The Higher Self and transcendent experience, including OBEs

[Eram]

Posted by TraineeHuman (here)
As Eram particularly has explained so well, it’s like dealing with a child. You understand why the child feels frustrated at not having that lollipop, but you still don’t capitulate to what the child wants – unless the child happens to want something that’s reasonable, or good, or constructive to her or his development. And you let the child know that you love them anyway, and that it’s perfectly OK for the child to express his or her desires and impulses to you.

Ultimately, the decision to make this commitment to the HS is a subtle one. You simply can’t force yourself into it if your heart isn’t totally there.

Actually,

I used the metaphor about the inner child and inner parent to describe what takes place within all of us when we punish ourselves for unwanted behavior (for instance).
In this model, there is a inner child, an inner parents (who does the punishing and judging) and the inner adult.
The inner parent are the thought forms and idea's that we pick up during our childhood from the people that raise us (mostly).

So your description is fine, but not how I used it in my explanation. Ah well.... words to describe things that are not of the physical eh?
Just difficult, especially if English isn't the first language.

Anyway: After a week or so with quite intense contact with the Higher Self, it became harder and harder to make the same clear connection.
So for the past week or longer, it is a struggle to make that connection with different degrees of success every time.
I observed that for me personally it has a lot to do with my attitude.
Only when I fully engage in life and am willing to give myself fully, on every level, no holding back, then it is possible to establish a clear connection.

Actually, your explanation in post 499 about the sabotage of the ego, when the connection with HS is evolving rang some bells with me.

When I was about nine or ten years old, I started shifting more and more to become a ego driven teenager and my natural connection with HS was fading away.
Then when I was about 22 years old, my life shifted one more time, quite sudden and dramatically, but I didn't know what was happening and I couldn't for the life of me cope with it.
It even made me to believe that I was entering some sort of depression and I struggled with this for about 15 years. Feeling unable to live a normal life, watching tv for most of the times, with little social contact with other people. Couldn't even hold the simplest of jobs.

Now that I look back on that period with all that I have learned and read here on Avalon, especially this part of post 499

Posted by TraineeHuman (here)
But my one caution is that when that stillness becomes strong in you, initially and for maybe quite a few years there will be huge resistance from your ego, from your outer self. That resistance will rear its head every time your HS really descends into your physical body. That’s not likely to happen yet for a long time, unless you're already at that point. But your ego will even resist and envy the fact that you are learning to communicate with another, even now, even if you're a total beginner. The biggest gun your ego usually has is to make you feel weak – maybe disinterested, or lacking in confidence, or lazy, or chronically tired. I had to warn you, so now you’ve been warned, my friends. Yes, there is certainly light at the end of that tunnel.

I suspect that I entered some sort of natural awakening process that the ego part resisted with all it got and that was indeed: feeling weak, disinterested, lacking confidence, lazy and chronically tired. LOL
A superb channeler that I visited in those days actually channeled a message with similar findings to me. It said that there was little to nothing wrong with me, but that my soul was entering my body more and more, but that I took it to extremes to not engage in the process. I couldn't make sense of it then of course.

Also, I had some interesting dreams in those days that always stuck with me, but couldn't explain then.
I had several dream in which an entity tried to make contact with me and even before I could see it, it scared me so much that i started to scream as loud as possible with the intent to wake me up.
Finally there was a dream where I was in a pub and someone asked me to come to a section of that pub to meet someone who wanted to talk to me. I followed and I was lead to a section of the pub with very dimmed down lights and there on a chair wrapped in a dark aura (or so it seemed) was a person that slowly turned to me.
When I could finally see it's face.... it was me.... but a psychopathic self pitying angry version of me. It scared the **** out of me once more and instead of listening to what he had to say, I did the old screaming trick again to wake me up. Ever since, I regretted that I did so, because those particular dreams stopped after that.
Maybe that dream was a message to show me what part of me was in the way of the process that was taking place?

The last year and a halve, feels like I am catching up (in one big sprint almost) with all the years wasted on the couch, watching tv.

For now, I'll stick to the efforts of connecting with HS.
getting OBE is still on my agenda, but somehow doesn't feel like a priority at the moment

ps: Nice to hear about you experience too Finefeather.

