After I had used a picture of a handshake for my blog-post on Agreements – I started wondering where the hell the custom of shaking hands actually comes from.
I briefly discussed it with Leila and we figured that – although handshakes are currently a symbol of equality, agreement, camaraderie, welcoming and respect – it probably has its origin in deception.

The clinging of glasses against each other is an example of a symbol or custom – which currently has a ‘positive’ connotation – that has its origins within deception: people would cling their glasses together to make sure that the person they’re drinking with hadn’t poisoned their drink. As the glasses/cups/mugs hit each other – the contents of the one glass will spill over into the other one and vice versa. Thus – if the other had poisoned my drink, he will now have to drink his own poison, because the drinks have now been ‘mixed’.  If the other is willing to drink – then I know that drinking is safe.

So – the practice of clinging glasses against each other before drinking was done to ‘prove’ to each other that ‘I have no mischievous intentions’ – and thus, originates in distrust and fear of betrayal.

So – I was curious as to where handshakes originated from – I looked it up. Here is the most common explanation:

There are 3 steps within the handshake:

1. The extension of the hand to the other
   
2. The grabbing of the hand
   
3. The shaking of hands

And – lo and behold – each of these steps originated from a point of fear and distrust:

1. The extension of the hand to the other:

Extending your open hand to the person across from you – usually the right hand – was a sign that you weren’t carrying a weapon. Weapons were usually held in the right hand, therefore one would extend the right hand in front of self, so that the person across can see that you’re not carrying a weapon.

2. The grabbing of the hand:

The grabbing of the hand was done to ensure that – if any small weapons had been hidden, one would be able to feel them. Either one would grab the wrist instead of the hand, to feel if there was something hidden underneath the sleeve – or one would grab the hand with the right hand and with the left hand pat down the arm. Any hidden weapons or objects would be felt and revealed.

3. The shaking of hands:

To absolutely make sure that there are no surprises – one would shake hands – any objects or weapons that had been missed in the previous step, would fall out of the sleeve.
Such customs reveal the reality that: everything that we perceive as ‘positive’ actually has its origins within that which we deem as ‘negative’. One can verify this for each and every single point within reality that self sees as ‘good’ or ‘positive’ – it all originates within deception.

To train yourself in seeing through the veil of perception – Join Desteni ‘I’ Process: www.desteniiprocess.com Learn more »

An animal that often symbolises freedom, is a bird. In Dutch, we have the expression 'vrij als een vogel', which means: 'as free as a bird'. The type of freedom we're referring to is 'boundlessness', 'free in expression', 'no conditioning', 'no worries' – that's what people see when they stand still for a moment as they see a bird soaring in the sky, as they imagine what it would be like to be able to fly like a bird. That's the type of 'freedom' that human beings associate to birds.

Now – in the house I live in, I've had quite a bit of experience with birds. We've had a flycatcher, two hens, one rooster, a duck and now 3 parrots living with us in our house – all of them birds, though different 'kinds' of birds. Let me share with you the following: birds are the most demanding, self-centred, arrogant and inconsiderate animals that I've had experience with so far. I'm not judging the birds here, it's simply what I've observed in their behaviours – it's literally how they act and interact with others. The entire world revolves around them. They get to do what they want and you just have to make peace with it. For instance: if a parrot wants attention and you're not giving it to him, he'll make so much noise he'll drive you crazy – until you stop what you're doing and give him attention. Our hens continuously climb on top of our furniture, although we've told them in every way possible that that's not cool because they're going to break things and can get themselves badly hurt. But it's what they want to do, so they just keep doing it. The duck cares only about herself and her cage. No-one is allowed to come near her cage – it's her cage and hers alone – it's her property: 'get off my property or I'll kill you!'

Interestingly, that is exactly how human beings currently live the word 'freedom' in their lives. Because – 'I have freedom of speech' – 'I have freedom of choice' – 'I am entitled to do as I please'. That's the type of freedom that human beings hold on to and protect as though it is their right to only consider themselves and say 'fuck you' to anyone else. That type of freedom is ridiculous, it is impossible, it is self-defeating – because you simply can't live together if everyone gets to do as they please, if everyone gets to have their free choice. Because: if one person wants to use the bathroom, then according to this definition of freedom, it's his right to do so and that's how it will be. But what if someone else also wants to use the bathroom and there is only one bathroom and both are now entitled to use the bathroom since that's what they choose to do and if both choose to not share the bathroom and both choose to not wait until the other one is finished: then you have a problem. Now there's a fight over who gets to use the bathroom – and in some way or another – the 'strongest one' will 'win'.

That's the 'freedom' we cherish so deeply – that's how stupid we are.

Anyone who looks at a bird and thinks 'wow, I wish I were that free!' – Spend some time with a bird and see what a bird is really like, see that birds are not free – at all. Birds are as limited as human beings within the definition of 'freedom' as 'I get to do as I please'. Because – have a look – within that definition of freedom: you're only considering yourself – you alone exists – that's all that matters. That's so fucking limited – that's so fucking small! And you know what – it always goes at the expense of someone else. That type of personal freedom you're defending – it always ends up with someone else being enslaved to your demands, your wishes, your whims. And have a look at this world and how human beings interact with each other: that's exactly what's playing out.

REAL freedom, that freedom that you long for when you see a bird soaring in the sky – that type of freedom doesn't exist yet. That type of freedom has yet to be created, because that type of freedom – REAL freedom – requires us to consider everyone equally. I've shown you above: without consideration for everyone equally, some will be enslaved for the 'freedom' of others.

The freedom as 'boundlessness', 'freedom in expression', 'no conditioning', 'no worries' that we associate to birds – that freedom will only exist and be experienced if all act according to what's best for all – and if all work together towards manifesting that which is best for all.

That is why I suggest:

Join Desteni 'I' Process (www.desteniiprocess.com).

Support a new Equal Money System (www.equalmoney.org).

Why?

Because within the Desteni 'I' Process, you slowly but surely learn how to consider all equal and one and how to align yourself according to what's best for all – and because an Equal Money System is required as a foundation for humanity to start living as equals whereby each one has equal power and equal responsibility. It's simple: From Desteni 'I' Process to Equal Money – to REAL freedom for all.

Or – we can just pretend to be free and live like birds do currently – trying to enforce our authority and superiority through manipulation and force. We can continue doing this until everything worth living for has been destroyed, because we simply weren't willing to consider what's best for all – until we are alone with ourselves and realise: 'fuck – what have we done?'

A REAL solution requires REAL action and REAL change.

So – which will it be? Learn more »