ivarmaya

Great conversation on Joe Rogan about consciousness and the nature of reality. Of course they're just speculating, but it's great that they're bringing these ideas to the public and in a way encouraging people to think more deeply about them. Starts at around 27:40

Europe isn’t declining….it’s just playing a higher-order game that most people don’t recognize yet. While the U.S. and China are still locked in Orange and Red, Europe has transitioned into Green (collaboration, sustainability) and is wrestling with the move toward Yellow (integrated & systemic thinking). It looks “weak” from an outdated perspective that equates power with military strength and GDP growth, but real influence isn’t about brute force…it’s about architecting the structures within which power operates. The real challenge for Europe isn’t relevance….it’s whether it can integrate its past (Orange & Red) without regressing. If it can, it could be the first true Tier 2 civilisation…..balancing power, structure, and long-term sustainability in a way the rest of the world hasn’t figured out yet.

Yesterday marked a turning point in global politics… the moment the west seriously began to shift away from U.S. leadership. After the meeting, the Vice President of the European Commission made it clear: “Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It’s up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge.” Here in Iceland, Þórdís Kolbrún, our former Minister of Foreign Affairs, called Trump out(on a private meeting): “The current U.S. administration is not a defender of true freedom and has already begun burning away key elements of the world order that form the foundation of peace and liberty.” She is one of the most right-leaning politicians in the country, which says a lot. Almost every major Western leader reaffirmed support for Ukraine…not just as a diplomatic gesture, but as a clear signal that Europe is preparing for a future without the U.S. leading the way. The fact that so many Americans still feel powerful right now is beyond me. An attack on Ukraine is an attack on the rest of Europe. If Russia succeeds, it won’t stop there. And by treating American support like a bargaining chip, Trump is forcing Europe to rethink its entire security strategy. No matter how this plays out, Europe will not allow itself to be put in this position again. They will shift their resources elsewhere, strengthen their own military capabilities and reduce their dependence on the U.S. And that will radically change America’s position in the world: •It weakens U.S. influence over its closest allies. •It speeds up Europe’s move toward strategic independence. •It pushes the world toward a more fragmented power structure. •It sends a message to the rest of the world that the U.S. can no longer be trusted. The Biden administration actually understood this. That’s why it doubled down on NATO and European security. They knew that if Russia succeeded in Ukraine, the entire European security order would be at risk. Which is not just a European problem, but a direct threat to U.S. interests. Trump, on the other hand, treats geopolitics like a his business deals. He thinks that by stirring chaos, creating uncertainty, and holding out longer than the other side, he’ll come out ahead. But global power doesn’t work like that. Charlie Munger put said it well: “Don’t try to squeeze every last penny out of every deal. Instead, leave enough on the table for the other guy, so they come back for the next deal. That’s how you build lasting success.” Trump doesn’t understand this. He treats everything like a zero-sum game, but global influence isn’t about short-term wins…it’s about trust, credibility and lasting alliances. By trying to “win” now, he’s actually losing big time long-term, pushing allies away, and handing Russia and China exactly what they want. The rest of the West can’t afford the risk of hoping for the US to get its shit together, it has to move on. Europe is already taking steps toward full strategic independence, ensuring it never has to rely on Washington again. China is stepping in as an economic and political alternative, expanding its influence in Europe. And Russia sees a divided West, calculating that its next move will face less resistance. The result is a weaker America, a fractured alliance system, and a world where U.S. leadership will no longer dictates the global order. Please share your thoughts and how you see this play out.

Used for what? Will or the doing itself? If it’s the doing… Why is the ego necessary? Doesn’t adding it just create more problems? I’d suggest you get out of your way. You can just do the thing—but you tell yourself you need something. Notice that. If it’s the will… Often, we resist doing things because they were originally driven by lack, fear, ego. But you’ve developed—now they feel hollow. Your being knows better. In these moments, the ego doubles down—it’s the only source of energy it has left. But… is this actually the thing you genuinely want to be doing? Or is it simply the ego grasping at control, afraid of what happens if you drop the old?

Your behavior and your level of consciousness are directly connected…one shapes the other in a continuous loop. Your actions aren’t just random choices…they’re an extension of your state of being. The more someone engages in cruelty, deception, or selfishness…the more they embody what could be called “devilish” tendencies…the lower their consciousness sinks. This isn’t about morality or judgment, it’s just how reality works. Consciousness and behavior feed into each other. Low-consciousness behavior comes from separation, illusion, and a lack of consciousness. Acts of cruelty, manipulation, and domination happen when someone is deeply identified with their ego…the part of them that sees itself as separate from everything else and is constantly trying to control and dominate to feel secure. But that’s a false perception. Reality is interconnected, and consciousness, at its core, is unified. The more someone acts from a place of separation, the more they reinforce their own suffering. Not because they’re being “punished,” but because they’re building a fragmented and disconnected experience of reality. This suffering isn’t always obvious. Someone can look happy while indulging in destructive behavior, but that happiness is fragile and dependent on external distractions…whether it’s pleasure, power, or control. It’s unsustainable because it’s built on illusion. Beneath the surface, they’re trapped in a cycle of tension, craving, and existential emptiness. No matter how much they suppress it, it’s there. As well as they are going “against” reality, which always has it’s consequences. This is why people with higher consciousness naturally embody compassion and non-domination. It’s not because they follow rules or because they want to be seen as “good.” It’s because when you see reality clearly, you naturally align with love, wisdom, and peace. Not because you “should,” but because it just makes sense. When separation is seen as an illusion, cruelty and domination stop being appealing…they’re recognized as self-destructive. What people call “karma” isn’t some cosmic punishment system keeping score. It’s just the natural feedback loop of reality. Since your consciousness and behavior are intertwined, actions that come from a low state of being reinforce that state, and actions that come from clarity and unity reinforce higher consciousness. This isn’t a rule imposed from outside, it’s just how reality organizes itself. That’s why suffering isn’t some arbitrary consequence…it’s a direct result of unconsciousness. It’s not that “bad” actions lead to suffering in a cause-and-effect way. Rather, destructive behavior is already a symptom of a fragmented, suffering mind. The more you operate from that place, the more you trap yourself in lower states of consciousness. On the other hand, the more you act from truth/love, the more you experience peace…not because you’re being “rewarded,” but because that’s the nature of reality itself. These are the basics.

