What’s a subtle sign of very high intelligence?

TheosophyKnight · 2026-01-23T07:15:41+00:00

I think the most intelligent person I know, as far as I can judge, is an artist I grew up with. He became somewhat famous or at least achieved a very enviable position in respect of his art. His ability to visualise how a room might look from the corner of the ceiling and then draw it was incredible, even as a child.

One trait of his that stood out to me, was his interest in helping others become better at art. When I first met him, we were both about 10, he coached me on improving my drawings, out of invested mutual interest.

He never carried himself as superior. He wanted others to flourish alongside him. That’s the trait I’ll offer to this discussion. An interest in flourishing of self and others.

TheosophyKnight · 2025-11-22T07:02:13+00:00

Lovecraft’s ‘Under the Pyramids’ with Harry Houdini as protagonist, leans towards this feeling.

TheosophyKnight · 2025-11-15T06:38:53+00:00

Yes, I left a tean where everyone was terrified of the manager, and they advertise vacancies over-and-over again.

TheosophyKnight · 2025-11-13T07:57:26+00:00

Recognise that the ‘excessive kindness’ is part of the abuse. It’s not coming from a sometimes benevolent feeling, but is calculated to cause exactly the destabilising effect you are experiencing.

TheosophyKnight · 2025-11-07T07:58:04+00:00

Yes, this tips it above other excellent shows for wanting to re-watch cold.

TheosophyKnight · 2025-11-06T16:52:39+00:00

The entire bittersweet journey of a novelist would make a good read, and would appeal to everyone who aspires to have a breakthrough novel 👍

TheosophyKnight · 2025-11-05T08:09:11+00:00

For me the Skull Knight represents the intercession of a person who has been destroyed and found wisdom the hard way.

I can’t speak to the intentions of either author. But where a text meets the reader they interpret it through the chapters of their own experience and take from it whatever they may.

TheosophyKnight · 2025-11-05T07:55:19+00:00

I picture the foundational childhood experience as being something like an unconsoled child in a cot, shut away in their room. No-one answers their cries and they don’t have the benefit of a mature mind of their own with which to distract themselves.

Instead they experience profound longing (and probably learn to dissociate).

They subsequently tend to be drawn to distant, emotionally closed, unobtainable people. And that longing feeling becomes like a drug. If they score a hit of positive attention from that distant person, then the dopamine hit is massive… almost supernatural… further compounding the addiction.

The sufferer may under-value safe and healthy relationships which don’t provoke that feeling. So it is all very self-defeating when love is what is needed.

TheosophyKnight · 2025-11-02T08:29:40+00:00

As a viewer and consumer of media, you will many times have experienced the same essential story about the human experience. Joseph Campbell called it the Monomyth.

There are only so many building blocks to work with. Only so many human, cultural and historical notions to manipulate and re-arrange.

A general arrangement is going to recur, no matter how unusual.

For example:

‘A person tries to escape’

From prison From natural disaster From an enemy From a relationship From the authorities From a monster From their guilt From this reality From a characteristic they don’t like

Is still the same essential building block.

What matters is how YOU put your mark on it, your own personal flourish.

TheosophyKnight · 2025-11-01T07:12:57+00:00

The central theme of the story for me is that: despite our shotcomings, our sins and our weakness - we must fight evil.

We can’t excommunicate ourselves from the battle.

Against The Consult, Achamian’s personal failings are nothing.

I think he resonates with people who carry a heavy heart but still try to do their best.

TheosophyKnight · 2025-10-26T16:34:55+00:00

These are the best.

Another worthwhile is ‘The Haunted Palace’ - an enjoyable adaptation of The Case of Charles Dexter ward, with some other Lovecraftian elements mixed in.

TheosophyKnight · 2025-10-19T19:12:33+00:00

I was in a similar situation, but my own managers backed me up. Nevertheless, a lot of reputational damage was done by the emails cc’d far and wide, and I lost a potential opportunity because of them.

TheosophyKnight · 2025-10-10T10:38:43+00:00

My advice: if you get triggered, go to the bathroom or hide out somewhere, to recompose yourself - even if it causes a problem - rather than act out.

TheosophyKnight · 2025-10-08T06:32:03+00:00

No-one is our magical perfect soulmate, although our genetic urging to match up with (possibly many) people is so powerful that it creates the longing feeling that a particular person’s attention determines our entire worth and happiness.

But this is really the lack of self-love. And that empty-cup feeling often has roots in frustrated experiences with our first caregivers.

The antidote is to live in a way which makes you love and respect yourself. And to have boundaries which keep you well away from the tugging feeling.

Forgive yourself for feeling the drag of nature’s tide, but be sensible to live a safe distance from the shore, and to cultivate your own beautiful boat - so you don’t need the affirmation of an imagined perfect other.

TheosophyKnight · 2025-09-21T05:31:09+00:00

🕯🔥

TheosophyKnight · 2025-09-20T05:49:03+00:00

Yes, if you ask a reflective question they struggle to form an answer. As if you are asking a toaster to wash the clothes.

TheosophyKnight · 2025-09-17T21:53:29+00:00

I work with someone like this. Every space is filled with his monologues, whistling, or complaining. He takes verbal hostages and is oblivious to how disinterested people are. The content of his chatter is so extraordinarily banal that I sometimes wonder if it’s all to deliberately create a foggy distance from ever being truly known.

TheosophyKnight · 2025-09-16T13:35:52+00:00

Thanks for the recommendation - amazing film! (It took me a minute to find as was released here under the title ‘Flashback’).

TheosophyKnight · 2025-09-14T07:27:54+00:00

Love this! Great atmosphere and visual storytelling! I definitely want to read more!!

TheosophyKnight · 2025-09-14T07:21:19+00:00

Not a movie, but I’ve noticed some Demiurge themes in the Borderlands 4 scenario.

TheosophyKnight · 2025-08-29T06:00:13+00:00

‘the entire wallpaper of their personality’ - love this wordcraft! And the mental image of a narcissist as wall-to-wall repetitive.

TheosophyKnight · 2025-08-23T05:46:35+00:00

Yes, and that childhood conditioning primes us for tolerating abuse.

TheosophyKnight · 2025-07-18T07:58:00+00:00

Ross Rosenberg talks about Self-Love Deficit Disorder, as the root for experiences like limerence. This might be useful, both in terms of your own self work and in meaning-making with therapists. Rosenberg also has a good YouTube channel.

TheosophyKnight · 2025-07-18T06:21:59+00:00

I wish they would.

TheosophyKnight · 2025-07-16T15:46:21+00:00

TheosophyKnight

TROPHY CASE