Spiritual Awakening is Not an Escape Route

Spokane Hypnosis Services - Intentional Hypnosis

I have been reading Michael Hoffman's book "Natural Way of Being-Trust your Heart and Collaborate with Life" and he nails it. He very concisely explains the unholy relationship between fear and control. The very thing that he states we have to overcome, if we intent to fully live into our "Natural way of Being" which in Michael's description, is a place of connection, of being a part of the experiences that we are in.

This is not a cognitive place in my estimation and I have to confess it's been a lifelong struggle for me to fully grasp this. Even as I published my book, "Tribalize Now- The Practice of Belonging" some eight years ago, I was still too conceptual with my understanding of this. Having had some really amazing spiritual openings in my life, I now acknowledge, is a lot different from integrating them. 

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An easy way to know if you have integrated them is to ask yourself if you are spending much time thinking about these experiences. Not to take away from the beauty or value of the experiences but they don't define who we are they are simply doorways of possibility that are presented to us. There is a tendency to view these openings as spaces of attainment that make us special vs invitations to express our humanity in deeper ways. In doing so, we  miss the opportunity to take these into our daily lives as an offering to others, our family, friends and community. 

It is important to remind ourselves that even in the depths of shame and self-loathing that we were born into this world with a heart as pure and bright as any star. These spiritual experiences are glimpses or reminders of the truth of our being and provide us a path forward. The intention to move forward helps us to see past our fear based perceptions and beliefs as well as the control with which we defend them.

It is through a process of seeing past them, over time and with practice, that frees us to collaborate with life. Please check out chapter 3 in Michael's book for a clear description of how to do just that. Following his advice has helped me to more fully live into the life that I have truly wanted to live and for that I am grateful.    ​