[Finefeather]

Hi Eram
It is wonderful to hear of your progress. It is often difficult to keep the HS in full command because of all the distraction and temptation we are confronted with in our normal life...especially with others who are still very ego driven.
I often felt my knees buckle under the pressure in my early days because many of my very close friends were still driven by outside forces. These days I often find myself lead into some really negative environments...with very negative people to try to be of assistance. As time moves on and you become more confident with the decisions you make and the way you act in these situations you begin to settle down and the HS takes complete control or command of your life.
Because of the very radical difference in your personality you often feel out of place with groups of people you might have previously felt quite at home with...The art is to see the opportunities which arise all around you to spread light by being your new self. Many people will start to notice the changes in you and begin to like what they see. This is the start of your journey of service, when people are drawn to you to see just what makes you tick

Of course we should be aware that not everyone who is displaying qualities of the HS even knows of such a thing called the HS...many have these qualities from birth and think it is just normal for them...this is how it has to become because there is no pretense when it comes to the real HS. The Higher Self is not some add on to our lives...it is our life. I just smile when I hear people refer to "My Higher Self" and "My Soul" as if they have this little Being tucked away some where for some use This is the real you the real us which is trying to make an appearance in our lives. I love the analogy, given to me by one of my friends in spirit..."The ego has been the driver of your car for so long, and you have been sitting in the back seat all this time waiting for him to give you permission to drive"

There is another challenge which often hits us right between the eyes and we don't even know it has...it is what is called Spiritual Glamour...this is a condition were the ego pretends to be the HS, and the average person would'nt be able to tell the difference. It manifest often as an arrogance and a perceived superiority...the leaders of the packs in gangs, cults, and other dubious establishments are all been controlled by overactive egos. Beware of this?...how do we even start to become aware of this? This is one of the most difficult holds to break free from.

Take care and much love
Ray

[OOO]

Wow these last few post have some profound insight. Thank you.
I would like to add what I discovered, its so simplistic it escaped me.
ASK -- Its important to ask your HS for help as it cannot interfere
With your free will to learn and experience. Ask and demand that
Which you desire, wish, want.....and expect an answer that at first
Is very subtle...but with time gains "loudness".

Ask and demand to be the driver of that car and never for a moment
DOUBT your abilities.

Thank you everyone.

[Eram]

Thanks Ray!

This spiritual glamour that you talk of.
I have been aware of that for quite a few years, also in me, but being aware of it and not giving into it doesn't make it disappear is it?

It hides and finds more subtle ways to make it's appearance, disguised as modesty and insecurity even in my experience. Asking questions that reveal that you have some insights in the subject already for instance haha.

It used to drive me crazy but now I just try to accept it's existence and be aware of it as much as possible.

[AwakeInADream]

Posted by Finefeather (here)
"The ego has been the driver of your car for so long, and you have been sitting in the back seat all this time waiting for him to give you permission to drive"

Hi FineFeather! Great analogy! I'm so glad to see you bringing your wisdom to these OBE threads since many of us are realizing that spiritual growth and a more truthful perception are the most valuable things you can get out this topic.

All my life I've had dreams that I've been in the back seat of a car without a driver, and I've had to struggle to get to the drivers seat before the car crashes. This has gone on from my childhood right up to the present day, and it seems that the progression has been that I've been slowly learning how to drive the car from within the dream state. This dream has changed now to the point where I realize that (whilst I'm still in the back seat) there really is a driver, but now I see that it is my Dad who is driving. This suggests to me that my ego has built itself up from certain of my Fathers traits (among other things), and makes it more apparent to me that the ego is not me at all.

I currently feel my ego to be separate in the same way I feel the HS to be separate, and 'I' seem to be wavering in between the two. The ego is still to strong for me too let go of, since I feel 'I' (the personality) am too weak to hold on to the HS permanently, since I keep getting pulled back down. I know exactly what I have to do, and my weakness is very apparent to me.

I'm hoping that this relationship will shift up a notch if I can place my 'I' fully into the HS, in which case the ego will be no more, and the personality will take its place as to appear separate to me as the ego does now, and the HS will be who I am, and Source will appear to me as separate in the same way that HS does to me now (in terms of perspective, not function).

Smoking tobacco is a huge barrier to me, I just can't seem to loosen it's hold, as if this is the egos last stand, it's ace in the hole.
Can I merge with HS and still smoke? Maybe my belief that I can not do this holds me back?

I think that I can see where I am now, and where I need to be, which can only be a good thing. I just need to summon the strength to get there. This really does feel like a standoff to me now, the ego is on it's last legs and it know it.

