Do You Need To Lose Your Ego/Personality?

Do You Need To Lose Your Ego/Personality? ©2018 Joan M. Newcomb, CPC

I know of three people who had profound spiritual awakenings, and lost their personality when they did. I personally believe they might have had mini-strokes or breakdowns. Regardless of the reason, they each went from being depressed, even suicidal, to an expanded knowingness, overnight.

Collage of Eye In The Sky by C. Löser

In some spiritual practices, it's almost a requirement to destroy your ego in order to attain spiritual transcendence. 

However, I believe that kind of requirement is a distortion of whatever the original teachings were. Like the idea that you need to deprive yourself, of food or sex or money, in order to be more holy.

You don't need to have a stroke, you don't need to suffer, nor do you need to become a blank slate, in order to shift from a lower awareness to Consciousness.

(One person who had a profound Consciousness Shift after stroke reported that her personality actually came back after a couple of years, but she just laughed at it).

You don't need to destroy your ego, you just need to discern the difference between it, and the greater aspect of You, the essence of you, which I like to call Consciousness. 

If you look around, most everyone in the world is operating as their personality. Decisions are being made and actions are being taken, not as an Infinite or expanded Consciousness but as the little being in a body that has survival needs, that has limitations, that's only going to be here for a number of years. 

I've found that the more disconnected you are from yourself as Consciousness, the more you will be running off of compulsive behaviors, and the more out of balance your life will be.

When you shift your perspective to that of Consciousness, you operate differently in the world. You're aware of your personality and your body's needs. You don't deny them, you care for yourself with adequate food, shelter and companionship.

It's not an overnight process (unless you want to have a mini-stroke or breakdown of some sort). But it's a process of learning to navigate differently, of discovering the difference between running the show as the "little" will versus the "greater" Will.

Your world does transform, and can transform rapidly, when you start operating as Consciousness. Yet it transforms in ways your personality may expect and beyond what your ego can imagine. 

There's a greater result beyond whatever it is you think you want to be, do, or have right now. And it can be had easily and effortlessly, simply by shifting your perception to the greater viewpoint of yourself as Consciousness.

Safety And Growth

Safety And Growth ©2018 Joan M. Newcomb, CPC

In spiritual classes and groups, it’s important to create a safe place for people to learn and grow. A good teacher or facilitator will hold a space that is clear and grounded or focused, and the group will agree to things like confidentiality and respect.

When these things are established and these requirements are met, a wonderful container is created where people can go deep and evolve and develop in new ways.

Convex Lens by P.C. Anton

Yet, our greatest growth happens when we’re outside of those environments, when we’re in the “real world”, when shit happens and we just have to deal with it. What’s up with that?

And, honestly, when I reflect back on pretty much all of the “spiritual” classes and groups that I’ve ever been involved with, even though there was an intent for it to be a safe place, there were still personalities and patterns going on that weren’t safe in the least!

This is a planet of dichotomy, of polarities, where opposites exist, for every Truth there is a contradiction.

As much as the ideal is for nurturing new beings into bodies or ideas into form, outside reality is tough. Kindergarten can be brutal. Disneyland isn’t necessarily the happiest place.

So then we create external solidity, a “scar tissue”, of personality and concepts, protective identities
that restrict our ability to expand.

Which is why we end up going to spiritual classes, or therapy, or twelve step groups, to help us peel away the layers.

An important part of maturing is to be able to hold an inner space of safety while allowing for evolution and growth.

How do you do that? There isn’t one way. This is a planet of duality, remember. What is right for you at one point may be different later on.

The one constant in all of this is You, the essence of who you really are. The You that came in when your body was born, the You that has been navigating the physical world, the You that is reading this.

As much as you may not know how to do this externally, the inner You absolutely does. The inner You never changes, your experience of yourSelf is what expands as you grow through time and space.

What I do know, is when I navigate from my greater self that I currently call Consciousness, things are much easier. No matter what hardship or difficulty I may be facing, when I operate as Consciousness, the external world reorganizes in my favor. Regardless of how the storyline unfolds, it feels beneficial as Consciousness.

When you shift your perspective from your personality to yourSelf as Consciousness, you gain a feeling sense of how to discern which way to go. If it feels constricted, or distorted, you’re clearly encountering dysfunctional patterns.

If it feels bright or open, it’s clearly Consciousness.

That doesn't mean, don’t go towards construction or dysfunction, because if you’re a light bringer or a healer, you’re going to want to dive into those situations to bring light to them or help them.

