I just finished watching the first season of the sequel to the Netflix series "Vikings" called "Vikings Valhalla" and it did not disappoint. I enjoy shows like this as well as westerns like Paramount's 1883 because they demonstrate something that gets a lot of pushback nowadays which is dynamic male energy. I believe that this pushback is largely due to a misunderstanding of male energy and how human beings choose to wield it.​ 

In the Wilhelm Baynes version of the I Ching in Hexagram 27 the top change line reads, "You​ let your Magic Tortoise go and look at me with the corners of your mouth drooping". Tortoises in ancient China were seen as mystical creatures who seemed immortal as they can live over two hundred years. 
This Hexagram is focused on how we choose to feed or nurture ourselves on physical, psychological and spiritual levels.
This nurturing can take two forms either positive or negative self-nurturing. Very few Coaches, Spiritual Teachers or even Therapists, address this with their clients even though it is a major contributor to most of our addictions. It also ties into the above statement regarding our "Magic Tortoise". When we let go of the believe in our capacity to nourish ourselves on either a physical or emotional level we then do so through largely unconscious behavior patterns.      

I am not sure if you notice the choices you make each day. I know that I didn't for a long time and I discovered that is pretty normal. Many choices are made without a lot of conscious thought. There is usually a rationalization that supports our choices, and that happens so quickly we might not notice it. The worst part is that we miss out on some great opportunities when we are unconscious of our choices.

​Many of you are deeply spiritual and self-aware people who still find yourselves trapped by this believe. I know this is true because, I have worked with thousands of people on this issue and I still find myself caught in this belief.
Fortunately it's less often and I don't hang out there too long. Though sometimes I really need to make an effort to pull myself out of that ditch. Let's call it the guilt and shame ditch.
There I said it! That's the hook that keeps us trapped. Without the emotional attachment we would see the behavior for what it is and change it more easily. Please know that I am not denying the effect that these behaviors can have, on our lives as well as other peoples.

I have been doing a lot of thinking about the crisis we are facing in America today and how we might address it. I have also been thinking about how my own internal narrative or story feeds into this. My internal story is complex though thankfully a lot less complex than it was even a few years ago. What do I mean  by that? Have you ever felt like there is a story going on in your head between various characters? Most everyone has this experience though often times the story is so unconscious that we find ourselves acting it out as we are characters in a play. 
The way I see it, these particular characters form into identities that very rigorously defend themselves. Kind of like Avatars who are all fighting to preserve their Kingdoms or Queendoms as the case may be. Credit goes to Psychologist Jordan Peterson for presenting the Avatar concept in this context. These Avatars can have a very serious affect on our lives and the decisions that we make each day and they are seeking to preserve themselves at our expense. Perhaps even at the expense of our country.