A champion feeder, the tapeworm is a kind of parasite that lives on the food in the human gut.
A champion feeder, the tapeworm is a type of parasite that lives on the food in the human gut. As the worm grows larger, it provides chemical markers to its host that cause the host to eat more food while at the same time hiding the parasite from detection, convincing the body that the worm is actually part of the body. Eventually the worm grows so large that the host cannot provide enough food for it and the worm feeds on its host until both die of starvation.
The salient metaphoric concepts to consider here are:
- The host is completely unaware of the parasite until it’s too late (assuming no modern medical intervention).
- The parasite controls the system – telling the host brain to eat more of what the parasite likes.
- The host often defends the parasite as a necessary part of the body.
- Eventually, the parasite kills the host – both by eating its flesh and through starvation.
The tapeworm is an effective parasite to the physical body because it can hide and then become part of the host body.
What would such a parasite look like in the emotional/mental realms? Would you recognize it if you had one? As the physical tapeworm parasite hides itself using chemical markers, I doubt you’d perceive a mental/emotional parasite if you had one.
What would such a parasite “look/act like?” How would you know if you had one? How could you prevent infestation? And most importantly, how could you rid yourself of it if you had one?
More on this subject later…
I would think that just as we understand life and death through symbolic representations at the physical sensory level. Ex: “teeth” may represent ; eating, chewing, biting, etc., so would symbols be interpreted at the emotional/mental level,except with more personal association. Ex: a smile might convey connection, appreciation, love, or might make us feel frightened, confused, angry, etc. All parasites must come through a breach or opening, even at the psychological level.
re: breach or opening
So (deducing a conclusion), are you saying (switching into paraphrasing mode) that to avoid psychological parasitic infestation one might, “keep one’s mouth shut”? And not act like an a**hole? Either “orifice” offers pretty good parasitic entry, I figure… And if you like to listen to sh*t – from the radio, your boss, the kids, your ex-, yourself – aren’t you then offering another orifice or two…?
Just asking (okay, and saying, too…)… metaphorically…
Opening one’s mouth with a comment like; “I like your hair but the hair style sucks” is a psychological parasite that can eat away at the offended. Acting like an a**hole can release all sorts of PP’s (psychological parasites) that eat away at the minds of many, if they are unaware of their openings.
Question:
Do we even know what dimension our minds reside in? What causes one person to be offended by a comment and another to laugh about it?
It just occurs to me that there is feeding going on and that the parasite feeding on me MUST exist in a dimension other than the physical one my senses report. Further, that the dimension we’re talking about is as real and “tangible” as the one reported to my brain by my senses. And further still, I (or at least a part of me) EXIST in that dimension, too – but because my senses don’t seem to operate in that dimension, I’m unaware of it. Yet when I THINK about it, that dimension MUST exist because I THINK and FEEL (emotionally) in it.
Makes perfect sense to me so I wonder about this… 😉
Another question:
I think so, in thought at least. Becoming aware of the needs of people around us is a matter of following two simple rules for communication:
1. Seek to understand then be understood.
2. refer to rule #1.
I wonder if the FIRST thing to do is to BECOME AWARE that there even is such a dimension and that we CAN cross over. If we either don’t believe or won’t believe or are simply unaware, we are at the mercy of the parasite, imho.
Ignorance is not bliss, at least as it applies to parasites. Becoming aware of what is feeding on us or affecting our thoughts in a negative way is key. Many are already aware of a feed, they just don’t know how to stop it. Self awareness is the way we start the stopping process.
Think of what makes you feel happy or sad and project that on the people you interact with. Become aware of those times when you do not care if you hurt someone. That is parasitic thinking. The crossing over to the dimension of thought is what we all do regularly. Wanting to make things better between you and others is the key to consciously crossing over. If you consciously want to cross over, an inner dialog might sound like this, “I know I hurt that person, that’s not what I want.” I recognize that my hidden intention or agenda has been feeding negative energy to a parasite (one that feeds on negative thoughts about self). I unintentionally projected those thoughts outwardly.
Just like the behavior of a physical parasite deadening awareness and increases the need to feed, the psychic parasite increases the need to feed on the energy output of emotional upset.
The energetic difference between what I INTEND and the outcome I OBSERVE, can be substantial – nearly tangible. No wonder a PP might direct me in that way (“I see I hurt you; that was not my intention…” – Oh, really?)
Perhaps the intention to which you refer is that of the parasite; and the best way for it to stay hidden from you is to make you think it is YOUR intention.
When the parasite is feeding upon its host (you and me), it uses an addictive psychological “substance” called justification or rightness to get you to supply it with what it wants (its food). As I become addicted to thinking my intentions are OK or right, I no longer am able to recognize my ability to change things (due to mental numbness) because I DON’T WANT TO (“I’m okay/right/justified – no need for change – it’s YOUR problem… etc.).
I think I see where you’re going – which seems to fly in the face of “take responsibility for your life”. On the other hand, let’s say you do take responsibility and say to yourself, “I see by the feedback I’m getting about my behavior that I MUST be secretly intending to do you harm…” In which case, the emotional energy of the situation completely defuses (lacking defense and justifications). This might cause the parasite to issue stronger addictive “chemicals” in order to bring you back into its grip. But in upping the ante, the parasite risks detection – and that’s maybe a good thing for the host, huh?
Once the parasite is exposed, something can be done about it. As long as I justify my behaviors, not taking responsibility, I remain a prisoner. Makes sense to me.
Yet another question:
Always look at the feedback you’re getting when communicating. Note the pattern created by regularly offending people, then follow the communications back to when the results shifted from positive to negative. Recall the communication rules 1. and 2. Being aware of subtle changes in the persons you communicate with. Ex: Are they talking to you less?, Are they acting frustrated or confused towards you?, Do they walk away without finishing communication? These are clues to pattern shifts.
One “last” question:
The mind seems to prefer patterns. Repetition is a quality of successful adaptation. The more we repeat a behavior the more we seek the same result. If the pattern of behavior creates a result recognized as a negative one, the mind may wish to correct the behavior by creating the beginnings of a new pattern. Ex: “Did I say something to offend you? How can I make our communication better for you?” This opens a possibility for a more successful adaptation with that person and possibly others. Adaptation is something humans can be consciously aware of doing.
To answer the question: Be aware of your communication and behavior patterns.
It sounds like it’s very important to ask yourself questions like, “I wonder if what I’m doing is abnormal for me in this environment?” and “This seems different. What’s going on with me/you/them?” and/or “Is this normal behavior for me/you/them?” etc. – seeking to identify deviations from patterns of thought and behavior.
I dig questions. I’ve got plenty of “answers” – it’s questions I’m short of – especially appropriate and useful questions. Questions like, “Why is she doing this/that?” are inappropriate because they assume something not necessarily in evidence. Rather, one might ask, “What does her communication mean for her?” (seeking to understand) and “How does her communication apply to me?”
Communication classes were perhaps the most valuable tools I ever learned (well, “learned” may not be correct – practice, practice, practice – I don’t practice what I learned sometimes – evidence, perhaps of infestation?)