A Deeper Way of Seeing: Part I - Our Center

Mandala

In one of his talks John O’Donohue describes “Dangerous Thoughts,” as those radical dreams that have the power to change our lives. To steward those powerful potentials we need new tools and skill sets. We need a kind of courageous seeing. There is a way of seeing, a non-ordinary way, that calls to our “knower.” Maybe it’s a dream that continues to resonate, or a profound nature experience that touches us deeply. Suddenly we’re awakened and it’s as though we’ve broken through to another realm.

Frank MacEowen, in his book, The Celtic Way of Seeing: Meditations on the Irish Spirit Wheel, postulates that there is a “way of orienting [ourselves] to the deeper energy of our lives and “a kind of meditative map” that as a spiritual tool can “facilitate awareness, bravery and growth.” That way is the Irish Spirit Wheel.

In his book he introduces the four sacred life directions of the Irish Spirit Wheel, or mandala: North, East, South and West, as well as the Center, each of these with the potential to exert positive influence in our lives.

MacEowen states that, “All of us have a first love, something to which we dedicate our life energy.” Finding what that is allows us to “reclaim our personal sovereignty” that resides at the center of our being. In that Center, the place of our personal sovereignty, we find a holistic perspective and potential for integration. MacGowen urges us to ask, “Am I in good standing with my destiny?” and “Am I heeding the requests of my soul?” As he says, “…it is at the Center where we begin our explorations, and it will be the Center to which we will return.” It is from this place that we have “access to all the inherent wisdom energies that dwell in the four directions.”

If we are to reclaim our personal sovereignty, it will entail, among other things, bringing order to things that tend to devolve into chaos, bringing impulses that may carried off by whim into account and bringing intentionality into the forefront of our decision making. As John O’Donohue has warned, we do ourselves no favors by trying to hammer our will into submission. That kind of manhandling only does violence to our souls. Instead he urges us to find our internal rhythms, to discover what our natural inclinations are.

Tapping in to our “First Love” is key. Just as when we have a fervent passion toward our life partner and would not think of being unfaithful, because after all, no one could hold a candle to our first love; in the same way once we fall in love with our true selves, with the intention or blueprint for our lives, we will not have to force ourselves to be faithful, nothing else can compare.

The process of getting to know our Center, our True Self is the path to first love. In solitude, with patience, in anticipation, with openness and with eyes of love, we explore the interior landscape or our dreams and imaginative best selves.

The phrase “Follow Your Bliss” was popular several years ago. I never did like it much. The way it was being used seemed trivial, maybe because it became “a thing.” While writing this post, that phrase came to mind. I decided to look up its meaning and origin. It originated with Joseph Campbell, the author of The Power of Myth. It comes from three terms in Sanskrit, which has been called “the great spiritual language of the world.” Sat means being, chit means consciousness and ananda means bliss or rapture. Campbell took those principles in and encouraged us to “be,” to become conscious and to follow that which brings us rapture or bliss. This is finding our Center and this is the motivation to reclaim our personal sovereignty.

How will your find what brings you rapture or bliss?

Writing Prompt for the Week: Sovereignty