(B03C10) Chapter 10: Playing Tetris with Trauma Blocks

1-Upping Reasons to Stay Alive in a Disco Beat-Box

“YOU'LL NEED ASSISTANCE WITH THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE NEVER EVER SEEN. IT'S JUST A CASE OF NEVER BREATHING OUT BEFORE YOU'VE BREATHED IT IN. HOW DOES IT FEEL WHEN YOU'RE INSIDE ME?” – “UP IN THE SKY” BY OASIS

Suicide, in theory, is nothing more than a symbol. The idea of suicide can be, of course, more useful than the act of suicide itself. The difference between the theory and the action is the same as the attempt to stop breathing and the actual stoppage of breath. The thought itself is part of our intention, which is linked to our non-physical conscious awareness. Simply by temporarily entertaining the idea of something which would normally be outside the realm of conscious consideration can promote the investigation of alternative reasoning, meaning that our minds and hearts are more open to receiving. The more open we are to alternative perspectives, the better equipped that we are to solve our own problems independently rather than running towards external sources or excuses that perpetuate our attachments or dependencies. Essentially, if our present state of mind and perception of the world was sound, we would have never experienced a problem. Therefore, in order to solve problems, we have to expand our conscious awareness and include alternatives.

Though it may be taboo to mention the idea of ending one's own life, the source of the feeling is coming from an area beyond our ability to communicate it accurately. This means that when we have thoughts of ending our own life, a part of our spirit may just desire general change in the course of our lives—not the actual death of our physical body. The specific act of suicide must be taken by action, meaning that we must manifest it in the physical world—or make it real. In order to manifest something in the physical reality, we have to channel it through our heart. This means that we not only have to have the intention, we also have to have a realistic reason. While the non-physical intention to die is still in its metaphysical state, it is no more of a symbol that can be translated in one manner or another.

God-Eye Sol Mate Rail-Crushing Pennies on DJ Set List Discs

“TO DIE, TO SLEEP—TO SLEEP—PERCHANCE TO DREAM. AY, THERE’S THE RUB! FOR IN THAT SLEEP OF DEATH WHAT DREAMS MAY COME, WHEN WE HAVE SHUFFLED OFF THIS MORTAL COIL, MUST GIVE US PAUSE—THERE’S THE RESPECT THAT MAKES CALAMITY OF SO LONG LIFE.” – WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (HAMLET)  

In a way, we all “die” from the physical body whenever we sleep, have a sexual orgasm, or are pleasantly shocked by witnessing something that alters how we view the world around us. The intention of suicide can be interpreted as a strong desire for renewal—a yearning to rejuvenate oneself back to a state of innocence. Wanting to die can also convey the urge to become a different person—or simply to allow ourselves to be authentic to our highest self. Those who hold secrets about their true feelings, sexuality, or even sins that have caused harm in others can force someone to consider taking their own life—or the life of another. As soon as we can reconcile ourselves with truth, however, these tendencies fall away. For this reason, transformative moments that bring us to our lowest point in our life cause us to release control and resign ourselves to forces that are greater than ourselves. In a sense, we stop holding our breath (spiritually) and inhale that which will return us back to balance.

From an expanded perspective, physical death can also be seen as a transition into the next phase of existence—like a child's birth from inside a mother's womb. Often, when we begin to outgrow our environment, the natural process of birth causes the release of hormones that will promote birth to occur. Neither the child nor the mother makes a conscious decision to begin the birthing process; it is stimulated by natural law. The same goes for other transitional events in our life. As interdependent beings to our environment, there are certain actions or experiences that are necessary in order to create change. If we are resistant to these changes, our desire to escape increases. The energy of escapism or desire often comes out as addiction to food, alcohol, or other substances. It can also express itself by attempting to control other human beings, their finances, their beliefs, morals, or any other means of imposing will upon another person beyond their conscious consent or ability to free themselves.

