In this article we are introducing a new character to our reading experience. That character’s name is Catharsis. Eventually we will be providing a listening experience as well when we produce podcasts from the many articles that will be written.

Catharsis is an interesting character for sure. He is often not always "politically correct," and can often downright irritate people with his demeanor. Addison and Catharsis have known each other for a long time and they feel it will be quite interesting to work together in this venue. Their personalities are different and will serve to play off each other nicely to bring out various levels of the things being discussed. So, let’s give them the opportunity and see where it goes. Please give them a warm welcome. (clapping)

Addison: Greetings to those of you who happen to be reading this latest addition to The 5th Way Community website. The topic today is acceptance. Joining me in this creative endeavor is Catharsis. Now would be an appropriate time for you to introduce yourself, Catharsis.

Catharsis: It is good to be here Addison, and thank you for inviting me along on this adventure. Hello readers! Addison and I go back a long ways. Let me scroll up to see what the topic is for today…ah, yes, acceptance. I accept to discuss acceptance. Now what else is there to discuss on this topic, Addison?

Addison: Before we actually start into the assigned topic, let me suggest some "ground rules" for these joint discussions.

Catharsis: Addison you know I don’t like rules! I play by my own tune and always have. Living within someone else’s rules always feels too claustrophobic to me.

Addison: The rules will not be that constricting and they are required to meet the FCC guidelines, as well as the site guidelines, on appropriate language used…as well as to help keep certain emotions within reasonable bounds…so as not to overly offend our readers and guests. Besides, if you do not follow the basic guidelines the administrative team will edit out certain words and may prematurely put our working relationship to an end.

Catharsis: You know me all too well, Addison. I accept the working relationship with the basic guidelines as you have submitted to me in the interest of not letting you have all the fun. With the guidelines as they are, I still have plenty of leeway to annoy, frustrate, confuse, irritate, challenge and play the Devil’s Advocate with any guests we may have on.

Addison: With that being said, let’s dive right into acceptance. Let’s define this word before we actually get into the discussion. Acceptance can be defined as the following: 1) the quality or state of being accepted or acceptable; 2) the act of accepting: the fact of being accepted: approval.

Catharsis: While I find that definition acceptable, Addison, can’t we give it a little more depth?

Addison: Sure we can. Let’s take the word accept and we get the following: to receive willingly; to give admittance or approval to; to endure without protest or reaction; to regard as proper, normal, or inevitable; to recognize as true; to regard as having a certain meaning; etc. And if we look into the thesaurus we have the following: bear with, endure, tolerate, agree to,…

Catharsis: That is much better. Now we have some room to work. What do you think about taking the first part of that accept definition "to receive willingly" and expanding on it?

Addison: That would very appropriate and acceptable to me. As you know I will be coming from the viewpoint of how this relates to the Highest Energy, the One, the Absolute, the great Oversoul, and so forth. And, knowing you we can probably count on viewpoints from other perspectives. That is what will make this a great team.

Catharsis: I knew I could count on you to take the "high ground" Addison. When we say "to receive willingly" does that mean I need to willingly accept everything that happens in my life? What if someone smacks me upside the head just for the fun of it? What if someone decides to take their 4x4 and plows through my fence to do donuts in my garden patch? Am I just supposed to just stand there and wave with a smile on my face saying "Oh, that felt good, can you get the other side of my head too while you’re at it?!" "Hey, buddy, you missed the carrots over there with your big old knobby tires!"?

Addison: You bring up a very good point, and I am sure many of our readers are probably asking that same question. As we know there are different levels of understanding and different viewpoints relative to that understanding. Ideally one "receives willingly" whatever is necessary to reach and maintain harmony with the Highest Energy. If a person is within that state he/she will not normally go around smacking people upside their heads, nor will they be doing property damage for the thrill of it.

Catharsis: That’s all fine and well, however, most people are not within that state of being. I for one will certainly not tolerate someone violating my physical being nor causing property damage for a cheap thrill. There has to be some way to protect oneself while one strives to get to that harmonious state of being.

Addison: That is why there are laws in place. They help protect people from bodily harm and help restrict chaotic human behavior. The laws help keep people civil enough so that the spiritual seekers have the opportunity to develop that higher state of being. However, as we know, laws differ from one country to another, and often differ from each other within different sections of the same country. Laws generally reflect the state of the majority of humans making them.

Catharsis: What if I do not accept the laws where I live?

Addison: Then I suggest that you attempt to work with others to change the laws for the better; to move to a place that has laws that are perceived to be more appropriate for your state of being; or learn to work publicly within your legal system while doing what you feel is necessary incognito. Of course if your state of being is in harmony with the Highest Energy you will know what to do at the appropriate time, and in a way that still allows you to live your dharma (the way conforming to one’s duty and nature). As we can see it is fairly easy to get diverted from the central topic and into related subjects. Let’s bring our core focus back "to receive willingly."

Catharsis: Yes, you are right Addison…we can discuss almost anything here and it will be oftentimes hard to limit the discussion to the assigned topic. We will just have to keep track of these potential topics and discuss them more in depth at a later time.

Addison: Agreed.

Catharsis: What would you say are some points to consider for someone "to receive willingly?"

Addison: That you are here; that you interact within this material realm through that material form also known as your body; that during your existence within that form you will be challenged; that these challenges serve as opportunities for your growth, understanding and fuller awareness of what is; that you can receive willingly these challenges while consciously connecting with the Highest Energy; that through receiving willingly and consciously the connection with the Highest Energy you remember what you truly are and learn to harmonize with that; and while you are living out your existence here you receive willingly the knowing that all other material forms are also connected to the Highest Energy, although many of them may not realize this.

Catharsis: Wow, that seems to be heavy duty for many of our readers. Even I find it sometimes extremely challenging to do what you say so easily.

To be cont...