Introduction[]
Life has a character. Every great civilization has discovered behind the sum total of events that we call 'Life' universal laws that are at work determining and altering the course of events in unexpected ways. The collective wisdom of humanity has acquired deep insight into the nature of Life's character and its interaction with the nature of human beings. This area of the House of Eliott site reveals insights into the character of life.
If we look carefully at the workings of life, we will see other fascinating principles. For example, one is that life's difficulties are often the forces that push us to our greatest successes. In that way, we can say that the negative is really a positive in disguise. Another principle is that the individual's we are in greatest conflict with actually serve as the instruments for our growth and progress. Many other such principles are revealed in this section, with abundant practical examples in the story.
One other fascinating characteristic of Life's workings can be seen through the miraculous-like phenomenon of "Life Response." Life responds to our consciousness. When we elevate it in some way -- e.g. through higher attitudes or increased psychological strength -- life quickly responds in a positive way for us. When our consciousness is diminished -- e.g. though increased anger, jealousy, and reluctance -- life quickly responds with negative circumstance back to our person. (PS: Once we see this phenomenon at work, we can apply it in our own lives.)
Thus in this section we reveal some of the most profound and very deepest secrets of life.
Challenges Become Opportunities[]
Looked at from a higher point of view, we will see that each challenge and difficulty that comes to one is actually a stepping-stone for us to rise. We see that for Bea, Evie and others in House of Eliott. Here are several instances:
- After they leave Partini after the falling out, they regroup, and look at things in the most positive light, especially Evie. This is the perfect attitude toward the negative. (sees negative in right light)
- Denied a good education and forced to make their own clothes, the girls have developed a precious talent and a love of fashion that becomes the foundation for their career success. Evie and Bea become underpaid seamstresses who are forced to quit treats both the girls rudely and refuses to pay them well. Their second employer abuses Evie and refuses to acknowledge her talent even when clients appreciate it. His abuse persuades them to accept a private assignment from one of the clients, which becomes the seed of HOE.
- They leave their second employer when he steals Evie’s designs and refuses to give her money or credit. This forces them to start their own company.
- Mrs. Partini, their first employer in garment industry, benefits by their talent but refuses to pay them according to their worth. It is Grace forcing them to go out on their own.
- When Evie tries to introduce new design elements, Duroque scolds her in an offensive manner. When one of his customers rejects all his designs and asks Evie’s advice, she shows the customer an innovation, which delights her and gives the credit to Duroque. Duroque then abuses Evie and warns her if it happens again, she will be fired. Later the same client approaches Evie directly to make clothes for her – business that would have gone to Duroque if he had been open to new ideas.
- They reluctantly accept it because Duroque has been so offensive that they feel no obligation to him. Later they find he has stolen some of Evie’s designs and claimed them as his own. Bea confronts him and demands compensation and recognition for Evie’s work. A friend of Lydia’s who does business with Duroque comes asking him for new styles like those of the other client. (Bea's strength attracts. Duroqu's falsehood attracts opposite to his intent.) Just then Evie enters with the other attracts who is wearing one of Evie’s designed made by her at home. The secret comes out and Duroque fires them. It is life compelling them to seize the opportunity.
Negative as Positive in Disguise[]
In life, we take serious blows as indicators of something extremely negative. Yet from a higher perspective, they are often the very instruments that enable us to move forward --to higher consciousness, awareness, and success in life. Here are several examples in the story:
- When Duroqu fires Evie and Bea because Evie designed a dress for one of his clients (that was initiated by the client), it will turn out to be the best thing that ever happened for Evie and Bea, as they will have gained experience and a greater desire to now do well on their own.
- Grace’s arrival embitters Evie, but it through her that she meets Daniel who she will later marry.
- Bea will hold back Jack’s advances to marriage, but it will give him the strength to forge a career of his own (which will in fact enable them to come together in marriage later on.)
- Bea and Evie will have negative experiences with Arthur, but it will give them the strength and fortitude when they have to deal with even more serious situations, including Saroyan and Grace and Cotter.
- Through Evie’s failed relationship, in particular, Sebastian and Alex she grieves, but it soon drives her to even greater commitment and inspiration sin her design work at HofE.
Contradictions as Complements[]
Nature progresses through the contradiction and conflicts between individual, parties, ideas, etc. For example, if I am in conflict with another individual (and therefore they with me), I have a knowledge about them that they don’t perceive but could benefit from if the adopt it, and likewise they have a knowledge that I don’t perceive about myself that I could benefit from. Life puts us in conflict so that we can each through the difficult situation see our limitations and overcome them. There are many examples in the story where the person we are in conflict with helps us grow. (Thus, the contradictory individual is secretly a complement that helps us develop.) Here are several instances:
- Bea and Evie are in conflict with Arthur. Through their interaction, Arthur is found out as a liar and cheat, and forced to change. Likewise, Bea and Evie are forced to take to greater strength (that they lacked earlier) to deal with him, enabling them to grow.