Getting Stoned, Stork Naked in Times Square

"WHOEVER WISHES TO COME AFTER ME MUST DENY HIMSELF, TAKE UP HIS CROSS, AND FOLLOW ME. FOR WHOEVER WISHES TO SAVE HIS LIFE WILL LOSE IT, BUT WHOEVER LOSES HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE AND THAT OF THE GOSPEL WILL SAVE IT.” – MARK 8:34-35

One of the most transformative moments in my life was the direct result of an unquenchable desire to be a different person. I wanted change so badly that I even considered taking my own life. My tendencies to escape reality were so far beyond my capacity to understand that I no longer had control of my body, mind, or connection to spirit. I had created so much distance between myself and the external world that I had forgotten how to access my intuitive awareness. Essentially, I had closed my heart to the world to such a degree that I wasn't even able to love myself. As a result, I became addicted to external sources of salvation. However, it wasn't that I felt that my life wasn't necessarily salvageable or that I wasn't worth anything. Instead, I felt completely alone. Even if I had changed, I did not believe that my authentic persona would ever survive under the same circumstances. Moreover, I didn't believe in myself enough to have the strength to live independently from other's validation or approval.

My suicidal tendencies, therefore, were caused equally from insecurity as they were a result of perceiving the world as a sea of conditional lovers who were primarily self-serving or not emotionally intelligent enough to seek truth over comfort. Any time that I confronted this truth in my mind, I felt ashamed by my own thoughts, causing me to retreat or seek to escape clarity by taking substances, seeking distractions, or playing the victim. If I were ever to find salvation from my fears and suffering, I would have to trust myself enough to completely change however I needed to in order to preserve my own sanity and be able to open my heart back up to the world. Even if it meant cutting myself off from everyone I knew, this type of “social suicide” was really only way I could preserve my life in the physical. If I could find the faith enough to give up my social life in exchange for my intuitive awareness, then I could reclaim my spiritual sovereignty without having to end my life in the physical.

“WHEN TWO BECOME ONE, BEHIND THE FIRST SUN. GO THE GREAT DISTANCE, WITHIN, DO NOT RUN. THE RACE WILL TAKE PACE FROM ILLUSIONS TO GRAB, AND ERASES DUPLICITY WITHOUT ERECTING A SLAB.” – “PROPHECY 47” BY JD STAHL

By the time that I was 36 I had gone through several transitional moments, many of them causing me to entertain thoughts of suicide—or at least expressing a strong desire to express my authenticity. Unfortunately, when we have distanced ourselves so far away from our true self, the thought of being able to express ourselves in a manner that honors our spiritual sovereignty seems impossible. As we make enough excuses for the impossibility of transformation, it becomes more difficult to consider alternatives that will honor our true expression of being. These times in our life are often the darkest. It is during these moments that we feel that there is only one way out—physical death.

Unfortunately, if someone wanted to change in a way that was completely different from who they had been in the past, many of them would have to face judgment by others. This, of course, challenges our addictive attachments and sense of obligation to what we hold dear in the physical world. Making drastic changes in presentation, attitude, or expression could even cause some to claim that we are having issues with our mental health or emotional stability.

“I SEE THAT THERE IS EVIL. AND I KNOW THAT THERE IS GOOD. AND THE IN-BETWEENS, I NEVER UNDERSTOOD. WON'T YOU LOOK AT ME? I'M CRAZY, BUT I GET THE JOB DONE.” - “PHILOSOPHY” BY BEN FOLDS

Yet, without these necessary transformations, we would never be able to make the adjustments to our metaphysical consciousness to create alignment with our authenticity. Because of the social obstacles that are placed before us, many people find themselves trapped by oppressive external opinions, belief systems, or social standards which are biased towards certain cultures. Essentially, society has self-proclaimed a certain authority to decide what is “good” or “evil” based on their subjective perception of what is “normal” or “ideal.” This is how a collective ego can become toxic to our basic human nature, preventing Natural Law from acting in a way that creates access to its spiritual counterpart.

