Living
means the possessing of life; being alive; an active function or use of elements or forms. The suffix
"-ness" means a state, quality or condition of being. This is the state of being alive; a being who actively
functions or is in active use of self. Livingness is the physical form of Be-ing
whose consciousness knows its own belonging, its connection to all aspects of the cosmos as a whole.
The physical form of Be-ing is using all its connections, all of its aspects of wholeness for the highest good of all.
The fundamental interconnected and interdependent network of all beings creates Systems of continuance that are eternal.
Being, an animated intelligence that decides, preserves and pursues actions that create a positive supportive
functioning system of connection for all is the process of this state of Livingness.
The basic understanding of life, is that we are alive. The premise here is that there are many kinds of “aliveness”. Livingness is one of the ways in which we carry out being alive. Being alive requires a lesser or greater degree of awareness. This allows us to understand that life is a series of levels or degrees of responding to and with self or the surroundings. This invites us to participate in the livingness of our life.
Livingness is more than an urge to be. Inherent in it is the concept of an inner motivation toward the future. The tools with which this principle accomplishes this are seen in the ability to conceive of this future. It invites Mobility (System Four) to take a course of action by instituting a coming together of energies which prolong life and activate it as well.
| Location of Center | Groin, genitalia |
|---|---|
| Statement | I FEEL |
| Associated Field/Inner Aspect | Emotional |
| Interactions | Directs, Unites |
| Tone | D |
| Color | Red |
| Chakra (for comparison) | First (emotional aspects) |
| Planetary Ruler | Moon |
The word, “Livingness,” is used here in its full meaning. Each part of the Universe, including you and me, both live in and through the other parts. No being can live unless the other beings also live. Suppressing the living of others also suppresses our own.
As interactions, Livingness is expressed in an inward-manner as “directs,” and in an outward-flowing manner as “unites”. Livingness is best accomplished when it directs and is directed. This is its Inward-flow. The outward-flow consists of a union which unites two forms which exchange parts or share and bring to union sets which unfolds completion on this level.
The active intelligence that creates statements of Livingness is in the form of I FEEL.
This System works with the lower pelvic area on the body and becomes the entrance and exit point of specific actions that carry out the prime directive to be alive. In relationship to all other Systems, it enlivens the activities and functions of this area: intake of living energy, elimination of waste material and the beginning point of procreation.
One's Livingness affects (and is affected by) areas of
These items are related. A person with a healthy emotional life is likely to also be on good terms with his or her family; family is a demonstration of interconnectedness on the small scale. Beliefs are pieces of information that are held emotionally, without proof or evidence.
We are emotional beings...even those of us who claim not to be! It is possible to be over-emotional (the emotions control) or under-emotional (the emotions are suppressed). Emotions simply are; they do not need to be suppressed to prevent them from controlling us, and we do not need to let them control us to avoid suppressing them.
The healthy way to deal with emotions is to acknowledge them, own them, without giving in to them or suppressing them. Finding this balance can be difficult for some. In this workshop, we will look at some ways of achieving this balance.
In all ways, but especially in our emotional lives, we are a combination of our parents. This combination comes from our biological parents, our adoptive parents if we have them, and other adults who contributed to our upbringing.
Moreover, our parentage includes our grandparents, our great-grandparents, our great-great-grandparents, and on back to the first humans. It continues further to the earliest life forms on this planet (and any others that may have contributed to our genetic or spiritual makeup).
Many things which our parents presented as facts, manifest in us as emotional issues. That's why areas of religion and patriotism are so emotionally charged, and why many people find themselves conflicted over such issues when their intellects come to conclusions contrary to their beliefs.
Beliefs are different from knowledge. Beliefs are composed of information we possess without proof and accept for emotional reasons. They belong to the Third System. Knowledge is information we have acquired through direct or indirect observation, and belongs to the Fourth System, Mobility. Knowledge can be proven; beliefs must be accepted on faith.
So, our parents' beliefs may have been facts to their parents, or their grandparents, or to some long-ago ancestor. Beliefs are essential when knowledge is unavailable; but they require special attention, so that ones that conflict with newly-available knowledge and no longer serve us, can be released.
Understanding that we are the gestalt of those who raised us, helps us to see the significance of those who raise our children, including, particularly, ourselves. Recognizing the effect beliefs have had on us, may encourage us to explain the difference to our children, and to encourage them to never cling emotionally to the facts with which we present them. Facts are continually refined by newly-available knowledge, and to pass that awareness on to our children may be the greatest gift (other than life, itself) that we can give them.