- Through their conflict in relationship, Bea and Jack grow. He is forced to acknowledge that he has not developed his career and is dependent on him. She later comes to see how through his influence she is too hardnosed and unwilling to budge. Through their relationship, often in conflict, they both grow as individuals.
- Grace and Evie are in conflict with one another. They each have qualities that are negative, and it is through their interaction that it comes out. Evie is jealous of race’s designing ability. Grace does things that are not to be trusted, something Evie intuits. Through the interaction of the two and the painful events, each is forced to overcome a wanting aspect of their being: Grace her larceny and impropriety; Evie her reluctance, belligerence, and jealousy.
- Bea and Evie are in conflict. Bea wants to keep up with the same clients with current conservative designs because business has been steady. Evie on the other hand wants to branch out and have HofE offer more creative designs. Through their interaction they are forced to overcome their wanting nature. Bea becomes more open to creative designs (through the influence of Desmond and Jack) and even begins to develop such clothing herself. Evie overcomes her artistic temperament and sees the utility of that which is practical and successful. Bea makes an even greater growth here than Evie, yet both progress in their nature through the contradiction and conflict of these two individuals.
- We see similar dynamics between a depressed Tilly and her weak husband; between Evie and Alex; and between Evie and Daniel, to name several others.
Grace brings Grace[]
One character that brings great good to the principals through her negative action is the aptly named character Grace. She is the designer of the Aurora line which catapults House of Eliott to the top, but has a contention relationship with Evie (revealing a serious limitation in the latter's nature), and is involved in questionable if not criminal activity.
She thus serves to elevate them, not only through the success she engenders , but to reveal the reluctance and jealousy of Evie, who from the episode can now make a personal growth in her life out of those negative qualities. We see that Grace has brought so many good things to HOE, even though they Evie perceived her as a nemesis. Often life comes to us this way, through negative circumstance of people who serve as a great good.
Here are several details:
- The first time Grace comes, she cheats HOE by selling the same design to them and to a retail store. Her initial act repeats when she and Kotter sell the Aurora ready-to-wear duplicates to HOE customers.
- She is young, ambitious and without values. She was attracted to HOE because they too are young aspiring women seeking to be self-reliant. Coming from a lower class, she lacks their values, which are the keys to their success and her failure.
- She is key designer of the highly successful Aurora line, which launched HOE into ready-to-wear business, which will become their future.
- Through Grace, Evie’s future husband Daniel comes.
- Through Grace, their future designer Miles comes.
- Through Grace, their future investor, Miles’ father comes.
- Through Grace, Miles father tells Jack about Carrouber’s dishonest past, which becomes key to Jack winning the election and becoming MP.
- Evie is jealous of Grace and her designs and is therefore reluctant to have her involved in HOE. She thus goes around them and commits a criminal act.
- We see that Evie's attitude of jealousy and reluctance in dealing with Grace has attracted devastating negative results. Though Grace may have crossed the line here, Evie brought it on herself. She even subconsciously knows this, indicated by her weak argument in response to David. Life responding negative to one is a sure sign of a negative attitude or action on one's part. Still Evie has a chance to acknowledge that fault and see life respond positively suddenly thereafter.
Life Response (Sudden Good Fortune)[]
One characteristic of Life's workings can be seen through the miraculous-like phenomenon of "Life Response." Life responds to our consciousness. When we elevate it in some way -- e.g. through higher attitudes or increased psychological strength -- life quickly responds in a positive way for us. When our consciousness is diminished -- e.g. though increased anger, jealousy, and reluctance -- life quickly responds with negative circumstance back to our person. (PS: Once we see this phenomenon at work, we can apply it in our own lives.)
In House of Eliott we see the characters in the story evoking sudden good fortune for a number of reasons, including acts of goodness and self-givingness, the intensity of their aspirations, shifts away from negative emotions, taking to psychological strength, taking to a decision and making a commitment, being forgiving, looking at things from the other person's point of view. Negative response in the story occurs as a result of meddlesomeness, gossip, stupidity and foolish actions, anger, reluctance, and jealousy, to name a few.
Here then are a number of life response incidents in the story, including what precipitated it and what the powerful positive or negative result was.
SEASON ONE
- Evie sees a poor beggar woman collapse on the street. This changes their fortunes as she meets Tilly and then Penelope as a result, the later a social worker, who introduces Evie not only to social consciousness but to Penelope’s brother Jack who would forever be bound up in their lives. Evie’s goodness and concern for the fallen woman, opens the door to a vast array of allies in their pursuit to establish and expand House of Eliott.
- Bea decides not to ask for money any more from friends in order to survive. Just after this, Penelope appears to Evie with news that Jack could offer Evie a job. Life has responded in a positive way to Bea’s commitment to no longer borrow from others. (This is powerful life response indicating a principle of non-dependence regarding money.)
- At the interview, Bea tries to speak in Evie’s behalf about her skills. She is trying to prop up her sister in Jack’s eyes so he will hire her. As a result of that effort of self-givingness, it is Bea, not Evie, who get the job! Another powerful life response, this time to Bea’s self-giving behavior.
