Category Archives: Enlightenment

Ascension, Enlightenment, Intuition, Life Purpose, Mastery, Realization, Spirit, Truth

Where Spirit Exists

What is the purpose of spirituality? What are the reasons for it? Why have we created it? Why do we seek spirit? Why is it important to some and irrelevant to others? What has it done for us lately?

Spirituality like anything, only holds power because of the value and meaning that we perceive in it.

This is the reason why real ability and skill is important. Without the ability to perceive and connect with spirit, spirituality is simply a set of blind beliefs. These beliefs remain blind until the ability to see is developed. As long as we are blind or partially blind to spirituality we will not understand the opportunities or benefits available to us. So in a very literal sense, the purpose and reasons for us seeking it will continue to elude us. We may hear stories of spiritual knowledge and power and think “Gee that sounds alright!”, but these will just be thoughts and words without actual experience.

Defining spirituality from experience is important because it separates and distills what holds meaning and value for us from what does not. We need to be clear on what it is that we are seeking and this requires blunt and direct honesty. If we rely on theory and concept over actual experience then we are compromising real understanding. Theories no matter how good are simply ideas. Real understanding comes from taking these ideas and integrating them into a course of action. For example we may have an idea that expressing our emotions is of some use. We may gather all the evidence to support this idea and in our mind it may seem like God’s have gifted us with their wisdom. However without putting this idea into action, without actually expressing our emotions, we will never know the truth of this wisdom.

Spirituality is a big word. It essentially means to connect with spirit, but this in itself holds many unknowns, one of which is “where is this spirit thing?” Interesting then that many aspects of spiritual society choose to hold onto the known and shy from the unknown. Spiritual logic or logic of any kind would suggest that if spirit has unknown qualities, that delving into the unknown would then be a valuable course of action. This is where faith comes into it once more. Faith is a concept and as a concept it becomes refined when it is tested. There are so many untouchable qualities about “spirituality.” Keep pushing and digging in our consciousness and we find a point that wants to cling to dogma, faith and concept. Dig a little deeper and we find fear. It is essentially the good old God fearing persona, the one that does not want to question or investigate its betters for fear of punishment. It is no wonder that with this type of fear that mastery, enlightenment and real power elude us. Again, these fears and beliefs are simply concepts that require testing.

The battlefield where all our beliefs, ideas and concepts are tested is within our own practice. It is through aligning our inner values into our actions. Things can get sticky at times. Sometimes our most cherished ideas get trampled on mercilessly by experiences that reject them. We may for instance have the idea that “spirituality is everywhere and in all things”. It is experience that will either reflect this – or not. Our findings here give us something tangible to work with. If this idea holds under the steady and rigorous criticism of actual experience, not just intellectual argument, then it contains true value. If it does not hold this does not necessarily mean that the idea is invalid, it may simply require that our abilities and skills require further development. Of course sometimes we need to admit that what once seemed like a novel idea just doesn’t cut it in the real world.

This is how we evolve our spiritual understanding and as our understanding evolves, so too does our understanding of where spirit exits. This is essentially what is happening – we are understanding connection, but connection can only be understood by experiencing where the object of connection exists. Spiritual connection or existence then is a process of looking and finding, as well as looking and not finding. The places where spirit exists then provide a connection – places with which to develop paths to our consciousness. The places which do not connect are not discarded, but rather we refine the method of connection within ourselves.

An interesting thing happens when we test our ideas, concepts and beliefs. The destruction of these makes the mind more fluid. Through this flexible flow, we regain the ability to connect where once we could not. Once again our understanding changes, as the places that we knew with+ certainty that spirit was not, open up and show us that it is in fact there. This opening does not occur through wishful thinking, holding onto ideas, concepts or beliefs. It occurs through practice, critical thinking, developing ability and understanding.

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Enlightenment, Life Purpose, Mastery, Unlimited Mind

Judgment – Discernment, Wisdom and Insight

Judgment is a tool for growth and evolution. It is the aspect of our consciousness that decides our priorities. By definition everything else becomes less of a priority. This is by the way where the famous line, “judge not lest thee be judged,” fits in. As soon as we judge one thing as better than another, then we automatically judge the elements of ourselves that are not aligned with the “better” aspects as being lacking – and vice versa. But that’s the price of conscious evolution really. Each direction, choice and action is a weighing of priorities, values and meaning. We can’t have one without the other. The famous line rather than being a moral statement is more of an explanation of universal law.

