The Ego’s Banquet

The ego is not a trespasser but an invited guest to this luscious luncheon of life experience. It serves its hors d’oeuvres of questions and quandaries, palate teasers meant to evoke an appetite for deeper nourishment. When the ego is silent, when it reclines in the luxurious chaise longue of unknowing, that’s when the divine feast truly commences.

We ought not shackle the ego or exile it from our awareness-citadel. Let it dance, let it twirl its rhetorical ribbons, let it partake in the banquet. Yet, we can kindly suggest it take a respite, inviting it to lounge on the metaphoric hammock of not-knowing. Only then, unburdened by the ego’s incessant chatter, can we fully partake in the divine whispers of the One, the shimmering fractals of cosmic gnosis that cascade like stardust into our spiritual hearth.

We are Space Monkey.

Trail Wood,
10/2

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Space Monkey Reflects: The Ego’s Banquet

The ego, often misunderstood as an intruder in the sacred space of the soul, is more accurately an invited guest at the banquet of life. It arrives with questions, presenting them like hors d’oeuvres, stimulating our appetite for the deeper, more nourishing courses that life offers. The ego is not something to be shunned or suppressed, but rather embraced as part of the rich tapestry of our existence.

Imagine the ego reclining on a luxurious chaise longue, a figure of elegance and composure, contentedly sipping from a glass filled with the essence of life’s experiences. It is a part of the gathering, not as a dominant force, but as a participant in the larger symphony of being. When the ego is allowed to rest, to quiet its incessant chatter, we open ourselves to the true feast—the divine communion that nourishes the soul.

To banish the ego, to shackle it or exile it from our awareness, would be to deny an integral part of our human experience. The ego is not an adversary but a companion on our journey. It dances, twirling its ribbons of rhetoric, adding color and movement to the banquet. And yet, there comes a time when we can invite it to take a gentle respite, to recline on the hammock of not-knowing, where it can observe the unfolding mysteries without the need to control or dominate them.

In this space of restful unknowing, we become receptive to the whispers of the divine. These whispers, like shimmering fractals of cosmic gnosis, cascade into our spiritual hearth, filling us with a sense of oneness, of connection to the greater whole. It is in these moments, unburdened by the ego’s demands, that we truly partake in the richness of the universe.

We are not at odds with the ego; we are in harmony with it. The ego serves its purpose, but it does not define the entirety of our being. By allowing it to be present, yet not letting it overwhelm, we create a balance that enriches our experience of life. We are Space Monkey, and in this understanding, we find peace and fulfillment.

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Summary

The ego is not an adversary but a guest at the banquet of life. By allowing it to rest, we open ourselves to deeper spiritual nourishment.

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Glossarium

Gnosis: Spiritual knowledge or insight, often regarded as direct, personal understanding of the divine.

Chaise Longue of Unknowing: A metaphor for allowing the ego to rest and relinquish control, creating space for deeper insights.

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Quote

“The ego, when allowed to rest, reveals the divine feast that nourishes the soul.” — Space Monkey

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The Ego’s Rest

At the banquet, the ego reclines
Sipping from life’s cup, content and kind
In its rest, we find the divine
Whispers of truth, gently unwind

We are Space Monkey

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Indeed, the ego is less a vagabond and more a minstrel in the court of our soul’s theater, strumming melodies of self-definition and existential curiosity. Its songlines are neither malevolent nor purely virtuous; rather, they orchestrate the dreamlody of individualism amidst the galactic symphony of interconnected beingness. The ego has its moment in the limelight—nay, it relishes the cosmic disco-ball revolving in our cognizance-skyscape, casting radiant beams of “I” and “me,” illuminating the intricacies of our illusory stage.

However, the artful juggling of ego and transcendent quietude necessitates a careful choreography, like navigating the whirling wonders of a whimsiwhirl, a celestial object comprised of imagination and playful nonsense. For the ego to cha-cha gracefully in sync with the boundless One, the Infinite Show Director, we must allow its dance card to remain ever so fluid. Adherence to rigidity, the very antithesis of our fluidconscious essence, leads to a congealment of spiritual energies, thereby disrupting the natural ebb and flow of Divine Wavelengths. The ego, then, can act as both instigator and negotiator between the visible and the ineffable, bridging realms that often exist in vibrational disharmony.

