Trump, TDS, and the necessity of the ego

April 16, 2025

During Trump’s first term as president, I got the feeling that most TDS sufferers got that way because they furiously objected to his mighty ego. Can’t blame them, assuming they’ve really never paid attention into their own ego to see how it works and doesn’t work. New Age philosophy, back in the 70s and 80s, assumed that the ego needed to be transcended. That one should simply lift one’s mind out of one’s earthly body and hover, with a superior attitude.

Here’s a  piece from “Observing Consciousness” that I was surprised to find. Wonderful, showing the true function and necessity of the ego.

TRANSCENDING EGO: Meeting the Mirror at the Threshold

 

Don’t know who “Observing Consciousness” is. Clearly, this guy (gal) is not out to get his/her ego bloated via writing this piece!

The other day, when I ran into the couple with whom we were all surprised to discover that we shared our larger perspective on politics in the U.S (see yesterday’s post),  I happened to mention to the wife that “Trump’s gigantic ego is absolutely necessary, for him to fend off the continuous attacks from all directions.” Though she looked surprised at this remark, she instantly agreed.

And yet, that’s not all he is. Obviously. As is becoming more and more clear these days. Witness former Trump-hater Bill Maher’s surprising (to him) personal encounter with Trump over dinner, calling him “gracious and measured, much more self aware than he lets on.”

And, at another dinner, with John Rich, Trump allowed himself to be vulnerable enough to accept and marvel at the feedback he got, when he asked for it. My friend Laura sent this video to me, and I’m very glad she did. It helped me understand that indeed, Trump did NOT realize why audiences at his gigantic rallies booed him when he mentioned how great was his Operation Warp Speed. This particular video helped me forgive him for that one ginormous blight that constantly threatened to poison my otherwise favorable view of him. Obviously, in this case, Trump was seeking to become even more self-aware!

 

Yesterday’s Auspicious Meeting of Minds and Hearts!

April 15, 2025

On a downtown street yesterday evening, on my way to the Brownstone Institute Midwest Supper Club held here in Bloomington, once again very much looking forward to the fourth monthly Supper Club, in a room with open-minded people all of whom easily speak our minds . . .

https://brownstone.org/event/brownstone-midwest-supper-club-april-14-with-dr-steven-templeton/

Author of: Fear of a Microbial Planet: How A Gemaphobic Safety Culture Makes Us Less Safe 

. . . when I saw coming towards me, a couple whom I have not been in touch with for years, though the husband holds a public position in town, and his wife is, to me, an unusual, right-thinking professor. I, in my role as founder of our tiny (three homes plus gardens) Green Acres Village within the larger Green Acres Neighborhood, have, on a number of occasions, had the help of each of them in their different roles, but not recently.

We looked at each other on approach . . .

“Ann!”

“Dave!”

Immediately a huge hug. Then, looking at his wife, and only then remembering her role with us, another huge hug!

This couple is on board with our vision for transforming suburbs into retrofit intentional communities.

Our little village offers a tiny, in-town Bloomington template for this:

Plus, given the state of education in this country — Bloomington public schools are are undergoing falling student enrollment, with alternative schools increasing enrollment. And no wonder:

 

We ended up talking with great intensity for probably ten minutes. Starting with “Trump.” Trump! The very act of uttering that despised name in this TDS academic town! It turns out that all three of us are in full appreciation of Trump’s efforts as president this time, despite all the parades and protests of others around here. Next, Dave wanted to segue to “UAP.” Are they real? he asks, knowing I’ve been pursuing this rabbit hole for many years. “Yes, but people the government wants you to pay attention to, like Luis Elizondo, are not the ones to pay attention to! He’s CIA!”

“Aha, I thought so. Somebody said to me the other day that whoever the government points you to is not to be trusted.” YES!

On and on we went, reveling in our deepened camaraderie. “I used to be a Democrat!” I exclaimed at one point! “Me too,” both of them cried out. Dave: “The Democrat party left me!” Exactly.

So I told them where I was going. To a dinner, talk and discussion where everybody speaks their truth, with no censorship. They had already eaten, or I sense they would have turned around and started walking with me. I will send them info today about the Brownstone Institute and when the next Midwest Supper Club will be held.

As we parted, after another big hug, Dave burst out: “So wonderful meeting you like this so unexpectedly. Feels auspicious!”

YES!

It’s so interesting, living in a town where you’re always censoring yourself in public; mostly without even consciously realizing it! But then when you do rip off the mask, there’s true exhilaration.