More important than debating whether judgment is morally sound or not is to understand it’s meaning and value. The fact of the matter is that without judgment none of us would exist here and now in this form anyhow. First off, without judgment our lungs wouldn’t be able to breath because they couldn’t perceive the difference between the feeling of air and no air. Without judgment we would walk smack bang into pain and danger because we could define it as an experience that was detrimental to life.

Essentially, growth is about realizing what direction has real meaning and value and then going for it. The main factor that gets us there is judgment. Judgment is what takes in the over view, looks at the cards we’ve got, knows what to hold, knows what to fold and knows what to keep back from the game for a later day. Judgment is what recognizes opportunity and sends the message to jump to it. Without judgment, well all those opportunities would just float on by. There is no argument about it. The greatest ally of conscious growth, evolution and personal development is good judgment.

Now the “lest thee be judged” part is another story. This part is a reminder to look at the reasons why we seek growth, evolution and development.

Why do we do what we do?

Past the intellectual reasons we come to feeling. If we consciously seek something other than what we have right now, then it is because the mind is not at peace with what is right now. “Better must be there, not here,” – this is the perception that we have created.

This is the “be judged” element. If over “there” is better, then over “here” is by implication just not good enough. Sound familiar? It’s the story that begins every journey of personal development. Buddha walked out of his palace because it just didn’t cut it, Mohammed went looking for his mountain, Moses thought his people deserved a better deal, even Jesus had a few complaints. By all accounts these guys could have judgment like an avalanche at times, but they got results, there’s little arguing with that.

The peace that seekers realize over the course of their journey comes as they gain a deeper understanding of their purpose. They begin to see that what they truly seek is lacking within themselves at deeper levels.

How do they realize this lack?

Judgment.

The more intense the drive is to create a better tomorrow, the more intense the agitation today. The trick however to maintaining direction is not necessarily to cut back on the drive, but to make peace with the agitation and intensity. This is the balance point of weaving growth within inner peace.

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Ascension, Enlightenment, Mastery, Meditation, Spirit, Truth, Unlimited Mind

Real Mastery – What is Self Mastery and How to Achieve It

Mastery needs to be recognized for what it is if it is to be reached. Many terms and concepts such as empowerment, enlightenment and mastery are bandied about these days and it seems almost popular not to define them at all, but to simply use them as romantic concepts. This is fine if we are to remain passive listeners to stories of spirituality. If on the other hand we wish to develop and experience spiritual understanding for ourselves, then we need to exercise our brains and refine and analyze exactly what these goals mean.

Real Mastery is about skill and ability. This statement encompasses the necessity that strength and discipline are also part of the skill set. Part of the romance of the later parts of the last century were that mastery has nothing to do with skill, but has more to do with being alright with being where we are. This mindset implies that whether we are growing or not, “it’s all good.” This is not real mastery. This is just passive acceptance and a reluctance to engage with perceptions of struggle, work and fear.

Real mastery is about control of the self. It is through skill and ability that we gain the opportunities to control the self. Without skill and ability we have no choice. We are like puppets. It is like a car with a broken steering wheel hurtling along the highway. The passengers have no choice, they must go where the car goes. Ability and skill, is development of choices. It is directly linked to control. When we have control we can move and act as we will. Control in itself is a subject in itself, but suffice to say for now, that what many of us mistake for control, is not control at all. Control is not repression or “keeping a stiff upper lip” this is just a reflection of inability or lack of skill. Control is not rehashing the same emotional patterns or personality traits over and over again. Control is choice. It is the ability and skill to choose this action or that action. With control, the higher consciousness actually gets a choice. Without control there is only the choice that seeks to avoid or repress fear.

