The Voice Within

I feel like I've made some good progress. I'm able to stay more in the moment while letting anxieties and worries slowly dissolve in the light of awareness. This is Good.

I've also made contact with my Antaryamin, or "Higher Self," but in a much deeper way than simply knowing I have a conscience. I've discovered that I can have actual conversations with her (whom I call Sophia) that are quite, well, enlightening. I believe this skill (for lack of a better word) is what the Golden Dawn and other magical orders term "The Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel." A wonderful definition is listed on the Oneness Movement glossary:

Antaryamin: The Indwelling Presence, or atman, known in the West as higher self, essence or inner divinity. This becomes our identity once the illusion of a fixed and separate self is dissolved.

All people have this ability, but I've been consciously strengthening my connection to that Voice. I've learned a great deal by doing this, and I hope to include some of these "conversations" here at some point.

It almost seems too easy, but I don't mean that in an ego-centered way. It's a Voice that I've heard before over the years, but took quite for granted. Because of this, I was very surprised to read this comment on an Advaita site:

Liberation (moksha) consists in realizing this identity, not just as a matter of literal or intellectual understanding, but as something that is to be grasped by the individual in his/her own personal experience.

It's definitely a very real personal experience, but not the kind that causes a change in awareness. At least not yet. I'll just continue to listen and strengthen the connection to see what comes of it.

I'm also spending time now on balancing and strengthening the chakras to prepare for the descent of Light. I realized yesterday that I could tell which ones were out of balance, so I'm starting at the bottom and working up. Today's focus is on the Muladhara, or first chakra, so I spent some time with a yoga routine specifically for that chakra, along with a meditation. I'm not yet clear on all the things I should do to balance this chakra, but at least for this one, I'll be spending some time out in nature. I'm sure Sophia will have more ideas for me.

In the meantime, I've added a very basic page on the chakras for anyone who is interested in the topic. I'll add more information to that page as I'm able.