Time Lines Tell the Truth

July 5, 2014 — 6 Comments

cactus blooming

Our memories are not accurate.  Our self images are not well aligned with reality, and our sense of time is warped.  This is true for almost everyone.  I have embarked on some time line drawing exercises that have proven to me how far off base I am with a lot of my beliefs about my life and myself.  The course in archetypes asks that I draw a time line for each of my dominant archetypes, including first meeting and how their powers entered and left the scene.  I am surprised about the details I recall when I focus on only one aspect.  This is also true if I draw a time line that includes all my physical injuries, surgeries, and illnesses.  I have lead a healthy life, but  I do see a pattern when I study the tendencies I have had.  My doctors ask me to outline my injuries and illnesses, but I had never drawn them out on a paper with dates before.  This chart alone tells a big story about your health and your life.  There are other valuable time lines to draw for self knowledge:

• Mental time line- included studies, hobbies, development of talents
• Emotional time line- describes the highs and lows of living as it occurred
• Spiritual time line- takes some concentration to detail moments of enlightenment and deep meaning to the soul
• Global time line-the places we go during our early years especially, influence many of our cultural patterns
• Physical time line- mastery of skills and sports, as well as the injuries and illnesses

When you have drawn these lines (all in the same scale) line up the sheets of paper under one another to see if they have any sequential patterns.  Putting them all in a row shows detail that can sort out patterns in our lives.  We tend to think of time in various delusional ways.  We believe we have always been like this (whatever this may be), for instance.  We often believe we were innocent when we were guilty, and sometimes believe just the opposite.  The time line describes turning points and events that were pivotal in our development.  If we then overlay the archetypes in our personalities, and which ones were dominant at what times the portrait becomes even clearer and more detailed.  I started with the assignment of the archetype timelines, which is the most intricate and difficult of them all.  By doing the easy ones above first we become accustomed to the focus it takes to really remember accurately.  Then we are warmed up to question who was in charge and when.  Time lines contain a great deal of power while still holding mystery in the line where it says nothing.  Obviously there were constant events, but only some can be brought to mind.  More practice brings better proficiency in stringing it all into place.