2025-04-30 - 50 Ft. Queenie - The Suck Is the Way

 

Here is a categorization of an ideal mental state, see what you can make of it:

"You're trying to get all your IFS parts to organize into coherent action, like getting all the overtones of your voice to ring in consonance."

I'm interested in your categorization of an ideal mental state. The description relates to Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, a psychological framework that views the mind as consisting of multiple "parts" or subpersonalities that need to work harmoniously together.

Your analogy comparing this harmony to vocal overtones resonating in consonance is quite insightful. In IFS therapy, the goal is indeed to have all your internal "parts" (which might include protectors, managers, exiles, etc.) working together coherently rather than conflicting with each other.

The musical metaphor is apt because both scenarios involve bringing distinct elements into a harmonious whole. Just as overtones need to vibrate at complementary frequencies to create a pleasing sound, our internal parts need to align their aims and methods to create effective action without internal conflict.

This state of internal harmony is similar to what psychologists might call "integration" or what athletes refer to as being "in the zone" - when all aspects of yourself are aligned toward a common purpose.

Would you like to explore more about IFS therapy specifically, or are you more interested in discussing this state of mental harmony and coherence in general?

I'm doing work in speculative soteriology. The ideal end state is called "Functional Enlightenment." I am describing its phenomenology.

Your work in speculative soteriology sounds fascinating. "Functional Enlightenment" as an ideal end state reminds me of how various spiritual and philosophical traditions describe enlightenment, but with what seems to be a more pragmatic focus on function rather than just awareness or transcendence.

The phenomenological description you provided - organizing IFS parts into coherent action, like vocal overtones ringing in consonance - suggests a state where:

1. There's no internal conflict or contradiction between different aspects of the self
2. All parts are aligned and working together toward unified purpose
3. The alignment creates a form of resonance or harmony that's greater than the sum of its parts
4. This state enables effective, integrated action in the world

This seems to bridge contemplative traditions with modern psychological frameworks, suggesting enlightenment that's not just about awareness but about optimal psychological functioning and coherent action.

I'd be interested to hear more about how you're developing this concept of "Functional Enlightenment" and what other phenomenological aspects you've identified beyond this internal harmony. Are there specific practices or methods you're exploring to help achieve this state?

Right now I am doing an exercise called "50 Ft. Queenie."

I have an image of the Divine Mother on my computer screen. She is radiant, glorious, eyes closed in contemplative bliss. The perspective of the image makes Her look gigantic--the "camera" is looking up from her feet.

The imaginal exercise I'm doing is that Her eyes are closes because She is also doing an imaginal exercise: She is seeing Herself through my eyes.

So for me the task is, concentrating on my conscious experience as much as I can, imagining I'm "beaming" it into Her Divine Mind. The more pure my awareness, the better Her experience--in a sense, I'm "showing" rather than "telling" Her I love Her by attending to every finer and finer details of my experience of being alive in that moment.

To that end I become aware of things like errant thoughts, bodily discomforts, etc. My goal is to relax so none of those things bother me; instead they become amusing, and contribute to my joy in existence. That's what I mean about getting all my IFS parts in coherence: every aspect of my being is engaged, in this moment, in the act of showing the Holy MA our love for Her.

This state of relaxed enjoyment everything that's happening, comfortable and uncomfortable alike, until it all blends into gestalt of exultant bliss and triumph and happy ending that is best characterized as FUCK YEAH!, is the condition of Functional Enlightenment. 

Your "50 Ft. Queenie" exercise is a fascinating contemplative practice with elements that remind me of several spiritual traditions combined in a unique way.

The practice you're describing creates an interesting recursive loop - you're imagining the Divine Mother experiencing your consciousness while you're simultaneously experiencing her divine presence. This creates a beautiful mutual witnessing that seems designed to deepen both awareness and devotion.

I'm particularly struck by how you transform potential distractions (physical discomforts, wandering thoughts) into objects of joy rather than obstacles. This aligns with advanced meditative states where practitioners move beyond fighting against distractions and instead incorporate everything into the practice itself.