[Ron Mauer Sr]

While in the process of awakening from sleep, almost fully awake, the big booming voice spoke to me. Just as loud and powerful as Charlton Heston playing Moses shouting out the 10 Commandments. The big booming voice said "Who is in charge here?". Taking a moment to think, I replied "I am." Then thought of my Marine Corp training and added "Sir". I have never decided if that voice was from my Higher Self, or from someone wanting to control and manipulate me. Wish I knew.

If the voice was from Higher Self, I've spent a lot of years searching for just that. Maybe I missed a golden opportunity.

I am still searching for that inner being, Higher Self.

[TraineeHuman]

Posted by rmauersr (here)
While in the process of awakening from sleep, almost fully awake, the big booming voice spoke to me. Just as loud and powerful as Charlton Heston playing Moses shouting out the 10 Commandments. The big booming voice said "Who is in charge here?". Taking a moment to think, I replied "I am." Then thought of my Marine Corp training and added "Sir". I have never decided if that voice was from my Higher Self, or from someone wanting to control and manipulate me. Wish I knew.

If the voice was from Higher Self, I've spent a lot of years searching for just that. Maybe I missed a golden opportunity.

I am still searching for that inner being, Higher Self.

Isaac Newton claimed his successes all came down to asking the right questions.

I know when I hear something as loud as that, it’s probably coming from one of my guardian angels. They like to make it loud. Also, it’s always a very good sign for me, because it means they think I will really listen and act on it.

It doesn't sound to me like you've missed a golden opportunity so far, Ron. Not if you keep asking that question and facing what answers you get.

As far as I know, the HS often only gives you one step at a time. That still leaves plenty of "breathing space" for you to carry the next step out in whatever way seems to work for you. Also, I suspect we were meant to live that way -- only seeing one step ahead, on an inner level.

[TraineeHuman]

Posted by AwakeInADream (here)

Posted by Finefeather (here)
"The ego has been the driver of your car for so long, and you have been sitting in the back seat all this time waiting for him to give you permission to drive"

Hi FineFeather! Great analogy! ...

All my life I've had dreams that I've been in the back seat of a car without a driver, and I've had to struggle to get to the drivers seat before the car crashes. This has gone on from my childhood right up to the present day, and it seems that the progression has been that I've been slowly learning how to drive the car from within the dream state. This dream has changed now to the point where I realize that (whilst I'm still in the back seat) there really is a driver, but now I see that it is my Dad who is driving. This suggests to me that my ego has built itself up from certain of my Fathers traits (among other things), and makes it more apparent to me that the ego is not me at all.

... I know exactly what I have to do, and my weakness is very apparent to me.

... Can I merge with HS and still smoke? Maybe my belief that I can not do this holds me back?

I think that I can see where I am now, and where I need to be, which can only be a good thing. I just need to summon the strength to get there. This really does feel like a standoff to me now, the ego is on it's last legs and it know it.

Wow! The same message from your HS your whole life long? It sounds to me, Awake, that one of the first things you need to do is face up to the “protection racket” one or both of your parents unwittingly ran on you. (Maybe also your teachers.) Let’s face it. It certainly sounds clear to me, anyway, that your HS is saying that “the mafia” still owns you.

When a child reaches the age of about ten, their parents should begin teaching that child not to walk on eggshells everywhere. Rather, they should begin to teach the child to start taking risks on his or her own, without a full safety net. Unfortunately, parents who feel internally inadequate (and who doesn’t, if they’re not connected with their HS?) will get big ego gratification from the notion that they are hugely “needed” by their child. Not just for affection and affirmation of their worth and shelter. The parent(s) get addicted to being “needed” in this way.

It seems to me, Awake, that on an emotional and subconscious level you need to take back much more of your own authority over your own life.

The HS is super gentle and usually speaks with a soft voice. But it brings the person true power and authority, not necessarily in the external world at any political level, but within the person themselves. Because you haven’t sorted out your ego issues regarding (your own) authority and asserting your will, they are stopping you from working properly with your HS. Mind you, your posts are filled with so much wisdom it’s obvious you are receiving plenty from your HS already, whether you realise it consciously or not. But I would see you as a good example of why it’s necessary to resolve the ego’s issues so that the ego’s story can end and leave you free to fully live in the space you are already kind of half living in.

[AwakeInADream]

Thanks TH! I've been getting plenty of messages from HS about sovereignty lately, like a 'sovereign ring' in the 30 second exercise, and the cool thing about that was the same image then came into a dream to be further elucidated (a sure sign that the exercise works).

