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The wave and plateau modes of the
pilgrim’s path
In order to
survive the ordeal of her path, reach her goal, make it real and survive it
the pilgrim must develop an extraordinary capacity for both wide-angle (i.e. as
in scanning) and narrow angle (i.e. as in probing) observation. Once she has
been on pilgrimage for some time she will, if she is observant, notice that
her path undulates up and down, like a wave. At the top of the wave she will
see her goal clearly and be fully energised (and feeling exuberant and
joyful). At the bottom of the wave she will lose sight of her goal and be
under-energised (and feeling miserable and unhappy). That’s not her fault.
She cannot change the nature of the path but must adapt to it. With
experience, the smart pilgrim will develop Health & Safety measures to
counter the deleterious effects of trying to stay at the top of the wave and
desperately trying to get out of the trough. Then she will not be fazed by
the regular (and predictable) ups and down of her trip. She will
also notice that progress is not gradual (i.e. as on a steady slope), but
that it happens in stages (or phases, indeed in quantum leaps). In other
words, progress happens as though she were climbing a staircase. Within a
stage (or on a step), no progress seems to happen. Then, quite suddenly and
unexpectedly, she discovers that she has reached a new stage, that is to say,
a ‘higher’ plateau, and from which she can see her goal much more clearly, or
from which it appears to be much closer. With
experience, she will anticipate periods of no change (i.e. drought
conditions) and sudden shifts towards her goal. Consequently, she will not
become despondent if, despite much effort, she appears not to be making any
progress. In such a situation she reorients to her goal, continues on her
path and waits till the shift from one phase (or one plateau) to the next
happens. |