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Ego and ego techniques

Vasilisa Jade

Formerly Saint Tigeress
I previously understood ego simply as our sense of pride, being that elitist part of our self that wants to elevate ourself above others. I realized it must be much more than that, and I am missing the rest of it.

So, from a setian or similar point of view, how is ego understood? What is it and how does it work?

Next, what are some setian or similar techniques for identifying your ego at work? Then, what about mastering it?

This is of course, if you guys don't mind sharing. I've never looked into this topic before, but I know there is tons of material out there on it.
 

Valor

Active Member
I previously understood ego simply as our sense of pride, being that elitist part of our self that wants to elevate ourself above others. I realized it must be much more than that, and I am missing the rest of it.

So, from a setian or similar point of view, how is ego understood? What is it and how does it work?

Next, what are some setian or similar techniques for identifying your ego at work? Then, what about mastering it?

This is of course, if you guys don't mind sharing. I've never looked into this topic before, but I know there is tons of material out there on it.

I don't have time to elaborate honey...but start with the ID prior to understanding the minor ego opposed to the Super Ego. ;)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Id,_ego,_and_super-ego
 

Vasilisa Jade

Formerly Saint Tigeress
This is what inspired me to focus more on it:

Sireal,

Excellent post.

To me it seems the root of the problem is the popular tendency to expand our identity boundaries toward our posts and a forming online persona. It's an extension of real-time identity formation. Online and offline if we learn to adopt a mental shift that recognizes the core identity (the real "me") as not equivilant to our actions, occupations, social roles, thoughts, physical body, "energy," or RF posts, these issues have a better handle. With this viewpoint we don't surrender ownership or control of these elements of experience, yet ceasing to envision oneself as an element of experience trying to influence other elements of experience tends to provide a wider context of control. I can only think of the best example for those who have tried their hand at more intense lucid dreaming. It isn't a disassemblage of the ego but a more gentle "waking up" from identification with it while still retaining it as useful.

The ego is more of a lens on consciousness that provides the textures and flavors of the universe unique to it's make-up, not a source of personal identity. In fact it's a stretch to find identity localized in any single experience (I suspect our innermost Self is outside any possible experience to begin with - the relationship between the Observer and Observed is a little too esoteric for this discussion and up for debate). With the example above our "real" identity lies safetly in our bed outside the dream environment. I find this provides an easier framework for change without inhibition (though it takes quite a bit of work to anchor this process perceptually) and those personally penetrating fangs of psychic vampires shrivel up. If anything atleast it takes care of those pesky musturbations. :)

I find much of the talk of the colorful bands of negative to positive energies, plus the perception of it as a quantitative substance, are rooted in the individual's mental overlap. If we identify with the negativity of a psychic vampire we're forced to find ways to take back "our" energy or turn it into positive energy. If we see energy as social momentum being exchanged daily and cease to empower it with a personal identity signature it becomes easier to leverage the net gain in any interaction and minimize losses. We're no longer hording our limited supply of energy and protecting it from someone else but recognize our essential interconnection with the whole of reality including other selves, thus providing a richer and exhaustive energy source, and happen to direct social interactions in our favor. It's still very much self/ego centered. We're just not sticking our identity in a limited experience (our energy that stops at our skin).

Thank you for opening this discussion.

I equate the ego with the self - that aspect that separates you from me and allows for our unique experiences to happen. It's your ordinary identity. It's a process of creation and not a thing. In nerd speak it's that narrative center of gravity (I'd google it).

Narrative center of gravity -- that works well.

If the narratives an individual has been telling themselves are riddled with dogma and jargon, communication with those outside the organizational epic cycle becomes difficult. The dogma and jargon are not the real person, nor what the real person wishes to express. But question the dogma and jargon, and the ego may perceive the question as an attack. Not only on their character in the current arc of the narrative, but on the author of the epic cycle (the source of the dogma and jargon).

The perceived attacker(s) must now be written into the epic cycle (it is written :cover:) and labeled with appropriate jargon. The gravitational force increases as the walls constructed from dogma and jargon go up.