Our ancestors understood the fragile web in which all living beings take part. It was a belief for them, passed down untold generations; they couldn't prove it, but they understood nevertheless that when other beings around them are healthy and happy, so are they. As long as no one took more than was needed, there was always enough game and plants to sustain everyone.
Periodically, in our history, cultures have arisen that rejected all beliefs, without replacing them with actual knowledge. Such cultures have always destroyed themselves by destroying the environment in which they lived. Examples such as the great Guatemalan city of Tikal, or the Anasazi civilization in the American Southwest, provide us with object lessons in what may lie ahead for us if we continue to allow the destruction of natural areas and species to make way for more cities and houses. Earth abides, but we, ourselves, may find ourselves unable to sustain our manner of living because, in fact, we do not sustain it: The Web of Life does. If we break the web of life, we destroy ourselves; it's as simple as that. The web will rebuild, but it can do so without us.
The active intelligence that creates statements of Livingness is in the form of I FEEL.
I FEEL comes in a variety of forms. I FEEL statements are made which apply to the Emotional Inner Aspect, the Emotional Field, and the System of Livingness. Inner Aspect statements refer to primal emotions; Field statements refer to beliefs, and System statements refer to the interconnectedness of all life. Please remember that, any time you begin a sentence with "I believe", you are actually making an I FEEL statement.
| Inner Aspect | Field | System |
|---|---|---|
| Your basic emotions | Your beliefs | Your relationship to the world around you< |
| I FEEL happy. | I FEEL that God judges me. | I FEEL comfortable around animals. |
| I FEEL depressed. | I FEEL that one political party is better than the other. | I FEEL connected with the life around me. |
| I FEEL angry at my mother. | I FEEL that everything will work out for the best. | I FEEL as if I am alone in the world. |
The third Inner Aspect is the Emotional. This is expressed as the endocrine system of the body. Whenever we feel joy, anger, peace, fear, or any of the other basic emotions, that sensation is actually the result of hormones released into our bloodstreams by the various glands of the endocrine system. For example, all the sensations of fear (knot in stomach, rise in blood pressure, increase in rate of heartbeat and breathing) come from the release of adrenaline into the system by the pancreas.
These things don't happen at random, of course! Just as the second Inner Aspect (the nervous system) interacts with the second Field (the electromagnetic), so does the endocrine system interact with the belief system. We don't usually experience fear unless we believe we are in danger. We don't usually experience peace unless we believe all is well.
While it is possible for other fields to interact, to some degree, with the endocrine system (an intuitive awareness of danger can trigger the fear response), the primary interaction is with the third Field. Beliefs influence our emotions more than anything else.
Write down four Inner Aspect I FEEL statements (referring to your basic emotions), Mark statements that indicate positive emotions “I+”. Mark statements that indicate negative emotions with “I-”.
| Inner Aspect |
|---|
| I FEEL |
| I FEEL |
| I FEEL |
| I FEEL |
The endocrine system can misbehave, due to direct abuse of it in the form of emotion-numbing or enhancing drugs such as alcohol, heroin, cocaine, Ecstasy, or the like. Up to a point, recovery can occur if the use of the drug is discontinued and nutritional methods and exercise are used to flush the toxins from the body.
What if you believe you aren't addicted? If you use heroin, cocaine, or any of their variants, you are. It isn't possible to use these drugs more than once or twice without developing a physical addiction--and many people discover that even one time is too many.
Not all "drugs" are addictive, and not all drugs affect the endocrine system. This Workshop is about the Third System, not about drugs, and does not address drug issues other than the ones described here.
Alcohol is less addictive. Still, if drinking has ever caused you a problem: A car accident, a DUI charge, a fight with a spouse or anyone else, you need to face the fact that you are, at least, a potential addict and should consider Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
When does the social drinker become a problem drinker? Although it is impossible to draw a definitive line, experts agree that an important clue is when someone begins to lose control over his or her actions. For instance, the alcoholic may know that he or she is drinking too much--but is virtually unable to stop. The following quiz, from the National Council on Alcoholism, Inc., will help you recognize if you are suffering from the disease. Answer each question Yes or No.
