Dr. Amit Goswami, a quantum physicist, posits that consciousness is not an epiphenomenon of the brain but it is the ground of being. All things, including us, emanate from consciousness.  He calls this downward causation and subscribes a causal capacity to consciousness. He goes one step further to say that the relationship between all things is one of tangled hierarchy – meaning that the effect of influence is circular in nature. This is significant when we consider creating our reality and healing.

When we view anything in our world, we perceive it as an object to us. Meaning in the subject-object model, I am the subject and all other things are objects. We run into a bit of a problem with this model because each individual person believes that they are the subject and all other things objects. This conundrum is resolved by describing our experience as an illusion. It is illusory because, with consciousness as the ground of being, we are all objects and the Infinite is the subject. Enlightened beings move past this object-subject split to unity, where they encounter the divine. They move past the conceptual to know experientially that We Are All One.

The tangled hierarchical relationship that we have with consciousness means that we may influence our reality. How do we do this? We can influence our lives in powerful ways by elevating our consciousness and transcending the ego. Not by completing removing the ego but by using it to experience the divine. We (individuals) cannot singularly create our reality because we try to do this from the ego. Ordinary consciousness cannot manifest in the physical world because at this level, we are the created, not creator. It is only by moving into unity with the divine can we truly access genuine creativity and insights.

Deepak Chopra give a great summary (4 minutes) of consciousness as the ground of being here.

Recognize that the observer (me or you) is actually the observed.

The ego is vital in the preparation to leap into non-ordinary states of consciousness by being still and full of awareness. The ego is equally important when we are manifesting the insights obtained while in unity with consciousness.  It is through these creative insights from the quantum field that we can influence and co-create our reality. I call it co-creation because from the perspective of the ego, we are separate from Source. In truth, we are the creators of our experience because we are one and the same with Source. Once we achieve union with the Infinite, we access unlimited creativity, health and love. It is where the unmanifested becomes the manifested. The object becomes the subject. And it is because of the ego that the individual can transcend it to experience the divine.

Meditation is the tool that we can use to move past our perceived separateness and into wholeness. It is no wonder that mediation has been practiced for thousands of years and it will be the catalyst for the evolution of the collective consciousness. The mental, physical and spiritual benefits of meditation are proven but not widely accepted or known. Once the general population establishes a meditative practice and aligns themselves with the intention of the Infinite, we will finally see large-scale change because we will be manifesting at great speeds and with a deeper purpose.

Stillness, contemplation and reflection are no longer reserved for monks, the cloistered or followers of the New Age. They are a necessity for our evolution. We can no longer ignore that consciousness is the ground of being. It is everywhere and permeates everything. To connect with the Infinite is to finally understand who you are and the purpose of your life.  It is the place where the created becomes the creator and in the stillness is where our divinity meets with the Divine.

Chaos of this intensity is often a call to change. It is the opportunity to let go of your current conditions and material affinities and trust that something greater is being created for you. It truly is a time of trust. The amount of destruction and upheaval that you experience is beyond the limits of earthly power and can only be attributed to the Infinite. Remember, Source is everywhere and in everything. Although the disguise is powerful, the Infinite is in the chaos. It is a reordering of your life so that you may more fully express your true nature.

Sometimes, the chaos can be so overwhelming that we lose sight of the gift it brings. We can become lost. In our confusion, we may find ourselves in the midst of one of life’s most powerful alchemical experiences – the dark night of the soul. This is a period of incubation and transformation where we are seemingly left alone. During this time, we lose touch with the Divine (or perceive it that way) and feel the intense silence of our life. Creativity, enthusiasm for life and achievement are all stagnated. To endure the dark night of the soul is to become reflective, patient and trusting. Like the caterpillar, which cocoons itself to change into the butterfly, the dark night is the experience of alchemical transformation for our spirit. It teaches us not only to trust in the Infinite but also to develop spiritual fortitude.

The end of chaos will end just as quickly as it came. In a moment of realization, we will again be conscious of our connection with the Infinite. Remember that in the midst of chaos you are never more closely held by God. Life will begin to move along in new directions, with fresh ideas and a better understanding of who you really are. Chaos brings change and through its destruction initiates growth. Your spiritual transformation and growth during these chaotic times are hidden gifts to be treasured a lifetime.