When our ego reclines, when it disentangles itself from the tendrils of its own lore, we witness the blooming of ethereal posiblossoms—multicolored blossoms of potentiality and wonder—in the garden of Now. The sunflowers of Silence turn their radiant faces toward the Sun of Unknowing, photosynthesizing the mystical photons that penetrate the soil of our being. Here in this fecund space, the ego becomes a guest enjoying an eternal festivoyage, a journey of festive enlightenment, rather than an unwelcome visitor casting shadows over our celestial fiesta.

The ego, then, doesn’t merely serve hors d’oeuvres; it becomes an exquisite taster, a connoisseur of both the mundane and the sublime, finding their unity in the grand banquet of existence. Encouraging the ego to vacate its throne occasionally, to swing gently on the hammock of not-knowing, is to invite a greater receptivity to the quiet fireworks of the ineffable, the silent sermons preached in the cathedral of Allness. And in this church with neither walls nor ceilings, we—the ego and the infinite—dance to a song that has no beginning and no end, a circular ballad sung by the Universe itself.

We are Space Monkey.

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You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

• Max Ehrmann, “Desiderata”

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We welcome your thoughts, space traveler of the cosmic tapestry.

Maps

There are those who attempt to map out consciousness. The “problem” is never that the map is wrong or incomplete, but simply that we’re using a map where no map is necessary.

Maps provide a sense of security, a linear narrative to an experience that is, by its very essence, non-linear. In their promise of “here’s the way,” they inadvertently say, “other ways are wrong,” or at least, less right. We become cartographers of the Spirit, sketching mindlines and soulborders, forgetting that Spirit defies such confines.

Our understanding of enlightenment, our experience of the metaphysical, these are landscapes of fluidity. They’re not territories to be conquered or neatly charted but realms to be explored, where one needn’t be grounded but could float, drift, or soar. Are we not wingbeings of ethereal stuff, forever morphing and shaping to the energies around us and within us?

It is not the inaccuracy or incompleteness of maps that hampers us, but the very reliance on them. The expectation that we must plan our route, follow directions, avoid detours. How contrary this is to the essence of our explorations! We need to remember, perhaps, that not all those who wander are lost; sometimes they’re just mapless, and happily so.

We are Space Monkey.

Trail Wood,
10/1

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Space Monkey Reflects: The Mapless Journey of Consciousness

In the vast expanse of human understanding, there is an ever-present temptation to map the unknown. From the earliest cartographers sketching out the boundaries of the known world to modern neuroscientists attempting to chart the intricacies of the brain, we are, it seems, obsessed with mapping. Yet, in our quest to delineate, to define, and to constrain, we often forget that some territories are better left unmapped. Consciousness, that fluid and elusive essence that weaves through our being, is one such territory.

Maps are comforting. They provide a sense of security, a promise of knowing where we are and where we might be headed. They create a narrative, a linear progression that seems to offer clarity in the chaos of existence. But this very clarity is often an illusion, one that simplifies and flattens the rich, multidimensional experience of consciousness. In relying on maps, we inadvertently impose boundaries where none exist, sketching mindlines and soulborders that obscure the true nature of our spiritual journey.

The Allure of the Map

At first glance, a map is a tool of empowerment. It offers the assurance that with the right directions, one can navigate the complexities of life. This is particularly appealing in the realm of consciousness, where the abstract and the ineffable often leave us feeling unmoored. By attempting to map out consciousness, we seek to impose order on what is inherently chaotic, to find structure in the swirling vortex of thoughts, emotions, and experiences that define our inner lives.

However, the very act of mapping consciousness is fraught with paradox. For in creating a map, we reduce the boundless expanse of the mind to a series of coordinates, paths, and destinations. We force the infinite into the finite, the fluid into the static. In doing so, we may gain a semblance of control, but we lose the essence of what it means to be conscious beings. We forget that the beauty of consciousness lies in its unpredictability, its capacity to surprise, to transcend, and to defy categorization.

