Spirit knows the way to us. Like water, which will always flow to the lowest point, Spirit knows where we are and can reach the deepest parts of ourselves that need healing, blessing, and reminding of our spiritual nature. Too often we perceive ourselves as separate—separate from others and separate from Spirit. This is an illusion. We have to lift this veil of deception and remove the barriers that prevent Spirit from finding us, filling us, and flowing through us. Barriers to Spirit break the natural connection to and flow of Spirit. It’s like grade school classroom experiments with electricity and conductivity. Buzzers sound and light bulbs shine as long as a connection exists. As soon as the circuit is broken, the current is interrupted and there’s no power.
Why do we break the connection? What keeps us separate? What are the barriers?
Free Will
We’ve been given the gift of Free Will—the ability to make and act on our own decisions. This can work for us or against us. We can willingly choose to work in, with, and as Spirit or we can choose not to. Why do we shut ourselves off from Spirit?
Pride
When we separate ourselves from Spirit we think that we are the ones in control. We think we are the ones who know what’s best and we close our minds, hearts, and senses off from receiving messages. We choose to be alone with our remote control. We claim to want to do things, “All by self!” as my older son always stubbornly insisted in his toddler years. It’s not always easy to act for and accept help.
Separation
When we compare ourselves to others, we often end up feeling less than and may occasionally feel more than those around us. This separates us from others as well as from Spirit. Wholeness and connection require an understanding and acceptance of being interdependent.
Fear
We are afraid of what we might discover. We might learn that we are on the wrong path. We might receive a calling that demands action. We may recognize our magnificence. Our comfortable rug of excuses may be pulled out from under us. And, “Oh no!” we might have to make changes.
Default mode
We forget that there’s another, easier way to work and be. It’s like we are living on one plane and there’s another plane available and accessible to us at all time that we don’t take advantage of. We get stuck in the rut of status quo and to do anything differently feels like too much effort.
Worry
When we look outside ourselves for validation we wonder about what others might think of us living in Spirit. Will they roll their eyes and label us “woo-woo”? Will they no longer take us seriously? Will we be perceived as being weak, incapable of doing it alone? Will they think that we feel superior—that we feel we are enlightened, or have found the way? Will they avoid us, fearing that we might attempt to convert them or shove our beliefs down their throats?
Doubt
It’s hard to trust in something that’s unseen and mysterious. We are most comfortable with offers that come with money-back guarantees. But anything that’s iron-clad or air-tight is limited and stifling. That’s the antithesis of what Spirit creates. When we partner with Spirit we’re required to suspension doubt, to surrender, and at times, to make a leap of faith.