- Evie does design, and says she wishes she had a proper job. Her aspiration is fulfilled through the combination of design and a job via the establishment of the House of Eliott. It is the power of intention attracting. Also because she is energized through her creative aspirations for design and she seeks employment in that regard she releases extra concentrated energy that attracts the object of her desire.
- Lydia is somewhat bothered by the fact that Evie is moving up at Partini's It seems like she only wanted Evie to have a basic job, and get married; not be successful at it. It is a negative response to her (Lydia's) original negative intention.
- Lydia abuses the Evie and Bea for leaving Partini (after the argument over a problem with one of the dresses Evie worked on). Her being in the trailing edge, meddling in their affairs so that they have a decent job so they can prepare for marriage, backfires. It is a negative life response to Lydia's not well-intentioned initiative.
- Bea and Evie are now swamped with work. (Now that they have taken a positive attitude after the Duroqu situation, and now that Bea has made the commitment to implement Jack's suggestion, life is responding from all quarters. In the latter case, life is responding to a mere decision and commitment, even without an action yet.
- Daphne, in a state of confusion visits Bea and Evie. She is very distressed. Bea however is willing to let her in, and sympathizes with her plight in life. This reaction of Bea's will later prove to be critical, in that she will return the favor by revealing all of Arthur's malfeasance to Sebastian, which will bring him down, and free Bea and sister Evie from the Arthur's treachery against their fortune. Principle: Life responds to one's goodness by bringing in return favorable conditions. This is a powerful unfolding that is one of the great keys and subtle lesson in the story!
- Evie, after her meeting with Desmond, wondered how they could create luck. Luck then descends on them that night when the police raid the club on Sebastian’s word, arresting Arthur and his two partners for their part in illicit drug and alcohol trade. (An interest in creating luck does so. It does so in this case because of the additional past positive energy generated by Bea towards Daphne. When multiple positive energies are released it reinforces the capacity to invoke a powerful positive response from life.)
- When Bea and Evie reconcile their differences, in particular practicing forgiveness, immediately thereafter they secure the loan from Desmond.
- Out of the discussion, Evie reveals that she is excited about developing a new dynamic line, which Bea however is not fully ready for. (It is Evie's willful, creative energies that drives the company, and attract positive circumstance.)
- The disagreement between Evie and Bea's view of the new lines is reflected in the dissention of the workers. It is a negative response for them.
- Bea goes to visit Lady Latner who asks that a horrid, childish costume dresses be made for her. This is a negative life response for Bea whose value is to simply do what the current clients demand. She is seeing the limit of this approach of catering to existing society through this absurd incident.
- When Evie shows her designs to Bea, Bea is cool to them. Bea also tells Evie that she (Bea) has taken on an absurd sort of project for one of their clients. Both responses infuriate Evie. It is a negative life response to her anger and the resulting trip to the museum. A negative response to her unwillingness to compromise.
- When Bea tries to strike a balance, Jack suddenly appears on the scene. Advocates of Harmony attract positive life response.
- Through Jack’s sister, Evie sees the pig-headedness of her ways, and returns to compromise with Bea. A big order suddenly arrives, which includes an order from the daughter of a client (a creative one coming from the younger generation, just what Evie's creative nature yearns for). A positive life response for the House of Eliott due to Evie's change in attitude.
- Evie hereafter has an intuition of the Nocturne line (based on the music of Chopin and a Whistler painting). This is a life response to her willingness for compromise. It is also an alignment and response for Bea who had mentally striven to come up with ideas for the line. (Power of intention.)
- At one point, Evie takes Bea's point of view of doing the dresses in black; and then Bea says no, Evie’s original vision of blue is the way to go. It is a response for Evie having taken the person's point of view. Life cooperates when you take up another's position. It is a supra-mental capacity of man, awaiting him in the future.
- Evie is forgiving of the woman (Yollanda) who tried to destroy her by stealing the designs. She even has sympathy for her plight; This is a telling part of her nature, and a powerful example of forgiveness and self-givingness. Great benefit now comes to HofE, as their reputation is regained as the truth comes out, and they win back many loyal and new clients. Life did not have to move in this direction, but Evie's forgiveness, and the willingness of the two to confront the morality of what they did originally by sending out Madge to discover designs from Yolanda has opened the portals of life to the positive.
SEASON TWO
- As soon as Bea is firm with Florence, Evie appears at the door returning from her stay in Paris. It is a life response to psychological strength, and holding down the negative influence of Florence. Also, when Bea takes the initiative to hire a replacement for Evie, Evie returns from Paris. So there was a double cause of the attraction.
