by Connie Habash | Dec 19, 2025 | Consciousness, Divine, Spirituality
Almost every day, I listen to something inspirational. Downloads, audiobooks, podcasts – whatever I can get my hands on that speaks to me, listening and learning from a variety of spiritual teachers.
Many of you know that one of my favorites is Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith. Minister of Agape International Spiritual Center in Los Angeles, CA and author of several books and inspirational recordings and DVDs, his teachings have profoundly impacted my life.
He has some favorite sayings, and one of them is a quote from the bible. From Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God. I hadn’t delved into the bible very much until my interfaith studies, and found myself becoming more intrigued by this passage as I would hear him say it time and again. Then, a couple days after hearing Beckwith once again quote this verse, I heard it in a very different way that suddenly impacted me. It was read by Arthur Samuel Joseph, a leading authority on the human voice, who created a set of CDs called Voice of a Leader. He read the passage like this:
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
Suddenly, worlds of understanding opened up. This simple phrase addressed spiritual truths in a succinct and clear way, much like the short verses of the Yoga Sutras or the Tao Te Ching convey profound ideas in just a few words. For me, this way of distinguishing parts of the passage answers many questions along the path to enlightenment. Here, I share with you my inspirations from this phrase, and may it spark your own process of understanding what it means for you.
Be still and know that I am God.
We begin with perhaps the most controversial and yet most essential aspect of this passage, the word God. We all have different feelings about this word, depending on how we grew up and what spiritual tradition, if any, we were raised with. You may notice some resistance or even disdain with this word, while others may feel joy or fear. This is why I don’t usually use this word, God, but rather the more expansive and undefined terms such as The Divine, The Infinite, Source, Spirit, The Universe. Each of us comes to a term that more befits what feels right and true for us. And ultimately, each of us needs to come to our own understanding of WHAT that is.
I think if we are to find common ground amongst the many possible interpretations of this word, it’s helpful to first understand what God isn’t. God isn’t an old man (or even male, necessarily) with a long beard and robe, sitting in a chair up in the clouds. God isn’t throwing down thunderbolts at you. God isn’t looking at a list of who is good or bad and deciding to dole our punishments or rewards for your behavior. These are anthropomorphized ideas of God; in other words, God made in (hu)mans image, pictured as some sort of person with magical powers.
No, if we’re to talk about something ultimately transcendent, God can’t possibly be these things. The Divine is a transcendent Reality, it is beyond shape, form, physical limitations, and even what we can think of or imagine. Just about every religion agrees that God, whatever they call it, be it Allah, Yaweh, Siva, Goddess, Great Spirit, Olodumare, etc. is Infinite. That is, there is no limitation, no beginning, no end to what God is. So any imagination of a person-like form is not the reality of what God is, but rather a form that makes it more convenient to relate to something that is beyond form (after all, it’s a bit challenging to have an intimate conversation about the most important things in your life with an amorphous, intangible energy-presence).
That is something else that is universal: God is energy and a presence that is the source of all power, all life, all love, and all peace. She/He/It (for something infinite would be neither limited to male nor female, and yet also include male and female) is Omnipotent. It is the source of all knowledge and wisdom, which reveals itself to us, so it is Omniscient. This doesn’t mean it is a person listening in to your every thought. Again, that’s projecting our fearful human images onto a Presence that can’t be limited by our projections. Rather, that the Divine is Consciousness itself, and is conscious of everything that occurs in every possible space of consciousness including your own mind. Again, this is not to dole out punishments or rewards for our thinking (we are the ones doing that), but to reveal to us our own ability to become conscious of ourselves and to be empowered to choose what we focus our attention on, rather than unconsciously reacting mentally, emotionally, and physically.
So, what do we have for our new definition (which would be an oxymoron, really, of something that can’t be defined) of God? An Infinite energy and presence that is everywhere, that is conscious of all things (and the consciousness of all things), that is the source of all power and possibilities.
Beckwith adds another important aspect to what is The Divine. It is constantly expanding into greater and greater possibilities. These possibilities manifest in the continual evolution of our universe. Thus, my understanding of God/Spirit/The Divine is the Infinite presence and source of all, expanding and evolving through all that is. That includes evolving through you and me. This can be food for thought, as you contemplate what God is for you.
Be still and know that I am.
The words I am are very powerful words. They are a recognition of existence. There is nothing to prove, but a beingness that is self-evident. God is, period. Everywhere, always. Its evidence is in all that is, for all have emerged from something. The Divine has nothing to prove, for what would something that is Infinite and the source of all have to prove? It simply is, and continues to be. We can feel this when we open ourselves to the interconnectedness of all life and all things in the universe.
There is a presence that is in all things. To be Present is to be here. I remember as a child, my teacher would always call roll. Connie? the teacher would ask. Here, I’d reply. Or we could say present. But what we’re really saying is I am here. We assert our existence in this very moment and place. God is the I am in all things, asserting its existence always, in all always.
This is why the statement I am is a very powerful affirmation. We are asserting our Spirit, our true nature or essence, when we say the words I am. We don’t have to qualify our essence by following it with a boy, a woman, a therapist, an accountant, married, divorced, Hispanic, bisexual, happy, good, guilty etc. We don’t have to explain anything. We simply ARE, and that is powerful. When we are in touch with I am, we are in touch with the ability to create ourselves anew in each moment, and to allow ourselves to be what we are in that moment, rather than holding on to our old definitions or perceptions of who and how we are. I am.
Be still and know.
Knowing is different from believing or thinking. It is, for lack of a better word, an experience. You can imagine what chocolate tastes like all you want, you can study it, read books about chocolate, watch someone bake with it or eat it and see their expression, even smell it. But you don’t know what chocolate tastes like until you let yourself taste it. And then you KNOW. Ah, that is chocolate. And forever you have that knowing in you.
We are being asked to take that bite, to open up to experiencing what the Divine is. This is not as simple or clear as taking a bite of chocolate. It requires us to let go of all the ideas of what we think is Spirit and let ourselves be open to it revealing itself in our heart. It is an experience that may be inspired by something around us, like a candle flame or the big sky of New Mexico, but is always felt within.
My understanding of knowing is that it is beyond words. Something that is infinite, again, can’t really be described, although we certainly try to approximate the experience of knowing through language, music, movement, or art. But really, it is more akin to something you feel. And it takes patience and time to allow that understanding, that knowing, to unfold for each of us. When you do know, it’s undeniable.
Be still.
Now we have the instruction on how to know by being still. This, of course, is the foundation of meditation. Meditation is the practice of opening ourselves to have an experience, a knowing of The Divine. We sit down and become still, in body, emotions, and mind. The Yoga Sutras tell us that in order to experience Yoga, or Union, which is the oneness of the individual self with the Infinite Self of the Divine, our consciousness becomes completely still. That means that all the distractions of thought and emotion have to stop in order to know God.
God is unlimited, infinite presence so how could one experience it when we’re caught up in limited, finite ideas presenting themselves to us over and over in our mind? The Sutras then say that if we aren’t able to stop these fluctuations in our consciousness, we become identified with those fluctuations, instead of with our true Essence. This is what happens to most of us. If we think we’re unworthy, we become identified with that. If we perceive someone else as more successful than we are, that’s what we experience. If we think we don’t have enough time, we’ll end up creating that.
