‘It is enlightenment to know one's self‘ (Lao Tzu)
"When one understands self, and self's relation to its Maker, the duty to its neighbor, its own duty to self, it cannot, it will not be false to man, or to its Maker." (Edgar Cayce Reading 3744-5)
Who looks outside dreams; who looks inside awakes.” (C.G. Jung Letters, Vol. I, p. 33)
(Self portrait, Rembrandt van Rijn)
Most people consider themselves to be very self-aware, and don't give much importance to introspection (examining their thoughts) or self-observation. Nor do they place much store in what others think of them, or try to learn from them.
But really, how well do we know ourselves and why we act as we do? The truth is, not much. Research has repeatedly shown that most of us have only a vague idea, if any, at given time about how we feel, what we really think, or why we act as we do.
Psychologist Carl Jung confirmed beyond doubt that the human psyche is much more than the ego consciousness that we usually take to be ourselves. The ego consciousness, in fact, is only a small part of the psyche, and most times, it functions automatically: most of our thinking and behaviour is not consciously directed at all, but the result of childhood and social conditioning.
Even deeper is another level of consciousness that exerts an even more powerful influence on our behaviour. Jung called this layer the collective unconscious which carries the biological imprints of our humanity and knowledge of our ancient ancestors. One usually needs some help to access this layer.
Without some understanding of these unconscious influences, the ego personality can be like a small boat on a large sea, tossed, pushed and pulled by forces far beneath the waves, or like a child trying to navigate a world that it hasn't even begun to understand.
(Art by Ina Szabó at inaszaboartdesign.com)
Unless we make a conscious effort to know ourselves and why we what we do, we cannot function as autonomous beings in the world. We may think we do, but without the broader perspective and insight of the inner personality, we are tossed in the waves, praying for calm , or we shuffle along thinking and behaving as we have been conditioned to do, stuck in old habits that we hardly even recognise, much less question.
Even when things go wrong and we begin to see that our ‘usual way of being’ doesn’t really work, many just muddle through, doing and thinking the same old things because with the arrogance of the small ego, we think we know ourselves when we don't.
And overwhelmingly, we are out of touch with our feelings, and what the spirit teacher, Seth, calls our basic feeling-tone and which determines how we see and respond emotionally to our inner and outer experiences.
We do not realise that not only our perceptions but also our emotions are distorted by layers of self-delusion, conditioning and unquestioned beliefs and attitudes. With all that interference, trying to 'hear' the small inner voice of soul is like trying to hear whispers through several thick walls. If we hear them at all, the messages come through all muffled and distorted.
For example, I might want love, but through my learned filters of mistrust, resentment, unworthiness or fear, I consciously register suspicion and doubt about love, which can seriously limit my ability to recognise love, give or receive it.
We have to dig deep to know what we're really feeling. But the psyche itself will try to tell us through dreams, intuition, or those soft inner voices. Start by paying attention to these messages from the unconscious. Do not ignore them. Listen to them, acknowledge them somehow, and take note of them. Eventually, you will start to see a pattern ...
(image: from aconsciousrethink.com)
Self-knowing takes time, it takes effort and patience, and it requires that very difficult letting go of your self-illusions. You must be willing to know who you are. It might seem intimidating at first, or damn uncomfortable, but be assured, it is worth it. Consciousness that knows Itself is the only thing with the power to change the world.