At this point, Dr. Freud :cigar: (or one of his colleagues) rises from a trap door in the stage, and a bonus round of Define Your Terms will be played.
 

EtuMalku

Abn Iblis ابن إبليس
Atheists and agnostics are uncomfortable with the religious connotations of the term "soul". They usually refer to the same phenomenon as "self", "ego", "mind", or "consciousness". Within the Temple of Set all Words referring to the phenomenon are more-or-less interchangeable, with distinctions being made in specific cases as deemed necessary. - M. Aquino (TOS)

Again, I am only a 1st degree Setian and do not speak for the Temple (this is the Priesthood's obligations), but my understanding is that we are to train our egos to create the desired results from deliberation and consciousness.

Ego becomes the "sensation" of the self just as non-ego would be "sensations of things not perceived as the self"

C.G. Jung simply defined the "ego' as the "self"

Ir shti shta-tu
EM
 

Valor

Active Member
Structure of Mind:
Freud's Id, Ego, & Superego



Freud came to see personality as having three aspects, which work together to produce all of our complex behaviours: the Id, the Ego and the Superego. All 3 components need to be well-balanced in order to have good amount of psychological energy available and to have reasonable mental health.
However, the Ego has a difficult time dealing with the competing demands of the Superego and the Id. According to the psychoanalytic view, this psychological conflict is an intrinsic and pervasive part of human experience. The conflict between the Id and Superego, negotiated by the Ego, is one of the fundamental psychological battles all people face. The way in which a person characteristically resolves the instant gratification vs. longer-term reward dilemma in many ways comes to reflect on their "character".

THE ID: functions in the irrational and emotional part of the mind. At birth a baby�s mind is all Id - want want want. The Id is the primitive mind. It contains all the basic needs and feelings. It is the source for libido (psychic energy). And it has only one rule --> the �pleasure principle�: �I want it and I want it all now�. In transactional analysis, Id equates to "Child".
Id too strong = bound up in self-gratification and uncaring to others​
THE EGO: functions with the rational part of the mind. The Ego develops out of growing awareness that you can�t always get what you want. The Ego relates to the real world and operates via the �reality principle�. The Ego realises the need for compromise and negotiates between the Id and the Superego. The Ego's job is to get the Id's pleasures but to be reasonable and bear the long-term consequences in mind. The Ego denies both instant gratification and pious delaying of gratification. The term ego-strength is the term used to refer to how well the ego copes with these conflicting forces. To undertake its work of planning, thinking and controlling the Id, the Ego uses some of the Id's libidinal energy. In transactional analysis, Ego equates to "Adult".
Ego too strong = extremely rational and efficient, but cold, boring and distant
THE SUPEREGO: The Superego is the last part of the mind to develop. It might be called the moral part of the mind. The Superego becomes an embodiment of parental and societal values. It stores and enforces rules. It constantly strives for perfection, even though this perfection ideal may be quite far from reality or possibility. Its power to enforce rules comes from its ability to create anxiety.
The Superego has two subsystems: Ego Ideal and Conscience. The Ego Ideal provides rules for good behaviour, and standards of excellence towards which the Ego must strive. The Ego ideal is basically what the child�s parents approve of or value. The Conscience is the rules about what constitutes bad behaviour. The Conscience is basically all those things that the child feels mum or dad will disapprove of or punish.
Superego too strong = feels guilty all the time, may even have an insufferably saintly personality

Structure of Mind: Freud's Id, Ego, & Superego
 

Apion

Member
Saint Tigeress said:
Then, what about mastering it?

Not sure if you've ridden a horse before, but imagine the ego (emotions, body, and everything composing your personality) as your horse and your authentic Identity as the rider. The common view is for the rider (you) to mistakenly identify with the horse (ego). When you realize you aren't the horse (ego), controlling your horse the way you wish it to go (instead of passively taking the horse's lead believing it to be your intentions, e.g. being led by your emotions) becomes possible.
 
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Vasilisa Jade

Formerly Saint Tigeress
Not sure if you've ridden a horse before, but imagine the ego (emotions, body, and everything composing your personality) as your horse and your authentic Identity as the rider. The common view is for the rider (you) to mistakenly identify with the horse (ego). When you realize you aren't the horse (ego), controlling your horse the way you wish it to go (instead of passively taking the horse's lead believing it to be your intentions, e.g. being led by your emotions) becomes possible.