Meditation, as challenging as it may be, opens the door to know what is beyond all these thoughts and perceptions; our true nature, and the Infinite. When things become still and quiet in the body, mind, and emotions, what IS then can reveal itself. Stillness within and without is the path to knowing.
Be.
The sutras say that once our consciousness is quiet, then the one who is seeing/meditating/knowing abides in his or her true essence. We abide in that Presence, the Infinite Consciousness that is everywhere, including in our own inner being. Knowing and experiencing that happens when we let go of doing and just be.
When we have more and more experiences of this during our times of stillness, that beingness eventually permeates our lives. We feel more and more at One with the Infinite Presence, the Infinite Love, and Infinite Power of G-O-D or whatever you call it, and the quality of our life transforms. Allow yourself time to Be, and this will allow you to Be your True Self more and more.
Be still and know that I am God. Words to reflect upon for a lifetime.
As you rest into the wisdom of “Be still and know,” may you open to the quiet guidance already within you. Discover Spiritual Mentoring to nurture your connection to the Divine in daily life.
by Connie Habash | Jan 31, 2021 | awakening, Awareness, Consciousness, Enlightenment, Higher Self, Spirituality
You may have heard the term “awakening” used before you found this blog, in reference to personal or spiritual transformation. But what exactly does awakening mean?
Of course, that’s really a subjective answer, but I’ll share with you my perspective on awakening and why I use that word for the name of this website and my book, Awakening from Anxiety. It’s a word that speaks deeply to me. Yes, it is a spiritual process, but also a psychological one.
Enlightenment?
Many people on the spiritual path seek the idea of “enlightenment” – myself included. Yet when I thought about the implications of the word, I began to prefer a different terminology to describe my spiritual and personal unfolding process.
Enlightenment is a noun. It implies a fixed state. There’s a belief, whether conscious or unconscious, that when we reach enlightenment, it’s an end point. We’re done. It’s a subtle (or not so subtle!) expectation of perfection. We’ve arrived at the pinnacle of personal and spiritual realization.
This just doesn’t fit with my understanding of life, the Divine, and spiritual growth. And for that understanding, I turn to nature.
Growing or Dying
All of life is constantly evolving and growing. Scientists know that millions of species have come into existence and adapted, changed, and transformed over millions of years. Everything on the planet and in the Universe is in a continual state of transformation. We also know that, in the case of plants, if they aren’t growing, they’re dying.
It’s similar for us. If our bodies aren’t growing cells, we’re not going to be around long. And if we aren’t growing as mental, emotional, and spiritual beings, we lose our vitality and aliveness. We become stuck and stale.
A Process of Unfolding
As I see it, our personal and spiritual growth is better described as awakening, because it’s a process. It’s a verb, and as such it’s understood as an action in continual unfoldment. Roses grow new leaves, branches, and buds – even after a period of rest in the winter. When a plant isn’t growing branches or leaves above ground, it is growing roots deep beneath the ground.
We are like those plants. Our aliveness is continually longing to express in the world, and expand in new ways. Awakening is that process of opening, unfolding, and growth that our soul desires. It is very much about the consistent exploration of new territory around and within us. This maintains our vitality, joy, and awareness.
Rousing from Our Sleep
I also like the word awakening because we literally do it every day. After a night’s sleep, we wake up to the new day.
There are so many ways this reflects the path of personal and spiritual growth. First, that every moment is like that new dawn. If we awaken to the truth of this moment, to the possibilities right here in front of us, and allow ourselves to see with new eyes again and again, our lives will continue to expand. Every moment, every breath, is an opportunity to awaken again.
When we awaken in the morning (or whenever you arise!), we are also emerging from an unconscious state to a conscious one. This is the most direct metaphor of the term “awakening” for the spiritual path. Spiritual evolution is one of continually expanding in our awareness, making what has previously been unconscious to us more conscious, and an ever-increasing understanding of truth and wisdom. It is also about deepening in our connection to something greater than us – and that only comes from continuing to open our hearts and awakening to the reality of the Divine (or whatever name you have for “God” or All That Is).
Beyond Our Previous Limitations
Awakening is also my favorite word to use for this process of growth because, through this journey, we become aware of how we have limited ourselves, and expand our awareness into new possibilities. The path of awakening is the continual moving beyond our previous limitations.
These may be physical limitations – exploring new ways we can engage our bodies, or undergoing a deep healing process. Most certainly, the process of awakening also nudges us past the limitations of our mind and emotions.
We all have thoughts that keep us in restricted beliefs or perceptions, and that hinders our happiness. Clinging to our old ways of being usually means we also get stuck with the unhealthy patterns or dissatisfaction that we’re trying to transcend. Awakening is the journey through those stuck places to new, more expansive, healthy, and visionary ways of seeing ourselves, our lives, and the world.
True Freedom
This transformation of consciousness brings us more happiness and true freedom. Awakening is the discovery of true freedom within us, beyond the limitations of thoughts, beliefs, and perceptions.
We can choose our thoughts and our focus of attention, rather than be subject to the habitual ones. We can question our beliefs and allow them to evolve with new understanding, as our perception widens and clarifies. Our freedom comes from within, from being masters of our awareness rather than slaves to old, conditioned, limiting ways of being.
An Invitation
Here is my invitation to you – to embrace a path of awakening in your life. That each day and moment, you can awaken to something new. You can awaken to ever greater levels of clarity, truth, peace, and happiness. It is an infinite process – there are always more possibilities for you. There is no end to what you can experience and create in your life; and who you can be.
You read this post for a reason – you’re ready to awaken to your True Self.
Now, share your thoughts and experiences on the path to awakening below – I’d love to hear from you!
by Connie Habash | Dec 8, 2020 | awakening, Consciousness, Light, Solitude, Solstice
2020 has been quite a year, undoubtedly. While it probably wasn’t your favorite year with fires, floods, financial stress, racial injustice, and COVID-19, it certainly won’t be easily forgotten. And well it shouldn’t; a year this challenging also holds tremendous power for our awakening. So as we enter the holiday season and year’s end, we can harness that spiritual power to find our inner light and personal transformation, especially on the winter solstice.
The Darkest Time of Year
You probably know that the solstice – winter for those of us in the northern hemisphere, and summer for the southern – is on December 21st. It’s the day that the sun – sol in latin – makes a stand (from the latin “sistere”). For the last six months, the days have become shorter where I live in North America, and the solstice is the pivotal point where the days begin to lengthen again.
Of course, we know this as the beginning of winter. It’s the darkest time of the year, but with the hope of rebirth from that point of the solstice, when the light begins to grow. I never tire of this metaphor, as it is worth returning to again and again, each year, in our spiral journey of spiritual awakening. It always gives us hope during the most difficult times.
This year, more than most, has been a very intense journey into the darkness. We’ve seen many of our fears manifest before us. How have we responded? It’s when we’re faced with difficulties that our inner strength is called forward.
Fear is the Onset of Power
I often say that “fear is the indication of the onset of power.” It means that when we’re scared, we have an opportunity to step into a larger aspect of ourselves. Not only for our courage, strength, determination, and trust to be exercised, but to find our Divine Self that is much larger than any thought, emotion, or circumstance in our lives. When we can tap into our Self with the capital S, we find our Oneness with the Divine, and no situation can determine how we feel – not even COVID-19 or being stuck sheltering in place.