It has been said that all babies are masters, but while this is certainly a romantic notion, it holds no logic in universal law. Babies for sure have an ability to learn and adapt at a fast rate, but they do not have control over their environment or survival. If they were left alone for a few days without food or water they would almost certainly die. If they were left without physical contact for too long then they fall apart emotionally. Babies are not masters, if they were we would not need to be so protective of them. If anything, babies are masters in the making. They are developing the abilities and skills necessary to have choices and control.

The path of mastery ends when we decide that what we have is “good enough”. This is the reason why many people do not fully develop their abilities and skills. They simply believe that they are “good enough.” Mastery requires the cultivation of an extremely critical mind. This is not a mind that simply denigrates everything, rather, it is a mind that tests all things and searches for flaws. It does not stop here however, simply seeking flaws without also seeking solutions is what a pessimist really is. The true critical mind seeks flaws in order to seek solutions. It destroys in order to create something better. It is transformation with purpose and meaning. This is how ability and skill progresses, by seeing what is lacking or could be improved and making it better.

The mindset of mastery does not fit with the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” mentality. The mindset of mastery fits more with the “let’s see if it breaks when I do this…and if it does, lets see if we can make it stronger.” Painful? More for the ego, than anything else, but it needs be understood that having regular scuffles with the ego keeps it in check. The ego needs to become accustomed to pain and bruising if it is to join the journey to mastery. The development of ability, skill and control will always be a thorn in the side of the ego, because it is only through being critical that conscious growth will take place. Denial makes many friends, truth is only interested in one. Luckily at the end of the day, this is the one friend that we will be able to count on to get the job done: our self. This is what mastery is about. It is about getting the “self” under control.

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Ascension, Enlightenment, Mastery, Truth, Unlimited Mind

Real Manifestation – How to Create Your Reality

Manifestation is creation. It encompasses all that we create, from a single thought, to a breath, footstep or dollar. For each creation there is a transformation of energy, there is expenditure, destruction and creation of form. These days in metaphysical circles it is becoming popular to think of manifestation as existing without needing to expend any effort at all. There has become such a separation between body and mind, that people believe that if any physical effort or action is implemented at all, that this is not real manifestation. This way of thinking simply limits the potential and reality of manifestation.

Manifestation is not about creating things without lifting a finger. Manifestation is just about creation – period. Mental, physical, spiritual – it’s all the same to a consciousness that is intent on getting real and tangible results in life. The belief that says that all manifestation has to happen without any effort is simply limiting all the other ways that creation could happen.

It is our definitions and beliefs about work and effort that are getting in the way here. How can manifestation be working if I need to labor for 40 hours to get it done? The real question is: why is 40 hours for a manifestation wrong? Ah! Because I should be sitting on my couch waiting for enlightenment, a new car, fame and fortune to come knocking my door down!

The guiding principle of manifestation is to imprint the pattern of achievement into our consciousness. This pattern then communicates with our world with the language of achievement. If this language is saying: “I am master of my destiny, but only if I don’t need to do a thing,” then what is being broadcast loud and clear is that this goal really isn’t worth it. True intent is not about “I don’t want to lift to finger or get my hands dirty.” True intent is about “there’s my goal, let nothing not even heaven or hell stand in my way.” With an intention like that the language being communicated is entirely different. The world understands that we are serious about our goals, that sensations, emotions and feelings aren’t going to hold us back. More importantly, our own consciousness understands that we are serious. It is this kind of mindset that makes providence move mountains for us. It is also a mindset that cannot be faked. Denial is one thing – continual lack of results is hard to ignore.

We need to shift our minds from being attached to concepts and slogans, to looking at results. Legions of philosophy, spirituality and theory die in their very first steps when asked to provide results.

All manifestation, whether spiritual, financial, emotional, physical or otherwise has a logical process and practice that delivers it. If results are lacking, it is because the process is missing something. It may be something on the mental level, it may be something on the physical, it may be information and knowledge, it may be action and discipline. Real manifestation occurs when we recognize the process and structures that need to be linked and in place and then respond appropriately. The real reason that manifestation fails or is only partially realized is because limiting beliefs prevent us from seeing the opportunities and understanding that we can enter into them. This is all. Manifestation is simple. It becomes more complicated with each and every condition that we place on it. Being open to all the ways that creation may come, means that we need to destroy all the beliefs that would stand in creation’s way.