If you answered Yes to any of the questions, you have some of the symptoms that may indicate alcoholism. "Yes" answers to several of the questions indicate the following stages of alcoholism:
A part of the body not often associated with the endocrine system is the brain. It has recently been shown that, contrary to previous belief, brain cells do reproduce and the speed with which they do so is experienced as optimism (adequate growth) through depression (inadequate growth).
Brain cell growth can be suppressed by physical abnormalities (bipolar disorder), alcohol or drug use, or even lack of sleep or proper nutrition!
Because depression can sneak up on one, it's important to be aware of its warning signs, as reported by the Dare To Live organization:
To keep one's endocrine system healthy, simply avoid alcohol and emotion-numbing or enhancing drugs. If it's too late for that, then it is essential that you acknowledge the condition and take steps to alleviate it.
If you are addicted to such a substance, you must seek rehabilitation for it. Many such programs exist, beginning with Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. You cannot remove these substances from your system until you stop ingesting them.
After you have gotten yourself "clean and sober" you can work to remove the toxins remaining in your body from the substances. To do this, follow this daily regimen for six weeks:
If this sounds extreme to you, consider that addictive substances work by mounting a major attack on your body's structure. This attack cannot be healed without some effort.
Finally, if you have been addicted to an emotion-altering substance and continue to experience depression after detoxification, or have been diagnosed with depression or bipolar disorder (or anything similar), you should see your physician to discuss what medical alternatives may be available to you.
Another reason for depression--that is, lack of new brain cell growth--may well be Earth's diminishing magnetic field. Studies have shown that patients in a high-gauss environment are less depressed than people in the general Earth environment. Sleeping in a magnetic bed may be an alternate way to alleviate depression.
The third Field is the Emotional. Since fields hold information in the form of energy patterns, this field holds beliefs. You can say "I believe..." or, more consistently, "I FEEL that..."
Part of learning to work with System Three is distinguishing between what you know and what you believe. Many people think they "know" something (such as the superiority of one of the political parties or religions, or the guilt or innocence of a celebrity on trial) but, in fact, do not have facts to back them up.
Another difference between facts and beliefs is that, usually, beliefs are inherited while facts are experienced. We don't just believe the Sun rises in the East; we can watch it happen every day. On the other hand, none of us has actually seen or measured Original Sin, God, their country's being the best place to live, or the superiority of their grandchildren.
Be especially wary of "knowledge" passed on without evidence or proof. This does not mean you cannot make use of information offered to you without evidence. It just means to keep in mind that, until the information is validated, it is belief, not knowledge.
Return to the Field I FEEL statements you made above, and mark beliefs that are provable or likely with "F+" and the ones that are unprovable or unlikely with "F-". Any you feel are neutral you may leave blank.
| Field |
|---|
| I FEEL THAT |
| I FEEL THAT |
| I FEEL THAT |
| I FEEL THAT |
An unhealthy Emotional Field is easy to spot: It contains beliefs which are not supported by facts, and/or which do not serve you.
One way in which we confuse our Emotional Fields is by developing beliefs on our own, by making unwarranted assumptions about the motivations of others. For example:
"Gary hasn't called me all week. He must be mad at me."
Or,
"Sheila didn't make the bed this morning. She always makes the bed, so she must be sick. Or, maybe she's pregnant. My God, that must be it! That's why she didn't eat the caviar last night! I'm going to be a father!"
We build a structure of belief built on belief. If the foundation of this structure is fact, then the beliefs have a greater likelihood of being valid and useful. However, the more layers of unfounded belief, the less likely that the beliefs at the top will serve us well.
Provable information, evidence, and experience are the keys to keeping only beliefs that serve you. There are many areas of life in which facts are not available, and reasonable beliefs provide guidelines for behavior. Your beliefs work for you if you are happy and functioning; they do not, if you are not.
A particular belief to watch out for is the belief that one is happy, without the actuality of it. Some members of some religions will insist they are happy because they read the Bible, or love Jesus, or follow the Buddha, or something similar; yet, people who observe them do not perceive them as happy.
False beliefs arise to protect encapsulated patterns in outer fields. The easiest way to find them is to pay attention to the things other people say about you. To quote an old joke, "If one person tells me I'm a horse, I laugh; if twenty people tell me I'm a horse, I might consider looking for a saddle."
Cultivate friends who will tell you honestly what they think you have going for you. No one of them is likely to identify non-serving beliefs that contribute to your problems, but if you detect a pattern it will help you to locate something you thought you "knew" that was simply a non-serving belief, and release it.