Take some time to consider: what has been revealed to you in this time of darkness? What strength or power has it called forth in you, or wants you to step up to? It may be asking you to trust on a deeper level, to be willing to see past appearances, to put a stopper in the flow of worrisome thoughts, or to shift your attention to what you have rather than worrying about what is missing.
Solitude
As we are being asked to shelter in place, at least where I live, through the holiday season, it’s the perfect time to practice spiritual solitude. The end of autumn and beginning of winter is the ultimate inward time. While everything around us is resting and retreating in the natural world, so we are encouraged, too. This is an optimal time to increase meditation as well as journaling and inner reflection.
Most of all, as the winter solstice is the celebration of the return of the sun’s brilliance, we are being called more than ever to find our inner light. What does that really mean to you?
What is Light?
Light is, by definition, electromagnetic radiation that can be detected by the human eye. In essence, that means energy. Light is an energy we can see, that also allows us to perceive a number of things in the manifest world, such as form and color. It also has the property of heat, which we can sense through touch and is an element that creates power and transformation.
So if we are turning our attention to Inner Light – our spiritual illumination – then we are seeking a Divine energy within us that illumines our consciousness. For me, the theme of Inner Light calls forth these insights:
Light gives us the ability to see, but that ability comes from within us, not from an outside source. As you look within at a greater spiritual Truth, what does the light reveal to you about this time in your life and our world?
Light grows from a point and expands outward. Let your meditations focus on seeing light within you. This could be a candle flame at your heart center, or the sacred core of light that is the axis of the body, known as the Sushumna, that runs from the crown of the head down to the base of the pelvis. When we’re connected to our inner light, we become a beacon for others to find theirs.
Fire is a manifestation of light. We strike a match to light a candle; we burn wood in the fireplace for heat and light. Fire is the power of transformation, and as we connect with the light within we also open to a transformation of body, mind, heart, and spirit.
Look within for your answers, inspiration, and support. Literally, the Earth is tilted away from the sun (in the Northern Hemisphere!) at this point on the calendar, so we are shifting our attention from outside of us to inside ourselves. The Inner Light means that you already have what you need within you. Of course, having our loved ones and friends around is essential, but the source of your well-being, happiness, and peace is already within you. Anything we depend upon outside of us is always temporary in nature; your Divine Self is infinite and eternal. Tap into that Light.
How Do You Tap Into the Inner Light?
OK, so we understand that this time of year is focused on finding the Light within us – but how exactly do does that happen? That’s a bit easier said than done. Here’s what is asked of you:
Open Your Heart
Soften the center of your chest. Release any constrictions there, or at least have that intent. Open-heartedness is receptivity. Be receptive to Spirit in your life.
Practice Faith and Trust
Put your confidence in something greater than you, even if you can’t name what that is. There is a Higher Power that created this Universe and brought you into the world. Trust that as you are ready, more of the insight and inspiration of the inner light will be revealed. Timing is in the hands of Spirit. Practice faith and trust, and allow the process to unfold.
Be Willing to Listen, Look, and Feel
The Inner Light can be revealed to you in a variety of ways. You may “see” it with your inner eyes. But it isn’t really a “thing” to be seen. It is a state of consciousness. You may feel it through your body or just an intuitive sense. You may hear words that guide you or sacred sounds. It may also come to you as a simple knowing or feeling of peace that you can’t explain. Be willing to listen, look, and feel; receive insights and new awareness through your inner and outer senses.
Quiet Your Mind
Thinking is not the Inner Light; it transcends your ordinary, every day thoughts. When you can cultivate a more quiet mind through meditation, chanting, or mindfulness, there’s space for the Inner Light to be perceived.
Look inside
No, I’m not talking about shining a flashlight down your throat. This is a journey of inner reflection that happens from your consciousness, not from your eyes. Paradoxically, it may show up as a mirror reflection in the outer world, through nature or a relationship. Allow whatever you encounter to spark an inner reflection and teach you about your inner Self.
Let Go
There may be thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, or perceptions that block you from perceiving that inner illumination. What can you let go of, so that you recognize and open to your expansive light within?
This season is colored by the events of 2020 and dealing with a global pandemic. Perhaps because of these circumstances, we have a greater opportunity to spend time in solitude and seek that inner light. Even though things seem dark, know that situations always change, but you have the one constant of the Divine Light within you. Light a candle or greet the sunrise. Find ways to remember this great spiritual truth. Let this memorable solstice be a time that you dedicate to awakening and allow your Inner Light to grow and glow.
Share your story of solstice solitude, empowerment, or finding your Inner Light in the comments!
by Connie Habash | Oct 12, 2020 | Consciousness, Let Go, Presence, Receiving, Release, Seasons, Thoughts, Transformation
It’s autumn: the season to reflect. What better time to recognize the thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions that hold us back, and use the energies of autumn to transform them through the 5 R’s: reminisce, reflect, review, release, and receive.
Science has discovered that we have tens of thousands of thoughts every day. Everything from the mundane, “oh, the light is turning red” to more profound, unique, abstract ideas.
But the majority of our thoughts, if we’re being honest with ourselves, are not novel or unique. They re-hash, over and over, old perceptions, attitudes, and belief systems that accompanied us from childhood.
Because they aren’t unusual or insightful, we don’t even notice these old, repetitive thoughts. Unfortunately, that means they carry a lot of influence on our mood, behavior, and reactions to life. They fly under the radar in our subconscious or even unconscious mind.
If we want to create change in our lives (let alone in our world), it’s essential that we bring to conscious awareness what thoughts are happening within us. We need to unearth what affects us under the surface.
Our Inner Sewage System
It’s like the sewage system: in our city, most of the time, we aren’t aware of all that poopy yuck flowing under us. But someone is – the people in charge of keeping the sewers clean, those who run the sewage treatment plants, and of course the departments that administrate all of that, all the way up to the city mayor or the county Department of Health.
I’m not going to spend my time or yours going into the details of all that, but the point is that there is a lot going on beyond our awareness that affects our well-being in the world, and that goes for inside our mind, too. Thoughts, like the sewer systems, need to be brought to awareness and either utilized or cleaned out. We need to have our inner head of the Department of Mental Health on the job to keep our system clean, spacious, and flowing with fresh, healthy waters of consciousness.
Since it’s autumn, the season of letting go – and allowing what no longer has life to decompose – it’s a good time to release, compost, and renew our thoughts and mind.
Autumn’s inward time supports work with the “re-” words: reminisce, reflect, review, release, and receive. These 5 “R’s” will help you become aware of what thoughts you’re having, where they have come from, and how to change and release them, leaving you with a renewed perspective. Take a little time to look inside yourself – and break out a journal if you can – to experience some transformation in your mind.
Reminisce
Autumn is a great time to look back on life. There’s something about the falling leaves that always has me think about the past. If you have become aware of certain thoughts that are causing you trouble – such as thoughts of self-doubt, for example – you can be sure that one or more events in your past initiated that train of thought.
Look back to the earliest time you can remember feeling that way. Journal about it – what happened, who was there, how did you feel, and what conclusions did you come to?