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Emotional Healing, Enlightenment, Life Purpose, Mastery, Motivation, Unlimited Mind

Inner Strength – Activate the Internal Power of Your Mind to Conquer your Destiny

Inner strength is the ability that prevents us from being corrupted by powers such as knowledge, information, sensation and opportunity. Without inner strength we will be drawn only to experiences that bring us pleasure and run from those that cause us pain. The journey will change from one that once sought truth and freedom, to one that seeks only to satisfy the senses. The path becomes a path of addiction rather than a path of truth.

The path of truth is a path that actively seeks truth. It is not about increasing and feeding our illusions. It is about purifying the mind and our perceptions to seeing through those illusions.

Spirit is not limited to only existing in pleasure – it exists everywhere and in everything.

Enlightenment is not confined only to feeling powerful, spiritual or expansive. It is about truth –the truth that “light” exists in all things.

Our definition of spirit, empowerment, unconditional love and truth becomes extremely limited when we isolate their existence to only a few select experiences and emotions. This is not truth. It is illusion.

Purification is training the mind to understand this truth, and it is strength that allows us to stay on our path when we are beset on all sides by sensory temptations.

The vigilance required for purification is not about denying pleasure or pain, it is about purifying regardless of the perception of pleasure or pain. When the attachment to these elements within the mind is purified, the experience of suffering, craving and aversion diminishes and is released.

This is the aspect that has corrupted many masters to be. It is no exaggeration that the path to truth has claimed the mental corpses of many who have started out with a firm and resolute vision, but then when illusions of power beckoned, the craving was too much and they gave in to their sensory reactions and impulses.

Each time we buckle under to illusion, we are creating obstacles and blocks to truth.

Inner strength may be moved or swayed, but always returns to the true path.

When we look at ourselves and say “only this is spiritual and all that is not,” then we are looking for a spirituality that is conditional and that does not understand oneness. This path is actively choosing ignorance over understanding.

Understanding is about seeing separation and then working out ways to perceive unity.

Choosing ignorance is about seeing separation and then working out ways to justify that separation.

These are the very reasons why we believe that people who are different are wrong. These are the very reasons why we believe that enlightenment must occur anywhere but here and now.

Strength is what keeps us here and now.

Without strength we flit from one craving to another like a puppet – completely unable to control our reactions. This is the path to self-corruption. It is the path that seeks more separation instead of unity, oneness and understanding.

It is only when we are strong that we can look the puppet master in the eye and not be swayed in the least. This is the strength that allows us to stay resolute on a path of truth.

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Enlightenment, Intuition, Unlimited Mind

The True Inner Critic – Empowering Enlightenment through the Master Consciousness and Mind

Evolution only has meaning when we decide to imbue our choices and purpose with meaning. The integration point is the point where survival on this planet connects with our inner truth. Survival is necessary. Where we take it from here is up to us. We have decided that survival extends to having the right type of lifestyle, the right job, the right car, the right partner, the right house, the right watch, the right holiday and so on. During this time we decide that we’ll put off the inner truth part. After all there’s always time for that later isn’t there?

We shift our mind into critical mode, but it is different from the critical consciousness of our true essence. Instead of refining and seeking the elements that are most congruent with our true self, we create a critical mind that seeks ways to find gratification through the eyes of society, the image and the esteem that we find in the eyes of friends and family. We learn to play a game of painting the right picture and saying the right lines. All along the true critical mind goes to sleep.

We need to put the true critical mind to sleep during this time, because if it woke up it would be asking us with very little subtlety why we decided to become so daft. Accepting adoration through having a certain car or sports jacket? Tilting our noses up when we walk past people that we secretly want approval from? What is this game that we are playing, the true critical mind would ask – and why haven’t we finished with it yet?

It would point out with no concern for our attempt at ignorance that trying to win approval and self-worth from others was only an affirmation of our own need for approval, and so in fact was an affirmation of self-worth issues. It would then go on to inquire as to why we were kicking this dead horse.