Thanks hun,

So... when I cut off a dude I love due to logical reasons, overcoming my emotional reasons for wanting to stay, that is an expression of the ego being overcome?

Or would another way be... picking something you want to change and doing it even though it is "out of character for you."

Like if you.... typically act goofy and you say, I am going to be serious this whole week... just to do it, or vice versa.

Or you pick another quality of another person and you emulate it just to do it.

I read about doing this in one of my books but I don't remember it associating it with mastering the ego... but from what you said it kinda sounds like it.
 

blackout

Violet.
I don't know exactly how this would get labled,

but there is the "mask" or the "persona"
and the Observer behind the mask/s.

We can "become" our favorite adornments
as we observe our being in such manifestation
but the Observer still, is the mask wearer.
 

Vasilisa Jade

Formerly Saint Tigeress
I don't know exactly how this would get labled,

but there is the "mask" or the "persona"
and the Observer behind the mask/s.

We can "become" our favorite adornments
as we observe our being in such manifestation
but the Observer still, is the mask wearer.

Are you keeping a book of these things you write? Cause this is effing awesome! :yes: You need to copyright these beautiful word-play creations of yours.
 

blackout

Violet.
Are you keeping a book of these things you write? Cause this is effing awesome! :yes: You need to copyright these beautiful word-play creations of yours.

Thank you Sweetheart.
I think most people don't get my posts actually,
but maybe I'll compile the "best of" one day.

There must be at least a handful of twisted people out there
who might appreciate and understand them.
 

Apion

Member
Thanks hun,

So... when I cut off a dude I love due to logical reasons, overcoming my emotional reasons for wanting to stay, that is an expression of the ego being overcome?

Or would another way be... picking something you want to change and doing it even though it is "out of character for you."

Like if you.... typically act goofy and you say, I am going to be serious this whole week... just to do it, or vice versa.

Or you pick another quality of another person and you emulate it just to do it.

I read about doing this in one of my books but I don't remember it associating it with mastering the ego... but from what you said it kinda sounds like it.

All of the above. The point is you are doing what you want to do despite any mental or emotional restrictions attempting to influence your direction. During mental and physical pain instead of stepping in the bucket or gritting your teeth to suck it up you realize the experience can't really touch you since your real identity isn't found in experience. Anchor this and do it a lot and you can be like this guy. Being realistic that doesn't mean you can jump in front of a car and realize "you aren't that experience" of that body getting hit by that car and expect to survive! Still do keep your wits. For the out of character part your character is really a set of acquired comfortable habits. Being "out of" that character isn't any different than being "in" it. Both are just actions and thought patterns, not you.

And a fun exercise from Wilber. Try watching it with an eye for practical applications in your normal and contemplative routines rather than turn it into an exercise in clever word salad or mystical woo woo (not that I'm saying you do that). Wilber is one of the more grounded than some in his field yet as with anything especially in the "occult" arena the usefulness of the presented map or perspective to get you to a clear destination is the treasure.

YouTube - Ken Wilber - Subject becomes object
 
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Vasilisa Jade

Formerly Saint Tigeress
Yay! I do understand... well better than I thought anyway. I actually realized the need to overcome those physical/emotional pulls and look at my true happiness a long time ago, way before I started studying these things.

A good old LDS friend of mine was the one that told me, "sometimes it is okay to be selfish."

I thought about that a lot. I found how to bypass the emotional and mental exterior and evaluate my actual happiness beneath the surface. Then, I gritted my teeth, made a game plan, and did what I truly wanted to do. It was an excellent decision despite the pain I inflicted on my exterior, so I have practiced this ever since.

When I threw myself into martial arts, I realized the idea applied to that as well. It's all in your head. Keep your mind right and your body will deal just fine. It was what I wanted to do, and my body dealt with it.

Thanks for the links. Mastering the ego seems like the same theory, but taken to new levels at will, rather than through reaction to a situation at hand.
 
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