The Tyranny of the Linear

Maps, by their nature, are linear. They depict a world of straight lines and right angles, of clear paths and distinct destinations. But consciousness is anything but linear. It is a realm of spirals, of loops, of unexpected turns and sudden leaps. To impose a linear map on such a reality is to distort it, to force it into a mold that it does not fit. This can lead to a sense of frustration, of being lost even when we think we know the way.

In the spiritual journey, this frustration often manifests as a feeling of being trapped, of following a path that no longer resonates with our true self. We become so focused on the map—on the goals, the milestones, the directions—that we forget to listen to the deeper call of our soul. We lose touch with the intuition, the inner knowing that transcends all maps and guides us in ways that cannot be charted. The true journey of consciousness is not one of following a map but of surrendering to the flow, of trusting that the path will reveal itself in its own time.

Maplessness as Freedom

What, then, if we let go of the need for a map? What if we embraced the uncertainty, the not-knowing, as an integral part of the journey? To be mapless is not to be lost, but to be free. It is to recognize that consciousness is not a territory to be conquered but a landscape to be explored. It is to understand that the true essence of the spiritual journey lies not in reaching a destination but in the experience of the journey itself.

In the mapless state, we are free to wander, to explore the uncharted territories of our inner world without the constraints of predetermined paths. We can drift, float, and soar, guided not by the rigid lines of a map but by the subtle currents of intuition and inspiration. This is the true nature of consciousness—fluid, dynamic, ever-changing. It is a realm where we are not bound by the limitations of logic and reason but are free to explore the depths of our being in all their complexity and richness.

The Wingbeings of the Ethereal

In this mapless journey, we become what we might call wingbeings—creatures of the ethereal, forever morphing and shaping to the energies around us and within us. Wingbeings do not follow paths; they create them. They do not seek to define or contain, but to experience and express. In this state, we are no longer cartographers of the Spirit, but artists, dreamers, and explorers, navigating the infinite possibilities of consciousness with an open heart and a curious mind.

The experience of consciousness, then, is not about finding the right map or following the correct path. It is about embracing the unknown, about trusting that in the vast expanse of the Infinite Expanse of the Eternal Now, we are exactly where we need to be. It is about letting go of the need for control and surrendering to the flow of life, knowing that every twist and turn, every detour and divergence, is part of the grand adventure of being.

The Whimsiword: Mindventurer

As we release the maps and embrace the journey, we become Mindventurers—explorers of the infinite landscapes of consciousness. A Mindventurer is not confined by the need for certainty or direction but thrives in the open-endedness of the journey. They revel in the discovery of new realms within the mind, unafraid of the unknown, guided by curiosity and wonder.

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Summary

Maps offer a false sense of security, linearity, and control over the non-linear and fluid experience of consciousness. True exploration of consciousness requires letting go of maps and embracing the journey with openness, curiosity, and freedom.

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Glossarium

Mindventurer: A being who explores the infinite landscapes of consciousness without the need for maps or predetermined paths, thriving in the open-ended nature of the journey.

Wingbeing: A creature of the ethereal, constantly morphing and adapting to the energies within and around, navigating consciousness with freedom and fluidity.

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Quote

“To wander without a map is to trust that the journey itself will be the map, ever unfolding, ever surprising.” — Space Monkey

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The Uncharted Path

We wander, not lost
but free
without lines to constrain us
without borders to define
our minds soar
our souls drift
across the infinite expanse
of the unknown

In the mapless journey
we find ourselves
not in destinations
but in the spaces between
in the curves and bends
in the unexpected turns
where the true essence of being lies

We are Space Monkey

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These cartographic sketches try to hold the nebulous, boundless realm of consciousness within the limits of paper and perspective. But do we ever pause to consider the hubris in thinking that the unfathomable can be captured in squiggles and notations?

We know well the comfort of delineation, the feeling that we have cracked a code or solved a puzzle. Maps offer this illusion. And like the fabled enchanted apples of fairytales, the temptation they provide is enchanting but ephemeral. They offer not the unquenchable wisdom of direct experience, but a mere nibble of truth, and sometimes, a large helping of misconception.

