Back to Chapter 6 "the secrets of the spiritual heart."
At this point in the book we are starting to get into the material that is a little bit harder to face. To me, it is easier to talk about being the witness or observer, than to focus on the messy stuff that keeps us stuck, the stuff that most of us have been avoiding. I am going to go through these sections slowly so that we can really digest what is being discussed.
Michael says "the heart closes because it becomes blocked by stored, unfinished energy patterns from your past." (T.U.S., p. 50) In the last paragraph on this page Michael gives a very interesting explanation of how events and experiences in the world "come in through your senses and have an impact on your inner state of being." (T.U.S., p. 50). What is coming in through your senses are energy patterns and if the energy is disturbing or negative we resist it and it stays blocked within you.
Just imagine all of the negative things that have happened to you over your lifetime. Unless you have allowed these energies to pass through you (and this involves allowing the painful emotions to surface) then energy from these experiences is blocking your heart. No wonder you do not have the same amount of energy that you did as a child.
Michael talks about what it would be like if these energy patterns passed through instead of staying stuck. Just like neutral things, such as buildings and trees that you pass as you are driving down the road, imagine if nothing left an impression. For example, when someone says something hurtful to you, instead of holding on to it (dwelling on it, holding resentment or anger...) you just let it go. Wouldn't that be incredibly freeing? And you would be much more present to fully experience the next moment.
Notice today how many times something negative or potentially threatening (maybe a car problem, running late, embarrassing yourself, a large bill, feeling alone...) happens and notice how you respond. Do you reach for something to eat or drink, or call someone, or turn on the TV, or go shopping or do whatever else will distract you from the experience? Just notice your patterns. Notice when your energy shifts and becomes negative.
Then take a breath and allow it to be. Unless we are a highly evolved and awakened being we all have lots of stored energy. But we can transcend these blockages once and for all and live a life of freedom. However, the catch is that you will need to touch your pain. You can make huge gains in living a life of freedom and joy by allowing the pain to come up and then letting it go. Hang in there during this process...it is well worth the effort.
I think that inherently we (at least I) have a clue when the bad energy lands and changes even slightly the internal feeling of the moment. I love the saying that suggests we don't want to allow ourselves to know what we know, because then we would have to do what we know we have to do. And the pain doesn't necessarily have to hurt. It's just your body suggesting that something isn't in complete congruency. At least, this is how I see it. So, (I may ask myself,) now what? -dave
ReplyDeleteI have heard it said that we do have pain (either physical or emotional) but we do not have to suffer with it. I think this is what you mean when you say that the pain does not have to hurt.
ReplyDeleteI interpret that to mean that we will feel the pain but we do not have to attach to it (i.e., hold on to it, give it meaning...). We can detach by feeling the pain and then moving our awareness to the observer. Sometimes the pain or the attachment to the pain lessens immediately. This may take some practice (just like practicing meditation).
Viewing the pain as something that the body is experiencing seems like a great way to detach. I guess the same could be said for emotional pain...it is something that the human personality is experiencing but it is not me...I am the neutral watcher.
Thanks for your comment.