- In one of the most important moments in the show, Evie rather than being bitter, takes to a positive view of the whole Alice affair (that came through the revenge of Jack’s former girlfriend). Evie’s positive spin on these events instantly attracts Mrs. Douglass
- Evie suggests having dancers model their designs. Instantaneously, Alice arrives on the scene and says she has a dancer friend who can help. [Evie’s previous positive view of the earlier “Alice affair” with Jack’s former girlfriend – seeing Alice in a positive light -- continues to vibrate. ]
- Evie comes round with word of an article that says Hof E has provided the only spark of originality for the entire season. This has come instantly after Bea has shown concern for the well-being of several staff members. Bea’s deep aspiration of a high value has an enormous affect. This is also a direct response to Evie’s positive attitude after the failure of the collection presentation. The failure of the appreciation of the collection was dwarfed by the fact that the magazine says that HofE showed through this daring presentation the only spark of originality and energy during the whole season. It is a powerful response to Bea valuing the workers and Evie’s positive attitude earlier.
- The efforts of Bea, her worker-oriented values, the positive view taken by Evie, and the powerful energies released during the visit of Bea and Jack to his parents’ house are greater than the dark energies of Saroyan, enabling a wave of positive events to take place.
- Joseph the bookkeeper stood up to Saroyan when the latter wanted to look at the books without the permission of Bea. Being able to stand up to him will prove to be the right tactic. As a result, life responds with a lot of interesting information, including the revelation of certain improprieties. This is a life response to Joseph’s strength and loyalty.
- Tilly and Madge try to drive out Florence (con’t). Interestingly Florence asks Tilly to have her (T) let go of one of her people, Jenny. This is a very painful experience for Tilly, and another negative response to her scheme with Madge to drive out Florence.
- Saroyan suggests that since HofE has cash flow problems/high expenses, and therefore they should pay their bills in Net 30 to delay the expense. Bea however wants to pay right away. In that sense, she is looking at things from the other person’s point of view. Life will support such beliefs. We can say that Saroyan and his financial schemes are brought down as response to Bea’s positive attitudes about money.
- Joseph not taking money from Jack after did his work in the matter, showed great character (integrity). He was rewarded with Saroyan's downfall thereafter.
- Betty and Agnes, the two who were just gossiping are laid off. (It is a negative life response.) We can say such gossiping is a squandering of energies that attract negative circumstance. Agnes gossiping has proved disastrous in the story.
- We see that Evie was right in turning down Alex's move. It was subconsciously the right move. It also opens the doors to immense new opportunities.
- By Jack's refusing to take on the proposal of the American film to make considerable changes to the film, there is a big acceptance of his film in Germany. His personal values (being true to what is right) have won the day, and attracted the response. The value is meaning over money (alone).
SEASON THREE
- When Madge was earlier told she wouldn't go, she took it very well considering, which had the effect of attracting a switch (from Tilly) where she was picked to go. Handling a negative with calm and equality attracts good fortune. Also, Madge really wanted to go from the beginning, but kept quiet about the matter. This is the power of Silent Will in action to attract. You don't express what is on your mind, and others, including life does it for you.
- Grace storms into HofE and complains that Evie told the woman that she was caring a duplicate. Evie's earlier anger towards her attracts the wrath of Grace.
- Ann at a dinner of all parties suggests an exhibit, which is just what Evie and Bea had hoped for. They had not expressed that desire out loud, and yet it came to be -- an indicator of the phenomenon of Silent Will power in action.
- Jack has the same problem he had with his films now with his articles. (Life repeats.) They are too controversial for the publishers. And yet he remains calm to this setback. Suddenly another party comes forth offering him a weekly column. Equality in the face of a negative can attract a powerful positive response in its place.
- Grace wants to do more high-end design. Evie again puts her off, stifling her aspiration. (It will come back to haunt Evie and HofE later on). A minute later, Grace reveals that all of Daniel's paintings have been sold, and he is going to New York, thus away from her. It is a direct negative response to Evie's reluctance to allow Grace to be involved in the couturier design.
- Jack's work has expanded to the point where the government is contemplating implementing them, though there are forces that oppose. Jack's excellent attitude in the face of the previous rejection at the newspaper, which earlier led to the weekly column, continues to reverberate with positive life response results.
- Evie wonders how Grace could have done what she did. David (a friend of Grace) says that Grace didn't see things that way in that she designed most of the items in the first place, but didn't get the credit from Evie, letting her have her due. (Evie can only argue that she paid her well.) We see that Evie's attitude of reluctance in dealing with Grace has attracted devastating negative results. Though Grace may have crossed the line here, Evie brought it on herself. She even subconsciously knows this, indicated by her weak argument in response to David. Life responding negative to one is a sure sign of a negative attitude or action on one's part.
- Evie suggests they use Miles for the designs of the (high-end) couturier collection. His positive attitude earlier toward Evie, and Evie's apology to him open up the opportunity for HofE to work with Miles on the couturier line at a time they really need him; particularly in light of what has occurred with the Aurora collection. This is a powerful life response due to an apology (which is a recognition of one's own lower consciousness) and reconciliation (together which are forms of higher attitudes). Bea, Evie, Miles, and Daniel conceive of the new couturier line. (It is a further reverberation of Evie's positive reaction to Miles earlier).