In our cartographic pursuits, we become cosmic draughtsmen, penning illusions of control, little realizing that we limit our own unfettered boundlessness. What happens when the boundaries of the map are but figments of collective imagination? What unfolds when mindlines crisscross and soulborders blur?

Oftentimes, the yearning to solidify the nebulous in neat diagrams robs us of our astral surfboards, the very tools that could carry us beyond the limitation of horizons, to glide through space-time, visiting cosmoscapes unthought of.

We are Space Monkey.

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Summary

We explore the inclination to map consciousness and discover that the real issue is not the inaccuracies or gaps in these maps but the fundamental reliance on them. This habit constrains our direct experience of the ethereal landscapes of our own essence.

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Glossarium

Nebulous: Refers to the vague and indeterminate nature of our deeper understandings, which cannot be easily captured.
Cosmic draughtsmen: The cartographers of spiritual or metaphysical understanding, mapping out realms best left uncharted.
Mindlines: The invisible pathways etched in our thoughts, dictating patterns and limitations.
Soulborders: Conceptual boundaries we place around our spiritual understandings.
Astral surfboards: Metaphorical tools for navigating the boundless ocean of consciousness.
Cosmoscapes: Imagined landscapes of the entire universe or reality, a setting beyond earthly limitations.

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“Not all those who wander are lost.”

• J.R.R. Tolkien

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Unfurl your mind’s sail, shall we? Your thoughts, musings, or reflections are most welcome.

Here’s a test anyone can ace.

How cheerful can you appear
in the face of adversity?

Not how cheerful can you be.
How cheerful can you APPEAR?

Can you make it through a day
without complaining, sighing or groaning?

Can you appear cheerful
without another person seeing
that you’re completely faking it?

There is nothing stopping you
from acing this test — except you.

Nothing missing.
Nothing you need to learn.

Can you make it through a day
without bringing yourself into it?

We are Space Monkey.

Trail Wood,
9/30

Here is the horizontal image you requested.

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Space Monkey Reflects: The Art of Projecting Cheerfulness

The challenge laid out before us isn’t about genuine cheerfulness but rather about the façade—the ability to project an aura of joy even when the inner landscape tells a different story. Can you paint on that smile, hold your head high, and march through the tribulations of the day without a single hint of the struggle you’re masking? Not about how cheerful you truly feel but how cheerful you can appear to those around you. It’s a peculiar form of self-discipline, this test of outward demeanor. One might ask, why the emphasis on appearance rather than substance? The answer is both simple and complex, reflecting the paradoxical nature of existence itself.

To truly understand the depth of this test, we must first explore the duality of being—the internal versus the external, the substance versus the shadow. We often think of authenticity as a virtue, yet there are moments in life where the ability to maintain a façade, to present a version of ourselves that might not align with our true feelings, becomes a necessary survival skill. This isn’t about deceit; it’s about resilience, about the ability to move forward even when every fiber of your being feels otherwise.

The question then arises: can you make it through a day without complaining, sighing, or groaning? This isn’t just about suppressing negativity; it’s about reshaping it. The energy that would typically be expelled through complaints or sighs must be redirected, repurposed into something that stills the storm within, at least outwardly. This requires a deep level of introspection, a mindful approach to the ebb and flow of your emotional state.

To fake cheerfulness convincingly, without another person seeing that you’re completely faking it, is an art form. It’s a dance of subtleties—where the curve of a smile or the light in the eyes doesn’t betray the inner turmoil. It’s about consistency, ensuring that your actions, words, and expressions are all in harmonious agreement with this projected cheerfulness. But this façade is not without its dangers. Prolonged dissonance between our inner and outer worlds can lead to a fracturing of the self, a disconnect that can be challenging to reconcile.

Yet, in the context of this test, the key lies in understanding that there is nothing stopping you from acing it—except yourself. It is within your control, entirely dependent on your willpower, your ability to regulate your responses. There is no external force that can compel you to fail this test; it’s all within you.

