Comments on: Set Your Head On Fire: The Way of the Liberation Artist http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/07/09/set-your-head-on-fire-the-way-of-the-liberation-artist/ Live on Your Own Terms Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:39:10 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Laurie http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/07/09/set-your-head-on-fire-the-way-of-the-liberation-artist/#comment-15762 Laurie Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:04:23 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1048#comment-15762 Wow, Jonathan, you are writing about my life! Thanks for a fantastic, utterly true article. I'd like to add that our culture conspires to keep us ignorant and obedient through religions, government, school systems, corporations, etc. I have been breaking all the societal "rules" by not finishing college, quitting a high-paying job, selling my house and getting rid of many of my possessions, fulltime RVing around our beautiful country for three years, homeschooling my child, and not living on a schedule. The cultural "rules" are so ingrained in almost everyone I know that, while most have been envious, most also disapprove because I'm not "allowed" to deviate from the "norm". So sad that most people have no idea how limited they are by their culture's beliefs and thus their own beliefs. People feel like they want a better life but that they have to accomplish their goals within society's framework because they're too afraid to take the harder path of thinking for themselves and not blindly accepting what they're told. Liberation is the harder path and many people don't like change and risk, especially when it's hard. And, like you said, once you start down that liberation path, there is no turning back to the old ways. You just continue to learn and relax and examine all areas of your life to bring everything into alignment with this wonderful freedom you've found! The matrix loses its grip. Wow, Jonathan, you are writing about my life! Thanks for a fantastic, utterly true article.

I’d like to add that our culture conspires to keep us ignorant and obedient through religions, government, school systems, corporations, etc. I have been breaking all the societal “rules” by not finishing college, quitting a high-paying job, selling my house and getting rid of many of my possessions, fulltime RVing around our beautiful country for three years, homeschooling my child, and not living on a schedule. The cultural “rules” are so ingrained in almost everyone I know that, while most have been envious, most also disapprove because I’m not “allowed” to deviate from the “norm”. So sad that most people have no idea how limited they are by their culture’s beliefs and thus their own beliefs. People feel like they want a better life but that they have to accomplish their goals within society’s framework because they’re too afraid to take the harder path of thinking for themselves and not blindly accepting what they’re told. Liberation is the harder path and many people don’t like change and risk, especially when it’s hard.

And, like you said, once you start down that liberation path, there is no turning back to the old ways. You just continue to learn and relax and examine all areas of your life to bring everything into alignment with this wonderful freedom you’ve found! The matrix loses its grip.

]]> By: alex - unleash reality http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/07/09/set-your-head-on-fire-the-way-of-the-liberation-artist/#comment-15555 alex - unleash reality Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:40:24 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1048#comment-15555 Hey Jonathan!! Really liked the overall tone and vibe of this article. that in itself was liberating - liberating from the monotous dead tone of most personal development out there. "there is either total liberation, or none" - so. true. liberation is definitely binary. man. been thinking about this for a while. there's no such thing as being kinda liberated. the kinda is just another limitation. if there is something holding you back from being fully liberated, then there is limitation. which means you're not liberated at all. interesting to see things that people seek liberating from as a list... because sure, you can seek liberation from those things. the outward limitations and the inward ones. you do seek sovereignty from everything on the list. then... then you seek sovereignty from seeking sovereignty. as long as there is seeking, there is still liberation. seeking "as if your head is on fire" is only one part. it's a piece but it's not the whole thing. kinda like your awareness of the limitations is the catalyst to setting your head on fire (love the way you put that), so too does setting your head on fire the catalyse pure liberation oneness with life. where there is no you. or your mind. there is only pure connectedness. the idea of liberation falls away. and so does the idea of freedom. you are liberation. and you are freedom. awwwwsome article all round. stumbled. keep well and in touch alex - unleash reality Hey Jonathan!!

Really liked the overall tone and vibe of this article. that in itself was liberating – liberating from the monotous dead tone of most personal development out there.

“there is either total liberation, or none” – so. true.

liberation is definitely binary. man. been thinking about this for a while. there’s no such thing as being kinda liberated. the kinda is just another limitation. if there is something holding you back from being fully liberated, then there is limitation. which means you’re not liberated at all.

interesting to see things that people seek liberating from as a list… because sure, you can seek liberation from those things. the outward limitations and the inward ones. you do seek sovereignty from everything on the list. then…

then you seek sovereignty from seeking sovereignty.

as long as there is seeking, there is still liberation.

seeking “as if your head is on fire” is only one part. it’s a piece but it’s not the whole thing. kinda like your awareness of the limitations is the catalyst to setting your head on fire (love the way you put that), so too does setting your head on fire the catalyse pure liberation oneness with life.

where there is no you. or your mind. there is only pure connectedness.

the idea of liberation falls away. and so does the idea of freedom. you are liberation. and you are freedom.

awwwwsome article all round.

stumbled.

keep well and in touch
alex – unleash reality

]]> By: Nadia - Happy Lotus http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/07/09/set-your-head-on-fire-the-way-of-the-liberation-artist/#comment-15417 Nadia - Happy Lotus Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:00:18 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1048#comment-15417 Hi Jonathan, My experience is similar to yours. I always wanted to know the reasons behind everything. I was often surprised to see that people did things because they thought it was the right thing to do since that is what everyone else was doing. That never made sense to me. Life is so full of opportunities but yet people bind themselves with these limitations which are all an illusion. The funny part is that people who live according to a limited view often criticize those who break free from the chains. There is no sense in playing life small. Time is precious and there is no need to waste it by living in fear and illusion. Great job! :) Hi Jonathan,

My experience is similar to yours. I always wanted to know the reasons behind everything. I was often surprised to see that people did things because they thought it was the right thing to do since that is what everyone else was doing. That never made sense to me.

