Restlessness is a sign of transformation

Notice at the perfect moment, light penetrates like a catalyst to clarify what disconnects from all that is real and matters in heart. By affirming our dignity and allowing others theirs, we are able to honor ourselves, connect as equals, move forward with insight.

Earlier in life, I often heard myself saying things like;

"Everything happens for a reason"

"It was for the best"

"It was a blessing in disguise"

(all of which were relevant in context...)

In passing, such phrases sound optimistic and seem harmless. Yet, with maturity, I realized I had been taught to dismiss very real concerns and feelings worthy of considerable attention. People would cross my boundaries, be hurtful, or behave in ways that went against my core values or intuition and I would be overly tolerant and accepting or too easily forgiving. Making light of difficult situations was a superficial way of glossing over issues. This felt better in the short-term, but ultimately, it solved nothing and left hidden issues to linger. In fact, as I go down the rabbit hole, it appears I mastered the art of pretending things were fine when they were clearly not.

Part of my awakening has involved recognizing I would hide or avoid anger that deserved to be felt and expressed, Rather than working through hard emotions or confronting unresolved issues, I used to simply downplay or dismiss them. Believing traumatic events must serve as “learning experiences” or focusing on the silver lining behind every negative experience, did not allow me to experience the fullness of the wisdom they held. Assuming I had a handle on it was how I hid from insecurities. It was a clever way I pulled the wool over my eyes until I was ready to go deeper.

I went through stages where I was convinced spiritual practices I engage in are always positive. Feeling detached also came to mean I was not fully conscious or present. I was very good at focusing on the positive or being overly optimistic. Had no idea I was projecting negative feelings. At some stage, it dawned positive thinking is not the way to overcome problems. Facing shadows is far more effective. Rather than attempting to “rise above” emotions, I learned to feel, heal and move through them.

Pride is difficult to detect in ourselves because it is a refusal to admit wrong or see a need to change. As the light of our dignity shines more brightly, we realize that we don’t have to be perfect. Showing vulnerability and humility invites stronger connection. We move from the superficial into soul-level relationships. We grow approachable rather than seem intimidating. We don’t see ourselves as better or worse than anyone else. We are the same.

It is freeing to hold ourselves with the dignity that comes from simply being human. We don’t need to achieve “greatness” to have worth and value. Greatness is innate . We might be inclined to seek excellence because it feels meaningful, energizing and expansive, but not because it defines who we are.

It dawns pride that drives us at certain stages of life prevents us from acknowledging our human vulnerabilities. When driven by shame or illusion of inferiority, its uncomfortable to say, “I’m sorry, I was wrong, I made a mistake.” When pride rules, we believe we’re always right or we fear backing down. This makes it difficult to know and sustain intimacy.

A self-centred culture teaches we must achieve self-actualization (enlightenment) to be truly happy. This quest also contributes to a tendency to avoid difficult or painful emotions. Rather than trying to solve problems in environments that cause suffering, self-centred culture teaches people that they alone are responsible for their destiny. At certain stages, maybe you relate?

What stands out is that negative thoughts and feelings serve a purpose. They do not exist so we avoid them. Rather, they point to a diminshed self image, deep hurt, sadness and that emotions that require acceptance and validation. Negative thoughts exist so we use those thoughts to propel positive actions. Simply putting on rose-colored glasses and ignoring deeper issues does not make them go away. Choosing instead to forge friendships, look people directly in the eye, be candid and share vulnerability, are keys to being more assertive, self-loving and decisive when it counts.

Ultimately, discomfort is a soul-level sign that something is not right and needs to change. If you think you lessen discomfort by simply avoiding it, or normalizing abnormal behaviour, situations causing distress will remain. Yet, to recognize the nature of our unconscious behaviours, is to see restlessness is itself a sign of our ongoing quantum transformation. We are catching up with the light.

Shift to reclaim Inner Power

Notice true power arises from within and waits on us to unleash it. We access inner power through self-awareness, conscious intention, speaking our truth, pure desire to uplift others and the self. Tapping into our inner power requires making purposeful choices to direct our thoughts, emotions, behaviors and access higher vibrations. Pursuing external power weakens our inner power since it requires external approval or validation. Many of us do this. This is why we must shift focus to “reclaim inner power.”

