Integrating Light and Dark (Blog)

[invisiblehouses]

Originally Posted by Illustro Cado

Being a darkworker means honoring yourself. If acting polite and loving is the sincerest expression of who you are you couldn't be a good darkworker by doing otherwise.

I can see the logic in that, because I've never once felt good after being unkind to another person, even if they "deserve it" (which is itself a tricky phrase for me...I don't like it at all). It brings me no pleasure.

So by being polite and sensitive and kind, which is what I seem to be wired for, I am serving myself because I'm doing that which makes me feel good.

Of course, it also would make others feel pretty good to be treated with kindness, sensitivity and good manners. Which brings us back to what someone else said about these labels essentially being artificial constructs in the first place.

Either way, perhaps a 31-day trial is in order. 31 because 30-day trials are getting too trendy these days. 29 would be good, too. 2 + 9, you know...

[MidasGirl]

re: Hitler -- obviously he was convinced (like any other dictator) that his actions were for the ultimate good. Maybe it's more a question of how much destruction do you plan to cause on your way to your "ultimate good"? Notice though, you could be causing destruction in one area while being a universal light in another. Are corporations (pretty much all of which are darkworking entities if you look at it from the perspective of getting as much as they can) also not lightworking when they fund a hospital elsewhere? Is it a way to truly serve or just to atone their non-existent conscience?

Originally Posted by rekcuF

I'm not too sure about the everyone does everything for selfish reasons part. Part of me believes that but another part wants to believe that there is a balance and there are selfless people out there.
.

Who are these people? Name some of them (not individuals necessarily, but something they are doing that is selfless). You know the 19 guys who slammed planes into the twin towers? Those guys were giving of themselves in a completely selfless act. What's more selfless than dying for your cause, regardless of what it is? Does that make them lightworkers? Hmm...maybe to those whose cause they were furthering, sure.

[NSS]

Originally Posted by James81

LOL @ your username!

Haha yeah it's a stupid joke I have with a couple of friends from school days.

Originally Posted by MidasGirl

Who are these people? Name some of them (not individuals necessarily, but something they are doing that is selfless). You know the 19 guys who slammed planes into the twin towers? Those guys were giving of themselves in a completely selfless act. What's more selfless than dying for your cause, regardless of what it is? Does that make them lightworkers? Hmm...maybe to those whose cause they were furthering, sure.

I said I believe right now that everyone does everything for selfish reasons but some part of me would like to believe that there are selfless people out there so no idea why you're asking me to give examples of selfless people.

I guess the only way to find out for sure is to experience this myself.

[Lionman]

I think the problem people have with polarity is that they understand on an intellectual level that both polarities are required in the universe so they find it hard to limit themselves to either polarity.

At the same time I understand that a big part of power is that it's a directional force. The narrower the focus, the more energy is laser like. Otherwise it's dissipated and therefore not powerful.

Something that should be emphasized is how the opposite polarity comes into play when you focus on one of the polarities. Because in the world you need both, by choosing a polarity you're just choosing your focus but the other polarity is still extremely important.

For instance, darkworking a business means you're intending huge gains for yourself and your focus is creating an empire which expands your power and ability to enjoy yourself. However, a fundamental tenant of being successful in business is giving (lightworking), otherwise nobody's going to give you any cash!! So while you're focusing on building your riches, you also obviously have to focus on giving people what you want.

Take blogging for instance. A darkworker wants to be successful for himself, he goes online to research being successful at blogging and finds out that you must focus on giving value that people enjoy in order to be successful. Therefore in order to maximise his results and achieve his dark desire, he has to focus on the opposite polarity or else he fails! But if he read the article on polarity he may be paralysed at this stage wondering if he should focus only on taking and therefore fail at his dark goal, or if he should focus on giving and possibly limit his power. This is the heart of the problem people have and leads to confusion and paralysis.