Fortunately, what many of us don't realize, is that we have full control over whether or not we will accept any conceptual reality that does not allow us to feel free. Even if it goes against everything we know and love, none of us is responsible for the reactivity or lack of emotional maturity of others. Our only purpose is to be true to ourselves, even and especially if that causes us to experience a social crucifixion. The only way we can save our spiritual lives is to be willing to sacrifice anyone and anything that attempts to come between us and our sovereignty—even if presented with threats of physical death. Though none of us is required to make these sacrifices—at least not in this life—in order to be able to graduate beyond the wheel of rebirth, we have to prove that nothing is more sacred than truth.

Gaming Online with Charlie Murphy, Waiting for the Sun

“I AM NOT A TYPE. I AM NOT A SUB-CULTURE. I AM MOLDED BY EVERY DAY, FOREVER MALLEABLE BY THE TRANSIENT LOVE I ENCOUNTER FROM ONE SOUL TO THE NEXT. I DON'T PARTICIPATE IN EXCLUSION AND I AM NOBODY YOU HAVE EVER MET BEFORE; I AM EVERYONE YOU HAVE EVER MET BEFORE.” – “I AM” BY JD STAHL

Suffice it to say, when we experience any of these transformative moments in our life, we should consider them as equally as we do a physical birth of a new child. During these events when we are forced outside of our comfort zones, we are gifted with the opportunity to completely alter our personal reality. Even though we may not be able to change the expectations or perceptions of those around us, we are reminded that we have the capacity to change ourselves. The more we investigate our desires for things like suicide, escapism, depression, anxiety, or otherwise, the more we can uncover the truth—a realization that our greatest source of suffering is the belief that we are “not allowed” to change in the way that we need to in order to honor our true selves.

When this process of renewal occurs on a personal level, we often associate it with what is called the “Dark Night of the Soul.” A Dark Night of the Soul is the process of destruction or ego death which is necessary before an individual is capable of expanding their consciousness into a higher state of vibratory awareness. Similarly, in order for a snake to grow, it must first shed its skin. Attempting to grow while still constricted by our previous selves—physically, mentally/emotionally, or spiritually—would make anyone feel uncomfortable, even claustrophobic. As we delve deeper into our subconscious, we eventually realize that we don't necessarily need to change as much as we should be willing to accept ourselves enough so that we don't have to suppress our truth—to ourselves or to anyone else. By doing so, we take a stance based on unconditional love and forgiveness rather than a conditional ideal of what is deemed “good” or “worthy.”

“TO BE MUTTERED UNDER BREATH. TO BE LABELED INSANE—BY THOSE TOO AFRAID TO LET GO OF THE GAME. PERHAPS THEY’LL LISTEN NOW, HE SAYS, AS A DREAMER’S LINE BECOMES UNDERMINED BY THE PAINTINGS OF THE EYES SHE’S KEPT INSIDE. YET DEEP IT SHALL GO, AWAITING THE WAVES AND UNDERTOWS. DEEPLY DEEP, FEEDING THE SEEDS WE’LL SOW. PERHAPS THEY WILL NEVER KNOW? PERHAPS THEY WISH TO BE SOLD?” – “US” BY JD STAHL

However, because our present society does not properly welcome the psychological or spiritual molting process that is necessary for our growth, we run into certain problems. Instead of recognizing that certain emotional reactions are a direct product of limiting belief systems, religions, social grooming, or outdated psychological theories, we seek to label them. With these labels, we communicate an intolerance for authenticity on a global scale. Essentially, any aspect of independence or authenticity that cannot be predicted or organized in a spreadsheet is compartmentalized as a “problem” or something which should be eliminated, controlled, or canceled from society. Instead of learning how those who are different than we can teach us more about ourselves or the world around us, we try to condemn them to psychological diagnoses, cast them out of social circles, or even demonize them with our spiritual lexicon or symbology.

