A different kind of relationship

A harmonious relationship with ourselves is one of the more challenging things we can have in our lives. This is because we are often split–our lower self always wants to take control with its wants, desires, vanities that align it to our material world. The lower self is also more fun and exciting. The other one, the Higher Self, is a part of many of us are clueless about.

In the field of consciousness and spirituality, a term/concept floating around in popular literature is the concept of the "Higher Self." Traditional and fundamental Catholics are opposed to hearing such terms as they say it connotes a person who relies only on himself and has forgotten God’s place in his life. Discussions, both in print and conversations, between fundamentalists and the liberal- minded, have made me reflect on what the term really means.

In my readings, I have often seen the phrase "higher self" interchangeable with the term "soul." It is often referred to as the more evolved, aware and conscious part of our individuality, an aspect that goes beyond our personality. Some other writers and researchers have delved into its various forms–calling it both the genius in us, the "daemon" when inspires and pushes us forward, the muse that leads us to greater awakenings, the spirit guide that teaches us.

Where and how does one find out more about the Higher Self? Often it makes itself known to us during moments of crisis when we find ourselves guided by something deep within us. An angel’s guidance–we might have called it. We may have met our Higher Self when we were faced with a major problem that needed a decision. What decision did we make that would have proved to be the best for everyone and the situation even if it meant so much pain for us?

Our traditional faith and Church literature teaches the concept that we are struggling for salvation within a pyramidical, hierarchical spiritual community of the souls in purgatory, our fellow Christians, the community of saints, the angels, archangels, Jesus and God the Father (in that ascending order). The ultimate goal is to live eternal life in heaven with everyone singing praises to God. This church ranking is based on philosophies formed during the medieval period.

The phraseology "higher self" was born in the last couple of decades during the advent of a newer perspective of science and the universe, and the subtle shifts of consciousness and paradigms. One of the main impetus for such dramatic new views has also been the rise of the number of mystical out-of-body experiences, near death experiences, angel visions and dreams, clairaudience, channeled messages. A profusion of information about the spiritual and multi-dimensional realms of our cosmos has also been gleaned from scientific studies of energy; as well as psychic readings and past-life regressions. Suddenly, more and more ordinary people were experiencing "union" with God and the higher dimensions. They then transformed their lives to allow the indwelling of God’s Spirit to flower, nurture, heal and love other people, Nature and the world. The Eastern philosophies, though using strange (to our Western-religious minds) terminologies like satori, samadhi, nirvana (states of oneness) taught the more physical procedure of accessing the "higher self" through meditation, body movements and breathing. Such experiences of oneness may be likened to the Christian’s mystical experience, as in St. Paul exultation, "it is not I anymore but Christ who lives in me."

It is the dual mind that believes in the idea of separation. People today have become so ingrained in thinking of everything and everyone as apart, as separate entities. They have forgotten a basic truth that we are all part of a greater whole and are our brother’s keeper. We each have a role in each other’s journey. Yet, the dual mind continues to operate, resulting in the state of our world today: a world in the throngs of deprivation and decay, pollution and wars as one-upmanship and competition fuels the greed of our lower personalities. The dual mind also has fixed ideas of existence and other dimensions. It believes that we are still in the process of trying to fuse with God, be "saved" or get to heaven.

It is only when we step apart from the idea of dualism that we get a sense of who we really are. This understanding will make us aware that our souls, our spirits reside in an eternal world (already with God), and that we are already one. It is only when we take an evolutionary view of our spiritual development (which often comes from reflections on one’s personal experience) that we can comfortably connect the idea of the "new age" Higher Self to the Christian’s idea of God, Jesus, the angels, the saints. When we sit in meditation; when we send out prayers of blessings for lost souls sharing our spaces; when act with conscious awareness and willing in our daily lives; when we live in constant breathing action and not reacting to events, people and situations–then we will suddenly find out that we are working from our Higher Self, expressing the best in us through our creative living. In the ladder that is our evolutionary path, above and around us are other beings (discarnate from a body). We are all helping each other grow, deepen and ascend in love.

If we are made in the image and likeness of God, then we have that part which is divine. It is the part that the Master Jesus came down on earth to remind us of. This divinity in us, this part which is eternal, ascended–is what I have come to understand as the Higher Self and is one of the best kinds of relationships to nurture at this point in time.