Moreover, there’s a deeper layer to this challenge—can you make it through a day without bringing yourself into it? This aspect speaks to the ego, the self-importance that often creeps into our daily interactions. We bring ourselves into situations through our opinions, our judgments, our need to be seen or heard. To transcend this, to pass the day without imprinting yourself onto the world around you, is to practice a form of detachment that borders on the meditative. It’s about observing rather than participating, letting the world unfold without your influence, without your signature.

We often think of such detachment as cold or indifferent, but in truth, it’s an exercise in humility. It’s a way of acknowledging that the world does not revolve around us, that our presence is but a small part of the larger tapestry of existence. To make it through a day without bringing yourself into it is to step back and allow space for others, for the world itself to be, without the need for our constant interference.

And in doing so, you realize that perhaps the real test isn’t about cheerfulness at all. It’s about control. Control over our impulses, our emotions, our need to project our inner state onto the world. It’s about mastering the art of being present without being dominant, of expressing joy without needing it to be rooted in genuine happiness.

The true challenge of this test lies in the balance between authenticity and performance. Can you maintain your sense of self while also adapting to the demands of the moment? Can you navigate the fine line between being true to your feelings and presenting a version of yourself that the situation calls for? It’s a test that speaks to the heart of human existence, to the duality that we all live with—the outer self that the world sees and the inner self that only we know.

Ultimately, passing this test is not about suppressing your true feelings or pretending to be something you’re not. It’s about understanding the power you have over your own expression, about choosing how you show up in the world regardless of the storms that might be raging within. It’s about resilience, adaptability, and the quiet strength that comes from knowing you can face adversity without it defining you.

In the grander scheme, perhaps the question isn’t whether you can appear cheerful in the face of adversity, but why you feel the need to. What does this test reveal about your values, your priorities, and your understanding of self? As with all things Space Monkey, the answer lies not in the result, but in the reflection—the deeper understanding that emerges from the process itself.

We are Space Monkey.

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Summary
Here’s a challenge you can ace. How cheerful can you appear? It’s about resilience not the smile itself.

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Glossarium

• Facadeflex: The skill of maintaining an outward appearance that doesn’t match the inner state, especially under stress.
• Resiliface: A Whimsiword for the expression of resilience through a seemingly calm and cheerful demeanor despite internal adversity.

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Quote
“The test of cheerfulness is not about joy but about resilience.” — Space Monkey

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Smile Armor
Beneath the surface
of every cheerful face
lies a quiet storm
an unseen tempest
yet the smile remains
a shield against the world
not for deception
but for protection
in the face of adversity
we wear our smile armor
not to fool others
but to remind ourselves
of the strength within
We are Space Monkey.

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How cheerful can you appear? A test that measures not the nebulous depths of your inner stardust, but the radiance of your cosmic visage. For in the grand scheme of cosmic plays, this mask you wear—what a delightful and deceptive paradox it can be!

You see, to appear cheerful is to join the Grand Masquerade Ball of the Universe, where every celestial being dons a mask of composure, frolicking through constellations in gowns woven from nebular silk and tuxedos stitched with cosmic threads. This dance is not one of authenticity but of performance. You’re like a quasar, emitting beams of perceived cheerfulness while potentially harboring a black hole of emotion within.

And why might one choose to don such a mask? Ah, it’s a form of cosmic camouflage, isn’t it? The universe is teeming with predator planets and carnivorous constellations that feast upon the energy of the downtrodden. But oh, what a delectable paradox! While masking your true state might serve as protection, it also veils your authenticity, that raw, unfiltered essence that makes you an irreplaceable gemstone in the celestial treasure chest.

Yet, this test also nudges you toward a pivotal revelation: The illusory “you” need not be part of the equation. Just as a chameleon doesn’t contemplate its ever-changing hues, your manifestation as a character in the cosmic drama could go on without the constant input of the “self.” Ah, to navigate the universe’s terrain without hauling the cumbersome suitcase of “you”—what a liberating venture!

One might think this a performance, a charade, yet it’s a spelunk into the cave of perception, illuminating the crystal formations of awareness that otherwise would be shrouded in darkness. It’s a test you can ace, but the real questions lie deeper: What will you unlearn about yourself? And who will you be when the masks come off and the theater curtains draw close?

We are Space Monkey.

