Update 1.21 ― “Consistency” and “sum”.

I will start my considerations with the word “difference”, which is included in the set of words and phrases, which I also dealt with in the previous update 1.20. This set now looks like this.

PERCEIVING
light, knowledge, here & now, difference     
dry

Below I put also a diagram of the Mandala of Characters. In the bottom left corner of this diagram, we can find the above set of concepts and phrases.

In the above diagram, we can see that the word “difference” is in the area where we can find the type―Dry Earth.

I put the word “difference” on the Mandala in update 1.04.

Until now, I thought that the word “difference” mainly refers to the type―Dry Earth. However, now I think that the word “difference” also equally applies to the neighboring type―Dry Fire.

Why do I think so?

This area of the Mandala of Characters is influenced by the general attitude, which is PERCEIVING.

In the previous update, I put the word “knowledge” in the Mandala, which is located in the area of type―Dry Fire. Getting “knowledge” is often also “perceiving”. Or “knowledge” it is looking out for, and searching for various important differences and details.

Since “knowledge” can also be helpful in “perceiving differences”, the word “difference” rather applies to the whole area where there is the PERCEIVING. That is, where are both types: Dry Earth and Dry Fire.

In that case, what I wrote about the “difference” in update 1.04 is still valid, because then I associated the “difference” mainly with the type―Dry Earth. So, now the word ‘difference” must also refer to the neighboring type―Dry Fire.

Let’s look a little closer to the type of Dry Earth and look for the relationship that this type can have with the word “difference”.

As I mentioned above, in the place where is Dry Fire, in the previous update (1.20) I put the word “knowledge”. However, apart from “knowledge”, we can find here also the word “light”. “Light” is very helpful in perceiving differences. In proper lighting, it is easier to see different kinds of differences and details.

Thus, light helps in finding differences and details. And the more we know the different differences, the greater our knowledge is.

We can see here that in fact the term “difference” also refers to the area where are located the terms “light” and “knowledge”. So, the “difference” also applies to the place where is the type―Dry Fire.

When I decided that the concept of “difference” concerns the entire area of “PERCEIVING”, at that moment to my mind came an interesting association and at the same time an interesting idea.

Well, if we assume that the “difference” refers to the area of “perceiving”, then it would seem that the “sum” will refer to the oppositional area in relation to “perceiving”. It means, on the other side of the Mandala, in relation to “PERCEIVING” we can find the area of “JUDGING”.

To summarize the above, we can say that:
— “difference” refers to “PERCEIVING”,
— “sum” refers to “JUDGING”.

Earlier, I thought that the word “difference” mainly applies to the type―Dry Earth. However, as I mentioned above, in this update, I come to the conclusion that the “difference” concerns not only the type―Dry Earth but also the type―Dry Fire.

In that case, I need to look for a concept that would characterize mainly the type―Dry Earth.

I wondered for a long time what word I could use in this place? And I came to a conclusion, that appropriate will be the word―consequence.

And now, as a Polish person who is learning English, I met here big confusion. This confusion is coming from this, that word “consequence” in English has different meanings than in the Polish language. Actually, meanings are similar in both languages, but the emphasis is put on different issues. Or in other words, another meaning is more popular in English than in Polish.

To present it, below I put English and Polish definitions of the word “consequence”.

As we can see above, in English we have many meanings of the word “consequence”. However, a common understanding of this word is usually like in this one:

— “A result of actions, especially if such a result is unwanted or unpleasant”.

Then, the understanding of the word “consequence” is usually negative. It means, in English negative meanings of “consequence” are usually more popular than positive or natural meanings of this word.

In the Polish language, the common understanding is more ambiguous. It means the most popular are two meanings:

1. “A systematic effort to achieve the goal at which we always stick to the same principles”.
And
2. “The result of an act, event or condition, usually unpleasant”.

From the above two Polish meanings of the word “consequence”:
— The first meaning is actually very similar to the English word “consistency”.
— The second meaning is similar to popular in the English meaning of the word “consequence”. That is something that usually has “unwanted and unpleasant consequences”.

