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by Deb Schnitta
To
begin it is important to consider what exactly is polarity? Polarity in
a spiritual context is the representation of areas of consciousness
that appear to be the opposite from one another. In effect, they are
each two components of the same body of consciousness, each with a
different focus. Simple examples of polarity include good and bad,
right and wrong, light and dark. In each example, it is fairly easy for
the mind to identify where the polarity lies and which side of the
equation you most see yourself.
Polarity is present in every
disagreement, in any area of life where there is less than harmony. In
extreme forms of polarity there is war, in the subtle pervasive
expressions of polarity there are situations of push and resistance.
Throughout
the history of spiritual evolution the presence of polarity has been
significant and continues to be so today. Often individuals desire to
improve themselves based on a certain life experience that they view as
less than favorable. The commitment (silent or aloud) to not be like a
certain individual often starts the cycle of exploration into where
this person does want to exist along the continuum of polarity.
The
trick is to not accentuate the roles of polarity while making your
internal commitments. Accentuating the polarity actually adds to the
polarity of any given situation. The dilemma with this approach is that
adding to polarity increases the chances that you will continue to
defend your position in the polarity and the situation will not
change.
Consider this example:
Sharon is in a
relationship that began as one of love and ideals. Shortly after they
each committed to one another, the romanticized elements fell away and
revealed what her friends called ‘opposites attract.’ She and her
boyfriend are opposite on many personal views, from politics to money,
to whether or not she would work if they have children. Because they
are so opposite, their discussions together and with friends and family
often find them on opposite sides of the fence. Sharon says that it
feels more like they are arguing than discussing. She frequently feels
as if her boyfriend simply pushes back at her, no matter what she says,
and feels like she can never win. Most often she describes feeling
badly about herself in relation to these exchanges.
The polar
aspects of consciousness at play in this example are fairly obvious.
But what may be more elusive is the way that polarity keeps the dynamic
in place. If Sharon did not feel badly about herself, would it
continue? Probably not. Does Sharon know how she ends up feeling badly
in these exchanges? (What actually transpires whereby she internalizes
something is wrong.) She says she does not, just that it is how each
exchange ends and that she hates how she feels. She does report that
it is familiar, that it has been present in every significant
relationship in her life, her parents, one brother, a boss, even her
academic adviser in college.
With this much prevalence in her
life, the significance of the polarity and pattern is great. This
aspect of polarity, the consciousness of not feeling good about
herself, keeps her engaged with the world from one primary viewpoint,
the orientation that no matter what she does, she can’t win. In order
to keep this polarity in place, she must have worthy playmates that are
willing to fill their roles, to reinforce she is less than and not
worthy. Therefore, she recreates the pattern, over and over again,
using different people that all fill the same role.
Shifting the
polarity is much more effective than trying new strategies to manage
the situation. In the latter, nothing changes and much energy is spent
trying to minimize the impact of unpleasant situations. To shift the
polarity requires a commitment that things can be different. On the
surface this sounds easy, since often the exploration of polarity has
begun because there is unhappiness with a current situation. However,
letting go of habituated patterns takes some concentrated effort as
well as understanding of the pattern itself.
To shift the
polarity requires the presence of neutrality. To no longer be hooked by
the old patterns opens space for new awareness and choices to emerge.
Shifting the polarity fosters this faster than anything else. As you
get to know this aspect of consciousness that is you, the opportunity
to make conscious choice arises. In this way the choices you make do
not accentuate the polarity, but rather come from expansion and
neutrality.
In the example of Sharon, the first step in shifting
the polarity that is present would be to open her heart and hear what
is transpiring. Is her boyfriend arguing or is he simply expressing a
different view? Can she receive what he is expressing, whether or not
she agrees with him? To do this requires a commitment to witness
objectively what is actually occurring.
No matter how
disappointed Sharon is with the situation, if she is not open to things
being different, then they will stay the same. The energetic dynamics
of polarity keep the push and pull of the exchanges in place. To have
awareness of one component of the consciousness opens the possibility
for the momentum of the (often) unconscious push and pull to stop. Even
a momentary pause in the rhythm provides the opening for the entire
patterns of reactivity both conscious and unconscious to transform. The
content or place of transformation that occurs is often seen by the
mind as the payoff or the attraction to being right. These very
elements keep the pattern in place no matter how strongly the desire
for something to be different might be.
To help the process of
transformation of any area of polarity, consider this brief exercise.
Start off by writing down your 'side' of the equation. This would be
your views and experience. You will gain the greatest insights into
what within you keeps this pattern in play if you complete this step
with as many 'I' statements as possible. By remaining focused on what
you perceive, what you experience, you gain understanding of yourself
more fully.
For the second step, write down what you hear as the
facts of the other side of the equation. This would be the content of
what has been shared or transpired. As you write them down, notice any
reactions in your physical body. Here the clues for what in the content
triggers you begin to emerge. The physical cues may be subtle, a small
tightening in your stomach or solar plexus area, holding your breath.
As
you focus on the area of your physical body that moves into reaction in
this way, you are connecting with the consciousness of polarity within
your system. A small place of reaction that holds much wisdom has just
been illuminated.
For the final step, continuing to sit in quiet
contemplation, ask the constriction in your body to tell you what is
needed. Be willing to wait patiently for a response. Often the mind
fills the void of silence by replaying the story, or trying to
‘understand’ what is transpiring. When the consciousness of the body
speaks, it is often in short non-charged sentences. Its wisdom speaks
so clearly that the few words that illustrate the consciousness often
feel like a deep sense of connection within the body, or a moment of
illumination far beyond what the mind could have created on its own.
As
these concepts emerge, take some time to be with them. Often writing
about what emerges assists the mind to understand what is playing out
in deeper ways. This is a wonderful tool of gaining awareness, and
deepens the connection to the inner place of truth and higher knowing.
As
the content becomes known in this way, the process of discovery often
continues in a deeper fashion, opening the door for the transformation
of the content as well as the dynamic that keeps the polarity in play.
As you sit with the wisdom of your body, you might hear or perceive a
simple phrase such as, “I just want to be understood.” This need is
often what fuels the largest areas of polarity in the situation. It
also often expresses itself in other areas of your life.
Here
in the moment of discovery, you have the gift of consciousness that is
asking for attention. You are now sitting with the awareness of what
within you keeps the presence of polarity, the push and the pull of
consciousness in place.
Deb Schnitta, RN is a leading pioneer in healing and
consciousness and the originator of Cellular Expansion and Healing TM (CE) a
revolutionary energy work that supports the resolution of constrictions and
illness at the level of the cells. CE affects the consciousness stored within
the cells and provides connection to Soul and the Divine.
An author of many books and Meditation CD Energy Programs for living a life
connected consciously to Soul and Spirit, Deb supports individuals seeking
healing, spiritual development and enlightenment. She has co-founded Vanati: A
Center for Energy Medicine and Consciousness with her partner, Pauline Dishler
M.Ed. Information about their revolutionary approach to healing, free distance
healing, and dynamic Meditation Energy Programs can be found at
www.vanati.com.
For more information about this article, email vanati@vanati.com.
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