "self research". I'm still having a few nasty problems showing up though.

First, I've read a lot, and I've picked up a lot of things that simply "felt right". I also got to know certain people in my life who are much further along than me, one of them a close friend of mine, one (now dead) seemingly even more powerful and scary. I learned a lot, and I was told some things about myself (the dream I mentioned in my introduction posting fell into the year or so I conversed with that person).

I've wanted to be a hero all my life (what boy didn't?), and when I started role-playing games, I jumped into the role of wizard immediately. With what I dreamed about and what these people told me, I assume that I indeed have a rather old soul (this I believe, since I often find it easy to empathize with people from experience/understanding "beyond my years" as some people liked to word it), and that I could probably do great and good things (and cool things, too - the boy still lives inside me!), but I'm still stuck. So, maybe the time isn't right, and I'm not supposed to "get there" just yet, or I am still turning around in circles when I just need to lift one veil to see the path towards enlightenment.

I have these moments of intuition, where I am led. Just like two days ago when I stumbled onto your website and have been consuming your articles ever since. Normally, I would get my "psychic friend"'s counsel, but this time I feel that it is not her time and place to lead me on. I was led here for a reason, and willing to see how it plays out. I know I am supposed to be here, so I am here now, and I'm already glad I found your website and all the enlightening stuff you put up here.

For now, I am taking in all your writings, trying to post helpful stuff in the forum, and figure out whether to book a reading or wait a bit and see what develops first (I'm not going to take the necessary money out of the funds I planned as resources to start my business with, at least ). I am sure I'll get a nudge in one direction or other before long.

This is also the time where I publicly connect this handle with my real name and write honestly about that I believe in these things in a place as big as this. So I don't know what future potential employers or clients might be scared away by that (or folks I already know) and think me a total nut from now on, but I guess it's an important step to drop the pretense. I am not sure whether I am going to find my "fear block" this way, but I know it would be a lot harder without doing this, since it liberates me of a part that I have kept somewhat "private" until now.

By the way, I am definitely going to browse the web for the Hay House, even though I live in Germany. I just tuned into your podcast before taking my kids to bed, and the Hay House mention tickled a nerve, and now that you mention it again in your response to me, it's one mention too many to ignore. I am sure there's more stuff to learn on their website.

All in all, I feel honored to receive replies from you personally to my first postings so soon after writing them, and I hope to keep your curiosity going.

Love (the universal kind),
Eddy

[Erin Pavlina]

Cool.

[Mynder]

Erin,

Originally Posted by Erin Pavlina

Cool.

I know your time is kind of filled up, but could you please...expand on what you think cool, please? I'm a little uncertain as to what you mean.

Thanks,
Eddy