- Evie and Bea go to see Betty to see if she can help in getting to Cotter and Grace. (This is as you recall the woman they threw out, and now are forced to deal with to get at the truth of matters! They also agree to give her job back. She tells them where Cotter and Grace are. And she reveals that they also have new designs (?). It is interesting how they need Betty after throwing her out. Throwing her out was a vital, false reaction rooted in anger. It always reveals a weakness, no matter what the other party may have perpetrated. Thus, life forces them to go through and even rehire Betty. It is a means by which Bea and Evie (and all of us reading these comments) can see that such behavior attracts life negative life response! And we can reverse our behavior, or at least recognize the negative way we have behaved, and thus instantly attract the positive!
- Though Grace and Cotter engaged in questionable behavior and activities, Evie's recalcitrance of working with Grace, and not giving her credit, precipitated the entire negative affair.
- Bea is reluctant to visit Lady Crowborough's elder mother Lady Westlake for a fitting, but then gives in. A small invitation or request taken can often be an opening to a vast opportunity. Accepting this token act is often the opening to the future -- i.e. the only way through! We should NEVER take them lightly.
- Daniel’s set is wonderful. The presentation takes place. (The music in the scene is beautiful.) Miles' designs are This is a big success for Miles. When he overcame his earlier anger at Daniel for a competing artistic vision, he attracted the success of this presentation, and the finances to support their future growth. Life continues to respond positively in the days that follow for Miles.
- Agnes stops working for the piano player, and starts looking directly for work. She goes to a playhouse, and is miraculously given the opportunity to perform in an audition. (Agnes coming out of her shell in the Betty affair, and now asserting her independence to find work is attracting powerful results for her, including an unexpected on the spot audition.)
ADDITIONAL
- Dr. Eliott dies. They discover they have no money and need to work. Arthur is appointed guardian and lords over the girls. Life responds immediately to their aspiration but they do not understand its significance until later on.
- Aunt Lydia comes and berates them for leaving Mrs. Partini. While she is there, Bea receives job offer for both of them from Mr. Duroque, a more well known and prestigious couturier for whom Partini previously worked. They are pushed up in life and Lydia’s assertion is undermined. (A negative response for Lydia and her attitudes; but positive for Bea. A person acting negatively can evoke positive response for the other person.)
- When Evie tries to introduce new design elements, Duroque scolds her in an offensive manner. When one of his customers rejects all his designs and asks Evie’s advice, she shows the customer an innovation, which delights her and gives the credit to Duroque. Duroque then abuses Evie and warns her if it happens again, she will be fired. Later the same client approaches Evie directly to make clothes for her – business that would have gone to Duroque if he had been open to new ideas. (Negative response to Duroque's attitude; positive for Evie. A person acting negatively can evoke positive response for the other person.)
- They reluctantly accept it because Duroque has been so offensive that they feel no obligation to him. Later they find he has stolen some of Evie’s designs and claimed them as his own. Bea confronts him and demands compensation and recognition for Evie’s work. A friend of Lydia’s who does business with Duroque comes asking him for new styles like those of the other client. (Bea's strength attracts. Duroque's falsehood attracts opposite to his intent.) Just then Evie enters with the other attracts who is wearing one of Evie’s designed made by her at home. The secret comes out and Duroque fires them. It is life compelling them to seize the opportunity. (character of life)
Synchronicity, Simultaneity, Parallelism[]
Life events that seem coincidental to us are not so. For example, if a person shows up suddenly when his name has just been mentioned, it is not coincidence, but a movement of life. Or if two people suddenly meet on a hill without each knowing about the whereabouts on the other, it is no coincidence, but a synchronicity due to the fact that they were both interested and thinking of one another, and as a result their energies align and they meet in the same exact time and space. Such events are there everywhere in life; as they are in this story. Here are some examples:
- Many times when the two sisters discuss something that is unflattering about Arthur, he appears on the scene. (E.g. where Evie discovers that her father had a lover, rather than cavort with whores as Arthur has suggested.) Both parties are thinking of one another, and so they 'coincidentally' meet. (It is no coincidence.) But each instance also reveals Arthur's negativity, as e.g. he appears here when we discover he has been untruthful about the father's relations.
- The disagreement between Evie and Bea's view of the new lines is reflected in the dissention of the workers. It is a parallel to their negative consciousness.
- We see in various situations that when Evie and Bea's fortunes change, so does Jack. E.g. when he moves up from photography to film, their situation is improving.
- As Evie is involved with the (negative) scheme through Madge, Evie confronts Victor about his involvement with Yolanda in the scheme. (This is similar to what happens in the film Wicker Park, where the hero’s stalking of the girl he is infatuated with is paralleled to he being stalked by someone who cares for him. A negative initiative attracts a parallel negative initiative.)
- Sebastian and Evie suddenly meet. This "accident" turns out to have happened because they were thinking of one another. Evie wanted to see Sebastian; and Sebastian liked her. They have a common emotional interest, and so they meet in the same space and time. (This parallels how Darcy and Eliza meet several times 'by accident." It is because they are one each other's mind with great interest and Intent.) Principle: when two parties are intensely focused on one another, life's conditions bring them together.