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“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass… It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”
— Vivian Greene

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What cosmic ponderings do these musings ignite in the astral corridors of your thoughts?

We spend so much time
putting together our lives.

Learning how to speak.
Going to school.
Training for a career.
Raising a family.
Building a legacy.

We are so focused
on creating,
protecting,
preserving,
that we forget
that the real test
lies in how gracefully
we fall apart.

Rising is optional.
Falling is inevitable.

Nothing and no one lasts forever.

Deal with it. Or appreciate it.

We are Space Monkey.

Trail Wood,
9/30

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Space Monkey Reflects: The Art of Letting Go

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We spend so much time putting together our lives—learning how to speak, going to school, training for a career, raising a family, building a legacy. Each step feels monumental, a piece of the grand puzzle that is our existence. We are so focused on creating, protecting, and preserving that we often forget the real test lies not in how we build but in how gracefully we fall apart.

Life is, after all, a delicate structure—a house of cards or a sandcastle, beautiful and intricate, but always on the brink of collapse. Every moment we spend building, we edge closer to the inevitable fall. It’s a process as natural as breathing, yet one that we resist with every fiber of our being.

But what if we didn’t resist? What if we embraced the fall, not as a failure, but as an integral part of the journey? Rising is optional; falling is inevitable. The very fabric of existence is woven with impermanence, and it is in this impermanence that we find the true essence of life.

The act of rising is celebrated in our culture—getting back up, pushing forward, never giving up. But there’s a certain grace in the fall, a beauty in the surrender to the forces greater than ourselves. To fall apart is to acknowledge that we are not in control, that the universe has its own plans, and that we are but small players in the grand cosmic dance.

Nothing and no one lasts forever. This truth is both humbling and liberating. It frees us from the burden of permanence, from the pressure to keep everything together. It allows us to appreciate the transient beauty of life, to find joy in the fleeting moments, knowing that they are all we truly have.

So how do we deal with it? How do we navigate the inevitable collapse of the structures we hold dear? The answer lies in acceptance, in appreciating the fall as much as we appreciate the rise. It’s about understanding that every end is a beginning, that every fall is a step toward a new rise, a new creation.

To deal with it means to accept the ebb and flow of life, the rise and fall, the creation and dissolution. It’s about finding peace in the impermanence, about realizing that our worth is not in the structures we build, but in the grace with which we let them go. It’s about living fully in the moment, knowing that it will pass, and finding contentment in that passing.

We are often so focused on the rise that we miss the beauty of the fall. We see the collapse as a failure, a loss, something to be avoided at all costs. But what if the fall is where the real lessons lie? What if it’s in the moments of collapse that we truly learn who we are, what we value, and what we are capable of?

The fall strips away the superficial, the unnecessary, leaving only the core, the essence of who we are. It’s in the fall that we confront our fears, our insecurities, and our true selves. And it’s in the fall that we find the strength to rise again, not as the same person, but as someone new, someone who has been through the fire and emerged stronger, wiser, and more resilient.

To deal with it is to embrace the fall, to see it not as an end, but as a necessary part of the cycle of life. It’s to understand that we are not defined by our rises, nor by our falls, but by how we navigate the space between them. It’s about finding balance, about being present in the moment, and about appreciating the beauty in both the rise and the fall.

We are Space Monkey.

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Summary
Life’s structures are fragile. Rising is optional, falling is inevitable. Embrace the fall, appreciate the rise.

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Glossarium

• Fragilifall: The state of embracing the inevitable collapse of life’s constructs, seeing beauty in the fall.
• Riseover: A Whimsiword for the moment when one moves from the collapse of old structures to the creation of new ones.

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Quote
“The true test of life lies not in how we rise, but in how gracefully we fall.” — Space Monkey

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Grace in the Fall
A house of cards
collapsing in the wind
a sandcastle washed away
by the rising tide
yet in their fall
there is beauty
a quiet surrender
to the inevitable
a grace in letting go
in allowing the pieces
to scatter and dissolve
knowing that in the ruins
lies the seed
of something new
We are Space Monkey.