For me, contributing to a more developed and conscious world feels like the only truly meaningful purpose. I have some connections and background in geopolitics, which could serve as a foundation, but I’m still in the process of figuring out what’s authentically true for me and how best to move forward(how to channel my ideas). Right now, I’m rewiring my entire operating system after going through Leo’s brutal deconstruction process and other transformative experiences.

This is absolutely correct. Worrying about and focusing on things beyond your control weakens your internal locus of control, shifting it toward an external one. This happens because the more attention you give to things you can’t influence…the more powerless you feel. This will slowly destroy your sense of agency.

I’m really concerned about this. The problem I can see is that people stage green are trying to influence but cannot do so because they are blind to all the other colours and not able to step into blue/red/orange when appropriate. We actually have a promising leader in Iceland, right now. Our new Prime Minister comes from the Social Democratic Party, and she has an impressive mix of academic knowledge and real-world experience. She’s worked in the private sector, including at Morgan Stanley in the US and UK, as well as with some of the biggest banks here in Iceland. It seems like she understands the complexities of both the market and governance, and she has the kind of experience that makes her qualified to deal with people and systems at different levels. We will see. We need individuals of higher development to step up throughout the world.

They’re pushing MAGA onto Europe now. To hell with this—we should all just move to India.

A few weeks ago, I had a strong feeling that Trump would try to annex Canada. People thought I was crazy. Last night, Trump posted this (see picture). Two weeks ago, Trump also stated that the US must own Greenland (despite their lack of interest in being “bought”), and now Trump Jr. is visiting Greenland. Keep in mind, to Trump, the world is a battleground where only the boldest survive. He does not feel safe unless he’s dominating. Trump’s actions will always reflect his actual power and state of development. Core Traits of Stage Red (Spiral Dynamics): • Power and Domination • Egocentric Perspective • Impulsivity • Rebellion Against Authority • Lack of Empathy • Thrives on Conflict • Status and Recognition • Black-and-White Thinking • Immediate Gratification • Charismatic Leadership • Impulsivity and Lack of Foresight • Difficulty with Collaboration • Instability in Power Dynamics How far will Trump go / be able to go? Would love to hear your perspective.

Manifesting is often misunderstood. Most people confuse visualization with manifestation, but they’re not the same. Manifestation is bringing something to life, creating it. You wouldn’t be asking if “creating” works….creating is creating. It’s self-evident. What you’re probably referring to is visualization, which is just one step in the process of manifestation. Visualization gives you clarity on what you want, which is essential. But manifestation only happens when you take responsibility and act to bring that vision into reality. You can’t just visualize a painting and expect it to appear—you have to pick up the brush and paint it. Some people unconsciously combine visualization with action, so they think manifestation is just about imagining things. But without action, visualization is incomplete. Manifestation is the whole process: imagining it, aligning with it, and creating it. But don’t underestimate belief. Here’s how powerful belief is: you believe you’re a human being, and you’re not. That belief shapes your entire reality. In the same way, what you believe about your future directly impacts the actions you take to create it.

@Sugarcoat I’ve been directly conscious of this for some time, but I’ve wrestled with a dissonance…wondering if I might be missing something. It’s been driving me crazy. This doubt arose because I’ve learned so much from Ralston and deeply respect his teachings, his claim that the absolute isn’t the relative. “He has been doing this for 40 years and I only few? I must be been missing something or deluding myself on this one” Nah… His most recent letter really hammered in the lesson of trusting my own consciousness above all else.

Your enlightenment isn’t higher than anything. Not Christianity, not the materialist, nor the bum on the street. The bum on the street is as enlightened as you. The Absolute doesn’t play favorites. It’s not something you achieve or unlock—it’s already everything, exactly as it is. You think you’ve climbed some ladder, but there is no ladder. No one is closer to it, no one is farther. The Kingdom of God, enlightenment, or whatever you want to call it, is everyone’s, as everyone. Sure, there are infinite things to explore, but there is nothing to reach, nothing to chase and nothing to be “higher” than. I’d be glad to hear you prove me wrong. Merry Christmas.

@Eph75 I don’t think that’s a mature way of communicating….not the insult itself, but the laziness of not supporting your point or specifying whom it’s directed at. The standards should be higher. @Leo Gura