Whenever we “play god” by trying to groom or control natural law, we are taking a warring stance against the universe itself. What most people don't realize is that whenever any “thing” attempts to challenge the forces of nature, they/it will lose—and lose badly. Forces beyond the physical world are in charge of the quantum interdependence that balances physical spacetime. Not only is there a divine purpose for everything, but that purpose is directly connected to the source of all energy in the universe. When we fully commit ourselves to truth, we become a pure channel for that energy. It is so strong that our ego is completely demolished in its presence; as a result, our actions are direct extensions of universal interdependence.

Planning a False-Twin Demolition and Pancake Buffet at 12

“I MADE 33 AND I STILL HAVEN'T DIED. DON'T LET THE SMILE LIE TO YA, BABY. IT AIN'T BECAUSE I HAVEN'T TRIED. SOMETIMES MY LINES RHYMED WITH SUICIDE. NOW PEOPLE SAY THAT I'M CRAZY. I SEE THE SAME BEAUTY IN YOUR BRAIN. IS IT THE PAIN OR GAMES THAT MADE US INSANE? IT AIN'T GONNA CHANGE, EVEN IF WE COMPLAIN.” – “4U2BME” BY JD STAHL

As we approach higher planes of consciousness, we will undoubtedly experience moments of mixed bliss and regurgitated trauma. The side effects of these extreme emotions often appear as temporary breaks in mental stability, erratic behavior, or wild fits of suppressed emotions. As these energies come to the surface, we do our best to face them. These suppressed energies are mean to help us molt from our previous personality, identity, and ego. Even though a phoenix rising from its ashes may seem interesting, the process of shedding our ego is not often well-received by others. For this reason, when we sense that changes are happening upon us, it may be helpful to seek solitude—or at least a place where you do not have to consider your appearance or the judgment/reactivity of another person. Unless we can be completely honest, up-front, and transparent during this process, it will not be able to complete successfully (like unplugging a computer in the middle of an update).

Whether we willingly remove ourself from social circles or not, if we are meant to find solitude, the universe will orchestrate the necessary energy to ensure that we find alone time where we can process our residual energy. Basically, if we are still addicted to having social validation, the universe could destroy or forcefully remove any distractions that are preventing us from focusing on our spiritual development. After all, it is much easier to shed one's skin in private than it is to convince an entire culture to accept the shedding of skin in a manner that is misunderstood.

At the time, being ostracized from a collective culture may seem like a bad idea, but what is really happening is teaching us how to survive without validation. Since our intuition requires self-love and trust without being modeled after another person, even helpful assurance from a friend can be enabling, prolonging the transition (or negating it entirely). Therefore, all of the discomfort and suffering we feel during these transitions are each incredible opportunities for growth. While an individual is going through the drug-like withdrawal from their social environment or support system, their sacrifice or energetic fasting is what creates the necessary to evoke intuitive wisdom. Any time that we are able to eliminate our external dependencies, we prepare ourselves for a receipt of purity which is still capable of maintaining its energetic integrity.

“EACH ONE OF THIS GROUP HAS NOW FOUGHT FOR CONTROL. AS OFFERS OF HOPE, RECEIVED, ARE COMING IN CLEAN. THE ENERGY AWAITS WHEN THE LANDING IS CLEAR. THE SUN THEN RETURNS THE ANGEL TO THE LEAD.” – “THE ANGEL RETURNS” BY JD STAHL

Our transitional process is a clearing of energy so that it becomes possible to take on additional archetypes within our consciousness. Unless we are willing to toss out the clutter we have accrued for our limited ego/persona, there will not be enough room. By releasing our attachments to certain things, belief systems, or addictions to validation or substance, we are then ready to sever our energy from our competitive nature. When we no longer compare ourselves to others, our tendency towards divinity begins to take on energies of archetypes which were previously absent from our environment.

For example, if we spend our time with at least 12 people, over time these individuals will begin to take on certain dominant characteristics relative to 1 or more of the 12 primary archetypes. However, in every social circle—regardless of its size or population—balance must be achieved. By temporarily establishing boundaries with our external environment (not competing or seeking validation), we naturally manifest the presence of those archetypes internally. The more that we “stack” these archetypes on top of one another in our conscious mind, the more energy we must purge. This purging process is the burning away of anything that is not in alignment with other archetypes.

