Surgery of the Soul: Series Prelude
Introduction to the metaphorical dissection of your human condition. Content Outline.
"The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it." — W.M. Lewis
This letter found you at exactly the right moment.
Christina’s World, Andrew Wyeth (1948) – depicts a young woman, crawling to a distant farm house. She yearns to live, but struggles to move forward.
My Personal letter to you.
Dearest Reader,
I make this confession with a palpable embarrassment. Unfortunately I could not conjure a shorter way to articulate these ideas to you. Therefore, I have presented them as a series of letters, of which this is the introduction. The prelude.
Here, I outline the basic content of each letter and I’ve pinned this so that you might refer to it as I add each link upon its publication. Over the following months we are going to dissect the human condition.
More succinctly: your unique and personal circumstance.
Each letter in this series may be considered a collection of personal essays that have been directly addressed to you. They can be read individually in your own time to ensure an appropriate digestion of their succulent nutrient. No need to read them all at once, and I greatly appreciate your patience in this regard.
Genuinely, I say that with the utmost sincerity. And for those who have been graciously waiting for this series; thank you.
Blessing innumerable upon your life.
Anyway, your reading experience will be up to you. I recommend a chronological order, but it is written in such a way that each essay stands on its own merit. What ultimately matters is that the sentiments are swallowed in a way that finds resonance with you.
The architecture of this series is in the form of a metaphorical surgical dissection. The deeper you get into the letters the more intimate the layers that are tenderly fleshed out with our fingertips.
It is intuitive, and you will get it.
Each section is dense. Each metaphor waddles as if strained under the weight of weight of every pregnant word. And so, you will soon see why it has necessitated such a long period of gestation.
You will find that although each letter is logically structured and organised with an almost pathological rigour—I have occasionally allowed myself to psychologically unravel into a lyrical poeticism with furious cadence.
I make no apologies for the way in which my passions to ensure you achieve your highest potential betrays me.
It is no embellishment to say that I have given everything to this.
My one aim is to offer the understanding and solutions that will transform your life.
This is no exaggeration; and I promise this series is not engorged with distasteful arrogance. I state this with such certainty only because my own existential injuries and the violations inflicted upon my psyche inspired me to search earnestly for such insights myself. No existing work frames the dissection of the human condition–from the crown to your soles–with such meticulous, surgical precision.
At least, until now.
This is an amalgamation of hundreds of works on the subjects of philosophy, psychology, medicine and surgery, neuroscience, religion, ancient mystery scripts, Christian theosophy, the Bible, ancient African philosophies, as well as years of direct study on the human body and the immaculate constitution of the soul.
I have taken great care to ensure a number of things:
Namely, that the letters are meticulous in structure and supported by a solid philosophy that is logically consistent. Also, and just as importantly, that the writing itself is seamless.
Penned with liquid silk. Smooth and easy.
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”— Leonardo da Vinci
With that said, I wish to waste no more of your time explaining what is unnecessary. It is becoming impossible to disguise my desperation to operate. I salivate with the rabidness of the hound. My mouth bubbles with foam. And I Froth.
I can hardly stand to wait any longer.
Let me use this letter to provide the philosophical framework, and then the outline.
Then we can finally begin.
BONESAW
The Dissection of Man
Vitruvian man, Leonardo Da Vinci.
It is no secret that upon any deep reflection, one comes to a realisation about the human body:
Every aspect of its constitution is a delicate and symbolic arrangement of all that is immeasurable and incomprehensible.
The wisest minds across all ancient civilisations have independently arrived at the same revelation. This knowledge transcends all cultural boundaries because it requires no communication. It emerges naturally from observation.
We intuit what is simple, and after we have wasted time on clumsy nuances, we discover what is true and profound had only been wearing the cloak of complexity.
“Truth that is naked is the most beautiful, and the simpler its expression the deeper the impression it makes”–– Arthur Schopenhauer.
Even when its whispers are drowned by outside noise, our instincts sense when the very essence of a thing is true.
And so, we can say with much confidence: The human body represents a corporeal metaphor. The imperfect form of man contains within itself the universes most intricate patterns—a living microcosm that reflects the infinite macrocosm.
In every school of thought, an anatomical analogy will demonstrate this principle.
From the Vedic texts of India to Hermetic philosophy, from Taoist Chinese doctrine to the anatomical studies of the Renaissance. Consistent. Always. We see this in the rigid logistical confines of Western philosophy and in African philosophy—where the opulence of colourful metaphor and profound clarity passed down largely through oral tradition cannot be overstated.
