Creation philosophy – introduction

Martin Euser (2010, 2011)

This article consists of a series of postings of mine on TheosNet in the year 2010.
Since the topic under consideration (creativity, or the process of creating something, or
manifesting one's intent) is of interest to virtual every human being, I've decided to make a
bundle of these postings into one article. It also marks the start of an integrative vision of the
human being by way of what I like to call spiritual cybernetics. This might one day become a
part of educational practice. Certain parts of it (Knoope's model) already are implemented on a
number of schools and in business environments. May you profit from this knowledge.

Part one
Part two
Part three
Part four
Part five

Creation philosophy & psychology (1)

In this blog posting, and some follow-ups, I plan to deal concisely and informally with the
fascinating route from wish to reality. There have been quite some authors who have been writing
and lecturing about this, especially in newage circles. However, I draw my material from other
sources: Roberto Assagioli, the Italian psychiatrist who laid down the foundation for
psychosynthesis, and a more recent, Dutch, writer, Marinus Knoope1, the discoverer of "the
creation spiral" and the pair-wise operation of so-called "negative" emotions.

I am especially interested in Assagioli's work “Act of Will” and Knoope's work on the creation
spiral. These two have some ideas in common regarding creation work. Knoope's work is now
being used to help children and adults to formulate their dreams/wishes, at schools and in
communities in the Netherlands. It is also used by some consultants in transformation work in the
business environment.

Although Knoope's work to my knowledge as yet hasn't been translated into English, I will give
you some English terms associated with his twelvefold cycle.

Also see http://www.stevepavlina.com/forums/intention-manifestation/14032-better-than-secret-

creation-spiral.html from which I will give a few quotes.

(Kingston):"The Creation Spiral states that we are destined to realize our wishes, just like a apple
seed is destined to become an apple tree. The new thing is that the process of manifesting an
intention is identical to the growth of a tree from a seed. There are twelve steps, which you can
visualize as the numbers on a clock. You can also compare it to fruit that grows throughout the
seasons."
Four seasons and the associated steps:

I. Winter:

1. Wish/desire/See
2. Imagine/give form
3. Believe/have faith

II. Spring:

4. Tell/communicate/network/share
5. Research
6. Plan

III. Summer:

7. Decide
8. Act
9. Persevere

IV. Fall:

10. Receive (the fruits of your work)

11. Value/appreciate
12. Relax/rest/let go

And then, the cycle starts anew. New ideas/wishes manifest, that is, if you listen to what comes
up in the recesses of your mind.
There can and will be blockages, potentially at every step, called "negative" emotions (but a
source of power), and these are dealt with by Knoope in his latest book. These emotions fulfil an
important role as paradoxes surround the creative process.
The twelve steps can be projected on a circle. The opposites on the circle seem to have an
analogous function, but in another phase or level. I cannot go into that now.

(Kingston) "There is more to it, but the main thing we can see is that you can never skip any of
the steps (excluding synchronicity), just like an apple cannot skip any step in its growth process.
The Creation spiral helps me organize all the aspects of an intention in order. Like The Secret, it
recognizes that you can achieve more than you think. And it also recognizes that there is more to
manifesting intentions (reaching goals) than planning and action."

(Pegasus: "This sounds similar to the scientific method:

Winter = identifying the intention
Spring = Researching and then forming a hypothesis
Summer = Acting or experimenting
Fall = Appreciating or evaluating the results")

There is a grouping of three phases each under four "seasons". This is in parallel to the seasons in
nature, like the seasonal budding, growth, blossoming and fruition of trees.
Phase I ("winter season") often has a lot of emotional blockages associated with it. People have
difficulty with discovering/acknowledging their deepest wishes, give form to it, and especially
faith (in their own abilities or in support of their network) is lacking.
Phase IV (Fall) has its own stressful aspects. Many can't receive properly, or don't know how to
appreciate/value results ("fruits") or cannot relax (let go) for a while. And so with the other
seasons. Know those who can't decide? People who cannot persevere? People who cannot
share/communicate? It occurs to me that this wheel/circle can be used as a diagnostic tool.
There is much more to this cycle than Knoope acknowledges himself, and I hope to complement
the scheme a bit with some ideas of Assagioli, and myself, in a next posting.