In the dream I wore a ring that gave me access to a secret room in a mansion which contained a vast library of rare books, I didn't own the mansion but the ring gave me the right to assert my authority and take ownership of it (the elite who were there first didn't even know about the secret room, that room was for me and a small group of 'common folk' like myself). I wish I could remember the titles of all of the books I saw there, but I can only remember the one that amused and surprised me the most, it featured the comedian Russell Brand and was called 'Half Man, Half Android', I guess this was about getting rid of our programming and baggage.

Now I come to think of it, that dream was not the first to deal with Class divisions.... I think I should take your attitude TH (from your youth) and think of myself as a King, in fact we are all royalty here on Avalon, by virtue of the light we shine, not the balance in our bank accounts.

I can learn from Rmauersr's voice too, "Who is in charge here?". "I am!".

[TraineeHuman]

Posted by Eram (here)

Posted by TraineeHuman (here)
As Eram particularly has explained so well, it’s like dealing with a child. You understand why the child feels frustrated at not having that lollipop, but you still don’t capitulate to what the child wants – unless the child happens to want something that’s reasonable, or good, or constructive to her or his development. And you let the child know that you love them anyway, and that it’s perfectly OK for the child to express his or her desires and impulses to you.

After a week or so with quite intense contact with the Higher Self, it became harder and harder to make the same clear connection.
So for the past week or longer, it is a struggle to make that connection with different degrees of success every time.
I observed that for me personally it has a lot to do with my attitude.
Only when I fully engage in life and am willing to give myself fully, on every level, no holding back, then it is possible to establish a clear connection.

As the number or size of areas of your life into which HS can now reach and influence directly grows bigger, there will be many areas where there's still a mixture of ego there even though the HS is starting to come in there. This doesn't
necessarily mean you're slipping. But it does mean the challenge is intensifying. You'll know if you're slipping when you notice that the admixture of ego has stopped growing less and less.

Also, I had some interesting dreams in those days that always stuck with me, but couldn't explain then.
I had several dream in which an entity tried to make contact with me and even before I could see it, it scared me so much that i started to scream as loud as possible with the intent to wake me up.
Finally there was a dream where I was in a pub and someone asked me to come to a section of that pub to meet someone who wanted to talk to me. I followed and I was lead to a section of the pub with very dimmed down lights and there on a chair wrapped in a dark aura (or so it seemed) was a person that slowly turned to me.
When I could finally see it's face.... it was me.... but a psychopathic self pitying angry version of me. It scared the **** out of me once more and instead of listening to what he had to say, I did the old screaming trick again to wake me up. Ever since, I regretted that I did so, because those particular dreams stopped after that.
Maybe that dream was a message to show me what part of me was in the way of the process that was taking place?

I'm sure you're right. But notice how your ego tries to distort things. That dream was a threat to the ego's very existence, so it had to create a disinfo campaign. One form of disinfo is fear-mongering -- so you found yourself too frightened to look at that image of yourself again. But we know that the HS will bring up much the same dream for you at least a few days in a row, if not a whole week or more, if it's important.

And thank you very much for sharing with us in such an open and honest and accurate way.

[TraineeHuman]

Posted by Eram (here)
After a week or so with quite intense contact with the Higher Self, it became harder and harder to make the same clear connection.
So for the past week or longer, it is a struggle to make that connection with different degrees of success every time.
I observed that for me personally it has a lot to do with my attitude.
Only when I fully engage in life and am willing to give myself fully, on every level, no holding back, then it is possible to establish a clear connection.

Just a comment about observation, and particularly self-observation:

Proper observation -- of your HS, or your ego, or whatever, anything -- isn't possible unless the person observing is being completely non-judgmental.

So a big congratulations, folks. It looks like many of you sure do know how to be truly non-judgmental.

I would say this involves two activities, that both somehow need to go on simultaneously. These are accurate identification of what's there, plus dis-identification, in the sense of you not identifying with, but seeing the background, the bigger picture.

Apart from travelling truly "elsewhere" to gather information or wisdom, in the first few years when I was travellling OB, learning the ability to observe non-judgmentally was for me the biggest benefit of going OB at all. But I had to go OB to learn how to do it properly at that time. Then sometimes I would follow a person's or place's "timeline" into the past, and getting back into my body in the present time was sometimes hard work. That was because sometimes I would eventually get back to the room or place I had started from, and somehow get back into present time, but initially the "shock" of jumping in time would initially make it hard for me to orient myself in any direction. I would then have to painstakingly glide along each of the room's walls to get a sense of where they intersected, and do something similar to get a sense of where the floor was and which way was up, and so on. That was, occasionally, a much bigger problem for me than any hostile or negative entities ever were. Also, in all my experience deceptive entities or beings were always a much bigger problem than hostile ones.

