Point 7: Ego-plan

Protoanalysis

Structure

“The idealist starts testing himself in some adventure [VI], the active, that will lead him to move to the next point where he will want to make justice [VIII] for all, the attractive. Frustrated by reality, the function, he moves to his fixation where he is going to elaborate idealistic plans, the result.”

Point 7 is known as “Ego-Planning”. The fixation is also known as “Over-Idealist”.

“The over-idealist character plans for the future, farther than he can see. The result is over-enthusiasm. He carries out his plans outside with enthusiasm until they fail. Enthusiasm then turns to the inside, and he becomes isolated by his internal plans.”

As John C. Lilly explains, "If a little of something is pleasant, then an unlimited amount should bring unheard-of pleasures, so the Ego Plan feels. This projection of present enjoyment into future ecstasy through more and more of the same is a recurring emotional reaction to the good, though each time it ends in uncomfortable satiation and physical distress."^[8]

This ego derives from the Practical Ego, which is a response to the Adaptation Instinct. The planner strategically plans to avoid unpleasant experiences it does not want to have, so the question of "where am I?" is answered by strategic movement through reality and a happy state of mind. The psychic poison of the Adaptation Instinct at the root of Ego-Planning is Mythomania, confusing reality with the fantasy of his ideals.

Ego-Planning experiences a sense of being Inferiorized in the childhood relationship with siblings and/or peers.

The main ego-characteristic of this fixation is Dreaming, creating ideals which glamorize life out of the lens of an inferior perspective. The Passion which feeds this ego is Gluttony which is a voracious consumption of ideas and pleasant experiences. The primary defense mechanism is Displacement, redirecting negative thoughts that were originally aimed at the original source to somebody else, or a repression of these thoughts and warping them into something positive. Worsening of this fixation can lead to Schizotypal Personality Disorder. A secondary defense mechanism is Disassociation. Further worsening leads to psychosomatic illness.

Domain

Becoming fixated in the Domain of Position and Authority, there is a swing to the dichotomies of that domain. This can manifest in a positive sense as Self-Respect on one side, or Modesty at the other side. It can manifest in a negative sense as Superiority at one extreme or Inferiority at the other extreme. These dichotomies are represented by two characters: the Pretentious character at one end, the Loser at the other. Rivalries invade the consciousness in this domain. The stress of being fixated and imbalanced in this domain can lead to Gluttony as a compensatory mechanism. The poison of this domain is Confusion of thought.

Dichotomies

Inhabitants

Reconciliation

The Trap which simultaneously restricts but potentially liberates this ego is its focus on Idealism. The Way of self-realization of this ego is the Way of Presence, continuously being aware of the Presence of the Eternal.

The Holy Idea which acts as a catalyzer for the transformation of this ego is Holy Wisdom or Divine Wisdom (sometimes described as Holy Work). This can lead to the Virtue (energy) of Sobriety.

According to Ichazo, Divine Wisdom (or Work) is:

“The awareness that Reality exists as a succession of moments, each experienced as ‘the present,’ and that it is only by existing in the present that the constant unfolding of the Cosmos [can] be experienced. Only by working in the present can real work be done and real results achieved.”