Note 1: Marinus Knoope, De creatiespiraal, KIC Nijmegen, Netherlands. (Dutch language)

Creation philosophy & psychology (2): Assagioli's act of will

Will is a most interesting topic to research. Everyone of us has to some degree experience
with the act of will and can do experiments in this field.
In this blog posting I'll summarize Assagioli a bit. Extract from an old blog of mine:

The process of active will is very complex. It has been described by

Assagioli in his book "Act of will". I cannot deal with it here at length.
I will mention the steps involved in the will-process, however.

Reversely translated from my Dutch translation of this book, we have:

1. Goal or purpose, based on valuation, motivation and intent.

2. Deliberation.
3. Choice and decision.
4. Reinforcement: command or fiat of the will.
5. Planning and elaboration of a program.
6. Steering of execution.

This is the process of will in it's complete and ideal form.

Remarks, based on Assagioli's treatment of the subject:

1. There is a goal to be reached. One has to clearly define a goal or purpose

to be realized. The faculty of Imagination (ideation, vision) is involved in this.
This is not enough to get things going. A general vision is just a starting point.
An evaluation or valuation of the goal is necessary ending in a judgment.
Then a motive must be generated that provides a drive and intent for one
to realize this purpose/goal.
A motive is a dynamic thing. It is generated by the values we ascribe to
the goals we want to reach.
2. As there are many goals, we must choose between them. This
establishing of a preference is the result of the function of deliberation
where we have to investigate several goals, our skills to realize these goals,
the consequences of our choice, social desirability, acceptability, etc.
Discrimination is necessary!

3. Deliberation should lead to choice and decision.

One has to wrap up, integrate, all the points mentioned at phase two,
and come to a decision.

4. Then follows reinforcement of the choice and decision. This activates

the creative and dynamic energies necessary to accomplish one's
goal/purpose. Compare this with J.G. Bennett's "commitments", described
in his tome "The Dramatic Universe".

5. Planning and a program are needed. Methods of execution come into

play as are considerations of time, circumstances , conditions.

6. At last there is the steering of the execution.

Will is like a director of a play. It is the supervisor of the whole process.
It looks to me that the whole gamut of human functions is concerned in this
process: from will to imagination to motivation to discrimination to
planning down to the physical execution (sensori-motor function).
Quite impressive! The physical execution itself is not a function of will,
but the steering of that part is.

Creation philosophy & psychology (3)

Now let's have a closer look at the beginning stages of Knoope and Assagioli, for which also see my
previous blog postings. Nr. 1 is labeled "wish" with Knoope, to which I have added the labels "desire"
and "See" (or beginning of Vision).
I narrow the field a bit and take this "wish" as a deep-felt desire for accomplishing something
worthwhile. Simple needs are of a more biological nature and are not dealt with here.

Now what is desire? Everyone of us experiences desires, but seldom do we pause a moment to
contemplate the nature of what is happening to and in us. According to theosophical writers,
e.g. Jacob Boehme, desire is a psychomagnetic force.
I would certainly concur with that description. Desire draws certain elements towards one's aura, or
biofield, as some call it. These elements of experience are called "elemental lives" or "life-atoms".
There seems to be whole hosts of them, from spiritual, intellectual, to emotional kinds. I have gone into
this matter more deeply in my ebook, so I will keep it short here. These life-atoms are not souls,
certainly not self-conscious, but rather less developed beings and structures. What is important to
understand here is that the human mind works with living elements of nature. This refers to the
theosophical ontology, a topic about which Proclus had a lot to say (as had others like De Purucker and
Jacob Boehme – see the archives at my website).
As a human being is a thinking being, I'll designate these elements as "seed-thoughts" that are
perceived by the human being. This immediately raises the questions of bias/filtering in the perceptive
process and which thoughts we do allow ourselves to nurture or to indulge in. This I leave for yourself
to observe. It is an exercise which may bring one some useful insight into one's own nature or
character. In a moment of rest, be the detached observer. Be honest to yourself, but don't judge
yourself. This is a good meditation exercise!

