I have a long term quarrel with our education system. I’ve always believed our present system spends way too much time teaching us things we don’t need and de-emphasizes or completely ignores way too many things we do.
Most, so-called, magickal and occult training systems are no better. In fact, they’re usually worse.
But it’s easy to level criticism without offering any solutions. What is important? What do we need to know? I’ve spent a bit of time thinking about these questions, and I think I’m getting pretty close to having a definitive answer.
In my view there are four elements, four key components, to building a life.
Health & Safety
Wealth & Lifestyle
Sex & Relationships
Meaning & Purpose
Each of the elements has two main aspects and each of the four (or eight) implies a critical skill set you must master in order to function as a complete, independent, adult human being.
Astute readers may notice some similarity between my list and Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs”. You may also notice there’s a fair degree of crossover with Carroll’s “Eight-Colour Theory of Magic”. Actually, the inspiration for my four element model came from somewhere much more unexpected. A simpler version of this model was published in the book “The Mystery Method: How to Get Beautiful Women Into Bed” by Erik von Markovik. (Told you that was unexpected.)
In Mystery’s (von Markovik’s) version, the meaning of life is given as “Survive/Reproduce” and the elements of a life are given as Health, Wealth and Sex.
I was immediately attracted to the cynicism and simplicity of this model (for reasons obvious to anyone who knows me) and even more impressed with his explanation of how the elements are interrelated. According to Mystery, the three elements are interdependent. A deficiency in one area will sooner or later lead to a deficiency in another area and eventually to the collapse of the entire system (your life).
This is a radically different way of looking at things than the more commonly known Maslow model, but seems much more correct to me. My expanded, four element model is also intended to be taken as interrelated. Some elements might seem logically to be more fundamental (or more urgent) than others, but if you don’t cover all four you’re going to have a serious problem.
In my next few posts, I plan on reviewing the four elements in more detail.
Leave a comment if you feel I’ve left out anything important.
Clint.
“According to Mystery, the three elements are interdependent. A deficiency in one area will sooner or later lead to a deficiency in another area and eventually to the collapse of the entire system (your life).”
And Vice Versa I would think, that is what an interdependent system does. A boon in one area, could provide the motivation to bring the other areas in aligment and improve the system as well.
I’m really excited to read this piece, and looking forward to hearing more about your reflections!
I think that your 4/8 categories are pretty comprehensive. And of course, they blur into one another. I’m not a big fan of Freud, but I think he was asute to think of Eros as both sexual lust and the urge to be and do in the world more generally, for example.
Sounds great! I’m also looking forward to read your reflections on this.
Given that I am in the process of recovering from a serious illness, the idea of “rebuilding” a life is attractive to me. I will read with great interest how you develop your thoughts on the four elements.
My spiritual orientation will always be attuned to the otherworldly, but now I have to find my feet again in Midgard out of necessity – yet with the renewed understanding that there is great beauty and purpose to it.
“And Vice Versa I would think, that is what an interdependent system does. A boon in one area, could provide the motivation to bring the other areas in aligment and improve the system as well.”
Hmmm. Probably, but not to the extent that you can ignore one area by specializing in others.
Thanks for the possitive feedback, guys. More is coming soon.
The first 3 are a good sensible foundation for life education. The 4th is more tricky. This is where you will find a broad education in the “Liberal arts & Sciences” provides a foundation for intellectual satisfaction, meaning, purpose, & career options in future life. They may, however, seem unnecessary to many.
“According to Mystery, the three elements are interdependent. A deficiency in one area will sooner or later lead to a deficiency in another area and eventually to the collapse of the entire system (your life).”
And Vice Versa I would think, that is what an interdependent system does. A boon in one area, could provide the motivation to bring the other areas in aligment and improve the system as well.