The Bottom

JD Stahl (08/09/2018) I want nothing, no more, take it back. Keep my breath, my air, leave it black. Everything you give, you take away. Fill my days with no more play—stay away. Killed with kindness and lost in rhythm. I’ve died this lonesome death and have not risen. Ears ring, birds sing, but I’m imprisoned By my own hands and child-like enthusiasm. My nights have turned dark with constant panic. Wake within dreams, jumped in voids of static. Nothing bright, except the light, but I’m forbidden. Failing tests and visions wrecked and unforgiven. Hanging low on the gallows pole seems fresh Compared to the heart attacks and quiet loneliness. Walking through, in these shoes, I’m a creep. Shallow laughs from the knowing staff, they peep. In my broken chest, no blood is left. Giving in To whatever the Hell I’ve done in my sins. I know not love, laughter, or life of ease. My broken heart has also broken both my knees. What dreams may come had to run; nothing left. They say it’s right to say goodnight. Fucking tests. I’m beaten down by my golden crown; pull the reigns. Blinded by the other side of his evil games. Evil lies are undisguised. I bet you’ve tried. Without compromise, you kill my “why,” I visualize. My company I cannot keep. It’s losing time. Heart won’t pump. It’s fucking junk, it just whines. All my friends see the end of this old story. They’ve given up, no more luck; it’s boring. The family’s tears and fruited fears have crashed. All their hopes have gone to cope with loving trash. I just wait for death in this desert while I sweat. I cannot see, nor hear, what I would interpret. My singing songs no longer belong; deafen me. Keep your smile. It’s not denial. Take me, please?

Airy Body Slam-Dancing in the Dark Night of the Soul Trainer

“I WAS DANCING WHEN I WAS TWELVE. I WAS DANCING WHEN I WAS AAAH. I DANCED MYSELF RIGHT OUT THE WOMB. IS IT STRANGE TO DANCE SO SOON? I WAS DANCING WHEN I WAS EIGHT. IS IT STRANGE TO DANCE SO LATE? I DANCED MYSELF INTO THE TOMB.” – “COSMIC DANCER” BY T-REX

During our transformational process, we will undoubtedly experience confusion, internal struggles or battles, and conflict as we reflect upon our past events. The same alchemical process will also occur with respect to our personal identity (ego or personality). This is also known as a Dark Night of the Soul. The “Dark Night” is the process of destruction which brings us to the acceptance of personal responsibility for all possible characteristics of a whole or “Holy” Spirit. In a sense, our soul is comparing itself only to Natural Law (universal intelligence). This process continues until we resign any attempts to control, negotiate, or limit what is occurring.

Though at times we will feel uncomfortable or not know what to do/feel/think, everything that is occurring is for our best interest. The more we release control, we create the necessary silence from which we are able to develop the language in which we are meant to communicate with our spirit-soul (inner light). Our suffering, therefore, is only a byproduct of the purification process of eliminating separation from our identification with our spirit-soul—the immortal light from within. When viewed differently, the suffering is condensed energy that we are able to transmute into its raw form where it can then be used for manifestation purposes.

Just as anyone would eat food as a means to metabolize that food into caloric energy that can be used to power our physical body, we must consume the presence of different archetypes in order to activate higher-order energies that are linked to wisdom. Because our highest self does not identify itself within a system of duality or separation, in order to be able to embody our higher self, we must purify ourselves from any preference, opinion, or characteristic that is not consistent within all possible alternatives. Internal and external, light and dark, masculine and feminine, physical and non-physical polarities must find balance in order to be able to transcend our singular identity and ascend beyond the limitations of time and space.