The true inner critic isn’t about beating us up gratuitously. It is actually about taking apart everything that doesn’t work and fixing it so that it does. In short its about results.

Not getting the approval we need from our new shoes? Well how about bypassing the fashion sector and plugging in direct to the heart center? Want respect from our peers and colleagues? May or may not happen – but how about giving it to ourselves instead?

Results. The true inner critic cares little for the way of image and illusions. The true inner critic is about truth. What will truly bring happiness, worth, empowerment and meaning. With this goal firmly fixed it moves through flaws and fixtures without mercy and tears them apart. If we scramble to put our image back together then this just indicates to our true inner critic that we’re not so comfortable being naked and it has no problem prodding us and asking us why? Further more it wants to know how we can expect to become strong or at the very least attain a certain level of happiness if we just bundle our fears and insecurities up under the rug.

After a certain amount of time – weeks, years, decades we find new ways to get around our inner critic, we find ways of re-talking and affirming new directions. Counters and counter-counters – but the heart of the issue remains as true as it ever was.

The truth is patient. Denial on the other hand is forever desperate, for it knows that all it takes is one wrong turn, a slip up – and all fakery is revealed. Through this gap comes the true inner critic. Here comes the psychological beating that we have been running from for so long! But instead we turn and face it – and listen. We listen openly and we listen and feel for the part of the inner critic that is truth. We see to the part that looks beyond punishment to the source, to the very core and reason of its existence. The true inner critic has a purpose. This purpose is to see through the illusions of all that is not congruent with inner peace, real self-worth, happiness and empowerment. In truth it does not need to destroy anything. It simply prompts us to see – and in seeing we realize the flaws and limitations of illusion. That is all that is needed. That picture speaks a millions words. It tells the story of hope and exploration. It reminds us why we set out on this adventure of discovery in the first place. It wasn’t for half-baked dreams and easy compromises. It was to find real happiness, real peace and real power.

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Enlightenment, Esoteric Alchemy, Realization, Unlimited Mind

The Zero Point – The Ultimate Manifestation Power

The zero point is a state of consciousness where no distance exists. This means that the beginning exists within the end, awareness exists with ignorance and power exists with impotence. The reason that this state is so powerful is due to the fact that healing, manifestation and empowerment can occur instantly. There is no pause between here and there, because here and there exist in the same point.

For all things to exist in the same point is to mean that all things are one. It is this unity that allows mind, body and spirit to be one. It is this unity that allows the Shaman to become the wolf. It is this unity that allowed Nicola Tesla to be the mind of technology.

Embracing destruction is important in order to experience the zero point because without destruction we will not conquer our limiting beliefs and emotions. Destruction provides room for movement or creation. Creation creates experience which then opens the way for reflection and observation, which then paves the way for further destruction and refinement.

The zero point consciousness is found through destroying all that is separate. The more that unity is created, the more that separation is destroyed. The creative phase appears as a result of this. Although energy is not actually destroyed, the form, essence and the meaning that it represents can be.

Zero point consciousness has the potential to completely destroy the form, essence and meaning of energies.

It is this power that makes it so valuable to healers and adepts of all kinds. This power is also the reason why complete zero point consciousness can usually only be accessed by those that have spent the time and done the work stretching and conditioning their mind. The conditioning of the mind ensures that along with power, the adept also has control and perception.

Certain technologies and psychedelic drugs are able to connect the mind and body to a relatively strong zero point consciousness and many realizations can be had in this state. There is however no real control, since the very tools that determine control are the faculties that are used to develop a firm and measured grasp on zero point consciousness from scratch.

The massive difference is whether it is the zero point that directs us or us that directs the zero point.

Having the power to manifest and make powerful connections instantly may sound great, but the ramifications are huge if we are not in control. A mind that is unable to focus or manage its many emotional states can and will create more pain and suffering for itself when it has the power to do so. Just as a healer can transpose a diseased state, zero point consciousness can also bring on a diseased state.

The experience is completely different when all the supporting muscles of the mind and consciousness have been developed, and it is the very development that takes place when training with control to connect to zero point that develops these muscles. This provides the ability to create, sustain and manage the profound amounts of energy involved.