Ok, back to Knoope and Assagioli now.

We started with the attraction resulting from active desire. There is something in our mind now, and we
are on the route of becoming aware of what it is that we wish to accomplish. A purpose comes to mind,
quickly or slowly. We start to identify or recognize the associated wish/desire/intention we feel or have
inside our mind.
One needs some clarity of mind in order to work with intentions and purposes.
The clearer our goals are, the easier and quicker we can start working towards the realization of them.
Imagination is a faculty (and involves the use of a type of energy) we use to give a more or less clear
form to our desires and intents. But there is also an evaluation or valuation of the goal necessary. Is the
goal something that fits our character? We have to judge the goals/purposes. And then, even if it falls
within the scope of our possibilities, are we motivated to really go for it?

In the previous posting I wrote:

" Then a motive must be generated that provides a drive and intent for one to realize this purpose/goal.
A motive is a dynamic thing. It is generated by the values we ascribe to the goals we want to reach."
But, there may be conflicting goals in our mind. There may be strictly personal goals, or there may be
aspirations towards serving others. So, we have to make a selection of goals, establish a preference and
priority and focus on the realization of them. That is step 2 in the Assagioli's list. The whole gamut of
aspects mentioned in Assagioli's step 1 are spread or (re)iterated over steps 1 to 4, as I see it. It's quite
complicated! In the same vein, Knoope's twelve aspects in the creation spiral are not that separated at
all. Each is in each, according to my vision, although some aspects are dominant in one phase, and
other aspects in another one. We are dealing with faculties and energies here. His phase 3 (belief/faith)
is clearly involved with the values we hold dear.

Assagioli's step 3: "deliberation" may involve something of Knoope's step 4

"Tell/communicate/network/share" and step 5. Research. This is because of the fact that deliberation
can involve the consulting of others for their opinion on the goal(s) concerned. Some research (step 5)
is often necessary to establish the feasibility of the ideas we have in our mind. Discrimination is
especially necessary in this stage. Choice and decision are now imminent. The end of Assagioli's phase
3.

Choice and decision are truly remarkable operations of the human mind. They mark the transition of
one stage (Assagioli no. 3) to the next stage, stage 4: reinforcement of the choice and decision.
This activates the creative and dynamic energies necessary to accomplish one's goal/purpose.
The image of what is to be becomes dynamic now. It has been charged (colored) by our intentions and
values.
Compare this with J.G. Bennett's "commitments", described in his tome "The Dramatic Universe".

Bennett, BTW, devised a "decision exercise" for his students in which "the future state of affairs (as an
image) evokes the initiative as much as the intention to decide does", as one of Bennett's students
thinks he meant by the exercise). It seems that goal and need or necessity (two poles) are now
connected. A circuit has formed between what Bennett calls the "hyparchic future" (the realm of
possibilities, connected with ability - see my ebook, appendix) and the here and now. These are very
deep thoughts. What can be or should be (and already exists as an idea, or seed-thought, on the mental
plane) has now a pathway to the here and now on the astral and physical planes. It is the magic of
creation! It involves the combined powers of will and imagination. This can be seen as the practical
implementation of meditation: See, Deliberate, Choose-select, Commit, Plan, Act, or, short: see,
commit, act. (Imagine, Will, Act).

The human being connects the spheres of thought and action in the act of creation (form-giving)

This is the ultimate "meditation exercise" put into practice, when the human being becomes a channel
for the inflow of spiritual forces. There is no use for endless floating in the air. Spiritual energies must
be grounded, or earthed. How else can they do their transformative work here on earth?