But you can go into them with your own inner clarity and not lose your connection to your essential Self in the process.

When you shift to being Consciousness, the issue of safety disappears. Life becomes one big Improv class, and you have the freedom to experiment with all sorts of different ways to respond.

So play with this, this week, and see what happens!

Advanced Spiritual Navigation

Advanced Spiritual Navigation ©2018 Joan M. Newcomb, CPC

From the standpoint of spiritual development, there's a lot of exciting stuff going on in the world today. People are accelerating at an amazing rate. Even newbies to the field find it possible go deep in an instant.

There are so many seminars, activations, videos, available to explore. You can practically get a Ph.D in quantum physics watching YouTube!

It's exhilarating to embark on this journey, to discover that you aren't your persona or how your family, friends, culture has defined you.

When you awaken, it can also be intense, with so much access to infinite wisdom. All the high vibe "downloads"can be overwhelming.

There's a pitfall to being a spiritual seeker. Since we don't feel we have any information on our own, our natural tendency is to look "out there" for the knowledge. And energetically, we go "out there" for the answers. For this reason, there's a stereotype about spiritual people being flakey or ungrounded.

It's ironic, because we go "out there" to become more spiritual, but when you die, you discover you were Spirit all along. So a vital part of your spiritual evolution is learning how to bring your awareness *into* your body.

Now there are practices that help do this, such as mindfulness meditations, or yoga. These are very useful in helping you get anchored and connected within your physical form.

But there's still the inclination to go "out there" for information, to give up seniority to the teacher.

At some point, you have to navigate from your own authority as Consciousness.

I'm not talking about being a hotshot guru, or the next Ted Talks star. That's an egoic reaction that gets in the way of progressing to this level.

The whole reason for being on this planet is to experience the world as Consciousness in form. People often get to the first part of this, learning to explore reality from within a physical body.

But they miss the second part of this, owning their own authority as Consciousness. That's the game changer.

It's like taking never ending dance lessons. At some point you need to leave the classroom and dance. At some point you *are* your own choreographer and director.

Advanced spiritual navigation isn't being able to transmigrate at will, see auras, or talk to dead people. It's really very simple, and boils down to two steps:

1. Inhabit your own body.
2. Go where you want to go.

You will find, when you operate as Consciousness, this gets easier and easier. And you discover that all your old desires and goals dissipate. Or effortlessly show up in your life. Reality reorganizes in your favor. It becomes a benevolent universe.

It won't always be perfect, but you'll know not to steer from effort or resistance (that takes you towards unconsciousness). Instead you step forward with ease and grace, and watch things unfold more perfectly that you could possibly imagine.

God Has No Personality and What Pain Has To Do With It.

God Has No Personality ©2015 Joan M Newcomb

I try to talk about spiritual subjects without using religious references.  I even try not to use the word spiritual. I've been talking a lot about Consciousness lately because, to me, it's a more accurate description of who we are, both individually and collectively.

I was raised in a religious family. We said prayers at every meal, at bedtime, and went to Church every Sunday. For my mother it was an internal experience, and she lived her faith. My father did his best to show our religion externally.

"God" by Moyan Brenn on Flickr

My own definition of God went through many incarnations, peeling away the layers to what Essence felt like.  My biggest stumbling block was the Christian 'God The Father' which, in my experience was not compassionate nor benevolent. My biggest breakthrough was calling it Universe. My prayers were conversations while driving.  I always began with 'hey, U'!

For years I'd also journal my conversations, writing my questions and then scribing what I perceived was the response.  The replies weren't verbal, but more impressions. It was frustrating because I'd list all my complaints and the answers would be very benign. I realized that my grievances were like standing in front of a tree with my face pressed into the bark, and God was showing me a forest, with many pathways.

At some point, the Universe itself became a feeling, an impression. When I shifted my attention, the world around me changed. Colors became brighter, everything came into sharp focus.

There's been several spiritual awakenings, when I'd be enveloped in Love. In Love with the Universe, with my life, with myself. I'd still have the same problems, but I knew all would be very, very well. No matter what drama was going on, I remain centered. The longest this lasted was for nine months.  It would be wonderful to tip over into it again permanently.

One time I was struggling, and resisting the concept of an external God. After all, I AM Spirit, I AM my Inner Being. The answer came to me that it doesn't matter how you interact with the Divine. You can have God the Father, God the Authority, God outside of yourself, God inside, many Gods, and no God/s at all. It's all go(o)d.