[TraineeHuman]

Further to what I've said in post #520, let's make it clear that you need to surrender your lower self, your everyday life. That needs to be "sacrificed" in the sense of dedicated to peace and purity (of intention, of will) coming in and staying. It's not enough to accept or even love the true position of the HS. You have to ensure that the vessel for your HS has also been surrendered, that the house has been cleaned up, so to speak. You don't just decide you'll now surrender to the HS but not worry about applying your will power to get your everyday life and behavior right plus not worry about watching your thoughts and emotions constantly, to nip the negative ones in the bud. And if it's too hard to surrender your everyday life completely at the beginning, as it may be, then you need to apply effort so you work at getting more and more of it surrendered. There has to be some visible transformation of your outer, physical life. Otherwise the surrender will only be inner and won't be a full surrender.

Most importantly, you need to make your everyday life be free of any significant depression. If you find depression does arise, you need to meditate (properly), which should put you in touch with some quite strong peace or even joy, and that should dissolve the depression for at least a day, when you can do some more meditation (often fifteen or twenty minutes is enough, though some individuals need it twice a day).

You also need to cut back on self-indulgence, I'm sorry to say. In moderation, if you need that. But it's much better if you can chop back on gratifying your desires and fantasies rather stoically for a time. Later on, once the HS has established itself somewhat, most of such belt-tightening can be relaxed. Hopefully, though, by then it'll be starting to get obvious to you that gratifying desires (as distinct from needs) isn't something that leads to freedom from unhappiness anyway. At that point most desires will start to become things you can take or leave, because you've realised that real living is about doing something else. I'm not saying you won't be enjoying life at that point; indeed, you'll be enjoying it more, but in ways that may sometimes make others scratch their heads.

[Finefeather]

Hi to All
I thought I might just add this to this wonderful thread for your consideration.

In order for us to try and gauge the...lets call it...level or amount of influence or control the HS has in our life takes some doing. There is a stage that most will go through first which mimics the HS, but in fact it is not anything close to it.

Lets me try to explain this by using a problem we have in our lives which we wish to solve and how the ego and HS might interact or approach it.

Now...anyone can sit and think of a number of ways to approach some problem...lets say, for the sake of this post...we come up with a gentle way and a hard way to solve some problem. We might be inclined to think that the gentle way is the way of the HS and the hard way that of the ego.
This is definitely not always the case because the HS is not going to be one bit emotional about the answer we come up with...it is more interested in the long term outcome...and what is best to keep us on a positive and constructive path.
Now if we are still very emotional in our lives and easily hurt, which is an ego trait...we will immediately tend to go for the gentle solution...and thereby thinking that that must be the voice of the HS...when in fact it could be the ego just trying to make you feel all good about your nice easy cushy solution.

So we need to get it very clear in our minds that solutions to problems are basically formulated by our knowledge and experiences we have had in our lives...our intellectual state can easily come up with many different ideas and solutions and this is not necessarily a sign of the HS but merely an intellectual analysis of the options you could take when addressing some problem.

The HS changes your attitude to one of unconditional love and with this attitude comes qualities like truthfulness and compassion. So when the HS is present in your life the solutions to your problems always take into consideration the well being of the other person or persons who might be involved in your problem. Be sure that your HS is not the least bit interested if you cut your own finger off...but it is very interested if you cut your little sisters finger off

In a nutshell...your HS is more interested in your interactions with other lives...including plants, animals, humans and aliens...because the HS is group oriented...it is one step higher than our personality consciousness, which is usually primarily only concerned with our personal issues. It takes a worldly look at the consequences of the answers we come up with when trying to resolve conflict...and it is free of self satisfaction and personal desires.

When you let your HS into your life, you need to be prepared to let go of some things which you might be very protective and possessive of...so you need to be ready for a complete attitude adjustment

My love to all
Ray

[Finefeather]

Posted by AwakeInADream (here)
Smoking tobacco is a huge barrier to me, I just can't seem to loosen it's hold, as if this is the egos last stand, it's ace in the hole.
Can I merge with HS and still smoke? Maybe my belief that I can not do this holds me back?