Or from the other side, think about getting into a relationship. If you're a lightworker you want to make a big difference in giving. If you're a goodlooking, great person with many options, in pure lightworker sense then you should choose the most down and out, not-very-good-lookin person in order to make the biggest giving impact. You'd be like a winning lottery ticket for this person. But in order to give genuine affection you have to focus on your desires and what you WANT in a person (opposite polarity).

If you think of Hitler, I believe he was a lightworker. He was not a selfish person, he was very inspirational, wanting to achieve what he thought was a divine plan for his country and he thought he was being led by God to do his work. To be of service to God, whether it's delusional or not, you have to have a humility and a sense of service. I don't think Hitler was a nice man. But I think he was a lightworker.

Personally accoarding to the definitions I think I'm a darkworker. Because I only do things which feel good to me. I work to get money and enjoy myself. Because I work in a commission structured role, the better I do at my job (giving) the more money I get. Therefore I give a hell of a lot. And enjoy helping people, but because I enjoy the feelings from helping people and it makes me feel more worthwhile. If helping people made me feel crap, then I wouldn't do it. I enjoy making an impact in people's lives because it makes me feel good. Infact all my actions revolve on whether it feels good to me or not. But I don't resonate with how that makes me more like say Emperor Palpetine from Star Wars (reference to one of Steve's articles). And I don't resonate with how it comes from a place of fear or how it means you don't have loving relationships. You can have a direction inflow of love which is darkworking... and in order to get a big directional inflow of love, other people are going to have to love what you're giving!

As you can see I'm not disagreeing with Steve, just drawing attention to things I believe should be emphasized.

[MidasGirl]

Originally Posted by rekcuF

I said I believe right now that everyone does everything for selfish reasons but some part of me would like to believe that there are selfless people out there so no idea why you're asking me to give examples of selfless people.

Oh yeah, ok, never mind rekcuf lol. I see now you were saying you didn't know of any either.

I really think so far in human history I can only think of Jesus. To me he seems like the only person who went about his life just serving and not caring if people praised him, called him names, or whatever (that is if you believe in a historical Jesus). At no point did he say, yay, look at me, I feel so fulfilled after creating all these miracles and healing all these people, lol. Somebody should even pay me as this is such a valuable service I'm providing to humanity, I mean, do you expect me to just pay my rent from the furniture my dad and I make? tee hee.

[MidasGirl]

Originally Posted by Lionman

Personally accoarding to the definitions I think I'm a darkworker. Because I only do things which feel good to me. .

This is an interesting synchronicity for me, cuz I was just telling someone in my life that I've come to the conclusion that everybody's life purpose is to feel good. How they go about it are just mini-life purposes. Angela is onto something with her "Feel good on purpose".

The difference between you Lionman, and someone that might see themselves as a born and bred lightworker, is that you have the chutzpah to face your selfishness, and admit your service to it. Most people would rather pretend they aren't serving themselves, even as they purchase huge mansions and go for the partner that is going to love them selflessly(??).

But now, if seeing other people feel good makes you feel good, and you serve their needs meanwhile, doesn't that just make you a darkworker that is lightworking?

[NSS]

I think whats important is the journey you take when you fully commit to one side. After all none of this is actually real and in the end you end up in the same place anyway.

I feel like because of the way Steve writes many people have come to think that darkworkers are this evil creatures hell bent on destroying everything in their path for personal gain while lightworkers are the heroes that come in to save the day and get the hot girl. Lionman's post is an interesting way to think about this better.

[laurensierra]

Light or dark - hmm, interesting. I've always found it fascinating how we partner. Often a total giver gets together with a total taker.

The result is frequently lots of complaining about the other - failing to recognize we choose.

I'm all about personal growth and it's amazing to me how common it is these days to see putdowns of "selfishness", as if it's not cool to want anything for yourself.

An example: Unless you take care of yourself you have nothing to give others. Can we frame it as it's cool to take care of yourself and have fun, even passion, aside from what we have to give others?

It seems like a continuation of a christian ethic that implies it's bad to experience pleasure or joy and that's we're "sinful" at our core and don't deserve to feel good.