Principles of Acts[]
Life has a character. It expresses through principles. The inner affects the outer (as in Life Response) is one. They are many others. A number have to do with the flow and movement of acts in life. An act is a microcosm of life. There are many laws and principles that indicate its actions.
EFFECT OF THE ATMOSPHERE
For example, one principle of is that when one tries to climb higher, the atmosphere (positive or negative) will determine if one is able to make that leap in achievement. If it is negative, even if one tries hard, life will conspire to prevent one’s success. The opposite is true of a positive atmosphere. Often we see in HofE that positive events come in waves, as do negative ones. That is because the atmosphere is positive or negative at the time. In a negative atmosphere, negative things pile up. So if one takes to the smallest negative action, it will turn decidedly negative in a time of wanting atmosphere and circumstance. We see this continually throughout the story.
PREDECESSOR ACTS
One principle of life is that the initial act is an indicator of what is to come or the final outcome. For example, one man got lost when on the way to an interview with a company. Though he got the job, his work with the firm would end in his own firm’s bankruptcy. Here are several examples of this phenomenon in the story:
- Bea and Evie’s first meeting with Duroqu was tense, as they haggle over wages -- an indicator of their final relationship, when they left after a serious dispute(Principle: the initial contact is an indicator of the final outcome.)
- Evie is angry about Bea's rejection of her flight to Paris with Sebastian. Evie's anger is a predecessor of the tragedy to come when Sebastian dies in the air crash she almost partook in.
- The scene earlier of the near crash when Evie and James in the car is a predecessor of his death in the race.
LIFE REPEATS
Another principle of life and indicator of its character is that life repeats. We will often see that life repeats the same thing after a period of time, unless a compelling force interferes. For example, WWII repeated many of the mistakes of WWI. Or a man who does not stand up to an abusive boss at one time, is forced to deal with a similar abusive individual later on. Here is an example in the story.
- Jack has the same problem that he had with his films now with his articles. (Life repeats.) They are once again too controversial for the party (in this case his publishers.)
Opposition When One Rises[]
One principle of life is that when we try to rise to a higher level, opposition forces come into play that will try to block our achievement. However, if we have enough energy, wherewithal, and consciousness, we can overcome them. Otherwise, life will conspire to keep us at the current plane, such as our current level of achievement, social status, etc. In the story, we see that at each point where Bea and Evie decide to go higher in their accomplishment through HofE, static is generated from opposing forces. Yet they have the confidence to slough them off and move higher.
(We can look at such situations in terms of the sum total of energies -- positive and negative. When the positive energies released outweigh the negative ones, one is able to rise to the next level. )
Here are some specific examples of opposition when one tries to rise in the story:
- Bea and Evie aspire to go higher, but Lydia and Arthur are reactionary forces that try to keep them down.
- At the point they can rise through their presentation with the Nocturne line to bring them forward, Yolanda and Victor conspire to bring them down. They are fortunately able to overcome this force in the end, and thereby forge forward.
- When they try to move their line to the masses, Cotter and Grace nearly bring them down, but they manage to overcome their deeds, and move to a higher level in the business.
- When Jack tries to rise higher in his political career, an underhanded politician rises against him. Fortunately, he prevails.
Fortune, Misfortune for Others[]
We see in life that when we interact with others who are going through positive times, we attract positives thereafter; whereas if we interact with them in negative times, we receive negative results thereafter. We see this phenomenon at work in House of Eliott.
GOOD FORTUNE FOR OTHERS
Somewhere along the line, all those who relate to Bea and Evie prosper in a positive manner. It shows their positive consciousness that wears off on others. Here are several examples:
- Penelope becomes a missionary and gets married. (? )
- Jack rises from social photographer to newspaper columnist and eventually to MP.
- Daniel rises from impoverished artist who cannot afford to paint to a successful artist who receives a prestigious bursary for study in Paris.
- Agnes becomes a stage singer.
- Madge and Charles fall in love. Madge eventually becomes manager of HOE’s ready to wear line.
- Joseph rises from a dishonored accountant fired by Desmond’s partner into Managing Director of HOE.
- Miles rises from student artist to fashion designer and partner in HOE.
- Tatia finds a good job and career with HOE.
MISFORTUNE FOR OTHERS
While many benefit from their relationship with Bea and Evie, those who related to them during their times of struggle meet with misfortune. When we connect to others when their energies are low, our own limited energies align with it, redoubling the possibility of our failure, short or long-term. Here are examples:
- Sebastian dies in a plane crash.
- Arthur is cheated by his nightclub partners, loses his money and reputation and is forced to move to Boston.
- Aunt Lydia is socially outcast because of her son Arthur’s scandal.
- Piggy offers to invest in HOE and then immediately learns that he has lost all his money in the stock market and must himself look for employment.
- Their banker and Evie’s godfather, Desmond, is murdered by his partner.
- Desmond’s partner, Ralph Saroyan, who killed Desmond and cheated the bank’s clients, is driven out of business and forced into exile to escape arrest.
- Alexander, cabinet secretary, who helps them expose Ralph Saroyan, is forced to resign over the banking scandal and his affair with Evie and to take up a lesser post in Italy while his wife loses her post at the palace.
