How To Become Friends with Your Shadow
[Written in the early days of Coronavirus]
Our greatest fears are being brought up from the depths of our subconscious.
And there's so much GOLD in this kind of 'shadow work' (actively looking at our fears & darkness...all the uncomfortable stuff we usually suppress in the shadow).
The greatest reward is to pierce straight through the fears ~ seeing their illusory nature (mostly a clutter of reactions connected to past & future with little - if any - grounding in the present moment. Stories created by the mind to remain distracted by our personality selves).
So here's where the gold really is! We have so much possibility, now more than ever, to dive inside & explore our true nature.
Ask, "WHO is thinking these fearful/stressed thoughts?" Focus attention inward & discover what's beyond the mind.
Spoiler alert: It's awareness.
The same awareness that flows through all living beings - it is life itself. Identifying as pure awareness / source consciousness, knowing that even if Jennifer dies, the true 'i' continues...
It's kind of comforting. Kind of reassuring to know what i truly am, is the presence that lives in all things, with no preference.
And you can go even DEEPER.
In the same way by meditating & we turn attention inward: stop focusing on the external world (scrolling, netflix, messaging with friends)...it's possible to turn awareness in on itself...
Then words become impossible, as there is no 'i', no witness, no separation...maybe the closest word would be 'home'?
*Feeling terrified & wondering what to do?*
Meditate, go inward, observe what your mind & body are telling you & stay with the knowing that you are not any of that. (Maybe holding compassionate space for the parts of your that are scared & listening to them, will allow them to move through.)
As that awareness is lost back into whatever thoughts are there...know that's part of it - it means it's working! Then bring yourself back into observing without attachment: observe the thoughts, breath, sensations in the body. There's actually so much to watch!
This is a great way to find your centre...& learn how to hold this centre, even with all the chaos around. We can even *use* others' fear & panic as a reminder to go inside & return to our core.
We'll NEVER have control over what's happening in the outside world - that's an illusion created by the mind & we're seeing those structures start to crumble - but we have 100% control & power over our inner-world.
i can't find the exact quote (please post below if you do) but i believe Mandela emerged from 27 years in jail & said he's the freest man there ever was. The imprisonment, cruelty & control he felt from forces trying to oppress him, he used to reach inner-freedom.
We have this choice now.
There's so much potential in the world's current situation. There's SO much potential inside each of us.
Choose wisely how you use this period & where you put your attention.
i, for one, am upping my meditation game.
Want resources?
Book: The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer
Teacher: Tiger Singleton on FB & www.inlightconnect.com The way he weaves Ultimate Truth with practicality & humor is so easily accessible to all. He's got a great online course too. This meditation is phenomenal too: http://bit.ly/COVID-meditation.