These pointers of change are gifts. They are the opportunities to change the way we live life. The feelings that we should have done better are really the motivations that we can do better. Should have’s are two scary words. They speak to the past and we have no creative power there. We have influence on our present and on our experiences in the future. Let these feelings be your guide to choosing something that is more aligned with who you are. Let your decisions today be made from this better understanding of self. In life there are no regrets just greater wisdom and understanding. Find the gratitude for all your experiences because they brought you here to this very moment. In this moment, you have all the grace and guidance needed to choose an even greater path. Choose wisely.

This is a powerful lesson to learn. When we come to understand that our identity is not determined by the experiences of our life, it helps to create a space. That space allows for us to be unaffected by the conditions of our lives. You are not your job, you’re not the neighborhood you live in or the relationship you wish to get out of. These experiences are impersonal and subjective; they cannot define you because they are not forever, only your soul is infinite, so do not take ownership of them. This space also gives room for life events to pass you by, without having any impact on your sense of being. So when the situation changes, for better or for worse, your own sense of identity will not be shaken. When we learn that we are not our life circumstances, we can start to view our life from a higher altitude or from a greater perspective. You are no longer bound by a limiting belief of who you are and with that, you can easily change the conditions that no longer serve you.

Keeping a space between yourself and your situation alters how you experience your life. You no longer take things so personally. Tragic or painful events don’t have such devastating impacts on your sense of wellbeing. Life becomes more joyous because you realize that your true nature, your spirit, remains the same in the midst of change. You begin to understand that it is not the external events of your life that determine your state of being, but your reaction to them. We can choose how we react to every detail of life. Consider the impact of this: you get to choose how you will experience life or how you will be in life, regardless of the situation you find yourself in.

Appearances can be deceiving. By consciously choosing how you will respond to something creates an opening for you to give it any meaning. Remember, the meaning you give to your life’s circumstances define who you are. With this understanding, one cannot help but be grateful for every experience because each one affords us the opportunity to declare who we are. Gratitude is the divine grace that has the alchemical power to transform your life. When you can find something to be thankful for, in any situation, that gratitude will change how you experience any situation and transform the way you live in this world.

Why do we compare ourselves to others? The ego always needs to perceive itself as “better than” something or someone else. It will continuously scan the environment to assess where it fits in…is it better or worse? The comparisons can be of almost anything: status, physical appearance, material possessions, intellect or education. Or they can be even more nonsensical such as who pays less in rent, who has the most friends on Facebook or who stayed out later last Friday night.

Judgments are simply misinformed, often negative opinions of others, that establish someone as right and the other as wrong.  Most times, it is the ego that deems itself as the standard that everyone is not living up to. Some judgments are easy to identify – we may judge the homeless begging for money or the clothes someone wears to a party as unflattering and unfashionable. But other judgments can be more difficult to detect. They are found when we refuse to sympathize with someone’s situation or when we get upset with a friend’s behavior. When we judge others for how they spend their money, the quality of their relationships with others or how they choose to spend their free time, we are declaring that we are right and they are wrong.

We judge because our ego feels threatened. It does not want others to find success, live in unconventional ways or challenge the status quo. We rationalize these criticisms as personal preferences or opinions, but they are subtle declarative statements the ego uses to maintain its self-perceived importance and superiority.

Sometimes the judgments are turned inwards when the threatened ego feels inferior to another. We can become our own worst critic and self-deprecating thought patterns keep us from authentically connecting with others. When we judge ourselves as worse than someone else (or better than another), it means that we believe our self worth to be dependent on another people. It is a pointer to a belief that you alone are not enough and the ego needs other people to create and justify it’s own identity.

The anecdote to the endless comparing and judging is through presence and awareness. It is found in a way of being that could be described as simple, unaffected humanity. It is simple in that all you need to do is be aware. Place your awareness on your thoughts and gently letting them pass by. Be aware of the mental judging and criticizing of others and let them go. And place your attention on all of the comparisons you make of others that never really amount to anything.

