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African Paradigms Print E-mail
Thursday, 15 March 2007
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Joseph A. Bailey, II, M.D.
A seed consists of an embryo and its source of stored food enclosed by a coat. The seed (e.g. of an apple tree), when sown in a soil matrix, undergoes the growth process of budding, blossoming, and "fruiting". In relating this to archetypes and paradigms, African Creation Mythology says that the divine embryo for the "seed" to be sown on earth evolves out of the celestial ocean-the Nun--and enters a cocoon passageway where it differentiates into an archetype seed. Then it moves into its specific matrix (i.e. soil or womb) in cosmic conscious reality and awaits growth inside the material world. Once the proper nutrients (e.g. water and oxygen) from the matrix reach the embryo, it starts the growth process by following the blueprint pattern pre-determined in the Nun. A "pattern" pertains to exactness of measurement in reproducing what is made from a blueprint. A "blueprint" is minute details present in any final broad-scale sketch or outline or program or example or plan used as a standard. The crucial point centers on the result of the interaction of the embryo and the nutrients. That interaction forms a model (a mold of the blueprint) which contains all the parts needed for growth. Thus, a "paradigm" is the offspring of an archetype fertilized by nutrients from an outside world matrix.

The archetype embryo may either be real, distorted, or unreal-and it may originate in spiritual and/or material realms. Its matrix and the nutritional elements from the matrix may be good, bad, or range in between. Regardless of the combination which gives rise to the paradigm, a blueprint results out of the fertilization. From it, pattern copies (e.g. apple trees) can be made. If the issue at hand is a philosophy of life, let us examine a real Divine archetype fertilized by good matrix nutrition. Like the underground parts which support a skyscraper building, its paradigm is the underground foundation and the base upon which that foundation rests. For example, Ancient Africans used God's Love (the Divine archetype) as the foundational base--the Paragon Standard (i.e. a spiritual foundational concept of perfection)--upon which the structure of African Tradition (the model) was built. The math derived foundation resting on this base--called Ma'at--consisted of those Cherished Values which spring out of Love. The Power Approach they chose for the "above ground" (or public) manifestation of Ma'at was Nonaggression-- having good relations with and behaviors towards all God's creatures and creations.

The Paradigm of African Tradition is a succinct codified perspective on human life. This perspective consists of a Wisdom Storehouse (like a big proverb) of synthesized Common Sense and Philosophical Thought. This perspective also enables the Afrocentric to understand the essence of the spiritual cosmos; to join the "group mind" philosophy of African Tradition for how to best live; and to know how to handle unexpected and unique problems through proven methods.  It provides clues to answers or answers life-shaping, life-changing, and life-maintenance questions. Its core is love. The blueprint springing out of love, as determined by "matrix" African Sages, is Ma'at principles. The application of Ma'at generates a pattern of nonaggression. Whereas this example of African Tradition is a social offspring, personal paradigms include one's self-esteem and one's character. The collection of one's personal paradigms combined with those accepted within one's society is that individual's World view. All are reflections of one's philosophy of life.

website: jablifeskills.com

Joseph A. Bailey, II, M.D.

 
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