Faith Shifts
If you happen upon the tracks of religion you should follow them, not to where they are going, but from whence they have come.
Sean O'Laoire: Setting God Free:Moving Beyond the Caricature We've Created in our Own Image.
DECONSTRUCTION
Faith deconstruction is the process of critically examining and questioning one's beliefs, doctrines, and religious or spiritual frameworks. It involves dismantling preconceived notions and dogmas in order to reconstruct a more authentic and personally meaningful understanding of spirituality or worldview. This journey often involves grappling with doubt, uncertainty, and existential questioning, ultimately leading to a deeper, more nuanced faith or a transition to a different belief system altogether.
SELF-REALISATION
Self-realization is the profound journey of discovering our true essence and purpose beyond the surface layers of identity and ego. In the direct path of self-inquiry, we rest in effortless being and transcend the illusion of separateness. This leads to an experience a profound sense of unity with all existence. In Christianity the deepening involves a surrendering of the self (or ego) to find one’s true Self in Christ - I become less that He becomes more. This is the approach of Christian mysticism through contemplative prayer.
THE DEEPENING
I find that the more I learn about transpersonal psychology, Christian mysticism and non-duality the more my awareness and appreciation of the multi-dimensional aspect of reality is deepened and enriched.
I use the umbrella term ‘the deepening’ to encompass everything from deconstruction, healing, and self-realisation. because it is all an expansion and an enriching of faith rather than a losing of it. Once we become Self-Realised we can never go back to the small dualistic thinking we had before. Everything changes. But rather than mourned as a descent into atheism, this new Unity Consciousness is celebrated as a true metanoia, taking one beyond the confiines of the small mind and its programmed dualistic thinking. As we share our stories we create our own myths, and thereby develop a personal cosmology which is the ultimate task of every individual human being.
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SERVICES
If you, like me, want to break free from the constraints of limiting belief, yet welcome an unfoldment of personal faith mining for the treasure hidden in the field, you're in good company. I suspect there are quite a few of us!
IT HELPS TO SHARE...
If what you read here resonates and would like to speak with me I'm here to listen. I am not a trained therapist so if you feel you need professional help that is not what I offer. I do however understand how deeply-rooted faith is, and how it is entangled with many things that are vitally important to us. Therefore deconstruction is complex and never painless. It will be different for everyone. It can require months, years, decades in the wilderness of exile when self-care requires taking a long break to heal. But ultimately we return because we need to reconcile with ourselves. Reconstruction to a more nondual understanding is the path to wholeness, freedom and joy.
If you'd like to talk about your faith shift journey ... questions, uncertainties, fears or frustrations I offer 60 minute 1-2-1 video sessions worldwide by Whatsapp.