by The Golden Mean and the Resolution of Opposites
In the initial phase of the soul section, we focused on cataloguing both the positive and negative aspects according to the Elements. This process allowed us to gain insight into our psychic and emotional foundation. We have, therefore, created two reflections of the soul, which we can briefly describe as lists of qualities and defects. The further tripartition of the Elements has provided us with a ranking that indicates the greater or lesser importance of individual aspects in our soul constitution.
If we have worked diligently, we can progress to the next stage, where we strive to balance elemental influences at every moment of our lives. Like many practices in IIH, this exercise extends beyond just one Step. We must maintain an awareness of both our weaknesses and strengths, as our environment and circumstances continuously challenge us. These challenges alter our inner dynamics and often uncover new emotional knots that need our attention.
To understand what elemental or soul balance means—a state of advanced self-awareness—let’s take martial arts as an example. Martial arts practitioners achieve effectiveness in their techniques by reaching a fundamental balance point within their bodies. This balance is a foundation for their movements, allowing them to yield and counterattack without losing their footing in the face of external pressure or strikes.
Similarly, we act as a stable fulcrum when we maintain vigilant attention to our true nature, by positioning ourselves at the ‘centre’ of our psychophysical being. Negative emotional currents no longer sway us; instead, we learn to control them without experiencing jolts or states of imbalance. In other words, we must bring our subconscious and instinctive elements under conscious control so that our true selves can express themselves, rather than being driven by negative habits or external influences.
The birth horoscope provides a relatively accurate depiction, or rather a symbolic representation, of our potential in its pure and original form. As we grow and develop our personal resources, our interactions with family, relationships, and our social and cultural environments often lead to compromises that favour some aspects of ourselves at the expense of others. Consequently, energies that are not fully expressed may remain latent or unconscious, resulting in inappropriate and disharmonious responses.
Working with the Elements, or the individual horoscope, helps to unlock these underlying structures. This process begins by recognising them and then transforming and integrating them into our being. Doing so can reflect inner harmony in our relationships with the world.
Now, let’s clarify the use of positive traits. In this phase of the exercises, we do not need to focus on our strengths, except as a way to help address our negative aspects. For example, if we are lazy and indifferent in our daily tasks but enthusiastic about making plans, we should first examine why we dislike repetitive activities. Once we understand this mechanism, we can explore how to harness the energy we feel when we are excited and apply it to areas lacking motivation. Now, let’s move on to practice.
To achieve elementary equilibrium, Bardon recommends various methods to be applied from time to time to each defect:
Self-suggestion
This section has extensively discussed self-suggestion. The key point to remember is that self-suggestion should be used alongside other methods to be truly effective. Combining self-suggestion with conscious eating and water magic practices is beneficial, as we focus on all these modalities to overcome a specific defect.
Meditation
Once you have identified the object of your meditation, the actual work begins. Let’s consider the following questions: What is the defect’s root? How can I transform it into something positive? While it is impossible to eliminate a negative trait completely, it is beneficial to harmonise it with your personality. For instance, if our emotional relationships are destructive, we may need to let go of a constantly defensive ego and recognise the opportunities that others present to us. Ultimately, this can lead to a more creative relationship, free from the constraints of selfishness. Transforming a negative trait can become a valuable resource. While this process may be uncomfortable initially, it can be highly productive. Meditating on the elements of your constitution or the symbolism of your birth chart—if you have some knowledge in this area—can aid in this inner work.
Willpower
Willpower is the most straightforward approach to controlling one’s impulses, but it requires a strong determination and a firm commitment to resist unwanted habits. It’s easy to express a desire to overcome one’s vices, only to find that our unconscious mind subtly leads us back to old patterns the very next day.
To strengthen willpower, it can be helpful to meditate on the root cause of the issue and to focus on the positive outcomes that arise from making better choices. For instance, in the case of bulimia, choosing to stop compulsive eating can lead to significant improvements in overall health.
Here are three final practice recommendations:
- To reduce development times effectively, we should integrate all three practices. The best approach is to align them towards a single goal.
- Bardon offers two methods for addressing personal flaws. The first method is to tackle the most challenging flaws and then work your way down to the lesser ones. The second method is to begin with more minor weaknesses if you feel you lack the strength to confront the bigger issues. The advantage of addressing the more significant flaws is that they often encompass derivative psychic knots. You can simultaneously reintegrate the smaller ones by starting with the most critical flaws.
- This practice is designed to serve as a lifelong journey of personal growth that can adapt to our experiences over time. Therefore, it wouldn’t be logical to confine it to a brief period. The key is to focus on resolving the most pressing psychological issues, as achieving a basic balance of the Elements is essential for ongoing hermetic development.
This section ends the Step II soul formation.
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