This planet has been littered with the corpses of minds eager for spiritual quick fixes and answers, but not willing or knowing enough to do the work required to get these. The answers have always been the same. Lack of control leads to power out of control.

Zero point consciousness is a destination of profound value. This value is only truly open to us when we develop it through the use of our own faculties and senses. It is only then, that we have the control and perception to direct it.

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Enlightenment, Intuition, Mastery, Meditation, Realization, Truth, Unlimited Mind

The Power of Perception – The Key to Mastering Reality

Power without perception has no true value. In the first, without perception, we will not even know power to exist. In the second if our perception is not up to scratch we’ll not know what to do with it. Perception is vision and clarity. It is seeing the big picture but also remembering the small details. When we have perception the ways and methods of power become simple and clear. As a result this type of power has profound value.

Clarity brings the ability to understand the why and how of things. The why and the how are the nuts and bolts of reality. When we can see how and why they hold everything together, we can loosen a nut here and tighten a bolt there or make everything come crashing down and perhaps build a new structure.

Perception and clarity also clears out all the superfluous garbage from our minds and body. Instead of wasting time and energy juggling meaningless variables and theories, we just take in the whole in a glance and see exactly what needs to be done to affect everything. Obviously this attribute is valuable for everything from healing to meditation and manifestation.

There are two fundamental directions that perception can move toward: inward and outward. By maintaining awareness at the sense doors where the external and the internal meet it, we are able to understand the interaction between both. Working with the creative and destructive cycles, the point of transformation occurs within this point. Moving into this point allows for a deeper perception of creation and destruction. The loop or cycle of transformation become tighter as creation and destruction begin to occur swifter, each taking the place of the other in rapid succession. Look for the point where both exist simultaneously and observe for a still point. This still point of zero point provides a completely different space from the reality of creation and destruction. It stands apart and is unaffected by cause and effect and yet its presence and acknowledgement affects all around it. This is they entry point into the void, stillness and eternity. It is through this infinite well that healers and magicians attempt to transpose reality.

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Enlightenment, Paths of Power, Unlimited Mind

The Power of Destruction ~ Transforming Towards Enlightenment

Destruction is the cleansing aspect of the transformation cycle. It is a changing of the old that makes room for the new. Spiritual destruction flows from universal consciousness and is integrated into our actions and intent by the way that we would choose to evolve ourselves and the planet that we interact with.

There has not been a single consciousness on this planet that sought change that did not also embrace destruction.

Gautama the Buddha created destruction when he chose to leave the cycle of suffering. Each vibration of this master would decimate the emotions of hate, anger and fear. Jesus created destruction when he chose to bring the wisdom of God to this planet. Even in his tortured death he had the ability to choose love and forgiveness.

Each of these masters brought profound and dramatic change to our world – beliefs, understandings, ways of life – all were destroyed and then created anew. The presence of these beings destroyed and created more than all the wars in the last 500 years put together. Their legacy lives on because the waves that they made while they were here, were made in stone. They called to the parts of us that resonated with the messages of universal truth – and when all was said and done we realized their messages as being worthy of religion.

To this day thousands of years after their physical incarnations on this planet, we still reflect, analyze and strive to understand the paths that these masters walked. Their steps left waves where the rest of us left the smallest of ripples – and yet they would remind us that we too were just like them.

The resounding attribute that all pioneers, masters-to-be and explorers have is their willingness to embrace their purpose. It is understanding this purpose that allows them to destroy and ultimately transform those aspects of themselves that would limit and hold them back.

Mastery is about directing the tides of change. These directions bring a deliberate and conscious guiding of where destruction is to take place – and where creation is to flow. These vibrations of change which may begin at the subtlest level as thoughts and feelings, gain solidity when they become congruent with the energies and frequencies of the physical plane. All expression interacts with its environment and in this moment of meeting the transformation elicits a destructive phase as well as a creative one. Mastery is the art of playing the smallest of ripples and guiding them into the perfect cycles of destruction and creation.