Hello! I'm here to want! A flow of giving and receiving is a good life, from where I stand. As Pia Melody said: Hug your demons or they'll bite you in the ass!

I don't trust someone who is all giving and doesn't know how to receive. Nor do I admire someone who is all take and no give.

As Steven points out, though, it requires conscious awareness to balance these seemingly opposites. I like to play with them.

Happy playing!

[Smartass]

For me it doesn't make sense to sepperate the two. Light workers do everything they do because it makes them feel good, atleast that is the underlying intention.

Why contribute? because your unconcious bubbles up good feelings when you do it!

Why do drugs? The Same!

For me there is no dark working or lightworking? Just doing what you want to do and creating what you want to create.

I guess it boils down to if you believe in pure altruism. I don't, but I believe in empathy

Whos with me on this?

[Lakshyayidhi Lakshmihi]

Originally Posted by rekcuF

Or do darkworkers suddenly start caring about other people when they've reached a certain level? Based on my experience its almost impossible to have this kind of shift all of a sudden. But I'm not polarized in any direction yet so maybe I'm wrong.

Although this is the first time I have heard the use of this terminology, I am familiar with darkworking, and my sudden shift occurred when my father died in 2006. I knelt down by his body and touched the cool hard flesh on his forehead before the funeral home came to collect him and I recited the "Our Father" (which apparently is traditionally called the Lord's Prayer, but I have never called it such even during my darkest preoccupations). I had attended Catholic school until I was 13 and had been fully educated on Catholic catechism. However, was the first time I ever recited the prayer and felt it fully in my whole being. This began a cascade of events that pushed me irrevocably away from that which I had chosen and taught me to accept that which I feared.

Perhaps that was his dying wish; I know that in life my choices from darkness caused him immense suffering. Whatever caused this sudden shift, I fought against it tooth and nail, but for whatever reason, I have been irrevocably drawn towards this very foreign path.

I am still in the process of transition and suffer as homo duplex.

[Asmoday]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

How powerful is he?

Powerful enough that you asked the question.

We've talked. I'm at a similar point in my evolution.

I'm open to some cross-training. I won't take the Throne, and you won't move into Light Warrior without it.

Your move, Chief.

[JeffistheAnswer]

I've come to the conclusion that this polarization business seems very interesting,yet limiting and unrealistic. Nonetheless, I'm probably gonna try a 30-day trial of darkworking soon.

[lexonfire]

Originally Posted by Illustro Cado

To add to what he said, I've always wondered why you don't work with someone like Asmoday. It would be interesting to see two perspectives on the same issue, one from a lightworker and one from a darkworker.

After all, you've admitted that whatever you opinion of darkworkers may be you think we can learn-and I'm all about learning. The two sides have a lot to share with each other and I'd like to get past the faux animosity so it can happen.

i agree here, steve

it was only really through your "integrating light and dark" post that i bothered to look deeper into darkworking, and asmoday's website has kept my eyes peeled for the past two days. there's something there i deeply resonate with.

it would be exciting to see what could come up between the two of you sharing.

[PaulDJ]

So we start non polarised, then polarise and then once again become non polarised.

I understand the theory behind doing so, but wouldn't it be a lot easier if we just didn’t polarise in the first place?

[Melchior]

Originally Posted by PaulDJ

So we start non polarised, then polarise and then once again become non polarised.

I understand the theory behind doing so, but wouldn't it be a lot easier if we just didn’t polarise in the first place?

My opinion on the matter is that it isn't actually easier in the short term, but it may be more beneficial in the long run. You can read more about this in my previous post here. Really though, there's pros/cons to whichever route.

[HumptyDumpty]

LOL, Steve, I think one day you're just going to write "There's nothing to do, and nothing to say."

[RohanMitchell]

Originally Posted by PaulDJ

So we start non polarised, then polarise and then once again become non polarised.

I understand the theory behind doing so, but wouldn't it be a lot easier if we just didn’t polarise in the first place?