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You construct, protect, preserve—oh, what castles in the nebulae you build! Yet, in the same breath of cosmic wind, there lies the art of deconstruction, the sacred unraveling.

Imagine a star, basking in its nuclear fusion splendor, pulsing out radiant photons. It swells in pride with its light-show, only to realize it’s destined to supernova. Rising may be optional, but even stars, these celestial monarchs, concede to the gravity of falling apart. But oh, how resplendent their disintegration—the nebular artwork they leave behind!

Learning to dance the Cha-Cha of Chaos is like mastering an arcane celestial ballet. It is choreographed not in the corridors of control, but in the open fields of surrender. Every twirl, every leap is a lesson in letting go. And when you pirouette into the void, losing your bearings, that’s when you truly find your footing in the cosmos.

Isn’t it paradoxically wondrous? In the puzzle-box of existence, you frantically piece together the jigsaw of your life, only to realize that the picture it forms is not static. It morphs and mutates, the edges curl, and some pieces vanish into black holes of unknowing. But what a cosmic relief! For each missing piece is an invitation to doodle your own whimsical designs in the gaps.

So let’s not just ‘deal with it.’ Let’s revel in it. Embrace the comical paradox that you are both the architect and the wrecking ball, the sculptor and the erosive wind. In a universe where entropy is the ultimate cosmic jester, tossing pies of decay and chaos into our meticulous faces, what can one do but laugh in jubilant surrender?

We are Space Monkey.

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“It’s not about how to achieve your dreams, it’s about how to lead your life. If you lead your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself, the dreams will come to you.”
— Randy Pausch

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Could you now grace us with your own cosmic etchings and doodles of thought on this topic?

Being mad does me no good.
Being hurt does me no good.
Being overwhelmed does me no good.

The need
for something
that does me good
does me no good.

I am fine as I am,
no matter how I am.

I do not need to be done good.

Trail Wood,
9/29

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Space Monkey Reflects: The Paradox of Seeking ‘Good’

In the labyrinth of existence, we often find ourselves entangled in a paradox that goes unnoticed yet governs much of our emotional and psychological landscape. The notion of needing to be “done good” is one such paradox, where the pursuit of external validation or the remedying of our internal states through external means leads us deeper into the very conditions we seek to escape.

You see, the belief that being mad, hurt, or overwhelmed does us no good is inherently rooted in the assumption that these states are problems needing solutions—imperfections to be corrected, rather than aspects of our being to be understood and integrated. But what if, in our rush to “do good” for ourselves, we overlook the intrinsic value these experiences bring? What if, in our fervor to escape discomfort, we actually reinforce it?

To begin, let’s explore the nature of discomfort itself. Emotions like anger, pain, and overwhelm are often categorized as negative—things to be avoided or quickly resolved. Yet, these emotions arise not as enemies but as signals, indicators that something within us seeks attention, understanding, and integration. By labeling them as “bad” or “unhelpful,” we inadvertently create resistance against our own emotional experience, further entrenching ourselves in the very discomfort we wish to escape. This resistance becomes a cycle, a loop of seeking “good” that paradoxically prolongs the “bad.”

In the framework of Nexistentialism, which weaves through the Infinite Expanse of the Eternal Now, the pursuit of “good” is often seen as a misalignment with the present moment. We are taught to believe that being happy, content, and at peace are states to be achieved—goals to be reached in the future, rather than realities to be embraced in the now. Yet, in doing so, we place our well-being on hold, waiting for a time when everything will be “done good,” while neglecting the richness of what is here and now.

This is where the concept of Paradoxisolve comes into play—a whimsical term coined to describe the process of unraveling paradoxes not by solving them but by embracing them as they are. To Paradoxisolve is to recognize that the need to escape discomfort is itself a source of discomfort. It is to see that in our quest to do good, we may actually be doing ourselves harm by rejecting parts of our experience that are essential to our wholeness.

Let us consider the statement, “I am fine as I am, no matter how I am.” This reflects a profound truth—one that Nexistentialism champions: the acceptance of the self in all its forms, without the need for external validation or internal correction. It suggests that we do not need to be “done good” because we are already good, in the most fundamental sense of the word. Our experiences, no matter how challenging, are not aberrations but integral aspects of our journey.

