"Know Thyself"
(A central component of the philosophy of Socrates
inscribed over the entry to the Temple of Apollo at Delphi)
There is a prevailing metaphysical concept that maintains that our consciousness problems would be solved if only we could quicken our slow vibratory rates and elevate our low frequencies. An essential question to ask is why are our vibratory rates slow and our frequencies low? As part of the answer to that question, we need to acknowledge that most religious dogma and a substantial quotient of New Age spiritual concepts contain misconceptions about the nature of divinity and our place and purpose in the cosmos. Our vibratory rates are slow because of labels and imprints that we hold in our individual and collective species memory. These labels and imprints constrict us at our core, and this constriction accounts for our slow vibratory rates and low frequency. The label is of having "fallen" from grace with the Creator, of having done something that disavowed us of our inherent deservedness, of having been born with "original" sin. Along with this, we carry an imprinted impression of separation from the Source and one another. The values that these labels and imprints fostered have sponsored cycles wherein we have largely functioned like spiritual amnesiacs, feeling obliged to go through a lot of hoopla to earn or deserve the right to reclaim our essence so we can return to oneness with the Source. In short, we don't know who we are and are clueless about our significant place and purpose in the cosmos.
The label of having "fallen" from grace with Source, having committed some grievous act that disavowed us of our inherent deservedness, and of having been born with of "original" sin along with the imprinted impression of separation from the Source and one another has become the stunningly corrupt template upon which most religions and even some New Age spiritual systems base their moral code of behavior. One glaring example is in Catholicism, which has as one of its basic tenets, that we were all born with "original sin" a concept that verifies this primary spiritual label. The notion of having been born with "original" sin is absurd, but it is nonetheless a powerful tool of manipulation, domination and control.
The great news is that these imprinted beliefs and labels never severed our connection, they only temporarily distorted or disrupted the connection. The important thing to address is the fact that many of us have cellular memory of having incarnated over and over with this ache to feel connected, while at the same time feeling obliged to go through a lot of hoopla to earn or deserve the right to return to an experience of oneness with the Source. In short, we collude with and empower our own disempowerment by not knowing who we are and not comprehending our origins.
The Source is a vast ocean-like energy field at the center of all that is. All beings are imbued with the same essence as the Source. Essence is the spirit or fundamental nature of a being, which includes the being's qualities, characteristics and behavioral traits. As individual co-creative emanations of the Source that can trace their roots back to that Great Wellspring, it is vital that we comprehend that there is no ultimate goal to return to oneness with the Source because we have never been out of oneness with the Source. Additionally, not only is there no distant, patriarchal authoritarian god or authoritative mother/father deity that created us and maintains a watch over the countless forms of life everywhere, there are also no deities to whom we must surrender our destiny.
Furthermore, because the Source functions in accordance with unconditional regard and non-interference, it can neither control our destiny, nor interfere with our free will, nor impose upon us an immutable plan for our lives. We are collaborative participants with this vast ocean-like energy field.
This misconception, these labels and imprints have had a profound effect upon us as spiritual seekers because we have spent lifetimes meandering about oblivious to our true identity and clueless about our significant place and purpose in the cosmos. We have wandered about, starved for a clear experience of truth and a palpable connection to our authentic essence selves and to all of creation and that's because these labels and imprints have constricted us at our core. And these constrictions account for our slow vibratory rates and low frequency.
We are divine beings, co-creative emanations of the Source having an incarnational experience on Earth at a pivotal and auspicious time for a variety of purposes and the most important of these is to graduate spiritually. Reclaiming our essence and going forth infused with the living truth of who we are and why we are here is a major component of our graduation from spiritual adolescence to spiritual adulthood.
The cycle during which our divinity was denied and our spiritual adulthood forestalled is ending. We are invited to co-creatively participate in the emergence of the next cycle by not only knowing ourselves but by being our true selves. In his book, The Soul of Man Under Socialism written in 1891, Oscar Wilde wrote, "'Know Thyself' was written over the portal of the antique world. Over the portal of the new world, "Be Thyself' shall be written."
It is paramount that we remember that all paradigm shifts ask participants to separate limiting historical beliefs from the living truth and to overthrow previous assumptions that don't contribute to evolution. All paradigm shifts are, in fact, evidence that assumptions can be overthrown. History verifies that what once seemed impossible not only found its way into the mainstream, but also acquired impeccable credentials along the way. Furthermore, history substantiates that truths once considered heretical can now withstand not only questioning and revision, but also be embraced with recognition and acceptance.
As we disengage from the numbing influence of historical beliefs, assumptions and imprinted perceptions and go forth infused with the dazzling truth of who we are and why we are here, we participate in weaving the threads of truth into an illuminating tapestry that will stunningly contribute to the critical mass required to complete the paradigm shift that is already well underway.
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