Oneness is probably one of the most common traits talked about in Spirituality. It’s nothing new. If you had asked me a few weeks ago, I would have been like, “Yeah, yeah, of course I’m one. Blah, Blah.”
Yet, this concept has deepened for me in a tremendous way while on our recent trek down to the Amazon jungle. Sitting for hours reflecting on my life and how to deal with the “un-peace” that I often experience – even though on the outside so much of my life seems great. What occurred to me strongly is the concept of Oneness, but not in a way that I had previously thought about it.
As I was doing a little kundalini yoga and breathing this morning, I thought,
“What does that really mean – Oneness?”
I was suddenly reminded that the word, “Yoga” means “Union with the Divine”. Hence, Oneness.
At it’s most basic level, it means not being split in two.
So often in life, it’s so easy to be “at odds with things”, thinking that things are NOT the way that they should be. It’s so easy to be in conflict about something. Like returning home after a 2-week trip and finding a big dent in my car that had been parked outside my house (at least they left a note!). Or being frustrated with my children when they are doing something to test the boundaries. Or being split in the multitude of options or choices in front of us.
So how does Oneness mean not being split in two? It means not being in any kind of paradox, what so ever. A paradox is when you’re trying to do two things at the same time. Or believe two things at the same time.
Our world is full of paradox. It’s, “Work hard to be proud of yourself.” Yet at the same time we’re told, “Don’t be proud (ego).” Or to give a grand example with Universal law: Everything is seeking to be One with itself, and yet, if that is the case, then why did we have a Big Bang to begin with where everything became separate? Again, paradox.
I can’t help but think that the one instrument of ourselves that is constantly split in two is the mind. It’s always left brain/right brain, masculine/feminine, confidence/doubt, light/shadow, etc. It’s the perfect example of polarity. On the other hand, scientifically speaking, the Heart is the one place in our bodies with zero polarity. The heart doesn’t lie. The mind lies all the time. Yet, why does it seem like so often we reside in our mind instead of our heart? If you’re going to choose Oneness, then doesn’t that signify being in one’s heart? To me, that’s the only way to actually be one with yourself, be one with others, or be one with All That Is.
I know – that’s easy to dismiss because it’s such a cliche: “Follow your heart.” Blah.
I think it’s about looking deeper, beyond the cliche. For if we only accept the surface level thinking about the heart, it’s easy to push it aside as child’s play, something a 7-year old would do. Yet when we explore the depths and far reaches of our own hearts, something miraculous happens. One person on our recent Peru trip described the experience as a series of “life changing revelations.” I’m honored to hold space for people so that those life changing revelations can take place. Generally they occur when people give themselves the time and space to explore what they know, explore their own belief system, and do the tough, messy personal work required to heal and expand their hearts.
That’s what Peru has been about. Ask any one of the 14 people who were on our recent trip. It’s also the work that Eden and I provide in our sacred medicine ceremonies, workshops, and one-on-one coaching and energy work.
But this is the deal:
To me, you don’t get Oneness by thinking about Oneness. Or telling yourself, “I’m one”. You get it by seeking out all of the areas of your life where you experience DIVISION and feel SEPARATE from, and then seeing what needs to be done in order to bring that situation to wholeness. Often times, this is not easy work.
For me, it’s looking at my relationship with my 21-year old son, who I met for the first time when he was 13, and seeing what I must do to heal the relationship.
For me, it’s also going deep in my own relationship with myself to see why in spite of a successful business and family, I can often feel like I’m “not enough”.
So what’s up with that? Well, I’m not feeling that way right now. (Because I just spent two weeks in Peru looking at my life and coming to some new conclusions) But that’s me. What about you?
How can you consciously seek out those areas where you might be split in two, and see what needs to occur, what forgiveness or love you can bring to the situation, so that You and Your Whole World can actually feel as One?
