Internal Dialog Vs. Meditation

Z,

To me, the difference between Internal Dialog (ID) and meditation, is whether or not we are able to receive the inner voice of intuition. The key element in turning in inner dialog to a meditation capable of allowing us to receive this inner guidance is shown by the transition from Tarot Key 4 to Tarot Key 5. We must know how to transition from Reason to Intuition. Our modern world is out of balance in that it incorrectly values Reason to the exclusion and denigration of Intuition. Even worse we let rationalization pass for reason. True Reason and True Intuition are both essential.

Internal Dialogue is like closed loop turning in on itself. I would not even call ID reason. Instead ID is a process of rationalization of our feelings. The ID process is: 1) We observe superficially; 2) We take a passive mental posture and let our minds wander; 3) Up from the imagination come various images, feelings, and desires; 4) We rationalize to make reality conform to our feelings thus closing the loop in on ourselves.

To open the loop to input from within/above I suggest meditating on Tarot Key 5 (The Hierophant) and noting the position of the two kneeling supplicants. They represent what we "Think we Want" and what we "Think we Know". After having used our enthusiasm, attention, memory, imagination, and reason, we must then lay aside our personal desires and our personal truths (knowledge) and exercise HUMILITY, and say something like:

"I know that much of my thinking is based on false interpretations of the past. I know that many of my feelings are based on incorrect evaluations and that my acceptance of incorrect values from the past is what feeds negative emotions. I know this, and I'm willing to let you, O Lord of Life, transmute my thinking and feeling."

jc