Adam Blatner

How can we speak of people who combine interesting contrasts? Many people seem to integrate extravagant opposites. This also renders them a bit mysterious. It strikes a deep chord of ambiguity. Do we perceive them as one of us or one of them, friend or foe? The intuition of friend evokes instincts of similarity with parents and extended family—or maybe, if one’s origins were conflicted, the resulting vector is foe. These intuitions are built into being human; they’re “archetypal.” Some effort is needed to shift from perceiving difference as foe, or stranger, to being one of us, friend, or neighbor. Many people I know mix being cute and all business-like. I think the seventh level of consciousness as I describe it integrates these contrasting elements.