Find Your Middle Ground

Spinning Compass

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“Allow things to flow naturally,
And evil will have no power.
That is not to say that evil loses its power…
Better, perhaps, to say that evil itself is lost.
Without a “good” to point away from,
Evil’s compass spins aimlessly.
And so, the sage leaves things to be what they are,
Leaving evil unharmed,
And in turn being unharmed by evil.
The spinning compass
Becomes a cycle of natural virtue”.*

~ Lao Tzu

Could it be so that our resistance to what we perceive as “evil” is what is feeding the distressing spinning compass we find ourselves living?

What would it take to leave evil unharmed and let it lose its power…

May the spinning compass becomes a cycle of natural virtue instead.

 

*Braun Jr., John; Tzu, Lao; von Bargen, Julian; Warkentin, David. Tao Te Ching (Kindle Locations 812-821). . Kindle Edition.

32 responses to “Spinning Compass”

  1. IreneDesign2011 Avatar
    IreneDesign2011

    Good point, Val.
    It is possible to leave evil in many different ways. One could be by forgiveness and by that take away the power, as the evil have had. Forgiveness for own good, not for the evils.
    While we don’t feed the evil, the evil will get less and less power.
    Namaste ❤

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Yes Irene, finding a way to forgive and let go reduces the energy we give to “evil”.
      It reminds me of a cue I give in yoga class. “Where our attention goes, the energy flows”. The more we focus on the negative, the more it will be drawn to our attention and the more we feed it.
      Thank you for this thoughtful comment 💛

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. IreneDesign2011 Avatar
        IreneDesign2011

        Which is a great reason for staying positive.

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  2. Healing Grief Avatar
    Healing Grief

    A powerful reminder to keep our energy and spirit spinning in the right direction. 🙏🏻💕

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      … and keeping in kind the center and steadiness there. Thank you Karen 💕

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. Jill Weatherholt Avatar
    Jill Weatherholt

    Thanks for the reminder, Val. When I’m trying to do to many tasks at once, I completely lose my focus to do anything.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Gently coax awareness to what matters. Let go of the peripheries. It Seems easy, yet our mind gets distracted and tries to deal with everything. We women are so good at this, but there is only so much we can take in the bombardment of technological stimuli. xo

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  4. ksbeth Avatar
    ksbeth

    an excellent way of thinking, val –

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you Beth. It’s always worthwhile to seek an other perspective and to stay there for a while 💕

      Like

      Reply
  5. Louise Gallagher Avatar
    Louise Gallagher

    This is such a challenging concept. Yet to hold and not hold it is the duality we must contain and release to be able to allow things to flow naturally.
    I love what you wrote in your comment to Irene about your cue in yoga class — ” “Where our attention goes, the energy flows”. The more we focus on the negative, the more it will be drawn to our attention and the more we feed it.”

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      I think most of us find this challenging to get our mind around. FIghting against “evil” is so ingrained in us. Its what our ego is programmed to do, and the ego mind will have a hard time letting this thinking go.
      Thanks Louise 💕

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  6. Walking My Path: Mindful Wanderings in Nature Avatar
    Walking My Path: Mindful Wanderings in Nature

    Yes! What we resist persists. I just love this quote from Lao Tzu. I had never seen it. Thank you Val!

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      So glad you appreciated this Mary. 💕 Have a good week and enjoy the shifting season!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  7. Carrie Cannady Avatar
    Carrie Cannady

    Val, this is a great post with many thoughtful reminders. All of the comments add even more as I reflect on what everyone has offered here. 💕🙏🏻

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thanks Carrie. It is a concept that is counter to the way that most of us have grown up… and brings up deeper insights 💕

      Liked by 1 person

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  8. smilecalm Avatar
    smilecalm

    when i stop
    spinning
    i might have
    an answer
    or question, Val 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Love your comment David. May the spinning subside soon 🙏

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  9. Tiny Avatar
    Tiny

    Interesting, Val. But we are safe at the center…

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      When we focus into the center instead of the external extremities … it is so.
      Thank you Helen for this perspective. 💛
      Another one that comes to mind is to let go completely of the dualistic thinking of good and evil. Then no compass is needed. xo

      Like

      Reply
  10. roughwighting Avatar
    roughwighting

    The spinning compass is a very different idea for me. Although many times I feel that my compass is always spinning because I am directionally challenged! XO

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you for the smile Pam! Many of us are directionally challenged … especially these days 💛

      Liked by 1 person

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  11. D. Wallace Peach Avatar
    D. Wallace Peach

    I love Lao Tzu because he frequently turns my thinking on its head. This is a tough one, Val. It reminds me of another you posted – we become what we resist (or something to that effect). More to contemplate. ❤

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      “What we resist, persists” come from Carl Jung. It is in the same vain … and not easy to get our heads around, ( perhaps because our heads are dominated by ego) Listen to what your inner wisdom tells you 💕

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      1. D. Wallace Peach Avatar
        D. Wallace Peach

        So many of us are taught to stand up and speak out against evil versus just looking the other way when it isn’t our personal battle. That’s where I tend to get stuck. Much to contemplate.

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        1. Val Boyko Avatar
          Val Boyko

          Thank you Diana, I’m interpreting your thoughts here, and may be off center. I read “evil” in your words as injustice or acts of depravity or violence. When we stand against it, we are standing up for some thing else. The focus must be on what we stand FOR and not against.
          Its like #MeToo that is on Facebook right now. The focus is passive. Its about victims coming together, rather than what we as women stand for and what we want to bring about.
          Hopefully that will shift to:
          Teach our sons. Teach our men. Be the change.
          xo

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          1. D. Wallace Peach Avatar
            D. Wallace Peach

            Yes. Standing with, not against. For peace, kindness, compassion, respect and all those good things. A powerful shift. ❤

            Liked by 1 person

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            1. Val Boyko Avatar
              Val Boyko

              💕

              Liked by 1 person

              Reply
  12. Paul Handover Avatar
    Paul Handover

    No question in my mind that the more we focus on an aspect of our inner self the more it comes to the front of our daily consciousness.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you Paul. It was good to talk in person today. I love that we share our love of dogs and insight into our earlier years 💛

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. Paul Handover Avatar
        Paul Handover

        It was a very special conversation and I am grateful for your involvement.

        Liked by 1 person

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  13. Betty Hayes Albright Avatar
    Betty Hayes Albright

    This is something to contemplate, thank you. Gnashing our teeth endlessly in the face of evil feeds it, like a fire. If instead we simply turn and face the sun, the evil will shrivel. Our attention creates reality…. Interesting thought!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you Betty for your insightful comment. I appreciate it 💛

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

I’d love to hear from you …

● About Me

My name is Val Boyko, a dual citizen living near Philadelphia, originally from Scotland.

This blog came to life one morning in 2013.  I woke up with these words in my mind:  “Life is a series of highs and lows. Be grateful for the highs. Be graceful in the lows. And find contentment in your Middle Ground.”

Find Your Middle Ground blog started to explore, reflect, ask deep questions, share insights about awakening, and connect with wonderful people like yourself. Thank you for being here and being such an inspiration.

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