Reflect
Now, take your recalled memory a little deeper, and reflect on what happened as a result of that. If you were to sum up that issue in one sentence of what you believed about yourself or life, what would it be? Write it down.
Reflect also on all the ways in which that belief has played out in your life. Consider how it affected your decision making, and influenced the way you perceived others, situations, and yourself. Again, journal your reflections and insights about this belief (and you may unearth “corollaries” to that belief that branched off into other areas of your life and reinforced it).
Review
Now, look at your beliefs that you have identified. Consider viewing the situations that initiated them from a different perspective. Did you misinterpret something and lived off of that conclusion? Were the other people involved only reacting from their unconscious beliefs, rather than actually seeing and understanding you? Were you unnecessarily hard on yourself? Did you absorb the beliefs of a parent or other influential person in your life without recognizing you had other choices?
Re-view: consider a new point of view that leads to a different conclusion and a more helpful belief. I find that Byron Katie’s “The Work” is really helpful and powerful here. She uses a practice called “the turnaround” that gives a very different perspective on a belief.
For example, you might have the belief, “Everyone demands so much of me.” You’d probably be a very busy individual, with a lot of people that depend on you. But with the turnaround, you may realize something else is going on besides a bunch of people grabbing all yourr energy and attention. In fact, it may not be true at all. With the turnaround, you shift the thought into its opposite, and often it reveals something more true than the original belief.
You could turn around a belief like this – “Everyone demands so much of me” – in a variety of ways:
- No one demands so much of me – how many people are directly asking for things and expecting them? With a reality check, maybe not so many.
- Everyone demands so little of me – perhaps they aren’t asking for anything, but you keep yourself incredibly busy in order to feel special and needed?
- I demand so much of me – You might be extremely self-critical, and you’re the one putting all the pressure on yourself, not anyone else
- I demand so little of everyone else – Are you taking on things for others that you don’t need to? Are you being codependent and doing things for others that they should do for themselves?
After doing a turnaround, you re-view – you discover a fresh perspective. You can choose a new belief about yourself and life that works better for you.
Release
Finally, just like the trees do with their foliage, consider releasing the thoughts altogether. It’s much easier to let go of unhealthy thoughts and beliefs when you’ve gone through the process of reminisce, reflect, and review, because it takes the mystery and power out of them. Now, you’re just seeing them as a thought and not “the way that it is.”
Ultimately, none of the thoughts are true – they are simply different ways to perceive and react. Just like the leaves, at one point in your life they probably served a purpose, but that time is long over. Thoughts should be used to serve a helpful purpose, and then released so that new inspiration can flow.
Have some fun with releasing thoughts – write them on little pieces of paper, and then do a “burning bowl” ceremony (but remember to be safe – have some water nearby to put out the fire!). You can burn them over a sink, if you wish. As you watch the paper go up in flame, imagine all of those beliefs and perceptions disappear in the smoke, leaving you with clarity and peace.
The practice of Presence, too, helps to release our thinking mind, open our hearts, and come fully into this moment. Rather than telling the thoughts to go away (that doesn’t usually work so well!), shift your attention to what is right here, right now. Use your 5 senses to help you discern that.
Chances are good that none of those thoughts are happening right now. And even if they are – if you’re seeing an apple in a tree and telling yourself, “there’s a green apple on that branch”, the thought is not the same thing as the reality. You can’t bite into a thought like you can that apple. Be Present, with a quiet mind and open heart, right there with the apple. See it; perhaps touch it and smell it. Just sit there with it, releasing the thoughts about it and keep turning your attention back to the apple. Sooner or later, the mind quiets down and immerses in the object of your attention.
Receive
Releasing thoughts renews your energy and allows you to receive that energy back. Imagine leaves, dropped from the trees above, composting on the forest floor. All of that compost returns nutrients to the soil, which continue to support the life of the ecosystem. When you let go of thoughts, you receive back all the energy you were expending on them. Releasing unnecessary, unhelpful beliefs and attitudes recharges your body and mind. That’s some powerful thought composting!
When you release the thoughts that no longer support you, you’ll also discover some inner spaciousness. There’s a feeling of ease. In that spaciousness within us, we can receive the blessings that life offers us.
When we practice Presence, it is more than just being there with the apple; it’s receiving the apple’s Presence with you. Everything in life offers us something in the present moment. The apple is already Present: it’s simply being itself. Fully. No thoughts in the way of just being. Receive that gift of Presence, and feel how Presence is two-way: it’s a flowing connection with All That Is.
Remember!
So while you’re enjoying the changes of the fall season, remember to change your mind, too. Bring those unconscious thoughts, beliefs, and perceptions to the surface of your awareness. It’s the perfect time to transform them through the 5 “R’s”: reminisce, reflect, review, release, and receive. Allow autumn to support you in new beliefs and perspectives – or, like the leaves, let go of them altogether.
What are you discovering with the 5 “R’s”? Leave your thoughts here (pun intended!).
by Connie Habash | Jun 9, 2020 | Action, Awareness, Change, Consciousness, Oneness, Polarities, Transformation, Unity
In this current crisis of George Floyd’s wrongful death and the re-igniting of the Black Lives Matter movement, we’re seeing the polarity of Victim-Tyrant playing out through racism.
It isn’t a new polarity – it has been perpetuated over and over through millenia with people of different races, religions, cultures, genders, and sexual orientations. It shows up even within abusive families. It also plays out through the plight of the planet at the hands of the tyrant of the human race. Every one of us can relate, in some way, to being victimized and, if we’re honest, occasionally being tyrannical.
We are now presented with the truth that there’s no going back to “normal”. Our world can’t sustain, on any level, the continued perpetuation of Victim-Tyrant. We must find a new way that transcends this polarization.
This clear realization that black lives matter and the injustice needs to be addressed and rectified is showing us in bold relief that both ends of this polarity need to come to an end. How do we do that? We start by examining the victim and tyrant inside ourselves.
The Tyrant that says it’s my way or the highway, that I am right and they are wrong, that I must be in control and dominate, which means that others must be controlled or worse yet, destroyed. The victim, that declares that I’ve been wounded and they are bad, that I am powerless and can’t do anything about it.
Neither of these positions are helpful or heal. They either abuse power or give their power away.
We are now seeing people come together to transcend these polarities. Who are owning how they have been tyrannical and seeing how they can change. Who are stepping forward into their power without becoming a tyrant themselves.
We know we need unity, in the mundane and spiritual sense, now. But we must be careful about how that is expressed. In the past, sometimes the declaration of unity and oneness carries the subtle demand that you become more like me, that we become one by homogeneity. Especially for white people. That you need to do and be what makes me feel comfortable in order for us to feel united.
There is another way. We can unite and find our sacred Oneness while honoring our diversity and uniqueness. Together, we can all know that we come from one Divine Source (although we may not give it the same name or form). We all have that sacred energy within us. It doesn’t have to express the same or look the same to find our common ground that we share.
There are hundreds of thousands of varieties of flowers – we can each know we are all flowers of this Sacred energy, and see the exquisite diversity of the myriad shapes, colors, fragrances, and textures. In order to experience unity and spiritual Oneness, we must simultaneously embrace differences.
