When you are in a territory without maps, it is only by your Desire that you can orient. The best orientation on the Left Hand Path comes from having a clear sense of what you are facing and what you want at the present moment. Doing so will allow you to integrate the material in this series as a meaningful guide to your overall Work. It will allow you to focus your mind in a manner that will allow you to change yourself internally and change your circumstance externally.
The first exercise is simple.
Step 1.
On a blank paper, write out nine problems you are facing in your life and nine goals you have for yourself. Do not take too much time with this. Go no longer than five minutes. Keep the descriptions in sentence form, preferably three to five words that someone else would understand if they read it.
Do not worry about getting them perfect or complete at the present moment. We will be re-working and reiterating them throughout this series, allowing you to refine and find greater nuance.
Step 2.
One of the more practical “short hand” models for understanding humans is Dr. Paul MacLean’s Triune Brain Theory. MacLean identified three separate structures in the Human brain via analogies to other life forms. The most primitive section, associated with the brain stem, deals with purely physical sensations and is termed the reptile brain. The middle section, which deals with emotions and is sometimes called the Limbic System, is termed the mammalian brain. Finally, the neo-cortex, which deals with logical thinking and human cognition, is termed the human brain in this model.
As with all models, this model relies on abstraction. It highlights specifics and simplifies other factors. Taken too literally it may blind you to more recent research. That said it can be a useful approach for getting started.
The Physical, Emotional, and Logical systems are running all the time for us internally. The Physical Brain is interested in survival, physical health, and well-being. The Emotional Brain has an interest in emotional Happiness. The Logical Brain has an interest in Intellectual Satisfaction.
In addition to this division being useful internally, it can also be applied externally. The External Physical can include material success, personal ecology, tangible assets, and the like. External Emotional take the form of Community and Relationships. The External Logical comes from collaboration and meaning-making in the realm of culture.
Take a look over your Problems and Goals. How can these be developed if you consider them from the standpoint of the Triune Brain model? On a new sheet of paper, make three columns. Mark them as Physical, Emotional, and Logical. Then take your Challenges and Goals, placing them in the column that they were most resonant with. Again, do not worry about making perfect matches; place things where they seem most appropriate.
Congratulations, you now have your first self-generated map of your unknown territory.
Setemheb 