Smoking tobacco is only a barrier if you cannot breath anymore

Many smokers have smokers cough which interferes with meditation...when you need to be still there's this little voice that keeps reminding you when it is time for a drag.
How many times have you been doing something really nice, like baking a cake, and suddenly you need to go for a smoke?
Smoking also changes the vibrations in your house and you should sage your house or use vanilla frequently.
Make sure your space is clear and clean when you meditate or when you relax or when you do OB.
Contrary to what they say...smoking does not relax you...it drugs you.
Do not smoke before meditation or OB...give yourself an hour break...cleanse your face...clean your teeth
Never smoke in your house and never allow anyone else to...even better still is to give it up
Take care and feel satisfied
Ray

[soleil]

Posted by Eram (here)
Thanks Ray!

This spiritual glamour that you talk of.
I have been aware of that for quite a few years, also in me, but being aware of it and not giving into it doesn't make it disappear is it?

It hides and finds more subtle ways to make it's appearance, disguised as modesty and insecurity even in my experience. Asking questions that reveal that you have some insights in the subject already for instance haha.

It used to drive me crazy but now I just try to accept it's existence and be aware of it as much as possible.

maybe your HS is making it hard to make sure you are listening to everything *just a thought*

[soleil]

Posted by AwakeInADream (here)

Posted by Finefeather (here)
"The ego has been the driver of your car for so long, and you have been sitting in the back seat all this time waiting for him to give you permission to drive"

Hi FineFeather! Great analogy! I'm so glad to see you bringing your wisdom to these OBE threads since many of us are realizing that spiritual growth and a more truthful perception are the most valuable things you can get out this topic.

All my life I've had dreams that I've been in the back seat of a car without a driver, and I've had to struggle to get to the drivers seat before the car crashes. This has gone on from my childhood right up to the present day, and it seems that the progression has been that I've been slowly learning how to drive the car from within the dream state. This dream has changed now to the point where I realize that (whilst I'm still in the back seat) there really is a driver, but now I see that it is my Dad who is driving. This suggests to me that my ego has built itself up from certain of my Fathers traits (among other things), and makes it more apparent to me that the ego is not me at all.

I currently feel my ego to be separate in the same way I feel the HS to be separate, and 'I' seem to be wavering in between the two. The ego is still to strong for me too let go of, since I feel 'I' (the personality) am too weak to hold on to the HS permanently, since I keep getting pulled back down. I know exactly what I have to do, and my weakness is very apparent to me.

I'm hoping that this relationship will shift up a notch if I can place my 'I' fully into the HS, in which case the ego will be no more, and the personality will take its place as to appear separate to me as the ego does now, and the HS will be who I am, and Source will appear to me as separate in the same way that HS does to me now (in terms of perspective, not function).

Smoking tobacco is a huge barrier to me, I just can't seem to loosen it's hold, as if this is the egos last stand, it's ace in the hole.
Can I merge with HS and still smoke? Maybe my belief that I can not do this holds me back?

I think that I can see where I am now, and where I need to be, which can only be a good thing. I just need to summon the strength to get there. This really does feel like a standoff to me now, the ego is on it's last legs and it know it.

hi awake, i think you can do anything you want. i hope you do not take this as i know more than you, as i dont, i am on the same path as you. anyways, i think if you looked at smoking from a health point of view, perhaps all those chemicals are hindering your reach to HS? i do not know if tobacco (and all the chemicals in cigarettes; that is, if you smoke cig's) hinders anything, maybe it does? but personally ive been on the healthiest kick of my life, i stopped drinking pop as of beginning of dec 2012, and eat all organic/non gmo (if i can help it), i avoid corn/soy at all costs, unless i am indulging (i love sour gummies, :D) myself. i also partake in UT now (which has cleared up my skin 100000000000%, not that i had bad acne, i didnt, my face is just SO SOFT now!), and also learning how to implement natural cures/homeopathy into my and my family's life. all i can say is, i'm living my HS here on earth. or else i wouldnt make these changes. maybe you WANT to change your tobacco habit, but ego is making you wondering if you can keep it?

¤=[Post Update]=¤

Posted by TraineeHuman (here)
It doesn't sound to me like you've missed a golden opportunity so far, Ron. Not if you keep asking that question and facing what answers you get.