Reclaiming inner power is about being present, withdrawing consciousness (attention) from what does not resonate with our frequency and acting to continue raising consciousness. This is continuously choosing mindsets, behaviors, and emotions that guide us to walk in love and trust versus fear and doubt. Its like, choosing to give versus take, to surrender rather than to worry. Choose to ground in higher vibrations that emit signals of peace and contentment. This guides one towards the highest version of self. It dawns we each walk in full power when we own and use our gifts in different situations to benefit our collective humanity.

Reclaiming our power also implies not suppressing feelings. Its about creating boundaries to build a sense of safety and see from another's point of view. When we give ourselves space and solitude, soul flourishes.

If you feel triggered, insecure, or mistreated/ betrayed, whether it's really another person treats you that way or it doesn't matter: you feel betrayed and you can no longer receive love or connect; The innate desire to be seen, heard, valued cannot be felt if you hide behind a shield. As you discover innate security, it dawns negative feelings are only triggered and they guide us to deeper truth.

Feeling complete in yourself implies you are not dependent on another and already tune into and live your own truth. You no longer need external validation or acceptance yourself as you are. Relationships truly enrich us from the moment we recognize we are the ultimate source of all we need. This is the path to codependence no more. All experience enriches our journey of awareness.

Realize the Rite of Passage

Notice every genuine spiritual tradition echoes the right of passage. Each tradition offers stories, symbols and metaphors that are understood differently based on level of consciousness. Of course, we can misunderstand a message, resist deeper truths or, only allow ourselves to be taken part way along a specific journey. The thing is, partial success does not yield a rite of passage. One either passes the test or, clings to what holds one back until ready to make a leap.

One metaphor is the idea there is no going back to the previous level of ignorance (and "levels" exist). Another metaphor is the need to endure 1 or several ego deaths, so to experience rebirth at a higher level. Letting go here is key to clarity and access to "higher" reality. And then, the metaphor of alchemy, a refinement process, a gradual extraction of who you are from a false construct. You might surmise this is worse than a quick ego death, as it involves many processes--burning, distilling, simmering. This said, clinging to ideas about suffering is problematic. Its made complex or simple.

Funny- the ancient yogic view echoes 'rite of passage' is not at all a "passage" or "ordeal". It is simply awareness of one's own mistaken perception. In the metaphor of a rope for a snake, the snake never exists, only a rope. Rather than a rite of passage as is so often assumed, the key is to realize (see) things as they are. The truth is that no snake exists and thus, it has no need to be feared, killed, controlled, avoided, alchemically transformed or burned. So why not take the easy way? Why turn self-realisation into an ordeal? The "ordeal" is only attachment. Ego resists letting go of its suffering, narrative, or belief it is/is becoming what its not. The ego resists giving up mental ideas, defenses, those things that are creating its problems and tearing it apart. No snake then needs attention. No rescuer is required either. Seeing energy as it is never happens in the future, only now.

In a nutshell--Samsara is Nirvana. There is no nirvana other than samsara seen as it truly is. To see clearly, simply remove the scales, veils, delusions, projections, false beliefs, all of those qualities that have ego think its unique and special. Simply tune into silence, dissolve into absolute consciouness, in which one is never differentiated from infinite intelligence and never born. No metaphor captures the truth of supreme reality. And yet, it is what one is and one cannot be anything but that. One is yoga.

Once one attaches to the imagined process, one splits into self and others and the prospect of disappointment, betrayal, sense of dependency unfold. "We" get caught in that double bind that begins to replicate itself in every situation: it cannot know what it wants for it always wants and wants the opposite of what it wants, because the one consciousness is torn and split. At times, it seems one never left the infantile state for one was too attached to being cared for by the other. The illusory adult is simply a strategizing construct that struggles to separate itself from its attachments and codependency and its inability to gain real power and real freedom. So long as any construct whatsoever exists, any system of belief or any projection of a world, so that there is any illusion you have a name and a form, so long as any hallucinations and delusions infest the mind, there cannot be realisation of the Oneself as the Absolute. What happens, that samskara, predisposition once the physical verhicle dies, creates another and another, in attempts to liberate itself from suffering. Nothing heroic about it. Only suffering must be sacrificed. This happens at any moment as nothing really happens.