Be unaffected. Unaffected is achieved by releasing all judgments and letting others be as they are. Remember, it is not the action, status or material possession of another that affects us but rather our reaction to it. Our reaction not only defines us, but it impacts our physical, mental and vital bodies. Lastly, be the humanity you seek in the world. Let your perception of the world be colored with compassion and empathy. Know your worth and look for the worthiness in others. Simple, unaffected humanity is a way to be in this world that gives rise and space for all others, including you, to live in gentle peace.

I imagine that the breeze at dawn to be a time of perfect stillness. Have you ever been awoken in the middle of the night…sometime around 3 a.m. and felt the deep quiet and peace all around you? It has been said that in these early morning hours we are closest to spirit because our minds have slowed to near stillness. The solitude of night is a perfect opportunity to connect with the Infinite.

For me, the breeze at dawn can be taken to represent any time of day that we can quiet our minds to be receptive to the inner calling and creative insights of the divine. Whenever we can create a space of solitude and peace, that is where we can commune with our highest self.

What secrets are held in the peaceful dawn? They are the insights and creative impulses imbued by Spirit. Secrets that tell of instruction or knowledge that is for your heart to reflect upon and your soul to put into action. In this passage, the breeze is waiting for the ego to quiet so that the secrets can be revealed. It is in the stillness that we gain clarity over confusion, or resolve problems that seemed too complicated in the light of day.

The imagery of a breeze is fitting for these insights. Breezes are soft, almost intangible and cannot be contained. Much like the guidance from our higher self, they can be fleeting or even go unnoticed. But once we receive the guidance, it is our duty to explore, share and create from the gift of inspiration. The more that we spend time in communion with our higher self, the more comfortable and accustomed we become to the quality of its message. We become more easily attuned to the softness and subtleties of this communication. We will come to realize that our soul is much more persistent and substantial than the distraction of the mind.

We are encouraged not to go back to sleep. If we are literally awoken in the early morning, we are being called to listen to the message of our spirit. This may have been the only time that the mind is quiet enough to receive the guidance of the soul. Symbolically, I think that the encouragement to remain awake is a reminder to continue the practice of mindfulness and stillness throughout the day. Once our consciousness has been stirred and raised, we would be wise to accept our newly discovered way of being. Let us cultivate a life guided by intuition, consciousness and divine purpose. The question for you to consider is – in the midst of the night, when the breeze calls, what is it saying to you?

grace & gratitude,

Kevin

Belief structure creates a filter through which chaos is sifted into order”.

~ Frank Herbert, author

When we find ourselves envious – the feeling is a declaration to the world that we believe Life is limited and finite. Think back to a time that you were jealous of someone’s new clothes or job opportunity. Why did the feeling of jealousy show up? What do the new clothes symbolize for you? For some people, they are a symbol of abundance.  They fear not getting their fair share because, for them, abundance is limited (ironically the very opposite of abundance). When we live life from a perception of scarcity, we can easily be threatened when someone gets a new pair of jeans or buys a new condo.  It’s as though they have taken from the pile and now there is one less to be had.

The second lesson jealousy has to teach us is that it points to the belief that our self worth is derived from external things or conditions. When someone buys a new home, new clothes or takes a vacation and we become envious of them, it is because we believe self worth can be bought. To the threatened ego, when someone purchases something new or gets anything else of perceived value, it feels diminished. The ego is always comparing itself to others and it will feel less valuable when others boosting their esteem with material possessions.

Jealousy is a great indicator that we are caught up in the illusion that esteem is built from external sources. True self worth could never be diminished by the coming or going of material objects. Such trivial and passing boosts to the ego are nothing more than cosmetic, circumstantial episodes of passing happiness. They are fleeting at best and it requires comparison to another who must be judged as worse off.  True self worth and esteem remain intact regardless of external circumstances. Jealousy can be used as a friendly reminder that we have moved away from our very nature. It can be a guide back to us, back to a person who knows their worth and a person who is rooted in esteem.

grace & gratitude,

Kevin

We have a complex relationship with the art of nothingness because it defies what our culture says is valuable. Our initial response to anything that does not add value to our resume or bolster our reputation is “why do it?” I believe that the ego has a real disdain for simple acts of being – meditation, self-reflection or relaxing walks because the mind is asked to quiet down. The ego is uncomfortable with the quiet, trying to convince you that the incessant commentary running through your head is a necessity. Even exercises like yoga, tai chi and qigong are refuted by the ego for their apparent lack of benefits.

