On the way to achieving no agenda.
Last night I read the following passage in “The Venus Sequence” (a compendium volume to “The Gene Keys”) by Richard Rudd:
At the higher frequencies, an agenda can be beneficial, for example like an urge to be of service, whereas at the low frequencies it is always self-serving. The 6th line however, is designed to surf the mental plane without agenda, although getting to this stage may be a drawn-out process. On the way to achieving no agenda, the 6th line may well develop various viewpoints. Each in turn will be dropped or transcended, until a higher view arises that can see things for what they are, without adding anything on top. The mind that sees in this way is rare indeed.
— Richard Rudd, "The Venus Sequence", Sphere of IQ
If you know not one thing about line numbers or Gene Keys, no matter.
How can you be ON THE WAY to ACHIEVING NO AGENDA!?!
Behold the best phrase I’ve read in a long time, and precisely the work I’ve been doing, personally and professionally.
Today at 5:59am, I woke thinking about my annual planning challenge, which I typically offer near the end of the year. Perhaps you’ve joined us in the past, as it’s one of my most beloved offerings. In my sleepy haze, thoughts swirled chaotically, but somewhere in there was something important… so I did some freewriting.
For the past two years, I’ve contemplated, deliberated, then beautifully scrawled five heartfelt goals for the year ahead on my Britta-GreenViolet-branded annual planning sheet… and before Q1 is even over I’ve already pivoted or abandoned them.
I make plans. God laughs.
Unbeknownst to me, this entire year has been a slow quest to discover what in the holy heavens is happening. And this excerpt helps me to clarify.
How can you plan without having an agenda?
How does one sustain a higher frequency long enough to fulfill a predetermined agenda; one that’s actually in service to the whole instead of vainly self-serving?
And how shall we reconcile the practical requirement for planning alongside a growing desire to meet each moment with presence and willingness?
This is the ludicrous, often hilarious ferris wheel I find myself riding these days.
To be clear, none of this is new to me—which is why the quote by Eisenhower "plans are worthless, but planning is everything” features in giant letters on my planning challenge sales page.
Here’s what is new:
I’ve woken up from the stupor that “not meeting my goals” is a reflection of my moral character and work ethic. I’ve disturbed the illusion that success entails making goals and then checking them off.
Perhaps, like Richard suggests, I’m starting to see things for what they are, without adding anything on top.
I’m a strategist and planner. Bone deep.
A recent session with a client found me scribing a rather lengthy list of his project ideas; identifying motives behind each one; prioritizing their true importance in this season of his life; then creating a schedule for the week to knock out several proposals for the projects that passed the test of relevance.
As we said our goodbyes, I told him, “This was great. This is my happy place!”
To which he laughed, because for him it felt like a daunting and impossible night-sweat-soaked slog.
I will certainly offer some iteration of a year-end planning shindig. A celebratory, ritualistic review. A sacred pause to listen deeply for what wants to emerge next. An invitation into resolve, pointed precisely toward the projects, people, and habits that mean the world to us.
But what form it will take? Only Spirit knows. It's their agenda, I'm just along for the ride.