“In the shadow of Oneness, you’ll discover that the very things that have threatened your sanity ensure your liberation.”
I like the shadows and darkness. Balance is so important. I embrace my darkness so my light will shine!!
“All beauty contains darkness.”
— Daniel Odier“
You cannot cause a shadow to disappear by trying to fight it, by stamping on it, by railing against it, or by any other form of emotional or physical resistance. In order to cause a shadow to disappear, you must shine light on it.”
— Shakti Gawain
“One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.”
— Carl Jung
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Exercise
In Goethe’s words: “Where there is much light, the shadow is deep.” Today’s practice is the first in a series of ten that will guide and support your descent into the shadow of Oneness. In your movement toward an expanded consciousness of Oneness, the opposite experience has most likely appeared. This is none other than the shadow of Oneness, which creates a mood of “unlove” and separation. These are areas within your psyche and life that are constricted and potentially frozen in fear, judgment, lack, limitation, or grievance. However, they’re being presented to you now for transformation: for mending, healing, purification, and integration. This is a natural and crucial part of the journey. In fact, the awareness of the shadow is one of the primary intentions in order to heal and liberate those aspects of your being.When your personal “Oneness curriculum” appears, it’s certainly time for celebration, for the Divine is taking you at your word. And through your disciplined presence and practice, the possibility for true and lasting transformation and illumination is at hand.
Today’s practice requires that you find 45 to 60 minutes to become still, open, and reflective. Find a quiet room where you can begin this sacred journey into your shadow. Bring a candle, a journal, a pen, and a glass of water with you. Your intention is to make the darkness within you conscious. Facing your shadow and realizing the ways it reflects the collective shadow are important. Commit to doing so with trust, humility, and surrender; and you’ll soon discover another level of unconditional compassion for yourself and the world.
In the shadow of Oneness, you’ll discover that the very things that have threatened your sanity ensure your liberation. This is where the poison you’ve been ingesting becomes the medicine that will heal you. This is your salvation and return to wholeness—the great alchemy into which you are plunged.
Begin your practice today by taking several deep and cleansing breaths. Light a candle with the intention of viewing your shadow with the full power and presence of God. Do so with clarity, courage, and compassion. Spend several minutes in prayerful silence, reflecting on the following passage by Jesus from the Gospel of Thomas: “If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you.”
Take out your journal or a few pieces of paper. Ask for Divine guidance to assist you in bringing your personal “shadow of Oneness curriculum” to the surface. Reflect and write brief responses and notations to the following questions:
1. What core fears and limiting beliefs keep me isolated from the good that’s here for me?
2. What are my most painful and harsh judgments about myself, others, and the world?
3. What grievances am I holding against myself, others, and the world?
4. Where am I sowing seeds of darkness and separation?
5. What am I now ready to acknowledge about myself that I haven’t been willing to see before?
6. How are my own inner war and terrorism reflected in outer wars and acts of terrorism in the world?
7. What is ready to be healed and restored in Oneness?
8. What darkness needs to be illuminated so I can live my life in greater wholeness and in living Oneness?
Allow your answers to arise in your consciousness with grace and ease. Trust and accept everything with compassion. Practice maitr?—the Sanskrit world meaning “unconditional friendship with oneself.” Breathe in and out, and accept yourself unconditionally. Write down enough information so that you can use it in future practices.
For today, your only need is to allow all insights to present themselves. Deeply trust this process. Have faith that the Divine will show you what needs to transform and heal. Pay attention to your life, for the clues are right in front of you. Everything you need to know about your shadow is appearing now: within your conflicts, your relationships, your struggles, and your judgments. Be willing to look and see. Be willing to embrace all aspects of yourself. Be willing to live a life of wholeness and Oneness.
Affirmation
I AM entering the shadow of Oneness with courage and clarity, shining light on the lost and forgotten parts of my being.
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