When we embark on a spiritual quest, we have to begin to realise as the quest deepens, that the whole journey is not about the process of ‘reaching’ somewhere or becoming something.
We get to realise that ‘we are already that’ which we are seeking to become or be.
The journey rather and the whole aspect of it is only and everything about “cleaning and clearing” what you are not and about removing the masks that we have worn. The whole journey is all about taking steps to drop those masks one by one.
If I am not this belief, not this mask, not this imprint, then who am I?
The journey is not about finding that Self but simply being aware and willing to drop those layers, barriers, impressions (acquired through ancestors, culture, society, parents, womb, our own experiences & choices) which we have unconsciously chosen to wear and made our own.
There comes a time in our spiritual quest where these layers are either stripped off willingly by us or we are literally ripped apart.
This begins the great death and dying process. Death of old identity, death of the ego self dressed and so mighty comfortable in these layers.
This can be a huge threat to the ego self because for the longest time it has not known who it is beyond these stories, labels and masks.
There is an unconscious attachment to these stories and memories. The cognitive mind has the best intentions to move beyond these. However the unconscious, unknowingly attaches to the pain bodies or these layers and/or masks.
The journey, therefore, is not the learning of esoteric gifts, albeit, only and only of stripping of these layers and being patient with yourself as you either bare your self or are torn apart.
When the resistance to be bare is too huge, this is where Spirit or soul self intervenes bringing forth contrast, challenges (illness, finances, death of loved ones, relationship issues, deterioration or crumbling down of the tower of one’s life held ever so dearly) and one might go through what is popularly known as stress, anxiety, depression or dark night of the soul.
It is a process which can bring grace through our full body presence and surrender. Our connection to our soul (the divine within and without) becomes imperative.
Anxiety, overwhelm, depression, suicidal tendency, inability to feel emotional stuff, running away from feeling grief, health issues could all represent a disconnect between the soul self and the mind.
The bridging point, therefore is to return to the heart. To the space of love and acceptance. Only that could create a deeper allowance and perhaps non resistance.
We are not, however, taught to drop control and come to a space of surrender. Hence what is a huge process of initiation and unbecoming feels to our ego mind as a suffering.
The gap between the soul and the mind widens as we engage in being a victim, why me, what wrong have I done kind of situations there by magnifying the depletion of the self worth and the unbecoming.
The true healing, as stated above, in a manner that we unmask and reclaim who we really are, the “Self” that is not these stories or masks, takes time, some times years, at times an entire life time and most of the times, lifetimes and lifetimes.
If you are in a space of suffering or rather great UNBECOMING, I encourage you to not lose heart.
For, what might feel as everything coming crushing down, may actually be a process of homecoming.
A coming home to the Self.
Dec 27, 9.10 AM