Day by day, moment by moment, whenever you think of it, remind yourself that you are a changing being, available to the greater energies that direct change on a universal level. In reminding yourself of this fact, you reconnect to the greater interconnected energy that makes all things possible, to the magical, the mysterious, and the magnificent, to the positive life force that surrounds you, that permeates you, that encourages and entices you to take advantage of it, to tap into it. So don’t forget that you are part of it all, part of the greater good, part of the whole, part of a larger vision that creates and allows, that makes everything come together, that seeks unity, and a world of loving kindness and compassion, happiness and sharing, with equanimity for all beings. And that is good!
Take care of your body so it can take care of you. Connect with your spirit so it can connect with you. Maintain connection between body and spirit so the two parts of you can stay connected to each other, easing your life, bringing balance, equanimity, steadiness, and concentrated purpose. All parts of you are equally important and valuable. So remember to take care of your whole self, within and without, body and spirit, and let yourself be grounded by this joined version of you, your true wholeness. It’s all in your hands, the seen and the unseen you. Time to take all of you to a new level of integration, awareness, connection, cooperation, and participation. And do it all with loving kindness, of course!
Calamities, catastrophes, and chaos are the precursors to change and new life. Be assured that times of sacrifice and destruction will be followed naturally by times of healing and new growth, new insight, and new possibilities. The times you live in portend change, and yet remain always heart-centered and kind. Though there are other strains of public outcry, remain loving and compassionate, for it is the good and the honest who will prevail to bring about the corrections that are needed. Stay connected always to your path of heart, for it is the only right way, the heart path way.
Time for your two selves to sit down and have a chat? – Photo by Jan Ketchel
On March 24, 1995, Tony Schwartz phoned Elmer Green to share his frustration that his recently reviewed book, What Really Matters (1995), which chronicled the development of the New Age spiritual movement in America, had sold so few copies. This despite favorable reviews in The New York Times and Fortune, and an upcoming guest appearance on PBS’s Charlie Rose.
When I went on to research Tony Schwartz, I discovered that he was the ghost writer for Donald Trump’s Art of the Deal (1987), the hugely successful, number one bestseller that first made Donald Trump a household name.
The coincidence and cognitive dissonance of Tony Schwartz, who has gone on to be one of the most successful proponents of New Age energetics, as applied to the workplace, being the same Tony Schwartz who first launched Donald Trump, is too compelling to ignore. Regardless of the findings of the Mueller report, Donald Trump was being groomed to become president by the forces of destiny, decades ago, as the prerequisite to the real launching of the Age of Aquarius.
Destiny insists that we reconcile our nature and our spirit selves for evolution to proceed now. Tony Schwartz reveals this polarity within himself in his 1995 call to Elmer Green. His outrage at his poor book sales, and his attachment to self-importance reflect his bottom-line-self, growling from his solar plexus chakra, saying, “what about me!?” On the other hand, the book he wrote speaks to the emergence of the New Age, reflecting a view from his heart chakra self, where the self-serving ego of the solar plexus chakra acquiesces to synchronicity and the importance of interconnected energy, versus self-importance and the will.
The fact that Tony Schwartz bemoans his role in Donald Trump’s rise in his 2016 statement on Good Morning America, where he characterizes his ghostwriting of Art of the Deal, as putting “lipstick on a pig,” suggests to me that he misses the true significance of his contradictory actions. All humans have two selves that must be reconciled with to advance both themselves and the human race.
To project the evil squarely upon a president, who may have stolen an election (even if it is true), is to dissociate from one’s own shadow self, which, as is evident in the Tony Schwartz example, continues to impact one’s life, albeit unconsciously.
The self of the first three chakras is embodied in the caricature of Donald Trump, and we all have that self. The first chakra is all about the wall and core safety. Do I have enough to survive? How much of our lives is spent on this obsession?
Birthright and entitlement spring from this chakra. Did I get the attention, resources, and security promised by the ruling archetypes of family? Have I settled with my core disappointments and resentments, or do I secretly harbor acrid bitterness and jealousy? Why do I really have to share? The bottom line is everything. “I’m all for spiritual enlightenment, just as long as I get my piece of the action,” is the perspective of this chakra.