“I CAN LOOK OUT THE WINDOW AND FEEL THE SUN, BUT I CAN’T SEEM TO REENERGIZE. HOW COULD THEY HAVE ALL THOUGHT THAT I WAS THE ONE WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN IMMORTALIZED? I’LL JUST STAY HERE AND THINK OR PONDER MYSELF. I’M SORRY TO LEAVE YOU ALONE. I JUST NEED TO FEEL PAIN SO I FEEL THE SAME. SOMEHOW, IT MAKES ME FEEL HOME.” – “DISCUSSIONS WITH MYSELF” BY JD STAHL

Attempting to complete this purification process (Dark Night of the Soul) while still being influenced by external social factors can be quite difficult—as difficult as trying to fast while working in a restaurant of your favorite foods. What makes it even more difficult to do is that unless we recognize our desire to fast in order to purify ourselves on a spiritual level, it is much easier to make excuses or resort back to previous patterns of behavior or belief systems that will provide us with relief from our unconscious suffering. In a sense, we have to suffer willingly—until we are able to recognize the divine utility in the suffering and its intention to return us back to the purest identification with our soul's wisdom, light, and truth. From this base substance, we can then resurrect our higher self from within. Everything that we incorporate into our lives after this short period of transformation is best done from a more enlightened perspective.

Each transitional period (Dark Night) is mean to help us recognize our true nature—separate from the preferences, opinions, or other neuroses which we once used to define ourselves. These characteristics and subsequent desire systems will naturally fall away as we resign ourselves to the spiritual “blood-letting” process. With the energy returned from our willing sacrifices, we receive boosts of intuitive sensation. With these increases or “downloads,” we feed our inner spark—similar to how a fire consumes oxygen to stay lit. As our internal fire burns, we leave behind metaphysical ashes—the molted, nonessential aspects of our higher self. Like a phoenix, we rise from these ashes and exit our Dark Night of the Soul as a transformed being. The less that we hold onto our ashes as this transition occurs, the more that we will be able to grow. Through each process, we reconcile more and more duality back into unity, reducing the metaphysical space/distance between our present selves and our ideal.

2 Bees Walk Backwards Through a Rainbow to Get Stage Buzz

“AN EXHALE BEFORE THE BREATH. A TEA PARTY WITH THE LAST THING LEFT. BEFORE BEING DESTROYED BY THE BREACH OF ABUNDANCE. ONLY TO BE FOLLOWED BY THE FLOCK THAT ONCE PUSHED YOU OFF THE DOCK. A TICK OF THE CLOCK. ON THE DOOR, A KNOCK.” – “SEEDS” BY JD STAHL

As children, we experience transitional Dark Nights; however, because we are not as attached to any specific personality or preferences at that point, it is much easier to release our attachments. Because, children have not yet developed rigid defense mechanisms, they are malleable to changes. This makes it much easier to make sacrifices—even in the face of physical life. Children fear pain more than the end of their life; adults have confused the two and often equate them. Even emotional pain translated as a threat of physical death. Therefore, in order to work backwards and face our traumas, we must be able to recognize that our traumas are intimately linked to how we perceive the importance of our own ego/persona. How children handle their first few traumatic experiences will eventually determine the course of their lives. Becoming consciously aware of how the patterns in our life have developed from the quality of our coping mechanisms allows us to change those beliefs and perspective that prevent growth and healing.

As a young child, I experienced a moment where I came face to face with my own death. Without the slightest consideration for alternatives, I released any attempt to control the process. Without fear or bad-faith belief systems, death is quite freeing. Because I didn't try to stop or control it, my first Dark Night of the Soul only lasted a few moments. Quite soon afterwards, I was flooded with wisdom and perceptual awareness that was vastly beyond my years or present level of education. The more I remembered how I was able to release my ego, the more practiced I got at it later in my life.

“OPEN YOUR EYES AND ANCHORS AWAY. BREAK FROM THE TIDES THAT BREAK EVERY DAY. TETHERED BY LIVES WE'VE CAGED BY OUR THINGS. WAKE UP YOUR MIND AND OPEN YOUR WINGS.” – “OPERATION RAINBOW” BY JD STAHL

As I got older, however, it wasn't as easy to resign my control over to the universe. The more I exchanged my spiritual sovereignty for external sources of validation or temporary salvation, the more I became attached to “things.” Therefore, even when the smallest comforts threatened to be removed from me, I would try to fight for control or power. This, of course, only exacerbated my issues. Instead of believing in myself enough to go down my own path, I ran for cover and sought external friendships, toxic relationships, drugs, alcohol, or any other repetitive pattern of disfunction or self-destruction that would prevent me from rising to my spiritual sovereignty.