Even Christianity, both ritual and scripture, contributed to this with its own Biblical flavour. Gregory of Nyssa, an early Christian theologian, described Genesis 1:27, in which mankind was “created in the image of God,” to mean we possess qualities that reflect divine attributes.
Our brain and neural pathways echo cosmic pattern; our hearts pulsate with the fibrillating resonance of our emotions; our loins throb in fluid to unveil our desires; our cellular and anatomical structures mimic the magnificence of galactic design.
Of course, reader, we know that this need not literally be the case, but the practicality of the framework it presents to us is of undoubted utility in our everyday lives. It is only the disheartened simpleton who would refuse to make use of such an accessible and valuable abstraction.
And so, we enter the sacred theatre to drill into the ivory vault and trace the geography of thought with our fingertips.
CONTENTS
CRANIOTOMY: THE MIND
The neurosurgical procedure in which a portion of the skull (cranium) is temporarily removed to gain access to the brain for treatment.
Henry Cushing, illustrated osteoplastic craniotomy and cortical mapping of patient who suffered from a gunshot wound
Achieving your highest potential, unlocking your inherent genius state.
Societal constraints and their limitations on personal potential
False virtues and implanted beliefs: mechanisms of modern enslavement
The modern workplace: structures of containment
Desecration of the five senses in contemporary life
Recognising and breaking destructive thought loops
Reclaiming focus, attention, and personal aura
Creativity and accessing your inherent genius
Identity formation and authentic self-expression
Procrastination.
Understanding and overcoming shame
Mental health: ADHD, depression, and anxiety
The concept of the indomitable "Will"
Distinguishing between forced striving and effortless achievement
Autotelism: self-contained purpose
Magnetised Man: embodying aligned consciousness
Step-by-step practical guide to fully realising your potential.
THORACOTOMY: THE HEART
The surgical procedure in which an incision is made through the chest wall to gain access to the thoracic cavity. This procedure allows the surgeon to access the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels.
Saturn Devouring His Son, Francisco Goya (1819-1823)
The emotional spectrum of the human condition
Depression: pathways to liberation
The downtrodden path: recognising and redirecting
Lingering in feeling: emotional processing
Suicide: confronting the darkness
Anxiety: sources and solutions
Passion, desires, and fundamental needs
Focusing emotional energy
Faustian striving: ambition and its costs
Love: authentic connection and expression
LAPAROTOMY: THE BODY
The surgical procedure in which an incision is made through the abdominal wall to gain access to the abdominal cavity.
Benefits supervisor sleeping: portrait of Sue Tilley, by Lucian Freud (1995)
Environmental toxins: identification and avoidance
The gut-brain interface: connections and implications
Dietary fundamentals for optimal functioning
Effortless fitness: sustainable physical well-being
Body image: perception and reality
Binge eating: causes and recovery
Fundamental dietary principles: identifying optimal nutrition for your genetic makeup and lifestyle
How to avoid environmental toxins and maintain optimal physical condition without fad or yo-yo dieting.
I post my body and physique in this letter, as I believe health and fitness advice online should only be taken from those who can demonstrate direct results.
SPINAL SURGERY: CONNECTION
The surgical procedure that provides access to the spinal cord and surrounding structures.
The Flayed Angel Face Mask, Jacques Fabien Gautier dAgoty (1749)
Interconnectedness: recognising systemic relationships
Serendipity: inviting meaningful coincidence
Synchronicities: patterns of meaningful connection
Cultivating luck: practical approaches
Flow state: accessing optimal experience
The healing impulse: natural restoration
ANAESTHESIA: THE UNCONSCIOUS
The medical procedure that induces a temporary state of unconsciousness or sedation.
Clara (rhinoceros), engraving by Jan Wandelaar 1742
Dreams: messages from the unconscious
The unconscious mind: structure and influence
Mysteries of Golgotha: spiritual symbolism
Law of attraction: manifestation principles
Law of mentalism: thought as creative force
Law of assumption: belief as reality creator
Accessing ancient genius states: tapping collective wisdom
PRESCRIPTIONS AND PRACTICALITIES
A comprehensive integration of therapeutic approaches.
Summary of practical steps from each section
Detailed, sequential implementation plan
Integration of mind, body, and soul
No more procrastination, we are to touch every aspect of life.
We dissect.
See you shortly.