Understanding the structure of an emotion occurs through observing the physical feeling, location and shape of the emotion as it manifests within our body. This same principle holds true no matter what the emotion is, the differences occur because each emotion will have a different form and the mind will perceive it’s ability to understand this form through it’s experience of the form. For example the emotion of shame will feel different to the emotion of anger, guilt will feel different to the emotion of hate, love will feel different to the emotion of astonishment. Each emotion has a certain shape, tone, frequency and physical feeling. By learning to first become the shape we learn how to move the shape. Instead of it controlling us, we learn to have control. Step by step, learning to control and direct one shape at a time we become master of our emotions.

Each of us will have certain emotions that we have difficulty in facing more than others. What is important is not so much what these emotions are, but that we continue to use the same principles to master them. A dramatic and profound difference occurs in our lives when those emotions that once controlled us no longer do. When we are able to have enough will to face each of our emotions then this intent provides us with the direction that we require. Sustaining this movement regardless of fear and doubt will gradually develop our mind into the key that allows us full movement through these emotional gates. With each gate that is mastered other emotions will become easier. It is like we have more shapes and forms to work with, and our mind becomes easier to direct along certain planes. The next level of learning is to guide the mind to shift from form to form and dimension to dimension without pause. As this progresses new levels of depth will be revealed which provide the opportunity to further hone the nature of our “key.” Likewise new spaces will be revealed between the forms which provide openings into new realities and experiences.

The mind and body needs to at all times remain sensitive to it’s own nature. There is always the tendency to change experience from what it is, and this tendency needs to be investigated from the most surface level of the intellectual mind to the deepest level of physical and bodily sensations. If consciousness strays too far from the experience of the emotion then we lose the opportunity to learn how to transcend it. Similarly if we allow the mind to become transfixed on a particular aspect of emotion then we can avoid seeing what else exists within it. The key is to always remain observant, alert, to seek new areas of feeling and experience and also to investigate the areas of feeling that are most familiar to ourselves.

Of all the skills available in the personal and spiritual development fields perhaps emotional mastery is the one that is the most deeply fulfilling. Having control over the energies that provoke us, inspire us, make us fear and make us love means that we are able to create meaning, inspiration, purpose and empowerment at will. In essence we become our own master no longer subject to the strings of our emotions and feelings. As our mastery increases we learn how to generate and transform emotion and yet walking further along this path we also begin to experience a reality where “what” emotion we are feeling is not as important as “how” we are experiencing it.

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