Energies of hate, anger and frustration speak to us and it is our understanding of these languages that allows us to understand the essence of our true inner self. Hatred does not exist when we are completely in love with who we are and in exploring the areas where we hate, we can come to discover and reconcile these parts. Similarly, frustration and anger do not form into these intensities when our cells are able to experience a consciousness and a mind and body that is able to create a reality with true meaning and purpose. These emotional energies speak to us of destruction. They are asking for change – inner change. When we change the way that we receive and communicate with ourselves, then our reality changes. Our experiences and purpose become meaningful in a positive way. This shift in attitude is both powerful and profound. It makes the difference between a consciousness that is passionate and inspired to live and one that is not.

It is the need and action that initiates change that destroys and it is the need and action that perceives a better way that initiates creation. The destruction needs to be understood and accepted if the creation and transformation is to be had.

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Enlightenment, Mastery, Realization, Unlimited Mind

Self Mastery ~ Become the Master of Your Own Destiny

Mastery is developed when we learn to understand all aspects of consciousness. Depth and expansion is gained from striving to reach into the unknown. Exploring that which has not been explored and learning to create understanding and wisdom.

Realization is a process of shedding layers of perception. Perspective and consciousness grows by the depth and expansion gained from moving through those layers. It is a highly creative and focused process. Each layer of perception that we move through requires that we grasp and then let go. We let go each time that our mind realizes that what we knew to be reality, was not in fact all there was to reality. We grasp each time we stretch our minds and expand our perception. We strive to learn more, then let go of this striving.

The practice of realization can and will be real hard work at times, but it is this work that bears the fruits of real joy, inner peace and love.

The human magnetism at this time, particularly where spirituality is concerned needs to get over the belief that spirituality is all about being effortless, instant and easy. Sure, this reality exists, but it is an extremely limited one as far as experiencing enlightenment, empowerment or inner peace. The path of finding easy answers is a path that separates the emotions of patience from impatience, frustration from peace and discipline from apathy. It is this very separation that will keep us from experiencing that true power is found in unity. If we seek real empowerment and enlightenment yet run from impatience, frustration and apathy, then we are running in the wrong direction. We must expose the power buried within these energy states – it is only then that the illusion is lifted. Otherwise we are like puppets being controlled by strings. The path of mastery would cut these strings forever – and forever as always, starts here and now.

Understanding what opportunities hold real power for us is the first step in experiencing real power. All through time masters and teachers have understood the power of developing patience, persistence and self-discipline. At the same time they faced their impatience, their frustrations and their desires for power and glory. The very basics of their training involved facing these emotions, looking them square in the eye, feeling the fire fully, yielding in mind, but in spirit not an inch. This training would always separate those that sought quick and easy answers and those that truly were committed to the path of mastery. Those that could not face their impatience, their desire for instant answers and frustrations had shut the door on themselves.

When we turn away from our impatience, frustration and aversion to hard practice we also lose the opportunity to master these aspects. Not only this, but we have not even begun to develop the most basic attribute of mastery – control. If we cannot control our mind in spite of our impatience, frustrations and aversions then the battle is over before it has even begun. Much spiritual marketing would have us believe that mastery, enlightenment and empowerment can be bought and achieved without any undue strain or effort. This simple lie can be dissolved simply by understanding spiritual logic:

Enlightenment is only achieved by bringing light to the dark.

Mastery is only achieved by understanding and developing control of those aspects that would control us.

As long as we hide from our weaknesses then our weaknesses are free to control us through our subconscious. Empowerment is not simply a rush of endorphins running through the body or some affirmations that we are in fact enlightened already. Empowerment is a systematic and highly logical process of exploring, observing and listening for free form energy within our mind, body and spirit. This process requires persistence and the ability to be true and sincere because in our exploration we can and will find aspects that challenge us deeply. The very act of committing to a daily, regular routine of self-work is in itself going to bring up “stuff.” It doesn’t need to be a big deal, but it becomes a big deal when we run away from this “stuff” day after day and year after year. After a while we become very practiced at running away, but have no idea of how to stand our ground.

Control is developed when we choose to face each aspect that would challenge us. Discipline is developed when these choices are made repeatedly. Mastery is made when we meet those parts with complete understanding and strength.

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