This isn’t an easy, “say it and it is so” transformation. We will need to change ourselves and dismantle the disempowering and hurtful victim-tyrant structures in our culture, justice system, law enforcement, and media. We’re seeing the beginnings of this now, as people are protesting and taking action to create change. There’s more to be done than I can name here or even be conscious of in this moment. It will be an ongoing process of personal and collective growth.
And so worth it.
Let’s all look at how we can transform, release, and transcend the victim-tyrant polarity in our lives and in the world, and find a new paradigm that supports, respects, and honors all beings. It’s a work in progress for me, and probably for you, too. Let’s start with knowing that Black Lives Matter and bringing to consciousness white privilege; as we learn through healing this societal issue, we’ll discover some of the keys to healing our whole planet.
Resources:
The Marriage of Spirit by Leslie Temple-Thurston and Brad Laughlin
This book explores spiritual awakening, and particularly how to transcend polarities to attain unity consciousness. You can read some sample chapters here (chapter 2 and 8 are most relevant):
https://www.corelight.org/the-marriage-of-spirit-sample-chapters/
How White Fragility Supports Racism and How Whites Can Stop It
https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/07/health/white-fragility-robin-diangelo-wellness/index.html
16 Books on Race and White Privilege That Will Show You What’s Really Happening in America Right now
https://www.businessinsider.com/books-white-privilege-novels-racism-antiracism-black-scholars-2020-6
by Connie Habash | Dec 16, 2019 | awakening, Consciousness, Darkness, Enlightenment, Light, Seasons, Solstice
The winter solstice is near – a time when the sun is “reborn”, so to speak. We reach the shortest day of the year, and from that point on, the daylight lengthens and intensifies. This is the season of the rebirth of the Divine Light.
It’s no coincidence that the birth of the “Son of God”, in Christian tradition, is proximal with this “rebirth of the sun”. Historical evidence is unclear about the time of year that Jesus was born. Around 3 BCE, the church aligned the celebration to the European pagan tradition of Yule at the winter solstice, and began to associate the Nativity with December 25th. The jury is still out on exactly when Jesus was born; but it’s clear that the return of the Divine Light, however you want to view it, has been honored at this time of year for millennia.
The Jewish tradition also honors this spiritual illumination through Hanukkah, but recognition of this Divine Light was not limited to the western world. Turning towards the East, the Hindu tradition also honors the sun. There are some festivals that recognize the importance of the winter solstice, such as Pongal in the South of India. But more commonly, there is a daily ritual of respect towards the sun: Surya Namaskara.
Most of us who practice yoga are intimately familiar with Surya Namaskara, or Salutation to the Sun. Although the exact sequence and style of the poses varies slightly from tradition to tradition, it’s a recognizable series of postures that connect one to the other and is practiced with the rising sun.
Many don’t know that along with those poses are traditional mantras, or chants, that carry symbolism of the spiritual qualities of our home star. The winter solstice is a powerful and moving time of year to work with these mantras and reflect on that Divine Light that the sun so potently represents.
The meaning of these mantras reflect to us the qualities of this Divine Light, which is our Essence or True Nature within. As we approach the winter solstice (also know as Yule) on December 22nd, it’s worth meditating on this light of our Spirit and what it represents. Here are some reflections on these qualities of our Divine Light, inspired from the 12 mantras to the sun.
The Source of All
The Divine Light is within everything, including you and me. It is the Infinite Source of Life. Like the life-giving sun, it blesses us with birth into this lifetime and sustaining us through our journey. The Sun, as symbolic of that Light, is said to be a friend to all, giving every being warmth, life, light, and energy.
Shining
The Divine Light shines. It’s natural radiance is seen with our inner eye. Just as our sun beams in all directions, without judgment or discrimination, so does that inner effulgence. As we align ourselves with our Divine inner light and allow it to flow through and as us, it, too, shines everywhere as love, kindness, and peace. The more we open to receive and embody this Divine Light within us, the more we can touch others’ lives in a positive way by allowing the light to shine.
The Supreme Consciousness
Our True Nature, represented by this Divine Light, is Consciousness itself. Consciousness is oneness, infinite and everywhere present. It is our awareness of everything, most of all the Reality beyond what we experience in form. This Consciousness motivates us to expand beyond our limited perceptions and understand the nature of ultimate Reality.
Remover of Darkness
Light repels darkness. And so the Divine Light reveals the truth and dispels illusion, just as we are able to see what is in a dark room by igniting a candle. The Sanskrit word guru, referring to the spiritual teacher, embodies this quality, meaning “remover of darkness/ignorance.” For all of us, we have this inner guru in the form of the Divine Light.
Understanding of Time
The symbol of the Divine Light, the sun, is the source of our experience of time. We measure time the sunrise and sunset; we measure the seasons from the shift of the sun’s angle due to the tilt of our planet’s axis. This outer light creates the experience of time, while our Inner Light reveals timelessness.
Giver of Strength and Nourishment
As physical beings, we receive our strength and nourishment from the food we eat, the air we breathe, and the water we drink. Yet all of these, in some way, are related to the gifts of the sun. Plants (and animals, since they eat plants or other animals that do) are dependent on the energy from the sun via photosynthesis. All matter on this planet, including water and air, come from the same matter that composes the stars.
Our Essence, however, derives its strength and nourishment from that inner Divine Light. The more we connect with it through meditation, opening our hearts, and deep contemplation, the stronger in spirit we become.
The Principle of Creation
We have heard of the “big bang” theory, but what exactly is it pointing to? The ancient Hindus saw our creation as emanating from one creative principle, symbolized by a golden egg. Out of this, all in existence was created.
Our Divine Light within is this one creative Consciousness. We, as beings, are both created by that consciousness and manifest with that creative principle the more we awaken.
The Rays of Discernment
Through connection with our Divine Light within, we are given the ability to distinguish between what is Real and what is Unreal. The rays of light (whether from the sun or a lamp) can be directed by our attention to reveal the true nature of things. We begin to understand what matters and what isn’t really important through this power of discernment.
These rays remind us of who we truly are and reveal the false beliefs we have about ourselves. It is also said that these rays of light, whether from the sun or our Inner Light, are the destroyers of disease. Our greatest spiritual dis-ease is ignorance of our Divine nature, and these inner beams of Light dispel that.
Divine Children
That Divine Light is our Sacred Mother/Father. As it is said, each of us is a spark of the flame of God. Said another way, we are facets of the sacred jewel of Consciousness; one with that Source, yet each of us reflecting something unique as the facets reflect light from different directions. We are the Divine Children of the Divine Source.
Stimulating Power
The Divine Light embodies the power to stimulate, motivate, and inspire us. We are both spurred into action as well as aroused from sleep from the light of the sun. That Inner Light, however, moves us in deeper ways; it impells us on the path of spiritual growth, as well as bringing the light to others.
Our Vital and Sacred Energy
We all know that the sun is the source of our energy on the planet. Without it, our world would become frozen and barren. It gives us physical energy, but represents our vital energy as well.
We are all energetic beings, composed of atoms that are no more than fluctuations of energy and information. This energy we are made of extends beyond our physical body into what is known as the aura, or energetic field around us. All that exists in the universe vibrates with this energy. It is the Divine Light, manifest through the physical realm.