- Tilly’s baby dies.
- Bette’s husband is unjustly convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
- Madge’s marriage falls apart after her trip to USA.
- Grace and Larry Kotter cheat HOE and lose their business.
Meddlesomeness[]
Meddling in other people's affairs tends to backfire. E.g. negatively affecting the meddler, or positively affecting the meddlee, when the meddler's intention was just the opposite. Examples include-
- Arthur tries to "guide" the life and careers of Evie and Bea with questionable motive, and it backfires on him.
- Aunt Lydia’s attempt at matchmaking and her overall meddlesomeness in trying to manipulate the two girl’s lives continually fails.
- Lydia is somewhat bothered by the fact that Evie is moving up at Partini's. It seems like she only wanted Evie to have a basic job, and get married; not be successful at it. She tries to influence them in this direction, but it fails as Evie in fact moves up at Partini.
- Lydia abuses the Evie and Bea for leaving Partini (after the argument over a problem with one of the dresses Evie worked on). Her being in the trailing edge, meddling in their affairs so that they have a decent job so they can prepare for marriage, backfires.
Gossip[]
Though gossip can be helpful to spread information, in its idle, ignorant, and malicious form it can lead to catastrophe, as it nearly did at several key points in the story. Examples include-
- The duchess, a former actress, married into aristocracy comes to House of Eliot (HOE) for a fitting. As she gets down from the car, the flower merchants cart tips over. The duchess goes and buys flowers from her paying generously and gives them to the staff of HOE. During the fitting, she speaks loosely about the romantic encounter of two her guests the previous weekend. Agnes overhears the story, gets it confused and leaks news to a reporter implicating the duchess, resulting in a scandalous article the next day. The duchess cancels further business with HOE. Agnes is about to lose her job, but is saved by sympathy after the reporter gives her a beating. (The Duchess suffered as the result of her gossiping)
- The vibration of gossip enjoyed by all the ladies attracts the reporter for a newspaper which thrives on rumor and scandal.
- Betty and Agnes, the two who were just gossiping are laid off. We can say such gossiping is a squandering of energies that attract negative circumstance. Agnes gossiping has proved disastrous in the story.
Foolishness, Stupidity of Agnes[]
People who are unaware and stupid often do foolish things that can have disastrous consequences. No individual in the story demonstrates this dubious quality than one of the workers at House of Eliott, Agnes. Her unconsciousness attracts a bevy of negative circumstance.
- She is the one who stole the earrings and gave HOE a bad name with the jeweler.
- Agnes' stupid gossiping is the source of the duchess’s scandal.
- She is the source of the quarrel in the bar that leads to imprisonment of Betty’s husband.
- She is the one who lets her boyfriend into the building where he steals Tilly’s purse and Katya is blamed for it.
Anachronism[]
In any story, here are usually progressive and regressive forces. Interestingly, the regressive forces serve a purpose to move the story forward and enable positive outcomes. These regressive influences are anachronistic, seeking to hold back change in defense of the current form. Here are several examples in the story:
- Aunt Lydia tries to meddle in the affairs of Bea and Evie, believing women should be married and not engage in running an enterprise. Her efforts are futile.
- Lydia believes in social propriety rather than the truths of the emerging modern world. Her propriety is met by the vulgar decadence of her own son, causing her and he to move to America in disgrace.
- Jack is forced to deal with an anachronistic political adversary; one who takes to underhanded tactics to win, which fails miserably.
- Various women appear at the shop, who appear regressive compared with others; who expect respect because of their stature and position.
- Partini and Duroqu are traditional in their approaches, and are thus unable to retain talents like Bea and Evie. They will tend to remain in a limited segment; even fall back as they are becoming the trailing edge.
Dealing with Money[]
We see how the characters relate to money and its effect on the outcome of events. Here are several examples:
- Bea decides not to ask for money any more from friends in order to survive. Just after this, Penelope appears to Evie with news that Jack could offer Evie a job. Life has responded in a positive way to Bea’s commitment to no longer borrow from others. (This is powerful life response indicating a principle of non-dependence regarding money.) Also, Evie’s earlier helping of the beggar woman, that in essence aided in Penelope’s cause, comes back to Evie through Penelope with positive news.
- We could say that coming together, sharing the problem, and contemplating what to do created a power that attracted the liaison with the payment.)
- Saroyan suggests that since HofE has cash flow problems/high expenses, and therefore they should pay their bills in Net 30 to delay the expense. Bea however wants to pay right away. In that sense, she is looking at things from the other person’s point of view. Life will support such beliefs. We can say that Saroyan and his financial schemes are brought down as response to Bea’s positive attitudes about money.
- Also looking at it from on high, it is Saroyan’s duplicity that is causing these cash flow problems in the first place. They have high energy to succeed. He is mercenary. They are unable to prosper in this environment. (It was the same when Arthur was around.) (paying in timely manner)
- Joseph not taking money from Jack after did his work in the matter, showed great character. He was rewarded with Saroyan's downfall thereafter.