There's a Buddhist parable about a man crossing a river with a boat. The boat is needed to get to the other side (let's assume it's a pretty intense river), but once crossed, it would slow the man down and look pretty silly for him to drag it with him across the land.

Use the vehicle where it's needed, then leave it behind when it's served its purpose.

[AaronB]

Lightworking/Darkworking. Two different paths to get to somewhere else. What do you want? To create more this or that in your life? Be a lightworker! Be a darkworker! Join the Army/Airforce/Navy/Marines! Get somewhere do something!

Or just quit at everything. Is one really better. I'm not doing anything. I have no aspirations. And I'm very quickly not getting anywhere with my life. Can I be a role model for a new team? How about we have lightworkers/darkworkers and mediocrityworkers. People who intend and put all their energy into contributing absolutely nothing to themselves or anyone else. The less that is being done the better.

I make a horrible pawn for society though. I'm a failed pawn. Not trying to find a way to get anything or anywhere different. How does life feel to me? Like ecstatic joy all the time. For no reason. Why should I bother? Where is there to get to that would give me something better than I have now? First I'd have to at least learn to be slightly unhappy about something, so that I can know the other place to get to. But I'm not good at that. I'm the happy pig in the mud.

[lasti]

Originally Posted by AaronB

Lightworking/Darkworking. Two different paths to get to somewhere else. What do you want? To create more this or that in your life? Be a lightworker! Be a darkworker! Join the Army/Airforce/Navy/Marines! Get somewhere do something!

Or just quit at everything. Is one really better. I'm not doing anything. I have no aspirations. And I'm very quickly not getting anywhere with my life. Can I be a role model for a new team? How about we have lightworkers/darkworkers and mediocrityworkers. People who intend and put all their energy into contributing absolutely nothing to themselves or anyone else. The less that is being done the better.

I make a horrible pawn for society though. I'm a failed pawn. Not trying to find a way to get anything or anywhere different. How does life feel to me? Like ecstatic joy all the time. For no reason. Why should I bother? Where is there to get to that would give me something better than I have now? First I'd have to at least learn to be slightly unhappy about something, so that I can know the other place to get to. But I'm not good at that. I'm the happy pig in the mud.

You wrote more than 500 posts for this forum. When will you finally stop contributing?

[AaronB]

Originally Posted by lasti

You wrote more than 500 posts for this forum. When will you finally stop contributing?

For me there is a sense that true joy shows up when I'm not trying to get somewhere else.

But I see all this movement here. I'm doing this and that. And each movement has a motivation. A trying to get somewhere else. But then it seems the "not trying to get somewhere else" has become the somewhere else that I am currently not trying to get to.

In the end there is something I like. I love to feel energized. I love to feel joyful. I love to feel vitalized and bright and alive. What in this moment leads me to the most joyful experience? Realizing that there is nothing else that I have to do, ever. What will be my most joyful experience next moment? I haven't the foggiest idea.

[JeffistheAnswer]

Originally Posted by AaronB

In the end there is something I like. I love to feel energized. I love to feel joyful. I love to feel vitalized and bright and alive. What in this moment leads me to the most joyful experience? Realizing that there is nothing else that I have to do, ever.

I think this is a nice abundance vibration. Because from what I feel from your post, you seem pretty much set with your life. Free from desire.

[elucidate]

Originally Posted by MidasGirl

I don't view light/darkworking with such simplicity, but each to their own. Everybody darkworks at times or lightworks at times, and many times, a certain aspect of a person can be fully darkworked while another is fully lightworked.

But I agree that polarization is needed for outstanding results to manifest. I just don't see that practically, anyone is fully polarized either dark or light in every aspect of their lives. For example, when you Steve slam religion (I do too) or write a modern day nazi post, that is darkworking in its full glory.

This is how I see it as well. But I can see how focusing by choosing one side can be a great way to get better more powerful results.

[Jasper]

I think the problem with this whole lightworker vs. darkworker subject is that, in the end, it it's very subjective. I remember Steve said in his earlier articles on this matter that the difference between the light and darkworker is who/what benefits, the whole body (lightworking) or the individual cell (darkworking).