As far as I know, the HS often only gives you one step at a time. That still leaves plenty of "breathing space" for you to carry the next step out in whatever way seems to work for you. Also, I suspect we were meant to live that way -- only seeing one step ahead, on an inner level.

hi TH&ron, i had a dream message from my HS this week. if i remember correctly, "HS is willing to help us with anything, but HS needs time for the seed to grow." ---or something along the lines of this,

[soleil]

Posted by Finefeather (here)
This is definitely not always the case because the HS is not going to be one bit emotional about the answer we come up with...it is more interested in the long term outcome...and what is best to keep us on a positive and constructive path.
Now if we are still very emotional in our lives and easily hurt, which is an ego trait...we will immediately tend to go for the gentle solution...and thereby thinking that that must be the voice of the HS...when in fact it could be the ego just trying to make you feel all good about your nice easy cushy solution.

hi ray, you got my attention here. as i am extremely emotional (its literally in my natal chart right down to being a big old cry baby). when i get emotionally upset/sad/crying it drives both me and my fiance nuts. as i tend to take things very personal.

and i dont WANT to take things personal, because i'd rather hear things as they are being said, not how i interpret them to be. and i've learned that the only way to control this, is to ask myself, am i being personally attacked or insulted, yes or no, if no i approach the conversation as normal, if yes, then i tend to cry like a baby or be upset/insulted. this has been happening less and less, but none the less, it is one of my biggest challenges.

if i hold in my upset/emotional-ness, this tends to bring up a rage, that sometimes i would hold/keep deep down inside; which i have learned as of lately, to let it out. however, if i don't let out my rage, it builds up and i break things/scream/look crazy basically. and i dont really WANT to break things, but i see the (non productive/break things/pent up) rage, and it takes everything i have to not let it out that way.

i also do not want to come across as a rage-y person, these situations happen maybe 1-2 x per yr. i'm actually too zen for my own good, which is another challenge, i need to find balance to let out my upset, and communicate it, instead of zen it away. anger never goes away.

but i also dont want to me walked all over either. but i live for these challenges these days. the more i learn to balance my plate, the less and less there is to place on the plate. or room for dessert/next steps.

[Finefeather]

Posted by teradactyl (here)
hi ray, you got my attention here. as i am extremely emotional (its literally in my natal chart right down to being a big old cry baby). when i get emotionally upset/sad/crying it drives both me and my fiance nuts. as i tend to take things very personal.

and i dont WANT to take things personal, because i'd rather hear things as they are being said, not how i interpret them to be. and i've learned that the only way to control this, is to ask myself, am i being personally attacked or insulted, yes or no, if no i approach the conversation as normal, if yes, then i tend to cry like a baby or be upset/insulted. this has been happening less and less, but none the less, it is one of my biggest challenges.

if i hold in my upset/emotional-ness, this tends to bring up a rage, that sometimes i would hold/keep deep down inside; which i have learned as of lately, to let it out. however, if i don't let out my rage, it builds up and i break things/scream/look crazy basically. and i dont really WANT to break things, but i see the (non productive/break things/pent up) rage, and it takes everything i have to not let it out that way.

i also do not want to come across as a rage-y person, these situations happen maybe 1-2 x per yr. i'm actually too zen for my own good, which is another challenge, i need to find balance to let out my upset, and communicate it, instead of zen it away. anger never goes away.

but i also dont want to me walked all over either. but i live for these challenges these days. the more i learn to balance my plate, the less and less there is to place on the plate. or room for dessert/next steps.

Hi teradactyl
This is just my own opinion...I would always recommend we try to turn inward for answers...there is so much we cannot know about others.

The first thing we need to realize is that our natal chart does not take into account Soul growth or Soul achievement. You are not a slave to your natal chart. I know that some Astrologers are pretty good at reading charts, but they are most accurate only with the average person...when you start to awakening to HS or are here for some mission...these charts are quite often inaccurate. Please don't tell your Astrologer, I do not feel like a debate now

Well my dear...I am happy to tell you that it is perfectly abnormal to build up rage when you can't get your way and once in that state you certainly don't want to bottle it up, because that is exactly what causes many types of dis-ease.
So it is far better to run up a hill or duck behind the garage and let it all out...this is a far better solution than beating up your mate or kicking the dog.

Rage is evident obviously in some when physically attacked, and there may be some merit or advantage in it's manifestation especially if we are been hunted by some predator as we were when we were still cave men. I have been around some ladies when in a rage and know when I stand no chance

Rage...when it manifests from some words or gestures from someone...do not come after you...and cannot physically harm you...so you are just imagining that they can harm you. Of course there may be some truth in these words which you know is true and then...someone is coming after you...it's your ever trusting...ego.
The treatment for this kind of rage is to immediately repeat the same words over and over again in the form of a question...but you must not answer it...ever...until you can prove the answer to yourself. This will keep the ego at bay until you can get the real truth out.
The ego will agree with every nasty thing someone says about you...and the funny thing is it will also agree with every good thing that is said about you...basically the ego suffers from Psychosis and is essentially out of touch with reality.