The Path to Enlightenment
I see enlightenment as a continuous journey of ever-expanding awareness and potentiality. We have infinite capacity to awaken to greater and greater consciousness, although some traditions believe there is an endpoint of “liberation.” Perhaps there is. But I perceive life as a path of unfolding joy and aliveness. The Divine Light is both the path itself and that which shines on it so that we can see our way forward. It is inspiring us to become ever greater expressions of spiritual Truth.
Time for Deep Reflection
Those are the qualities of the Divine Light. And now, through the solstice and into the winter season of quiet stillness, it is time to reflect on that Light within you. If you’ve dropped your meditation practice – or have long wished to start one – now is the time. Even if just for a couple minutes a day, sit, feel, and open to the revelations of your inner Light. You are like the lotus flower. As it rises from the mud of darkness and breaks through the surface of the pond of illusion, the Divine Light of the sun will open your petals to realization of your True Self.
For further reading: Surya Namaskara, by Swami Satyananda Saraswati
by Connie Habash | Jun 6, 2019 | Anxiety, Awareness, Challenges, Consciousness, Depression, Listening
A bit of Marie Kondo-style decluttering – in my home, and in my soul – was what I needed to shift out of a bad mood and back into enthusiasm and joy. Here’s how I did it.
Today, I woke up in an unmotivated, depressed, dour funk. A complete surprise.
I dragged myself to the gym, hoping the workout would be enough to shift me out of the doldrums. On the treadmill, I pondered why I felt down. After all, I thoroughly enjoyed teaching my meditation and mindfulness workshop over the weekend (shout out to all of you enthusiastic folks at SRVUMC!), I spent time outside in sit spot, one of my favorite nature-connection practices, and I’m feeling more settled in to my new office. What was up?
Listening to My Feelings
Part of it was the long list of to-dos for my book launch… but that was also exciting to me, so I knew it wasn’t the whole story behind my sluggishness and lack of enthusiasm. It was time to pull out one of my time-tested practices that comprises the 5th key in my book, Awakening from Anxiety: listening to my anxiety!
I wasn’t exactly feeling anxiety, but this technique works for any emotion, so I spent some time listening to my inner Self speak through the depressed, lethargic feeling and energy in my body. And it was a clear message – decluttering is in order!
How many of you have been hearing about Marie Kondo a lot lately? I know a number of my clients and students have been talking about her show on Netflix, “Tidying Up”. Although I haven’t actually watched a full episode, I’m definitely familiar with the power of decluttering from Feng Shui. I have applied some of the concepts I’ve learned from Denise Linn to clear space in the home in order to open up and increase energy and well-being.
Clear De-cluttering Directions!
My inner Self gave me clear direction – fold the laundry, give away an old chair, and move the long table to the upstairs hallway. After having to vacate my office of 7 years and shift to subletting from other therapists, all my furniture from my old office ended up dumped in our home yoga space… and now there wasn’t any space!
As soon as I got home, I got to work, implementing the directives. Fold laundry (and put away) – check. Move the furniture and give things away – in progress. Immediately, I started to feel better! And I had the energy to work on this newsletter.
But that wasn’t the only thing I needed to declutter. The stuff, the material things, was just on the outside. I needed to listen further to the apathy and depression, and allow it to help me on a deeper level. Yes, “negative” emotions can actually help us. From my chapter on “Listening to Your Anxiety”:
“Anxiety has a message for you, if you take the time to listen and receive it. It actually wants to be your helper, letting you know what needs tending to in your life. In fact, renaming anxiety as your helper or protector is a lot less negative and can change your perspective on your fears. It certainly is more pleasant to think of listening to your helper than listening to your anxiety, isn’t it?”
The Thoughts Under the Apathy Within
My helper, it turns out, had a lot to say! I listened to my apathy within. It let me know that I had allowed myself to accumulate some unhelpful thoughts in my consciousnesss: there were a number of things in my heart and soul that needed decluttering. Thoughts I’ve held onto that were putting me in the doldrums. Here are some of the perceptions and ideas that revealed themselves for clearing out:
- I have to do this (a sure winner – guaranteed to make you NOT want to do something)
- There’s too much (usually shuts me down and stops me from taking action)
- No one cares (ditto)
- I don’t know where to start (which is just a cover for “I don’t really want to start”, because honestly I could start anywhere)
- Nothing interests me (which is a cover for “I’d rather be doing something else”)
Well, that was quite a good start. Because once I became clear about the thoughts, beliefs, and perceptions within me that are causing my suffering, then I could actually do something about it. These weren’t news to me – I’d encountered them before – but my inner Self helped me with shifting out of them readily.
First of all, by reminding myself that I really don’t have to do anything, except breathe. And actually, breathing sounded rather nice at the moment. So I stopped to breathe and feel my body, emotions, and surroundings.
One Thing at a Time
There was still quite a mess in my surroundings. So my inner Self reminded me that the practice is always one thing at a time. We all know this. We probably taught our kids this. But my habit is often to see everything that I have to do all at once, and that sure is overwhelming.
So I look at one sheet that needs to be folded, and do that. Very doable. Each one at a time action is easy. And kind of fun, when I’m fully present, immersed in the moment and the simple pleasures of doing what is in front of me.
This one at a time, fully present approach dealt with most of those thoughts right off the bat. I could choose what one thing I wanted to do next. No have-tos. When I saw too much, I just came back to one thing. It was lovely to notice that I actually had more interest in what I was doing by being fully present with my breath and the mindful movement of bringing the ends of the sheet together, fold, flip, repeat.
After several one-at-a-time things, there was less clutter, and the overwhelm softened. My energy increased.
Dealing with the Last Remaining Issue
But one last thought loomed – “no one cares.” Here’s where a little sneaky Byron Katie technique came in, called The Work. The Work is a transformative process of 4 questions and a “turn-around” that has also impacted my life. I decided this one thought, “no one cares,” would benefit from the process.
Is it true? Well, no. Of course I could think of people that cared, so that nailed the first two questions (Is it True? Can you be completely certain that it’s true?). I was seeing clearly the 3rd question, how it was impacting me and my life when I believed it, because it was bringing my energy down and depressing me. And it was also obvious to me that if I didn’t have that thought (question 4), I’d be out there, doing what I love to do and helping people release their stress, anxiety, and spiritually awaken.
The Turnaround
I knew that the turnaround, that last process in The Work, would shift me into a new trajectory. If “no one cares” isn’t true, what might be? One truth might be that people do care. There are people in my life that care about me, and there are also people that care about getting unstuck from anxiety or depression that would really like my assistance. There are people who find that what I have to offer makes a difference. It helped some to remember this.
But that wasn’t really the biggest turnaround.
The biggest one was “I don’t care.” Wow, that’s not pleasant to look at. What don’t I care about? As I looked at the messy state of our house, the pile of stuff on my desk, the list of things I was avoiding, and my exhaustion from sleep deprivation, it was pretty clear. I didn’t care about me. My heart and soul felt down because everything else received my energy and attention except me. I wasn’t caring for myself sufficiently, let alone my home. I was running around doing all the things I thought I “should, have-to, am supposed-to” do and neglecting myself.
Yeesh.