Creation philosophy and psychology (4)

The steps Imagine, Will, Act can be formulated as Imagine, Will, Plan, Act to conform to my four-level
model of creative process in/through the human psyche.
I designed a preliminary diagram [paradigm] of the stages of the creative act, put on four levels:
This concerns primarily the work of Roberto Assagioli. The six stages of active will have been
described by me in a previous blog posting. Here, I have conceived a model, consisting of four layers
nested as shown in the picture with a preliminary mapping of the six stages. The picture shows the
interpenetration of levels. It is not a layered cake! It can be interpreted as follows: the human being
desires something (evoked by some thought); this is the first stage, where also imagination takes place.
It is internal to the human psyche, interacting with the world of ideas, thoughts, etc. The way I have
formulated this, means that in this diagram I do not discriminate between lofty aspirations that reach
the higher strata of the mind-world (higher manas in theosophical parlance) and more personal desires
which reach only to lower strata. The levels would have to be subdivided further, as for example, layer
One into, say, seven sublayers. That is a nice project for further research. Note how the diagram
conforms to Kabbalistic thought with its four worlds (Archetypic containing "seed models", Intellectual
(intuitive-communicative), Formative, Action). There are multiple representations of these worlds
possible. Maybe I go into that in another posting, but curious minds can study my edition of Alan
Bain's work on the Kabbalah. [See http://meuser.awardspace.com]

The second layer shows communication, networking, deliberation, valuing and choice. This is partly an
interaction level with the "outside world", the social environment in a broad sense. It also entails a
valuation and decision process. Feedbacks and input from the environment play a role here.
This has been described in my previous note on Assagioli. For all the levels subsequent to level (or
layer) one, there is an overflowing of forces from one level to the next. The levels interpenetrate!
The positive choice (go for it, do it!) concerns the fiat of will. Fiat means "let there be..".
This fiat activates [motivates] organizing vital forces [called pranas in Indian philosophy] which flow
as it were to the next (third) layer and phase of the creative process: planning, organization, etc., which
have to do with making scripts or blueprints (structuring the executive act). It is very easy to recognize
this phase: we all have had ideas for which we made plans. If you have some sensitivity, you will have
observed the flow of energy that comes with the planning. Managers often display a lot of vital energy,
busy as they are with organization.
Form giving and structuring or planning events require flexibility of mind. "Steer and follow", so to
speak. One has to see the opportunities that exist or rise and gather the means necessary for
accomplishing one's goals. That starts already on the second level, where one has to weigh the pros and
cons of the cherished ideas, and is becoming urgent and actual in this phase. Planning is a continuous
process, since the execution phase may and often does require one to change parts of the plan “on the
fly”.

The fourth layer concerns the steering (control) of execution. Supervision of tasks to do is needed.
This phase combines the previously prepared and planned parts with stages of the execution.
Feedbacks to the third layer/function arise where corrections in execution and change of (part of) plans
are deemed necessary.
This phase combines the influences of all the previous levels. Resistence and inertia on this level (as
well as in the planning/organization phase), due to many factors, can cause a lot of headaches.
Flexibility is needed. If you can't do something in one way, try another way. Learn to see different
possibilities to do something and realize your goals. If one realizes a goal (or part of a purpose), one
will get some satisfaction out of that. If it doesn't work out quite the way one has expected, there
probably is a lesson to be learned. Karma is always operating on the levels described.
The sensori-motor part of the execution is not dealt with in the Assagioli description. It could be added
to the diagram as a sublevel of the fourth level. I will not deal with that here, since it is not essential to
the diagram. The mapping of functional brain-areas is a complicated business anyway, and subject to
modifications.
That ends part four of this series. More research is needed as to (a wider) applicability of this paradigm
or model. If you feel you can contribute to this research, please let me know through the contactform at
my website.