The first problem that presents itself is this: Who is to decide who benefits? There isn't some objective entity that can say "this is benefiting the whole" or "this is ultimately only benefitting the single cell". And thus you regress into the religion kind of debate of right vs. wrong.

Another problem is the result vs. intentions. What determines what you are? Your wants/desires of result or your actual results? And who is to say you will be able to determine all of your results anyway? (What if Hitler killed some people that, if not dead, would've killed more than he was responsible for? An outlandish example to be sure, but one can never know.)

And what is the "whole" anyway? Is it the human race? Or is it the entire eco system? And who decides that? It clearly makes a difference. In one case saving a human could be considered lightworking, in the other, darkworking. We are, after all, killing the body, one could say.

Another point you could make is that if every cell was a great darkworking, that would help the whole as well. Survival of the fittest leads to fitter whole (if those that are unfit are let to die). And thus you could say that helping weaker cells actually is a diservice to the whole. You are putting some of your energy in weaker cells so that they energy levels equal out. You get to be average as a whole.

In the end, there are so many assumptions in this debate, it's almost impossible to agree on any of it.

I think the value in this whole matter is this:
Focusing your energy on a single point will increase your chances of a - in your eyes - favorable result. Be of single mind and purpose.

All the jibber-jabber besides that point is just that. Steve might feel great about himself because he thinks he's on the path of light, but some people might see his as a darkworker because he is trying to help people at all. Who is to say what is light and what is dark? Who is to say what is served?

[Cado]

Originally Posted by Jasper

The first problem that presents itself is this: Who is to decide who benefits? There isn't some objective entity that can say "this is benefiting the whole" or "this is ultimately only benefitting the single cell". And thus you regress into the religion kind of debate of right vs. wrong.

Another problem is the result vs. intentions. What determines what you are? Your wants/desires of result or your actual results? And who is to say you will be able to determine all of your results anyway? (What if Hitler killed some people that, if not dead, would've killed more than he was responsible for? An outlandish example to be sure, but one can never know.)

Intentions determine your alignment, not results. An intention to serve, even if you steal, kill, murder, etc. puts you firmly on the lighter side of the spectrum. Hitler was a lightworker.

And what is the "whole" anyway? Is it the human race? Or is it the entire eco system? And who decides that? It clearly makes a difference. In one case saving a human could be considered lightworking, in the other, darkworking. We are, after all, killing the body, one could say.

A lightworker can focus on humanity, upon the ecosystem, or upon doing as little harm as they can to everything. The focal point is service whether it's to humanity, the environment, or an ideal.

Another point you could make is that if every cell was a great darkworking, that would help the whole as well.

If every cell went dark the body would implode. The same applies if all of them were light. When some cells become darkworkers everybody benefits but it's a happy side-effect, it's not the point of the path.

In the end, there are so many assumptions in this debate, it's almost impossible to agree on any of it.

I think the value in this whole matter is this:
Focusing your energy on a single point will increase your chances of a - in your eyes - favorable result. Be of single mind and purpose.

Focus on something long enough and you begin to draw and accumulate energy which changes you, your perspective, and your motivations. That's what separates light from dark. The trouble with these discussions is it has to be experienced. You can't think your way through polarity and that's precisely what most people try to do. (Let me make it clear: thinking is important. What I'm saying is theory is useless without action.)

All the jibber-jabber besides that point is just that. Steve might feel great about himself because he thinks he's on the path of light, but some people might see his as a darkworker because he is trying to help people at all. Who is to say what is light and what is dark? Who is to say what is served?

Is he focusing on the needs of others, whoever that "other" might be, over his own? Then he's a lightworker, detractors be damned.

Polarity has a long history. Lightworking and darkworking are new terms but the phenomenon they describe stretches back as far as history itself. While both paths have evolved one thing has remained constant: one is devoted to service, the other to the cultivation of self. Neither choice limits your actions but it colors everything you do.