But what a great realization; I needed to care more for and about me. It’s so ridiculously obvious, but hey, we all backslide from time to time. We all forget to do the things that nurture us. Myself included.
Our Emotions are Our Helpers
That’s why we have emotions like anxiety, anger, and depression – they are our helpers, trying to get our attention. They’re here to remind us of what really matters. Sometimes, those emotions are nudging (or slapping!) us into a brand new insight. But often, it’s bringing to our awareness things that we “know,” but forget or don’t bother to do. As long as we listen to what we’re feeling and do our best to discern its message, we can get back on track.
I don’t need deep revelations every time I check in with my inner Self. Sometimes, it’s just a simple reminder to return to what I need, or about what I truly value. My home, my life, and my soul needed some decluttering, and that was all it took to shift my mood.
What decluttering is your soul calling for?
by Connie Habash | Apr 22, 2019 | Attention, Connection, Consciousness, Energy, Intention, Support
It’s my morning ritual to sit in the front yard and take in whatever nature has to offer me. I receive messages from Spirit in profound ways from simple things. Simple things like thin, invisible threads.
The other day, something in the air caught my eye. It hovered between the tall pine in the very front of the garden and my neighbor’s apple tree over the fence to the right. I walked over to take a look, and there in the air were a small handful of what looked like dead grass cuttings. Of course – they were caught in a spider’s web!
But how in the world did the spider do this? It stretched about 9 feet between the two trees. And still, those blades of grass were suspended by a few delicate strands. Invisible threads, yet so strong and supportive.
This spider’s web reminded me that we are all held and surrounded by invisible threads. There are three kinds of these imperceptible supports in our life.
The Threads of Spirit
We may feel alone and unsupported. But just because we can’t see the support doesn’t mean it’s not there.
Our planet is supported in space, by unseen yet palpable forces. We are held on this planet by gravity – we don’t perceive it other than by feeling our feet on the ground, which we take for granted. There is a similar invisible support in our lives – the support from the Divine.
Whether you think of it as God, the Universe, Great Spirit, Buddha, Jesus, Lakshmi, or a myriad of other names, the Source out of which everything arises has supported and is supporting everything in the Universe. This doesn’t mean that life always goes perfectly. But it does mean that we can call on the support we need to meet each day from those invisible threads. We are given what we need to rise up to any challenge before us. The threads of Spirit hold us up on our life path every day, in every moment, even when we don’t think they’re there. Just like gravity holds us on the planet.
The Threads of Connection
When I went into the front yard this morning, I saw the creator of those threads. A very large garden spider hung in the middle of the web. She seemed proud of her work, and by the size of her I could see she’s been successful at catching those bugs!
This is another aspect of these invisible threads. We, too, are creating invisible threads all the time. There are two kinds of threads of Connection that we create or co-create with others. The threads of Connection are energetic strands between us and others in our lives. They are generally formed out of love, but sometimes are created out of unhealthy attachments.
Some of these threads support us and are deeply fulfilling. Family, loved ones, friends, respected associates – we have threads of connection with all these important people (and beings – you can have a thread of Connection with a pet, too!) in our lives. They, like the threads of Spirit, provide us with nurturance, support, encouragement, and a feeling of belonging. We all want to feel connected, both to one another and to something Greater than us. We can have threads that connect us to the land, the elements, to sacred places and sacred people that we are inspired by.
Other threads, however, can pull us down. It is up to each of us to assess what threads of connection are founded in love and mutual support, and what threads have we created or allowed to be hooked into ourselves that aren’t healthy. Being overly dependent on others, holding on to anger or resentment, or allowing others to drain our time and energy are dysfunctional cords that might need to be cut, healed, or modified to be more mutually beneficial.
If an invisible thread between you and other doesn’t feel right, take some time to sort out what the problem is. Do you want to keep this connection to this person? If so, how do you want to rectify the relationship? How might you change your interactions and responses? If not, is there anything you need to do or say to really let them go? Make sure that these invisible threads of Connection are relationships that you truly value in your life.
The Threads of Intent
This last invisible thread is one that you may not know about, yet it is an essential component of spiritual living. Without it, the spider wouldn’t have made her web nor would she have caught enough morsels to grow into her formidable size!
We create threads of Intent all the time, whether we are conscious of them or not. Intention fuels our goals and keeps us on course for reaching them. When we set an intention, we are casting out a thread towards our intended destination.
This has a couple of effects. First of all, it pulls us towards our goal, and draws the goal towards us as well. We cast the thread, it hooks to our vision of what we want, and then like a tractor beam, we are drawn towards it. The stronger our Intent, the more intense and powerful the beam. When we are gung-ho about running a marathon or finishing a knitting project, our intent focuses our attention and energy in that direction. We are out running miles each day, or knitting like there’s no tomorrow. We will see opportunities to fit in a run on a short trip, and make time for more knitting in the evenings after work.
The second effect of creating a thread of Intent is that it “catches” what resonates with our vision. Just like the spider who spun her web to catch flies, when we have an Intention, it’s like a web out in the Universe, waiting for something to fly by that fits the bill. If you are seeking a new mate and focus your Intent on the kind of relationship you want, the threads of Intent will let you know when someone is near that plucks your heart strings. Like the spider, when that person comes near, you’ll feel a tug on that thread of Intent and know that this is a person worth connecting to. The spider got big from catching all those bugs – and you, too, can be deeply fulfilled when you are conscious about sending out your Threads of Intent.
Weave Your Web Well
Everyday, we are creating threads and feeling the effects of our connections to Spirit, others, and our life visions. Begin to pay attention to your threads, which are energetic connections. Cultivate your threads of Spirit and allow yourself to receive that Divine support. Nurture your threads to those you love and who encourage and love you. Choose your threads of intention with mindfulness and service to a higher good.
Weave your webs of light well. The fabric of those threads is the light of Consciousness itself.
When you’re attentive and conscious about your energetic threads, you will spin a glorious tapestry of truth, harmony, beauty, and empowerment which will ripple out to uplift others, too.
What threads are you noticing in your life, and what web are you weaving?
by Connie Habash | Sep 14, 2017 | Acceptance, Authenticity, Awareness, Consciousness, Darkness, Healing, Light, Shadow, Transformation
Have you felt stirred up in yourself and in your life lately, as if all your issues have come to the surface? You’re not alone. The powerful archetype of the recent eclipse has brought what is ready to heal and transform out of hiding and into the light for all of us.
Last month was the first time I had ever seen even a partial eclipse here in California. This juxtaposition of the moon in front of the sun shows us how our unresolved issues and blocks to our growth – represented by the moon – can conceal the light of our True Self.
The Shadow
An eclipse casts a shadow, and our own personal shadow is a collection of the parts of ourselves that we don’t like to acknowledge or to be seen. When we are met by this great archetype, or powerful symbol, of the inner shadow through such a potent example as an eclipse, it’s common for our own shadow material to rise out of the darkness for us to recognize, embrace, and heal.
What lies in the shadow? Images, thoughts, beliefs, and emotions about who we fear we might be and what we don’t want to look at. All of the self-critical thoughts emerge from the shadow. The fears about what others might think? The shame from mistakes we’ve made? The part of ourselves that we think is ugly, mean, or unlovable? Yep, they’re all in there. We prefer to just keep the closet shut and locked, and not let the boogie man out. Pretend that everything is just fine. Or at least keep up a good image, so no one can see what we secretly feel are fatal flaws.