The more we ascend to higher planes and dimensions of consciousness, the more that we feel empathically connected to others. However, without boundaries, this can be problematic. Not only are we able to feel other people's feelings, but it also means that we can read their thoughts. If we are not careful or have not yet developed the ability to discern what is of our intuitive light and what is a projection of another, we can misappropriate our energy and develop toxic qualities that perpetuate karmic cycles—or even take on karma to which we didn't previously have connections.

“SPREAD YOUR WINGS OPEN WIDE. FILL THE BREACH AND TOUCH THE SKIES. CLING ONLY TO THIS BREATH WE SHARE. THE WEIGHT OF THE WOLD HAS DREAMT OF THE DAY. WHERE FEARS ARE ONLY ACTORS WITHIN THE PLAY. AND ABOVE THE NIGHT, THE TRAVELERS WALK. THE AIR. THE TALK. THE WHEELS ECLIPSE. A STUMBLE. THAT’S ALL. BLOODY KNEES AND RASPBERRIES. PARADISE IS FREED. THE DESIGNER SEES THE LIONESS, AS SHE DECREES: THERE’S NOTHING YOU NEED, BUT TO BE.” – “BUT TO BE” BY JD STAHL

Essentially, trying to remain the same is painful, mainly because we are forcing ourselves to exist in the same conditions that were the catalyst for our present circumstances. In order to grow into a new perspective where healing can occur, we have to shed our previous selves, molt our skin, or burn away the parts of our ego/persona that either no longer serve us. Each Dark Night or transformation process is evoked from within to provide us with opportunities that will lead us to greater powers relative to our spiritual sovereignty. Unfortunately, resignation of our ego—specifically in the presence of those who associate our identity with that ego—can stimulate emotions that are psychologically tantamount to death. If we do not have faith in ourselves, these transitional moments can result in suicidal ideations. However, questions are not harmful. In order to be honest with ourselves and others, we should never seek to suppress any emotion or curiosity. It is only in the actions that follow which have the capacity to make change permanent.

The purpose of these transitional phases is to temporarily entertain as many perspectives as possible, yet still maintaining equanimous balance and stillness. If we can entertain every possible thought—to every possible extreme—without seeking comfort or running to others for validation, then it is through that very process that we naturally return to balance. By doing this we force ourselves to change how our subconscious reacts to situations—no longer trying to shape or mold situations in a way that will serve our predetermined set of logic, morals, or personality characteristics. Essentially, we allow our emotions to flow (channel) through us and allow the emotions to carve a path that is harmonious with our present state of karma/dharma. It is therefore through these channels that the rest of our lives are transformed in accordance to “The Way” of Natural Law.

The Way

JD Stahl (05/23/2020) Away from the sights, the sounds; The rigid schedules—the frowns; Expectations, labels, copies of passers-by, There is a place where I go that Nobody seems to know. Just leave yourself behind. You may quiet the voices. You’re free from all of their choices— For you. They cannot see the places of peace in the light, When they clamor around the joker at night. Where you will be from, nothing is lost. And the faithless to you May never know the cost. But nothing sits between The shadows of them and me. We are all divine company— For you. Rise above the problems and fights. This immaculate channel seems tight. But impossibility only lives down below. And most rainy days will slow the show. And you know the way is near. Disconnect from unclear. Confusion is the anchor— For you. So put down the fear when there’s nothing near. I have been saving a perfect space for you, here. Because I know you when others seem not. Safety is something you’ve got— To offer those who sit in doubt. For vulnerability is a luxury They’ve gone on without. It’s where lies the power— For you. All of you. There is truth. And the way to you.