The second chakra is truly the scourge of humankind. As a therapist of some 35 years, I know for certain that child sexual abuse is a hidden industry in all communities, at all socioeconomic levels of society. It’s an ancient shadow industry that reflects humankind’s inability to face the true depths of its animal sexual nature and, with the turning of a blind eye, relegates the instinct to target the most innocent and vulnerable.
The notion that human beings have mastered and integrated their sexual selves is absurd. Many ‘solve’ the issue of sexuality through dissociation from and repression of their sexual selves. This, of course, only empowers the collective dissociated instinct that flourishes in human trafficking and the hidden corners of spiritual traditions.
Even those moderately engaged with their sexual selves have to question how much of their sex lives are commandeered by manipulation, avoidance, obligation, personal gain, control, or simply a focus on personal desire. How much of the fullness of sexual desire is integrated with true love and meeting of another? To reach this level of refinement, sexual connection must travel to the heart center, where the egg of narcissism is cracked open to reveal the other.
The third chakra is all about personal power, as the ego comes into its own. At this locale, the ego is all about Me. I want, I need, I deserve, I desire. These are the ego’s marching orders. It’s about agency and will, deeply colored by desire steeped in narcissism. The emboldened ego serves the desires of the physical plane, be they sexual or material. The tendency is to overindulge all the appetites and be granted attention for one’s specialness.
Though many may have settled for a codependent solution here, the shadow of that dissociated will-to-power fuels the energy of a Me First president, regardless of how deeply he may be consciously disavowed.
These concrete, primal, instinctual footings of the first three chakras are the basement foundation of our spiritual being, which resides in the heart chakra. Material accumulation, carnal desire, and personal power are the building block challenges through which our soul must pass. Though we may stalk the higher values of energetic interdependence and love for all beings, at the heart chakra, if we haven’t grappled with and made peace with our own first three chakras, our experience there will be overshadowed by unrequited need.
A well-seasoned warrior is one who has faced the power of the kundalini energy of the instinctual self within, and raises it for further refinement in love, compassion, truth, and right action of the heart chakra. Arrival at this heart-centered place marks the integration of the two selves, that which is needed for evolution to proceed now. As destiny is boldly reflecting to us now, we must cross the divide from the full experience of the lower chakras to the heart chakra for evolution to proceed.
The transformation of our political landscape, that which rules the world, is directly linked to each of us, as we face the fullness of our own natures. Soulful introspection into the truth of our inner opposition, as well as a sacrificial attitude that brings moderation to the heart, as well as acquiescence to the true leadership of the High SOUL, are the keys to this transition. This is our golden opportunity to face, now, with strong foundation, and launch ourselves into the spiritual potential of a truly enlightened New Age.
To be alive in such times as these is the envy of the Shamans of Ancient Mexico, who treasured the opportunity for spiritual advancement as they faced the tyranny of the invading Conquistadores. Nothing tempers the spirit more than to shake loose the bindings of self-importance, that which is needed to cleanly arrive at the sobriety of the heart chakra. Owning the tyranny of narcissism, both within and as reflected without, is to find the ark to begin the journey across the great chasm of self-reflection to SOUL purpose.
A true warrior’s path is always a path of heart. A warrior tracks the signs and synchronicities, the energy, the telltale leavings of others that reveal what is needed to be known and done. A warrior is always on the alert, aware that everything is in constant motion. A warrior knows that at a moment’s notice a shift might need to be made, and so a warrior is always prepared. Remember that you have already come so far along your own path of heart, that you have done the good work of a warrior. To continue, call upon your warrior self. When you are uncertain, your warrior self knows how to track and navigate, how to take the next step boldly and with certainty, and how to move on when it is time, without attachment, eager for what is to come. Be guided by your inner warrior during times of stress and strife, as well as during times of lull and relaxation. Always be guided by this inner warrior, who is strong and determined but also loving and kind and compassionate. Let your warrior’s heart show you the way along your own path of heart. Your heart really does know the way.