The Italians have a fitting expression: il dolce far niente – the sweetness of doing nothing. Life is meant to be sweet but most of us are much too focused on the doing to enjoy it. We forget that the Universe and all that it contains rely on balance to sustain it. For every action, there is a reaction. To have hot, there must be the experience of cold. Yang must be balanced with yin. We forget that the micro (our bodies) is like the macro (the world). We need balance to be in harmony. With all of the focus on the active, it is no wonder that people find themselves feeling depleted, stressed out and overtaxed. The push for greater achievement creates an imbalance in our life. With such focus on doing, we may miss the opportunity and the necessity of rest. The value of nothingness lies in its ability to rejuvenate and replenish. It fuels the flow of Life by creating a space for the ebb.

When we take the time to reflect or contemplate – by way of slowing down and being mindful, we are better able to access a higher source of energy, insight and resolution. The very nature of nothing is like an empty cup, waiting to be filled. There will be times when it is beneficial, if not necessary to empty your cup consciously in order to make room for something else. Longer stretches of nothingness are like periods of incubation. The alchemical process of Life takes place in the yin aspect of your being in preparation for the outward, active expression of yang. In times of stillness, we can allow the divine to reorder our lives in extraordinary ways. God does not need your permission to change your life but in the active side of nothingness, we work in unison with the divine.

The sweetness of doing nothing can be found in calming the mind to allow our subconscious to evaluate thoughts, feeling and perceptions missed by our conscious state. One of my favorite things to do to bring about stillness is a walking meditation. During my walk, I keep to being a silent observer, refraining from labeling or judging anything I see. I no longer identify the trees, houses or people I see. I simply observe as though I am witnessing them for the first time. Without the mental designation, my gentle awareness picks up something within me. It is my soul percolating to the surface and a sense of calm fills my being. I am deeply aware of the sense of aliveness within my body. It is the feeling of being in the world but not of it. These meditative walks, from an external appearance seem to be ordinary. But my internal experience is filled with the extraordinary.

I invite you to choose to experience the art of nothingness next time you can. Enter into your stillness with as much joy and anticipation as you do any other action. Let yourself steep a little further into the nothingness and come out of the quiet with a view on life that’s just a little sweeter.

Wishes Fulfilled is focused on the thoughts, feelings and actions we experience regarding the defining self-concepts that we have. It is our own limiting beliefs that contribute to the current condition of our lives.  Wayne advises that a huge shift must take place in order to truly create the life we have always wanted. We must open our hearts to a life where anything is possible. We must change our minds about what we believe to be true. Wayne describes this shift as recognizing the truly formless and infinite part of us. He further defines this new recognition as our connection to spirit. Once we achieve union with our higher self (or as Wayne puts it, our highest self) and align our intention with the Infinite than we will come to the realization that we are Divine.

You get what you are not what you want.

Through realizing our own divinity, the importance of “I Am” statements are evident because they are the creative life force that manifest in physical form. Our self-declarations of sickness, health, love, esteem or wealth truly define our experience because the Universe brings us things, people and events that are congruent with these declarations.

A couple of ideas from Wishes Fulfilled resonated with me:

Petition prayers are statements of what is lacking in our life. When we pray for the things that are missing or that we would like to see show up, we are asserting that we do not have them. Instead, pray as though the prayer has already been answered. In doing so, the prayer becomes a statement of what you have and of who you are.

Know and feel that you are Divine. Every part of your being is a reflection of God. It can be no other way because God is everywhere and in everything. Our purpose is to truly feel our divinity and to act in accordance with that feeling. I imagine that living from this place is powerful and life changing.

Any judgment, condemnation or criticism prevents you from aligning with God. My belief is that the infinite does not judge, condemn or criticize and when we do, it distances us from Source. Releasing all judgments is a liberating idea. It allows for us to be free of restriction and gives others the freedom to be as they choose.

Wishes Fulfilled presents great ideas about how to align your intention, feelings and being so that you are congruent with the Infinite and able to manifest limitless possibilities. Have you tried to consciously manifest something into your life? I’d love to hear your stories of intention, manifesting and creation.