Can a darkworker be a paramedic? Yes, but why he's a paramedic is only known to him. In any role, good or evil, you'll find both lightworkers and darkworkers, but it takes keen eyes to see them.

[Jasper]

Great post Illustro Cado (and cool site too, your writing is high quality!), thank you.

I do have some remarks about your reply, though.

You state that intentions determine if you are a light or darkworker, and so the subject itself has the final say. Yet you also state that Hitler was a lightworker. But we cannot know this, if he was the one deciding. He could say he was trying to help his people, or whoever he said he was helping, all the while knowing he was just gratifying his own desire for power. In that case he just saw an oppertunity to gain power by a certain rethoric, and did so.

So to say that Hitler is a lightworker, would state that there is some sort of objective way of determining if someone is lightworker or darkworker. But intentions cannot be known (even your own might be hard to determine, on the most basic level).

Now I see your point about intention to service, that being the objective way of measurement. But again to know for sure is almost impossible. What is the underlying motivation for service to others? And could these change in the process, like you said? You could start out wanting to help others, and then get addicted to their dependency on you.

Perhaps you could differentiate between where someone is coming from, fear or love. Is he driven by fear (limit, not enoughness, etc.) and thus is out for himself or is he driven by love (abundance, acceptance) and trying to heal the whole. And perhaps this cannot be explained, only experienced.

But to me it's just a lot of talk about nothing. There is no point in being one thing or the other. There is no reward, prize or whatever. What there is, is results. And to get them, aligning with your goal, is the way to go. And to integrate different ways that work into something that works even better, well that's just awesome. But polarizing? Just limiting yourself to a certain set of actions, that fit the label, to me just seems unnecessary and sillly.

The mental stuff around it is fun to play with, but in the end, useless. Hitler was, just like everyone, a very complex being. One day he might think one thing, the next day something else. As far as his thoughts were in alignment, his focus was sharp and his results probably better than if they weren't.
He wasn't light, he wasn't dark, he just was (or was he?). Sometimes he was afraid, sometimes he was not. Sometimes he felt on top of the world, other days he despised himself. Now I've not known him personally, I just know myself and I think that every human being is like this. Being. Changing.

And in the end, we all have to accept who we are, what we do and where it stands in the world. In the end, we all have to try to convince ourselves we are lightworkers, of some sort. But we know so very little. And our primal parts (body, lizard brain) are so scared to die, and it's hard to tell where they begin and where they end.

Ok, I'm just babbling now... point is: manifesting what you want is what you... well, want. But there is no score being kept. Just try to manifest what you want. And if you find a way to better manifest, go for it. But don't label it or drag some spiritual stuff into it.

[Cado]

Originally Posted by Jasper

So to say that Hitler is a lightworker, would state that there is some sort of objective way of determining if someone is lightworker or darkworker. But intentions cannot be known (even your own might be hard to determine, on the most basic level).

Hmmm, I don't really have a lot to say on the rest of it but I'll chime in here.

I call Hitler a lightworker because it's exceptionally clear that he acted on behalf of Germany. In the end he committed suicide to avoid bringing dishonor upon his country. This would be unthinkable to a darkworker.

Is it iron-clad proof he was a lightworker? Dissecting details like that won't give a for-sure answer. There's a strong case for it, strong enough that I use him as a prime example of how light can be twisted.

Desires change. Today I want to write, tomorrow I might volunteer, and the day after I might decide to travel. Motivations don't shift as easily. Indeed, someone whose motives shift day-to-day won't get very far in life. To be able to manage the complexity within yourself you need a strong, steady foundation. That's what polarization provides.

A darkworker may well be philanthropic but it's not for the greater good or some nonsense ideal, it's because that's how he honors himself. A lightworker can do things which seem selfish because he can't serve without adequate energy and resources. In either case their core motivation remains constant while they act within a dynamic world. That's what gives them their power.

On a final note I think describing polarity in terms of love and fear is ridiculous. Read Asmoday's site if you want another perspective; he's said nearly anything I could say on the matter, particularly What is a Darkworker?