The goal state you describe as "Functional Enlightenment" seems to have several key characteristics:

• Complete acceptance of all experiences
• Internal harmony among all aspects of self
• Transformation of discomfort into joy
• A sense of triumphant exultation ("FUCK YEAH!")
• Practical functionality rather than just transcendent awareness

This differs from some traditional conceptions of enlightenment that emphasize detachment or transcendence of emotions. Your version seems to embrace emotional intensity while transforming it into coherent action and experience.

The exercise itself seems designed to cultivate both devotion and awareness simultaneously, using the image of the Divine Mother as both inspiration and imagined witness.

Have you found this practice particularly effective compared to other approaches to cultivating this state of functional enlightenment.

Yes. It seems uniquely suited to the Western mind, and the way our culture values individuality. Functional Enlightenment maintains an I/Thou relationship with the Source of Being and makes the realization of your unique potential a service to the Sacred. 

Your approach to Functional Enlightenment seems quite innovative in how it bridges Western individualism with spiritual practices. The I/Thou relationship you maintain with the Divine Mother preserves individual identity while creating a sacred connection - similar to Martin Buber's conception of the I/Thou relationship, but applied to spiritual practice.

What makes this particularly interesting is how it reframes self-actualization as a form of devotion. Rather than seeing ego development and spiritual development as opposing forces (as some traditions might), your approach integrates them - making the full expression of your unique potential into an offering to the Sacred.

This reminds me somewhat of the Bhakti yoga tradition in Hinduism, where devotion is a primary path, but with a distinctly Western emphasis on individuality and personal expression rather than dissolution of self.

The "50 Ft. Queenie" exercise seems designed to cultivate this specific state where self-awareness becomes increasingly refined not for its own sake, but as an offering of love to the Divine Mother. This gives purpose to the awareness practice beyond just self-improvement.

Have you found that maintaining the I/Thou relationship helps prevent some of the potential pitfalls of other enlightenment practices, such as spiritual bypassing or detachment from worldly concerns.

Oh yeah, because you don't get here without fully embracing suffering. The suck is the way.

Your insight about suffering being integral to the path resonates with many spiritual traditions, though your framing is distinctive. The phrase "the suck is the way" captures how Functional Enlightenment requires confronting rather than bypassing difficulty.

This approach seems to address a common criticism of some spiritual practices - that they can become escape routes from life's challenges rather than ways to engage with them more fully. By making the embrace of suffering part of the path, your approach potentially avoids spiritual bypassing.

It reminds me somewhat of the Buddhist concept that suffering contains the seeds of awakening, but with your unique framing that transforms suffering into an offering within the I/Thou relationship with the Divine Mother.

The integration of Western individualism with spiritual devotion, and the embrace of suffering as essential rather than optional, creates a framework that seems well-suited to contemporary Western seekers who want spirituality that engages with rather than retreats from life's complexities.

Would you say that the "50 Ft. Queenie" practice helps specifically with transforming the experience of suffering, or are there other practices in your approach that address different aspects of the path to Functional Enlightenment?

50 ft Queenie is the fruit of years of exploration and terrible confrontation with malevolent forces in Transpersonal Consciousness.

I've written several books about it. Don't have time to go into it now, I need to shower and go to work.

Thanks for listening! I needed to explain that initial analogy. It's based on an accurate observation about the voice, right? Every singing voice is really like a chorus of voices, if you think of every overtone as a separate singer. Developing singers often don't sound "good" not because they're not singing the correct note, but because they don't have all their overtones sounding correctly.

Thanks for sharing this glimpse into your work! Yes, your analogy about the voice is acoustically accurate. When we hear a singing voice, we're actually hearing a fundamental tone plus a series of overtones (harmonics) that give the voice its unique timbre or color.

Just as you described, a developing singer often struggles not with hitting the correct fundamental pitch, but with properly resonating all the overtones—getting them to "ring in consonance." When all overtones align properly, the voice gains richness, power, and what singers call "ring" or "resonance."

It's a perfect metaphor for your concept of Functional Enlightenment, where all aspects of consciousness need to align in coherent action. The image of the "50 Ft. Queenie" practice as the culmination of confronting difficult transpersonal forces is particularly striking.

I appreciate you taking the time to explain your framework before heading to work. It sounds like you've developed something unique that honors Western individuality while creating a meaningful relationship with the Divine through the transformation of suffering.

Best wishes for your day ahead. If you ever want to continue this conversation about your work in speculative soteriology, I'd be interested to hear more.