Martin Euser
 Creation philosophy and psychology (5)
In the previous blog posting we halted description at the stage of acting.
Assagioli’s stages end at this point, because he looks at the process moving from inside (will,
imagination) to outside (steering of physical act).
There is however also the opposite direction: from outside to inside.

Knoope continues his description with:

9. Persevere
10. Receive (the fruits of your work)
11. Value/appreciate
12. Relax/rest/let go

Phase 9 can be seen as a continuation of phase 8, but can involve a reorientation on why one has started
the whole enterprise in the first place! Motivation may have to be renewed, refreshed, strengthened,
etc. A reappraisal of the idea and plan may be necessary in this stage.
A reinforcement of the whole idea will give new fuel (a pranic, vital stream) or motivation to go on.

Phase 10: Receive the fruits of your work.

First of all, I envisage the flowing and propagation (reverberation) of one’s work through the various
networks of society (physical and information channels, also comprising appreciation of one’s work by
others, and, hence, karmic effects). Karma means action, and also the (moral) effects of one’s intents
and actions. It entails a feedback-loop from intent and manifestation of intent to the fruits one reaps
from one’s actions.
One reaps what one sows, in this life or another. Difficult to swallow for some of us, but that’s the way
it is. Our intuitive sense of justice demands it, and one life is simply not enough for the human spirit or
monad to experience the scala of possibilities on this plane of life. The discussion of karma and
reincarnation (not of the personality, but the human monad) has been extensive in theosophical
literature, including my ebook, so I won’t go into that here.
The form in which karmic effects manifest depends on many factors, since environment changes over
time and so do the persons involved. That makes sense, I hope. Mass-karma or collective karma makes
up for a large percentage of what happens in one’s life. One is embedded in society. Are you sure that
you are thinking your own thoughts, or might it be that you are just re-chewing what others have
thought before?

Phase 11. Value the fruits. This follows phase 10 and concerns how one evaluates the results of one's
work. How one values karmic results has to do with one’s character and the development of perceptive
faculty. What is acceptable and agreeable to one, may be seen as too meagre a result by another. Do
you see that this takes place in the inward sphere of valuation?

Phase 12. Relax and let go.

Some people have trouble in letting go. It is an important phase, though.
I am inclined to think that letting go already starts in phase 10 (phases overlap in reality, as internal and
external acts can be parallel and serial). If one does not cling to results, then it might be easier to enjoy
the process of creation! Keep in mind what Sri Krishna says about this in the Bhagavad Gita: rise above
the polarities or opposites. This is a form of non-attachment to results. Certainly important in spiritual
work. One cannot always see or estimate results of one’s efforts. That is another thing one can
contemplate!

Phases 10 and 11 have especially to do with the social and intrapsychic levels I have indicated in the
diagram in my previous blog posting. The feedbacks during the process are internalized into the psyche
as memories, acquired insights, etc. Assimilation.

Phase 9 can involve multiple levels from the diagram as rebuilding of motivation, and a reorientation
on idea and plan involve feedback loops and steering.

Phase 12 looks to me as going inwards, during and after assimilation of results and effects.

That ends the overview of creation philosophy.

I will continue this series under the heading of integrative philosophy, since the philosophy of the
levels, layers or spheres of action, and stages of ‘creation’ or formation involves a good deal more than
the stages of Assagioli or Knoope alone.

For example, we have to deal with a very important aspect of the paradigm I’ve sketched thus far:
decision making and control. We will encounter decisions at several stages in the creative process.
They serve to connect levels and set up flows of matter/energy, and involve information transfer and
attribution of value/meaning (transactions).
In human organizations, there is the flow of values and control throughout the organization. In the
human body, there is the flow of neurotransmitters, electrical impulses, and hormones. Analogy
abounds!
The four-layered model will serve us well in our analysis of process, be it of the human brain, human
psyche, human organizations, society, and possibly other fields of knowledge.
It may provide a testable model for many phenomena, if elaborated upon.
More about it can be found in a next series of postings (under development – see my blog at
www.theosophy.net).

Martin Euser