The Zen koan everyone is facing is the attachment to their baggage. As Ramana said, "you are on the train, holding your suitcase on your head as if you are convinced it will not come with you." You can leave Samsara for Nirvana, but samsara will never go away. Turning this into some long-term process is not a rational path to self-realization, but it is common. Why extend suffering? To end it now, use your power of reason and love. Together they guide you to liberation. Being free opens you to the beauty and bliss of a reality you can choose over the unreality and never return to unhappiness.

May your third eye open to see the real, such that all illusions fall away. May you know freedom from all attachments, attitudes and judgments that consciousness hides within (including highest hopes and worst fears). Liberation is now or never. May you choose the Truth Now. May you choose peace that comes with the realisation that inner and outer are one. May you choose the knowing of self-created illusions, realize you are never born, never changed and you have never left mirvana. You have always realized the paradoxical nature of the real for that is what you are. May you know the supreme bliss of getting the joke in the wonderful sense of humor of the Divine Source who abides as the ultimate knower in your heart.

Tune into Kairos Time

Notice part of you already knows the outcome but you are here anyway as events must still play out to activate the alchemy. Life unfolds as energy flow which is the ultimate timekeeper. Among all creatures, HUmans are the only ones who measure time and suffer fear of time running out. Ancient Greeks spoke of two types of time: Chronos time is linear time, measured in seconds, minutes, hours, years. It is required to do normal everyday "time." Chronos is the forward propelling time that we measure with clocks, on watches, and by the evolutionary phases of the moon. Kairos time is soul time. It is the point at which all healing happens, where all wisdom and intuition resides, where all serendipity happens and where all creative ideas arise into consciousness within you whole. Retrain the mind: more kairos and less chronos time. Love more. Work less. Connect with the wise, greater part of yourself. Embody all you came here to be. Express who you are at soul level, fall into harmony with the universe. Imagine your inner light, soul, spirit, ancient self. The part of you bridging heaven and earth, constantly whispering the best course to take. This timeless, tender part of you invites you to listen and allow it to navigate the most compelling life direction.

The Point of Meditation

Notice meditation is about opening the sacred heart or Third Eye. This is not a vestige or organ living in the head. Its a blossoming of awareness that presents based on expanding consciousness. One aspect is not the part of you that identifies the "I" that associates you with the limited physical body. As we examine this first "I" more, it is a mosaic of childhood conditionings used to fulfill agendas that even this "I" does not understand. It does not know what it says and is completely unaware of what is beyond it. The second eye is an entity frozen in time, the Inner Child, the self you were long ago that refuses to dissolve, that runs the show to gain power or sensory gratification that it did not have as a child. It has many different agendas. It is anti-love, or resists love for it knows not what love is. This second eye arose from a sense of rejection. It was created in an environment that was not unconditionally loving. It may not know its gender or whether its alive or dead. Until this unfulfilled or empty ghost is flushed out and seen as it is, it cannot be dissolved. Until then, the second eye perpetuates itself through activities of the first "I" (unbeknownst to the first "I") that projects the second eye in the form of "the other". Things go on with the second eye that the first "I" doesn't know. The second eye enjoys the vex, suffering, self-defeat. To get beyond suffering, you cannot simply analyze the first "I" because the second eye controls the thoughts the first "I" is allowed to retain. The truth keeps falling away, yet it consistently slips away as the first "I". The key is surrendering to the Third Eye, pure awareness, love and the unborn, eternal Self. It sees all. As one turns inward, the first "I" comes to surrender to divine nature and the second eye can be fleshed out, cherished and integrated into the whole. The first outranks the Third Eye. Only as the rightful owner of the mind is allied with the conscious mind can all vexations and unconscious agendas be overruled and absorbed by the Divine. It is not "I" that actually lives within us but Supreme Reality, that which is beyond any name or form. We can point to it but it only reveals itself as we make our way through the winding web of illusions and love ourselves fully. We can surrender to it. If you are meditating and the mind refuses to be quiet, this is simply resisting the ever-present divine within you, the very life of our Being. To surrender through the act of silence can overcome the ani-love force that has created illusion, ignorance and the wheel of reincarnation. Liberation arises as one accepts oneself fully and knows one has been the divine all along.