Referring to the Systems chart in Workshop Zero, please note that the parabolic plane for System Three is associated with the groin. The Center for System Three is located at the perineum (between the scrotum or vagina, and the anus).

The Web of Life is more than a metaphor; it's the way things are. The science of ecology has well proven that no creature can exist in a vacuum; it takes in nutrients exuded by other creatures in its environment, while its waste products are nutrients to another.
If one species in an ecosystem becomes unhealthy or extinct, it is more than a tragedy for that one species; it is a sign that the entire ecosystem is weakening. Ecosystems can be damaged by changes in temperature, light, sound, or chemicals present in the air, soil or water. Any change, however small, effects an ecosystem to some degree. In general, cyclical changes bring healthy effects. It's sudden, unexpected changes that can damage an ecosystem beyond its ability to recover.
We assume that a zebra being eaten by a lion feels the same terror we would in that situation. Yet, from the larger viewpoint, were zebra populations not kept in check by lions, zebras would quickly outstrip the land's ability to feed them, and all of them would starve.
A balanced energy flow is all that's required for a healthy relationship. As long as, in the big picture, no individual receives more benefits from the interactions than the others, you have a healthy system. In the lion/zebra example, every zebra lives a happier life because their numbers are kept down; every lion gets to eat and raise a family in return. The balance is struck. It may not be the only possible balance, but it is a balance.
We humans do not live in balance with many of the other creatures we share this earth with. Any species we hunt to extinction certainly doesn't receive as much as it gives. And, what do we do when it is extinct? So, our misbehavior comes right back at us.
Creatures we mistreat do not share a balance with us. Calves raised for veal, and most chickens raised for food, are grossly mistreated in their short, miserable lives. When we eat the flesh of mistreated animals, we take in the energy of that mistreatment--another reason why our collective health has begun to fail, requiring more medicine than ever before just to maintain minimal health.
Write four I FEEL statements referring to how you fit in with your environment. Mark ways in which you fit in with "S+" and the ways in which you do not fit in with "S-". Any you feel are neutral you may leave blank.
| System |
|---|
| I FEEL |
| I FEEL |
| I FEEL |
| I FEEL |
An unhealthy System of Livingness can be characterized by effects such as these:
What these effects have in common, is that they show a person who is not in tune with his or her environment.
Sleeping outdoors, or at least keeping the windows open, provide benefits to the body as well as to the soul. Locking ourselves inside is a declaration of independence from nature, not one of interdependence. Yes, there are bugs outside and the air isn't always the ideal temperature. Amazingly, with practice, these issues disappear. And, no matter how polluted it may be out the window, don't imagine the inside air is cleaner, with its higher content of carbon dioxide, vaporized chemicals (including formaldehyde from the lumber used constructing your home), radon, skin mites, and germs.
Sterilizing the air you breathe and water you drink isn't the answer, either. People who drink nothing but distilled water soon develop heart problems. We need the natural "impurities" in our water and air.
We do not need the chemical impurities placed there by manufacturing. The harm those impurities cause is why we need to drink filtered water and live as far away from air pollution as we can get.
The safest, purest, way to sleep outdoors and reap the other benefits of communing with the real world, is by making time to spend in nature. Hike; camp; fish. Go stargazing in the country, away from the lights of the city. There is less pollution there and your health will increase. Depression has also been shown to respond to returns to nature. Why do you suppose programs such as Outward Bound are so successful?
The food we eat is more than calories and molecules; it is the ingesting of a formerly living being. The energy of that being--its prana--is ingested along with the rest of it. Eating tortured animals does not bring health. It is possible to raise animals for food in a way that their lives are happy, and ended humanely. Such meat is much healthier, and a balance is struck, since the animal wouldn't have been given life originally if not to serve as food.
Similarly, seeds that have been planted with love produce plants that are much healthier to eat than seeds planted by machine and kept bug-free by being drenched in chemicals.
Organic foods and free-range animal meats should be eaten, where practical.
And, when you eat, be sure to pause before chowing down, to thank the spirit of the living beings who transitioned into the next world so that you could have your meal. It is right to do, and helps maintain that balance.
On a personal basis, try to minimize use of pesticides, especially in the home or in closed areas where you must work. If you must kill insects or vermin, try to do so in as humane a manner as possible. Do not take their presence personally. Some people report success by simply asking the beings to go away. If that doesn't work for you, don't become angry or feel guilt. You are as entitled to your space as the being is to its. If it doesn't respect your boundaries, help it to find another life where it can find more happiness.
