The study of spiritual texts comprises one of the most basic facets of spiritual education and illumination. To help introduce others to manuscripts I have found life-changing, I am delighted to introduce a new Home Study section here at Grace and Clarity for your convenience. Every week or two, we will dive into insightful passages from books authored by some of today’s leading spiritual teachers and intuitives. You can follow along with a pen, journal and your own copy of the text, or simply take notes on passages straight from the Home Study page. Be aware that the books I will be featuring have changed my life, becoming well-worn volumes in my personal library and are well worth the purchase. If you find a particular book inspiring, I encourage you to support the author and purchase a copy of your own! And now, to begin our first Home Study assignment–read on!
Today’s text: Oneness by Rasha
Publisher: Earthstar Press; Copyright, 2003
Study pages: pp. 34-38
Background–We are beginning a study of how to respond to interactions which create resistance in us. Combustibility may arise due to a person, an activity or a location. In this section of Oneness, we start by simply noticing the intensity of our experience and taking a breath in at that moment. Here is a paraphrase from pp. 34-35:
When unbalanced, step back for a moment. Withdraw your energies and cease conscious interaction with all that surrounds you. Allow your awareness to guide you to a place of stillness deep within. Become centered in the silence of that space. Breathe deeply through your heart center and detach from the circumstances that have engaged you. Allow yourself to feel the Light Energy of unconditional Love as It fills you completely.
Making that choice in the face of adversity is a learned reaction that you are encouraged to adopt and to practice in response to life’s dramas. Shifting your Energy in this way serves to dispel the spiraling wave of diminished vibration that draws you ever deeper into imbalance. Taking conscious command of the moment is the strongest possible response you can make, regardless of the nature of the circumstances.
Although the above description of Energy-shifting may sound like a visualization best practiced in meditation, the fact is such Energy shifts can be executed in any moment of challenge. Even as another shares with you his or her disappointment or confusion, you can take a deep breath and center yourself in the silence of your inner stillness. You can cultivate patience or forgiveness even as they speak. If this is not possible, start by simply taking a deep breath and noticing your state of contracted emotion. In time, you will be able to inch your way toward being more in tune with your emotions, eventually learning to temper them and finally being able to turn them into a lighter Energy such as compassion. That said, take out a journal or piece of paper and let’s look at some specifics:
1. What two situations, people or events are most likely to make me feel contracted (angry, resentful, sad) during the week?
2. Close your eyes and imagine yourself taking a deep breath while that encounter unfolds. What energies can you cultivate to shift out of that tense emotion? (compassion, gratitude, etc.)
3. Now imagine the situation again, with you responding from these Higher Energies. What might be a response you could offer? (ex- “I might need some time to digest this. Can we talk again later?” “I feel very upset right now but I can also hear what you are saying. Can we discuss this some more?”)
4. List some recurring emotional dramas that keep resurfacing over the years (ex-conflict with a sibling, resistance to authority).
5. What response could I use the next time this situation occurs?
Know that as we become more skillful in our responses to challenging interactions, we slowly defuse the toxic energies that can build over time. The more we can identify our patterns of unhealthy reaction, the more likely we are to avoid such circumstances to begin with. In the coming days, try recalling your notes from this study session when a challenging situation presents itself. You may even want to put up a post-it note where challenges are likely to occur (work, in the car, etc). Do your best to be on the look-out for chances to use your newfound awareness and response. Next time, we will discuss how to allow an outcome that serves the Highest Good of all–even in difficult situations.
Grace and Clarity 