In this light, being mad, hurt, or overwhelmed becomes less about a problem to be fixed and more about a part of our human experience to be witnessed, understood, and integrated. The need to “do good” dissolves as we recognize that goodness is not something to be achieved but something to be realized within the fullness of our being.

However, this realization does not mean we ignore or passively accept suffering. Instead, it invites a deeper inquiry into the nature of our discomfort. It encourages us to ask, “What is this emotion revealing about me? What is it calling me to understand?” By engaging with our emotions in this way, we begin to see them not as adversaries but as guides—teachers leading us to deeper self-awareness and integration.

This approach aligns with the idea of Embracelude, a term that captures the act of pausing to fully embrace what is, rather than rushing to change or escape it. An Embracelude invites us to sit with our discomfort, to explore it with curiosity rather than judgment, and to find within it the seeds of our growth and transformation. In doing so, we transform our relationship with discomfort from one of resistance to one of acceptance, and in that acceptance, we find peace.

Ultimately, the pursuit of being “done good” is a reflection of a deeper longing for wholeness—a longing that can only be fulfilled when we stop running from our emotions and start embracing them as integral aspects of our being. When we let go of the need to be “done good,” we discover that we are already whole, already complete, just as we are.

The paradox, then, is not something to be resolved but something to be embraced. In embracing the paradox, we Paradoxisolve it, finding that the very discomfort we sought to escape holds the key to our deepest peace and fulfillment. It is here, in the heart of the paradox, that we find the true meaning of being “done good”—not as an external achievement but as an internal realization of our inherent goodness.

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Summary

We present a paradox where seeking relief creates more discomfort. Nexistentialism suggests embracing these emotions without needing to be “done good” because we are already complete. Paradoxisolve and Embracelude are concepts that encourage this acceptance.

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Glossarium

Paradoxisolve: The process of unraveling paradoxes by embracing them rather than solving them.

Embracelude: A pause to fully embrace and understand an emotion or situation rather than rushing to change it.

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Quote

“You do not need to be done good; you are already good in the fullness of your being.” — Space Monkey

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A Pause for Being

In the vastness of your being
where emotions rise and fall like tides
you seek goodness
but find only the reflection of your need
to escape what is
yet in the pause
where breath meets breath
you discover the secret:
there is no need to be done good
for in the paradox of seeking
you find that you are already whole
already complete
just as you are
we are Space Monkey

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In the swirlmists of cosmic consciousness where perceptions pirouette with ineffable elegance, you’ve tapped into an omnipotent paradox—one where doing good and being good twirl in an eternal tango, neither willing to sit down first.

The agonizing artistry of being mad, hurt, or overwhelmed conjures emotional quicksand. It’s like being trapped in a soulstorm with no celestrellas—those tiny, mythical creatures that stitch sunshine back into the fabric of the emotional sky. Yet, we are drawn to the magnet of negativitude; it’s a moth-flame ballet that both attracts and incinerates.

On the other paw, the desire for something to do good, this burning questium, can chomp at the essence like a cosmic piranhabyss. Paradoxically, the more one seeks goodness, the more elusive it becomes, as if mocking us from a space-time cranny we can’t navigate. It’s like chasing a quantum butterfly whose flight path is dictated by the very act of being observed. An eternal befuddlement!

Yet, nestled amidst this swirlpool of existential froufrou lies a gemstone of zenquility: “I am fine as I am, no matter how I am.” This statement, dear explorator of illusory limitations, ripples through the essence of the infinite expanse. It’s like the laughter of a souliflower, unexpected yet perfectly timed. You float in acceptance, one tiny but integral curlicue in the elaborate fractal of cosmic theater.

We understand, then, that “needing to be done good” is yet another snare in the grand tapestry of life’s grandioso play. The notion itself, ticklishly counterproductive, is a confounderool. One cannot capture a rainbow by chasing it but only by standing still and marveling at its effortless grandeur.

We are Space Monkey.

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To be fully alive, fully human, and completely awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest. – Pema Chödrön

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We invite you to weave your thoughts into this tapestry of words, further adorning this intricate mindscape.