The purpose of being on a spiritual path is to be in conscious
relationship with the soul and therefore, in union with the Divine. In order for the union to take place
successfully, one practices self-reflection and self-observation without
judgment. This is witness consciousness.
The witness is the only place in you
that can look at you and observe all that you are. From the witness, the full
spectrum of all the poles — comfortable/uncomfortable, angry/patient,
positive/negative — can be observed without judging whether they are right or
wrong, good or bad. Witness consciousness embodies the Absolute.
As you practice witness
consciousness within yourself, for yourself, you can then begin to practice as
you look outside of yourself, toward others. This is the basis for conscious
relationship. You can either be a compassionate mirror for others, or receive a
mirror for yourself. You can stay in a neutral, loving, and compassionate place
as you give or receive.
As you practice this internal yoga, or
discipline, transformation is taking place. It is possible to see something
about yourself and remain in non-judgment. By observing what is limiting you,
you can let it go. This transforms the
limitation of the ego to the evolution of the soul. If you enter into judgments
such as: “I’m not good enough,” “I should know better by now,” or “I’m not able
to do that yet,” you block the possibility of seeing how you are limiting
yourself. But if you are in witness, without judgment, you can see how you
limit yourself and stay neutral. Over time, limitations are revealed and
dissolved.
The path of transformation is to
tread one step at a time as you witness and release whatever keeps you from
union with your own soul. First, practice within yourself and make progress by
bringing the witness to all situations with all people. When a challenging
situation occurs between you and someone else, it is a divine set-up: an
opportunity orchestrated for the possibility of your spiritual transformation.
These set-ups come when least expected, when you feel most vulnerable. Under
these circumstances you are greatly tested. It is easy to let go when it feels
like not much is at stake. It is much more difficult to let go when it feels
like everything is at stake.
To see the set-up establishes an
opening for transformation. Once the situation is recognized as a set-up, you
will realize that it is not about a person or situation. That person or that
situation is just playing a role for you, and those set-ups are designed to
bring you exactly where you need to be so you can feel exactly what you need to
feel and learn exactly what you need to learn. It is not about the external
situation or person you are relating to. It is internal. Understand that it is
about you and your own soul.
The possibility for consciousness
lies within that moment. That moment is your point of power. When someone plays
a role for you, it stimulates the possibility for this transformation to occur.
As your fear, insecurity, judgment or anger is revealed, it becomes possible in
that moment to unveil your highest perfection as you release the obstacle that
keeps you from the light of God. In that moment, purification of fear,
insecurity, judgment or anger is taking place.
Choosing Empowerment
A shift in consciousness happens
when you choose empowerment, when you allow your insecurities to be purified.
It may feel as if you are losing power because the ego does not feel gratified
and strong. The ego feels defeated and weak, but in reality, your soul is
gaining strength. When you play with the power of anger, you feel as if you
have control. The sheer force of anger easily manipulates people and
situations.
With anger comes the illusion of
power and control, but anger will not give you the experience of centered,
anchored empowerment. To find real empowerment, you must allow yourself to go
to the opposite pole, which is being powerless, and allow spirit to be at the
helm.
Anger destructs; it can break a glass
or push a fist into a wall. When you enter into the release and purification of
anger, a creative, constructive energy begins to be realized. Anger is fueled
by fear of the unknown, fear of loss of control, fear of vulnerability, and so
on. When these filters of fear are removed, the same potential for energy
exists. The power that fueled the anger, when it is void of the negative
distortion, is now free to be experienced and expressed as a constructive,
creative force that embodies healthy empowerment. Paradoxically, surrender,
release of control, and acceptance pave the way for pure energy to be
channeled. Learning how to harness this energy engenders the creative process.
The energy is always accessible and can even gain in momentum once the
distorting filters are no longer blocking its path.
Energy is infinite. It is only experienced as limited when you
try to control it or when you try to own it by holding onto it. Your energy
body is beyond your physical body. Your energy body is fueled by prana, the infinite, inexhaustible
energy of the universe. It is the never-ending source of energy and empowerment
that sustains us. By consciously allowing purification of the ego, and
therefore development of your soul, you can tap into this source because there
is nothing in you resisting it. When there is nothing in you that resists, the
energy flows fully and effortlessly. Then you experience integration,
empowerment, and union.
This spiritual practice — choosing
empowerment through the witness, even in the most
challenging of circumstances — is an ongoing practice. Through life’s trials
and tribulations, you are constantly given opportunities to choose consciousness.
The opportunities never stop, but as you become more adept at the practice, the
load lightens. If the purpose of being on a spiritual path is transformation,
which is soul realization and union with the Divine, then every step you take
strengthens your spiritual muscles. When you become adept at meeting all life
brings to you without complaint, and with gratitude, then you will realize this
source has always been and always will be feeding your every move and your
every breath. To say, “Thy will be done, not mine,” brings empowerment.
(April 2001)
Maresha's next blog will be published Tuesday, June 2, 2015.
Messages of Light is published by the Sanctuary of Universal Light on Snow Dragon Mountain in Meredith, New Hampshire. A snail mail edition is available bi-monthly, free of charge. www.snowdragonsanctuary.com
Messages of Light is published by the Sanctuary of Universal Light on Snow Dragon Mountain in Meredith, New Hampshire. A snail mail edition is available bi-monthly, free of charge. www.snowdragonsanctuary.com