If you are expecting a baby, please consider the "new" technique of waterbirth. In this style of birthing, the mother is immersed in a pool so that she doesn't have to fight gravity while giving birth. The newborn is brought to the surface as soon as it's born, having passed from one liquid to another; the entrance into the cool outside air is considerably less traumatic than it would otherwise be.
There is a theory that humans evolution passed through an "aquatic ape" stage. While there might be another, even wilder explanation for why humans have the characteristics we do, looking into this theory will provide some background that will aid in understanding later.
Because on this level we are addressing all living things, which include other people we know, plant life and animal life alike, let us learn the way in which we can connect with all life through breath. This is an essential breathing technique that allows us to make contact with other life forms on an energy perception level, as well as placing our consciousness with them and theirs with us.
This can be done standing, sitting, or running, or while being still and quiet.
You can set an intention that the connection remain even when you are not physically present. You may do this for healing or telepathic purposes.
This technique is even more powerful when you engage the other person's consciousness to do this breath with you.
Remember, you do not want to impose upon the will of another. If you are working with a being with whom you can communicate, ask permission; if not, ask with your inner self and be sensitive to the response. A being may respond in kind (telepathically), or may exhibit discomfort as you proceed. Always honor the being's wishes as well as you can determine what they are.
This technique is very powerful and can have some remarkable, lasting results when completed with love and joy.
Both sources refer to red as being a primary color, the "furthest point away from the cosmic center of the universe" (Seven Mansions of Color), and "the slowest vibration of all the visible colors, affecting the emotions quicker than any other" (The Power of Color).
The Power of Color states that, according to some anthropologists, red was the second color primitive man was able to distinguish. During the time of the Knights of the Round Table, red was associated with blood and life; it became associated with fire and danger; and as a symbol of love, vigor and action. Red was a major color for certain ancient Chinese, Japanese and Asian Indian cultures in the first recorded history 5,000 years ago.
Alex Jones describes how red, as deeply connected to the emotions, can be supportive and transforming with conscious direction. He states that red can help in overcoming feelings of inertia, depression, fear and melancholy. It can help plant one's feet firmly on the earth and root in the now. It can supply energy and physical motivation to help accomplish one's goals in life. The Power of Color confirms that red can be used when the vitality is low or blood circulation is poor.
Once again Alex Jones describes how "anger, when used consciously as righteous indignation, emits a brilliant, scarlet flame. Many emotions can be used negatively or positively depending on one's state of consciousness. If, at will, one chooses to manifest anger because he can see the emotion will serve him or others, then pure vibrant colors will manifest in the aura. When emotions are used this way a person will be a master and not a slave of emotions and circumstances in his life" (P.38)
The conscious use of red to manifest clearly and brightly in the aura, can show "the qualities of affection, generosity, sensitivity to others, ambition to better one's self and strong physical properties." (Seven Mansions of Color, p.38). Alex Jones further states how red can be used to be the "center of self-knowledge and introspection, the ability to look at one's thoughts and actions and avoid the things that will later cause misery." (P.50)
As a vibration, red can be one of excitement, stimulation and warmth. It can help stimulate will and life force to overcome obstacles in one's life, according to Mr. Jones. Therefore he suggests that in some locations like where we eat, areas to meditate in and places for resting, red can be too stimulating. The Power of Color also suggests that this color might be disturbing to people with mental problems or neuroses.
Red, when used consciously, can then direct and revitalize the life force and support in the mastery of the emotions through thoughtful conscious choices. This awareness of the qualities of red can integrate the I FEEL statements and the Third Inner Aspect and Field of Emotions. Red as a support of the now and connecting to the earth, can interconnect System Three, Livingness and red through System Two, Rendering and Bronze-Tan, to System One, Foundation and brown and their sounds.
The Power of Color tells how exposure to red influences the pituitary gland. A chemical signal goes from the pituitary gland to the adrenal gland and epinephrine (adrenaline) is released.
This can produce certain physiological alterations with metabolic effects:
As a personally chosen color, red can show that you can be outgoing, assertive, vigorous and perhaps prone to impulsive actions and variable moods. There can be a deep sympathy for fellow human beings, have a strong sex drive and entertain stimulating fantasies, be optimistic and voice freely your complaints. (The Power of Color)
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