Life is so full of opportunities but yet people bind themselves with these limitations which are all an illusion. The funny part is that people who live according to a limited view often criticize those who break free from the chains.

There is no sense in playing life small. Time is precious and there is no need to waste it by living in fear and illusion.

Great job! :)

]]> By: your head on fire « monologando http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/07/09/set-your-head-on-fire-the-way-of-the-liberation-artist/#comment-15411 your head on fire « monologando Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:34:48 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1048#comment-15411 [...] Aqui. Deixe um [...] [...] Aqui. Deixe um [...]

]]> By: An Elephant, a Rope, and Programmed Beliefs « Joy Discovered http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/07/09/set-your-head-on-fire-the-way-of-the-liberation-artist/#comment-15403 An Elephant, a Rope, and Programmed Beliefs « Joy Discovered Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:11:55 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1048#comment-15403 [...] learn more about limiting beliefs, read a post of mine here or this post by Jonathan Mead who writes the blog, Illuminated [...] [...] learn more about limiting beliefs, read a post of mine here or this post by Jonathan Mead who writes the blog, Illuminated [...]

]]> By: kelly http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/07/09/set-your-head-on-fire-the-way-of-the-liberation-artist/#comment-15243 kelly Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:00:53 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1048#comment-15243 An amazing post at just the right time in my life. It's time "to set my head on fire" An amazing post at just the right time in my life. It’s time “to set my head on fire”

]]> By: Andrew - Success Questions http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/07/09/set-your-head-on-fire-the-way-of-the-liberation-artist/#comment-15241 Andrew - Success Questions Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:54:20 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1048#comment-15241 Love this! Seems like it all comes down to whether someone TRULY wants to be liberated or gets more excitement/energy around thinking it would be cool to be liberated. Love this!

Seems like it all comes down to whether someone TRULY wants to be liberated or gets more excitement/energy around thinking it would be cool to be liberated.

]]> By: Diggy - Upgradereality.com http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/07/09/set-your-head-on-fire-the-way-of-the-liberation-artist/#comment-15234 Diggy - Upgradereality.com Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:41:12 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1048#comment-15234 Really cool post! I find though with most things, a person will only really revolt or liberate themselves when they hit rock bottom. When things have gone so far that in an act of desperation for change that a new way of life is born. With good observation and courage we can begin those revolts when they are neccesary and before some external event or rock bottom happens. Until next post:) Diggy upgradereality.com Really cool post!
I find though with most things, a person will only really revolt or liberate themselves when they hit rock bottom. When things have gone so far that in an act of desperation for change that a new way of life is born.

With good observation and courage we can begin those revolts when they are neccesary and before some external event or rock bottom happens.

Until next post:)
Diggy
upgradereality.com

]]> By: Jesse Meijers http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/07/09/set-your-head-on-fire-the-way-of-the-liberation-artist/#comment-15230 Jesse Meijers Sat, 11 Jul 2009 10:40:05 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1048#comment-15230 The difference between excitement and a dull life seems to be in looking for excitement. People you refer to in your post who say 'thats just the way it is' are people who clearly have settled for just accepting things the way they are. While what you encourage is to seek different answers, seek excitement. Interesting flow of thought... thanks for sharing. The difference between excitement and a dull life seems to be in looking for excitement. People you refer to in your post who say ‘thats just the way it is’ are people who clearly have settled for just accepting things the way they are. While what you encourage is to seek different answers, seek excitement. Interesting flow of thought… thanks for sharing.

]]> By: Tim | Inspiration Central http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/07/09/set-your-head-on-fire-the-way-of-the-liberation-artist/#comment-15205 Tim | Inspiration Central Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:53:38 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1048#comment-15205 This is the best post I've read by you. You explained this subject much better than most people would. There is a plague of circular reasoning in the world that can only be cured by opening one's mind to ideas different from what we're used to. When someone closes their mind to something, they cease to grow in that area. A closed mind is synonymous with a stale pond that stagnates; while an open mind is constantly rejuvenated with a constant flow of new ideas. It's a sign of bigotry to claim that one is always right while others with different beliefs are always wrong. You’re right that no one in the world has all the answers; especially those who profit by claiming so. This is the best post I’ve read by you. You explained this subject much better than most people would.

There is a plague of circular reasoning in the world that can only be cured by opening one’s mind to ideas different from what we’re used to.

When someone closes their mind to something, they cease to grow in that area. A closed mind is synonymous with a stale pond that stagnates; while an open mind is constantly rejuvenated with a constant flow of new ideas.

It’s a sign of bigotry to claim that one is always right while others with different beliefs are always wrong. You’re right that no one in the world has all the answers; especially those who profit by claiming so.

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