When I found out these differences in the meaning “consequence” in the Polish and in the English language, in the beginning, I was very disappointed. I didn’t want to accept this fact. Mainly, it was because, in Polish, the word “consequence” has mostly two different meanings. Which meaning this word has in particular sentence depends on the context. I like this ambiguity. It means, I like that in the Polish word “consequence” commonly means “consistency” or “consequence”, or both.

In this case, I decided that in the English version of the Mandala of Characters, I will use the word “consistency”. Differently than in the Polish version, where I use the word “consequence”.

As I said, in the beginning, I was not happy with this. But later, I found interesting associations with the word “consistency”, and now I think that this word is handy as well. I will tell you about it later in this update.

Now, I come back to my previous considerations about the place, where the word “consistency” will be located on the Mandala of Characters.

In this place, it is also located the type—Dry Earth.

I think the word “consistency” (or “consequence” in broader meaning) can characterize the Dry Earth. When I observe representatives of the Dry Earth-type, many times, I have noticed that they can be very consistent in their way of acting. So much consistent that we can say that they are often very determined. So, determined that they often don’t pay attention to the risk associated with their determined actions. Because of this, they may expose themselves to various problems, dangers, and conflicts. For example, conflicts with people, with the law, with traditional values, social customs, etc.

Dry Earth, therefore through its consistent (or consequent) actions, may face the consequences of its consistent actions.

And here, among others, I like the ambiguity of the common Polish meanings of word “consequence”.

On the one hand consistency and determination can bring a lot of benefits to Dry Earth or can help to accomplish some plans, intentions, needs, etc.

On the other hand, too consistent and determined actions can harm Dry Earth itself and others. All in all, the consistent way of acting can expose this type to various unpleasant consequences. Also to unpleasant consequences can be exposed others who are connected with actions of Dry Earth.

These unpleasant consequences often result from the fact that Dry Earth, together with Dry Fire, is the type that in the Conscious State is most guided by this, what is “here and now”. When we look at the Mandala of Characters, we can see the phrase “here and now” is in the place of the Mandala.

This following the principle “here and now” often deprives Dry Earth a broader perspective. The point of view of this type become narrower by this. In result, Dry Earth may not care too much about the future. That is, care about predicting what consequences can be associated with its consistent way of acting? Of course, following the “here and now” also gives Dry Earth significant advantage or power. Thanks to this power, Dry Earth can concentrate much more on the present moment than other types.

The focus on “here and now” often helps Dry Earth avoid many problems. For example, thanks to a strong commitment to what is “here and now”, Dry Earth can focus more on how to avoid the possible consequences of its consistent actions. Of course, Dry Earth is not able to avoid all the consequences. So, from time to time, Dry Earth will be suffering because of some consequences of its actions.

The concept of “consistency” also fits the concept of “position”. “Position” is located a little further on the Mandala of Characters near the element “EARTH”. To defend our “position”, we often have to show very high consistency in action.

Sometimes we even have to fight so hard for our position that we cannot pay attention to the consequences that come with it. Or in other words, we have to be ready to face serious consequences to maintain a given “position”.

With the word “consistency”, I think, we can associate the word “consistence”. In these two words is different only last letter, namely,
— “y” (consistency), and
— “e” (consistence).

However, differences in meanings of these two words are bigger, and at the same time, they are actually similar. When we look at the definitions of these two words, we can have the impression that they are describing similar things.

So, the meanings of “consistency” and “consistence” are similar. However, when we look at the definition of the word “consistence” we can see that most the meanings are obsolete or archaic.

Nowadays, more popular meanings of the word “consistence” we can find in synonymous of this word. For example, these are the following words: density, firmness, texture, thickness, viscosity, body, etc.

Interestingly, in my native Polish language, the word “consistence” mainly refers to words like density, thickness, coherency, viscosity, etc. So, in Polish is still used the word “consistence”, which in English is disappearing.