- We see that Evie was right in turning down Alex's money. It was subconsciously the right move. It also opens the doors to immense new opportunities.
Additional
- The business desperately needs money following the loss of business due to the scandal of Evie and Alexander
- When Bea and Evie refuse to ask anyone for help, life responds.
- Jack offers money on his own, which Bea refuses.
- Alexander offers money unasked, which Evie refuses to take.
- When they both refuse, news comes that a new class of theater clients is coming to them because of the scandal, not in spite of it. Business starts to boom.
Romance-Related[]
ROMANCE AND PERSONAL GROWTH
Romance can be a force that leads to greater personal growth, either through the relationship or because it is not consummated. Here are some examples:
- Jack’s feelings for Bea strengthens his resolve to find a career and make something of his life.
- Bea’s tightness of emotions is loosened through her relationship with Jack. E.g. he helps her in dealing with her conflict with Evie on the direction of the firm.
- The sad outcomes in her relationship with Sebastian and Alex compels her to further develop her talents and work.
- Evie becomes wiser through her relationship with Alex as she perceives his other and ultimately determining motive, which was the status of his career.
WORK AND ROMANCE
Often in life, romance and work will be at odds. E.g., there is not enough time and energy to give full attention to both. This is often one of the great challenges of life, particularly for the professional individual. It takes a person of consummate outer and inner psychological skill to create this balance. Here are examples in the story:
- Bea is so dedicated to her work, that she has little energy left for Jack who needs her.
- It is only when Jack develops a career that he has the right energies to be with Bea.
- Because Jack resented that Bea would not devote herself fully to him in order to tend to her work, Jack became the vehicle for her and her sister's near ruin of the presentation, when the break in to steal a copy of the designs happens at his studios.
- Evie’s relationship with Alex puts the entire company at risk because of his inability to fully deal with Saroyan along the way
- Daniel and Evie are both temperamental artistic types. Making that quality work with their careers is a challenge.
- Often a friend who cannot secure the affections of a partner can serve a greater purpose by aiding in their success. We see this when Hugo saves Evie from Sebastian, and when Miles helps Evie in the business and with her relationship with his romantic rival Daniel.
- We see how the relationships of Evie with Sebastian, Alex, and Daniel put great strain on her relationship with Bea, and how it therefore impacts the stability of HofE. Likewise, Bea is upset when Captain White arrives, the former love of her life, also impacting their relationship and thus the business. (Bea’s relationship with Jack also has a similar effect.)
OTHER
- With Bea no longer working for Jack, he cannot find things around the studio. It is another indicator that he needs her.
- After her experiences with Alex, Evie has become more aware of the commitment of others in their relationship. At one point, we see how Evie is upset when Bea wonders if Daniel is truly committed to her. (One becomes upset upon hearing truths one does not like to hear.)
- Evie’s difficult emotional relationships with men can be seen as a mirror of her reluctance to give up artistic power with Grace.
Alignment with Higher Intent[]
- There is an evolutionary movement (biological, social, and spiritual) that is unfolding in life. It actually ranges from levels of progress to transformation.
- When each side makes a transition in consciousness, inner or outer, they are not only aligning to one another, but to this evolutionary force or vortex.
- It is in fact through the alignment of these two sides, that they are able to join, to be pulled along collectively by this evolutionary force.
- In House of Eliott we see the evolution at the biological (i.e. personal), social, and spiritual level. When the individuals make a change they are aligning with condition that better themselves, the society’s emerging aspirations, as well as a higher universal, even cosmic and spiritual intent.
Other[]
They are now happy with their freedom, until they see Arthur, who indicates that they have received little from their inheritance. Arthur is deceiving. They are now free to be and rise, but suddenly an obstacle stands in their way. When a positive arises, such as an opportunity to move upwards substantially, it gives the right for a negative to oppose, especially when they have not secured their own station and power yet in life. We see this again with Saroyan. And yet in both instances they are able to surmount the obstacle, through their grit, strength, drive, goodwill, goodness, and other positive qualities.
Even Bea's anger at her father is misplaced in the sense that you can't, as Lydia suggest, hold onto grudge forever. An evolved person never holds a grudge even for a second, despite all circumstances. Anger is thus a sign of something not worked out, a falsehood underneath.)
Desmond never makes decisions for others that others need to make for themselves. It is a special quality, almost guru-like. From his side it is a capacity of equality of being. (Non-Initiating)
Bea is sympathetic to Grace's plight, and therefore wants to make use of her talents. (Evie does not feel positive in this way. Evie is temperamental like Grace, and therefore clashes with her, and her methods and experiences. People who are alike quarrel over the same weakness. ) (Like People at Odds)
There is 10% unemployment in England. Jack attends a meeting where X speaks on unemployment and low wages. Jack suggests that certain employers have a higher consciousness towards work that it would be helpful of other companies to know about. The speaker however knocks down such ideas being emphatically against management. (He is inflexible on that point.) Like the artist, if he just gave in 1%, and perceives even this limited truth of Jack’s, it would make all the difference -- for his side! (Intellectuality)