Take care and tell your husband i'm sorry
Love
Ray

[TraineeHuman]

Posted by teradactyl (here)
maybe your HS is making it hard to make sure you are listening to everything *just a thought*

I have to agree with Ray that the HS always tells the unvarnished truth, in quite an "in your face" way. I have often wondered why this is so. Presumably it means that the truth is so precious it's important to tell it because there's at least a chance that today you'll listen to it.

This had an influence on me. For some years I used to try to tell friends and others the truth, ready or not. After all, the HS is so wise and knows what's best, so why not try to do something similar, I thought.

One thing that also doesn't make sense to me is how anybody can fail to be aware they're OB at the time they're dreaming. At those times the HS tells us the truth, in our dreams, about what's going on in our lives. My suspicion is that everybody understands the general drift, the general feeling, of what each dream is saying. But then their ego comes in quite quickly and influences them to forget what they've just seen. So, my theory is that everybody "lucidly" goes OB while they're dreaming, but usually they forget they've done so almost straight away. That's why to me, anyone who can remember their dreams is already halfway there to overcoming their ego's resistance.

There's still the step of understanding how to interpret each of your dreams, even if you do remember it. I don't believe it's usually helpful to use the intellectual or conceptual approach quite a few people on this Forum seem to use. In my experience you need to use your intuition, or your HS, to interpret the meaning.

[TraineeHuman]

Obviously there’s a need to discuss more about the ego – not that what’s already been said about it, by Ray and others, isn’t accurate. But yes, the ego – though it’s part of us – is a huge obstacle that needs to be put into its right place without being crushed, much as an unruly child needs to be. I would emphasize that a child should never feel that she/he is “bad” or of low value, not ever. A child should always feel loved for the great beauty, the great value that s/he has just by existing, by being who s/he is over all. Given that, though, it should be made clear that some of the child’s behaviors are bad, or faulty, and simply unacceptable.

The ego does have an important role to play. Basically, I would say its role is to protect us on many fronts in the physical world. It’s the one who is continually keeping watch on what the “camera” of our eyes is showing moment to moment, and it’s keeping watch every moment for potential physical danger to us. Similarly, the ego is continually watching our back regarding what sort of impression we make socially, what sort of reputation we create for ourselves. It also keeps checking to make sure we haven’t forgotten to do the shopping or the laundry or whatever, and that our plans for the evening haven’t left out a crucial detail, and so on. It also tries to shield us from being emotionally hurt too much, or, if we are hurt, from suffering too much. All these things are fine, provided we don’t leave it on its own, as most people do, unfortunately. For example, when we are young we all get emotionally hurt so much, and the ego doesn’t have the resources to heal that. It only has bandages, and ways to make the pain temporarily duller or to divert our attention so that we forget that pain, even though it’s there in us underneath the surface.

I’ve mentioned that I see the healing of the scars the ego can’t deal with – and shouldn’t ever be expected to deal with, in an ideal society and culture – is done by what I call psychotherapy and self-enquiry (that’s enquiry not just on an intellectual level, but with feeling). Many of us are familiar with this. Certainly, the ancient meditation traditions are largely psychotherapies of a sort in their more advanced stages or forms. However, dumbing down has been carried out in Eastern cultures over the centuries as well as in Western cultures, so that many practitioners or teachers of meditation today don’t really apply the power of meditation nearly enough for psychotherapeutic or specific ego-healing purposes, in my opinion. As an example, I guess one of the biggest areas that have been neglected has been that of facing and embracing your dark side. This has already been discussed a little in posts #64 and #65, and also #95 and #96.

But I’d really like to hear more from members about the positive side of their experiences of the HS. The ego is really the veil that stops us from seeing the HS and its effects (because its job is to protect us from whatever we can’t handle – and it just assumes we can’t handle anything different from what we’ve done in the past). I’d really like to hear more about the wonderful things the HS, or even Source, opens up to people, or at least gives them a glimpse of. That would keep the overall discussion more balanced, I feel. After all, the ego does in a sense need to be dissolved, to be replaced by a being who does feel his/her oneness with all things and with Source. In a sense dissolved, but in another sense just transformed -- like in Beauty and the Beast.