When we look at words like density or texture, we can associate it with the Earth element. Especially when Earth is dry, we can notice that Earth in this dry place is dense, solid, hard, etc. Then, we can say that Dry Earth as a type of character is also dense, solid, and hard.

This density or solidity of Dry Earth can be interesting opposition to the word “perfection”. “Perfection” is on the other side of the Mandala of Characters.

We can find there also the type—Moist Air. Moist Air belongs to the Air element and is closed to the Water element. Both Air and Water are behaving in a similar way. They flow from one place to another, masses of Water or Air flowing quicker or slower, Air or Water flow is stronger or weaker, etc. Then we can say that Air and Water are fluent.

If we compare the word “fluent” with “perfection”, we can see that we can find here some analogies.

Word “fluent” or “fluently” is connected with “perfection”. Most often, we are saying that somebody is able to speak or write fluently in one or more foreign languages.

If we look at the process of learning languages, we can say that it is like a way to perfection. It is the way that we need to go (or to flow) if we want to achieve perfection in something. Simply speaking, we need to do two things:
— repeat, repeat and repeat, and
— still move forward.

That is, we need systematically and continuously do something until we reach perfection. In a sense, we need to continuously flow to new areas like Water or Air, to continuously discover something new again and again. This continuous discovering something new gives us a continuous improvement in doing something. And this continuous improvement will lead us to get new abilities or skills. Next, we will do these skills fluently, freely, and easily.

So, in summary, we can symbolically say:
— perfection—is fluent,
— consistency—is solid, dense, massive, hard, etc.

The above symbolic assumption was very surprising for me, when it came out from above considerations. I didn’t realize it before. So, the Mandala of Characters is leading to very interesting discoveries.

Above I came also to interesting assumption. It means, that:
— “difference” refers to “PERCEIVING”,
— “sum” refers to “JUDGING”.

Now, I think the symbolic sense of “difference” and “sum” we can use as well to considerations about the opposition between “consistency” and “perfection”. It is because, “consistency” is placed on the “PERCEIVING” area, and “perfection” is on the “JUDGING” area.

So, let’s think about it.

When we are “consequent”, we try to take some specific action, attitude, position, etc. And we strive to stick to it. So, we try to keep what makes us different. What makes a significant difference, through which we will be able something: achieve, receive, get, do, etc.

When we try to be perfect, we going to be excellent, ideal, best, etc. Being ideal is often associated with the fact that we should be blameless. Nobody should be able to find something wrong in this, what we strive to do perfectly.

When we strive for perfection, we must be very good at once in many things, fields, areas, etc. Metaphorically speaking, we must be the sum of some skills, virtues, attitudes, abilities, etc.

Perfection, then, adds many things together. For example, some abilities, skills, attitudes, manners, habits, etc. And thanks to this sum of different things we try to achieve a goal.

Whereas consistency distinguishes one thing among many. For example, some action, ability, attitude, virtue, habit, manner, etc. And thanks to focusing on one thing that distinguishes us from others, we try to achieve a goal.

So, I think, we can say that the word “consistency” in the English version of the Mandala of Characters quite well reflects what if happening at this place of the Mandala. The word “consistency” also shows some features of the type—Dry Earth.

In this case, I add the word “consistency” to the set of concepts and phrases, which is located in the bottom left corner of the Mandala.

Besides, I think it is also worth adding the word “sum” to the concepts and phrases that are on the other side of the Mandala. As I wrote above:
— “difference” refers to “PERCEIVING”,
— “sum” refers to “JUDGING”.

The word “difference” is already on the Mandala of Characters. So, it remains to add the word “sum” to the set of concepts and phrases that are in the upper-right corner of the Mandala.

And as I mentioned above, I will add the word “consistency” to the set of concepts and phrases in the lower-left corner of the Mandala.

PERCEIVING
light, knowledge, here & now, difference, consistency   
dry

The above changes I also put on the diagram of the Mandala of Characters.

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