So now I dance with Consciousness. With the awareness of my Self as Consciousness, knowing this is all a creation of Consciousness.  And this morning, my journaling started to veer off into personality level narrative. Painful emotions arose.  I shifted my perspective, and felt Consciousness flow through my body. Pain dissipated.

This stayed with me as I walked my dog. What I noticed was an impassive appreciation for the world.  We created this reality to experience the opposite of who we really are. Emotions are part of that experience. Bodies are our vehicles to feeling this reality. Personality is what we create in order to be visible to others and distinguishable by others.

If it has emotions and a personality, it's a physical level projection.

Consciousness has no personality. Consciousness feels immense, and clear. The body delights in Consciousness, there's an absence of pain when fully embodied. And yet pain comes up in the process of embodiment. As we come into form, we feel more. When you shine more light into a place, it reveals emotions and physical sensations. I am now finding that pain disappears when fully Conscious.

What does pain have to do with it? Pain makes the body feel real. Pain is a physical reaction. We've used pain to anchor us here. Pain is a reminder to focus within. When your fully focused within, pain goes away. Or, your definition of pain shifts, and it doesn't feel painful, or bother you any more.  It's not denying, resisting, or ignoring it. It's bringing full awareness to it.

Becoming fully conscious requires anchoring into the body. You miss the point of being here by leaving the body or going outside it in order to be more spiritual. You're already Spirit, you don't need to be more so. You just need to be more here.

You can get there by focusing inward, by connecting to to 'anchor points' within form. You can anchor in the lower abdomen. You can anchor in your solar plexus. You can anchor deep into your heart. You can anchor in the center of your brain. You will find, as you bring your full attention into any or all of these places, that it's quite spacious inside you. These anchor points aren't fixed, they go on and on, deeper and deeper. You are still here, and also there.

Play with all of this for the next 7 days and see what happens!

Pattern Disruptors - Stop Painful Interactions NOW!

Pattern Disruptors - Stop Painful Interactions NOW! ©2015 Joan M. Newcomb

We made it through the holidays, but this year has been a doozy so far.  We've stepped up to a new evolution of Consciousness and all sorts of things are coming out of the woodwork.  When you're vibrating at a higher level, things that are dense get dislodged.

It may feel like your foundation is being rocked, or the mortar holding your life together has come loose.  Things that were your anchor points have gone, your own identity may seem to be dissipating.

Circumstances may seem to be creating these changes.  Your relationship, job or home situations may be falling apart (or coming together).  But in reality it's You, your Inner Being, that is shining a brighter light, and everything else is reacting, a ripple effect emanating from You.

What this means is, you can no longer interact with others in the same way.  They may seem to be carrying on things learned from family, but you cannot respond from old expectations.  And yet, when you speak up, stand in your truth, all hell breaks loose.

A while back I wrote about the Bug Zapper technique for keeping your space clear around others.  It's especially useful in situations like weddings, family reunions, any time you are around groups of people where you (or they) may be triggered.  The Bug Zapper eliminates projections coming towards you, but also disintegrates projections coming from you as well.

This is a variation of that technique, but you start with creating a single laser beam, representing one thread of a pattern.  Have it out in front of you, or - if you're feeling the effects of the pattern in a particular place, inside of you at that spot.   And allow it to vibrate.

When I did this recently, I noticed one family member who was carrying on the legacy.  The laser beam initially seemed like a lightning bolt, not meant to zap them, but to zap the pattern.  The threads of connection disappeared and we both looked lighter.

You don't have to know what the pattern is - in fact, it may be more useful not to know, as it opens more possiblities when it's not defined.  You can also use multiple threads; they look like a grid.  You can pass the grid through your energy space, or use it in front of you or to one of the sides.

When I did this, I noticed the energy shifting with someone I care about, and fortunately in a way that eased the matching pain we're experiencing.

This is something you can play with in meditation or when going to sleep at night.  It's helpful to be intuitive and playful about it, not to think too hard.  Be open minded and notice what is different.

As you do this is that your interactions with people get easier.  Situations you may have thought were impossible to change naturally unfolds.  You're not out there doing anything, manipulating circumstances, you're just focusing on vibrating threads.

And, these threads and grids can shrink down to the size of microchips, you can allow them to work within your space without giving a whole lot of attention to them.  Your energy increases, your sense of wellbeing expands.