Identifying with Thoughts and Emotions
However, everything in the Shadow is a thought. Thoughts are forms of energy. When we think of a particular thought, we take our mental energy and mold it into a form. The Shadow contains the forms of negative energy that we’ve created from our thoughts about ourselves.
We may have fear or anger that arises in us. Perhaps an event at work or in your family has triggered old pain from your past. Or an off the cuff remark sparked anxious, self-critical thoughts. The problem isn’t the thoughts or emotions – the problem is identifying ourselves with them.
The True Self
The Sun, however, is a symbol of our True Self, ever shining. When night comes, the sun doesn’t stop shining – it’s simply not seen because the Earth has rotated. This is like sleep – our True Self doesn’t cease to exist; we just don’t perceive it when we’re deep in slumber.
An eclipse reveals a different hindrance to the shining of the True Self than sleep does. The moon’s blockage of the Sun’s light represents the identification with our thoughts and emotions that lie in the Shadow Self.
For example, when we say, “I’m angry” or “I am hurt”, we’re implying that we identify ourselves with the anger or hurt by saying “I am”. We believe, on a subconscious level, that we are insecure about money or we identify ourselves with the belief that things will never change, rather than recognize these are thoughts and emotions.
The Light of Awareness
Thoughts and emotions change all the time, and can be consciously changed. The True Self, like the metaphor of the sun, remains the same, always shining.
The eclipse brings to our awareness that we have all this stuff in our Shadow Self, and it’s time to take it out of hiding. It’s time to recognize that those places in us can heal. We don’t need to continue to identify ourselves with what we fear. Many of the perceptions of ourselves aren’t accurate and need to be aired out, cleaned up, and let go of.
The work after the eclipse is to shine our light of awareness on the Shadow material. To be willing to dig in and say, hey, I don’t need to live like this anymore. I don’t need to continue to beat myself, or let this fear get the best of me. There is something precious deeper within me that is ready to shine, and it’s time I give it a chance.
You can do this “shadow work”. The moon has moved aside, and your light is ready to glow. I’m happy to assist you in becoming more of your True Self – feel free to contact me for a conversation about what’s possible. And in the meantime, here are some great resources to get you started that have helped me over the years:
- a classic! lots of great exercises, and a great resource for physical ailments and possible corresponding shadow issues)
- a lighthearted, easy read. Refreshing!
- another easy read by Huber, and an awesome 30 day practice to explore
- the most powerful, in-depth synthesis of psychology and spirituality I have found, with potent practices for healing and releasing shadow stuff. This is a serious read.
by Connie Habash | Oct 6, 2016 | Change, Consciousness, Inner Witness, Let Go, Nonattachment, Possibilities, True Self
I sat in the hairdresser’s chair, elevated enough so that I could see my reflection in the mirror before me. I asked her to take a photo from the back to show my long tresses, flowing in waves and soft curls almost down to my waist. This was going to be a big change, and I wanted to have a visual memory of it.
For almost my entire life I’ve worn my hair long, with the exception of two short periods in my childhood that I decided to experiment – which turned out poorly – and four years in college where I wore my curls about chin length. I’ve strongly identified myself with the image of long hair – but is it Who I Am?
Recently, I’ve been revisiting this image, and the attachment I have towards aspects of myself, superficial or internal. The need to be the expert and to know what I’m doing. To shy away from getting dirty. To avoid taking risks. And, on a surface level, a woman with long hair. I’ve limited myself by these ideas of who I am.
Our True Self
I decided, that’s enough! I want to be free of those limitations, and allow myself to be whatever I AM in any given moment. To be truly free, according to the yogic tradition and many other spiritual paths, we must let go of our attachments and identifications. We come to recognize that we aren’t long hair or short, a businessman or a nature nut. We’ve simply grown attached to and comfortable with those thought-forms about ourselves. The Truth of who we are is not limited by what we think – except when we believe it.
Our True Self, with the capital T, is what is ultimately Real. According to yoga philosophy, the capital “R” Real is defined as the unchanging and eternal. It always was, is, and shall be. Even the most enduring of these labels in this lifetime – our gender – is not something we can claim has always been or shall be (especially not nowadays!). What will remain after this body passes away?
The Inner Witness
What remains, and that we’ve always been, might be called soul or spirit in Western minds. In the East, it is described as consciousness, or the Inner Witness.
You or I can have thoughts – “oh, I love my long hair! It’s who I am.” We then identify with those thoughts and believe that is who we are. But hair grows, and it can be cut short or grown long – it fluctuates and changes. How can it be who we are?
However, what is constant through any thoughts we have is the Witness part of ourselves, watching those thoughts. We can have emotions, like joy or despair. While we deeply feel these experiences, there is always a part of ourselves that observes the emotion we feel, watching it from a place beyond it. The same can be said of our physical sensations.
In the weeks leading up to my appointment with the hairdresser, I watched my ideas of who I thought I was from the Inner Witness. I observed my hair, its darker roots mixed with wiry gray, and the lighter, sun-kissed ends of golden brown. Yes, it’s my hair. But it’s not Who I Am.
The Painter
Another image came to me about my True Self – the Inner Witness – and my hair. It was a painting on a canvas. There I am, painted with fair skin and long, wavy/curly brown hair. But I’m not the painting. I’m not the paint, or the canvas, or even the brushes. I’m the Painter. That’s my True Self, and the Witness of whatever paint I choose to use on that canvas. I can create whatever I like with my hair, my thoughts, my actions. I am the Painter.
With that realization, I knew I was ready for the change. I looked down and closed my eyes, wanting it to unfold without watching. My stylist cut off the main length of my hair and handed it to me, curled up in a cup. She proceeded to cut, layer by layer, my hair into and almost shoulder-length style. My curls came alive, bouncing up in ringlets. I sat under the dryer, waiting to see what would appear on the canvas.
I was concerned – would I regret my decision? Would I go home and cry, and wish I could paste it all back on? Or would I be joyful, delighted by the new look, playful and free?
The Same Me
I sat back in the chair in front of the mirror and opened my eyes. There I was, with a new, short, curly-do.
My reaction surprised me – nothing. I felt neither joyful nor regretful. Hey, that’s a cute new hairdo. No big deal. I can wear it this way, I can grow it out.
I am the same Me that I was before. The hair didn’t change that.
I knew that I am the Inner Witness. I am the Painter, my hair now short on a new canvas. Because I was clear about the Truth of Who I Am, I was now free to have my hair any way I wanted it. I’m not defined by my hair, but am the Infinite Divine Self I’ve always been.
You, too, are the Painter. You are the Inner Witness. Choose to paint whatever you like. But know your True Self to be the unchanging presence, watching and creating it all.
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I sat in the hairdresser’s chair, elevated enough so that I could see my reflection in the mirror before me. I asked her to take a photo from the back to show my long tresses, flowing in waves and soft curls almost down to my waist. This was going to be a big change, and I wanted to have a visual memory of it.
I sat back in the chair in front of the mirror and opened my eyes. There I was, with a new, short, curly-do.
