Know Thyself

"The sense of separation from God is the only lack you really need correct. This sense of separation would never have arisen if you had not distorted your perception of truth, and thus perceived yourself as lacking."

Enlightened masters have been trying to help us through this illusion for centuries. The stronger we are invested in our identity, the more we seem to suffer in this journey called earth. Why is this? When our identity rules our thoughts, actions and life, we are always striving to protect ourselves from harm and loss. Our identity is simply a construct of our mind. It is not who we really are, but rather a definition of who we are. Our identity has one main goal: to survive at all costs. It thinks it has to be separate to survive. This is a product of our mind, not our heart. The stronger the need for our identity to survive, the greater the need to protect, defend, attack, be right, exaggerate, deny or be the constant center of attention. This strong attachment to identity creates a kind of grasping that siphons the creative and divine force from our being and life. It keeps us in fear and the rigor of high drama.

How do we solve this conundrum of being a singular individual who makes a living, pays the bills, parents the kids, diets, jogs, watches suicide bombers, hurricanes and thirteen year olds killing their class mates on T.V., while trying to hold down the pain of all we have had to endure as a humans? How do we go through all of this and keep our hearts open?

It is quite amazing when you truly absorb how much people endure as humans. Yet the Buddhists claim that each incarnation is the most incredible gift to be treasured above all. So maybe Marley has it right: The singularity of every man and woman is Jah's gift. We are here to claim our personal journey. When we are courageously willing to go deep enough in our personal journey, we access the universal. We can't jump over our self. The journey is always within. It is the willingness to be fully who we are by being fully present in every moment of what life brings that gives us strength. When we are willing to embrace all that we are, the tight hold of our identity begins to unravel and we know in our heart that we are part of everything. How can we rise above our self if we don't truly know our self? The ancient oracle Rune of Mannaz (The Self) states:

"A correct relationship to your self is primary, for from it flow all possible correct relationships with others and with the Divine….the first counsel is to Know thyself."

The deeper we know and accept our self, the more we let go. When we discover what is unique and singular in our journey, we claim our gifts and joy. We live a life of sacred passion and fulfillment. We accept who we are for what we are with no excuses or explanations. We know and accept our strengths and shortcomings. When we hide from our self, we never find peace for there is always something lurking and waiting to come forward. Then all of life becomes about denial and keeping our demons at bay. It takes an incredible amount of energy to keep repressing what we fear in our selves. When we willingly explore, know and accept all that we are, we begin to let go of the tight grasp of our identity for there is nothing to prove. We rest into the graceful knowing that we are indeed okay. Nothing is hidden. Our heart opens. We open to God's love. We realize that we are truly part of God. This lifts all fear and anxiety, for we know that we can constantly co-create with God as our partner in the divine dance of life. We fall in love with God and our self. Then our singularity becomes a joining rather than dividing force. We get bigger than ourselves because we are not constantly constrained by the box of our mind's identity. We can continually change, grow and recreate. There are no limitations. We are available to life and others in a way that is not needy or codependent. Because we have all of our selves and all of God available to us, we have a tremendous amount to give. What a joy life becomes when we throw back our shoulders, open our arms and glide on the wings of grace and acceptance into all that life has to offer.

Ann Holdreith offers an ongoing Tuesday evening Spiritual Emergency class. She has taught her Fire Seed workshop to ignite the creative power of the Authentic Self since 1987. She offers private healing and coaching sessions, and is a certified Theta healer, professional artist, performer and published poet. Her new book, Fire Seed, Igniting the Passion and Power of Your Authentic Self is available at: www.annholdreith.com. You can reach her at (248) 583-7765 or aholdreith@sbcglobal.net.