You are Consciousness and playing with energy this was is how you navigate your life *as* Consciousness!

For more tips, tools & techniques (as well as coaching and classes) on how to navigate with Consciousness, go here!

Try this for the next week and see what happens!

Involution and Evolution

Involution and Evolution (c)2015 Joan M Newcomb

What direction are you headed? Are you looking for answers? Trying to get spiritual?
Do you feel like the answers are "out there"? That to access Consciousness, you have to go Up?
Do you need to accelerate, or try harder, to become more aware?

It's popular to say we are in the midst of an evolution of Consciousness, but in actuality it may be an involution of Consciousness.

Bodies evolve (I personally believe that dinosaurs were 'beta tests').  Physical bodies are vehicles for Consciousness. Human bodies have evolved over time, to be able to handle more of the higher vibration of Consciousness.

The denser the body, the more distant it feels from Consciousness.


Consciousness has been described as God, but even that is a disconnected view point.

Imagine yourself as Consciousness.  You create this planet of form, with your own focus.  You are life force, and your energy focuses into everything.

Every thousand years or so, your human body creations go through a growth spurt, and you're able to feel through them a bit more.

Three thousand years ago they perceived you as far away, and projected their fears and vengefulness at you.  Two thousand years ago there was a 'consciousness shift' that, from their perception, brought you closer.  You became a parental figure.

There's been another shift, and they're able to feel you within.  It's blowing their minds.

For you, it's a not exactly a coming inward, but a more focused concentration. 

In body, it feels like being enveloped in love.  Make that Love, with a capital L.  The body tingles.  Pain disappears.  It feels expansive.  It feels incredibly clear.  There's incredible gratitude, incredible appreciation, and an inner sense of Knowing.

How do you get there? How do you feel this more?

It's all about navigation.  If it feels negative or limiting, it's turning away.  If it feels joyous or expansive, it's turning towards.  Yet sometimes, body/personality has been hunched down for so long, it feels fearful about standing up, opening up.  Sometimes it's about breaking through, or breaking open.

It's more than just choosing your thoughts or redirecting your thinking. 

It's a simple as imagining.  Imagining You are Consciousness, focusing inward.  Uncomfortable thoughts or feelings come up, turn your full focus as Consciousness upon them.  Light dissolves shadow.

It takes practice, but it doesn't take very long. 

Take time every day to do this, be mindful of this throughout the day, and you will very shortly be transformed beyond your wildest dreams!

It Works When You Work It

There's a slogan in 12 step groups, 'It Works When You Work It'.  It means that if you do the recommended steps, you'll see results.

It's the same with energy work, and there's a few caveats.

You can't give something lip service, you have to actually take action.  You can't just visualize or make a collage, you have to physically do something to bring it your vision into form.

That doesn't mean hard work, or effort, however.  When you go into effort, you spiritually spin your wheels.  So sometimes it means stopping busywork.   It means taking authentic steps towards creating your reality.

An authentic step may look like meditation, or yoga.  Or reading a book.  Or taking a nap.

"It Works When You Work It" also means giving yourself time to practice what you're learning, time to go through the steps.  As Infinite Beings we love to jump to the end result, since as Spirit we're already there.

Whatever you are doing, requires a foundation.  Sometimes building that foundation looks like adopting a healthier lifestyle.

If you want to create wealth, you may need to start with balancing your checkbook.  It doesn't matter how great you look on the outside; you may need to start buying yourself new socks and underwear!

If you want to create a loving relationship, you may need to start with self care.  Loving yourself attracts someone who will love You, too!

Anything (on this planet) takes practice in order to become real.  Abraham-Hicks says it takes 17 seconds, but what they mean it, focusing on something for 17 seconds starts the attraction.  Focusing every day for 17 seconds begins to bring it from thought into physical.

However, the focusing has to be fun, it has to be positive, in has to be both grounded into reality and without effort.  If your focusing with clenched fists and furrowed brow, or if what you're fantasizing about doesn't really have You in it, you're just spinning your wheels.

Beware of Gremlin voices.  Those negating thoughts, 'oh this is a waste of time', 'I've tried it already and it hasn't worked', 'who am I to want this?', 'if I have what I want, no one will love me', etc. etc.   We all have Automatic Negative Thoughts.  Don't feed the ANTS.

Miracles happen when you let yourself consistently practice the techniques I've suggest in my weekly articles.  If you're reading this via my newsletter or somewhere else, find them on my blog at www.jmnewcomb.blogspot.com!