May 12, 2025

The false self is part of our ego structure. It sometimes helps us, and sometimes, it deludes us. But in the quest for consciousness, we go through the process of amalgamating our ego, including our false self, and soul. But what is the process of amalgamation, and how do we achieve it? Amalgamation is the union between our ego and our soul. The prerequisite for amalgamation is that the ego first submits to the soul.

May 11, 2025

The title “false self” has terrible connotations. It smacks of being a fraud and fake, both of which are untrustworthy and despicable. After all, the world would come to a grinding halt if deceit took over. If everything and everyone were false, there would be no true friendship or love. There would be no trust or certainty. Also, our entire religious structure, code of ethics, and economy would be thrown into chaos. No one would trust a vendor or the product they purchased. 

May 10, 2025

One of the first things we do as children is pretend to be someone we aren’t. With magical thinking, we assume any identity we wish: people, animals, trees, cartoon characters, and more. One Halloween, I was a pirate. And I recall feeling a little more powerful and courageous as we walked up and down the streets, trick-or-treating. Then there were the characters I played in school plays. From an early age we have the freedom to pretend to be someone who we are not.

May 9, 2025

The 1990s British TV Comedy series, “Keeping Up Appearances,” is about Hyacinth Bucket, who wants others to think that she is a member of the upper crust. But the truth is that she is from humble origins and is ashamed of that fact.

May 8, 2025

In reflecting on the soul, I believe it sees, understands, and senses things that the ego cannot. The soul does this through the heart connection which is a spiritual ability, whereas the ego’s instinct is predominantly a survival-based ability. Though the intuitive functions of our ego are vital, we can develop an extra sensing ability by enlisting the power of the soul. 

May 7, 2025

Most of us do not “see things” in terms of being clairvoyant, but some people do have that gift. Yes, some people have the ability to transcend the ego’s reality, suspend it, and enter another realm. There is a family story about Lark’s great-great-grandfather, who worked as the comptroller for a large railroad in the 1800s. He was traveling on that railroad on a long-distance business journey out west when something very curious happened. 

May 6, 2025

They say that seeing is believing. But is that true? In this world of false images and fakery, we must be sure that what we see is believable. And that includes what we see in the mirror. 

May 5, 2025

It is natural to be unduly influenced by our biases. However, one of the ways we can reach a more accurate perception of reality is through the progress of inquiry which helps us see things without the distortions of our biases. Inquiry is based on the premise that the truth is blocked by our prejudices, misperceptions, denials, and aspirations, and that honest inquiry into any situation penetrates those misperceptions. The process of inquiry helps expose the deeper truths within us. 

May 4, 2025

Perception is vital in most circumstances or relationships. For example, if we perceive a situation based on false assumptions, we can make the wrong decision. When we are under stress, often our assumptions are affected by our ego’s fixation, passion, avoidance, or trap, all of which distort reality. But when we are in a healthy and conscious state, our assumptions tend to be free from our fixations, avoidances, etc. 

May 3, 2025

One of the most comforting things for Lark and me is when the shape of a heart comes to us. 

This usually happens at times when we need hope and comfort. For us, when we see the shape of the heart, we are reminded of our children, and we feel their presence. Are we just seeing things? Are we simply making up visions and calling them signs? Maybe so. 

May 2, 2025

How often have we seen something out of the ordinary—something that our eyes can’t believe—and asked ourselves, “Am I seeing things?” It could be a shadow that looks like a person or lights that look like an oncoming car in the middle of nowhere. But it is simply an image, and when we see what it is, we realize that our mind was playing tricks on us. This can happen with any figment of our imagination, but for a mini-second, we think it’s real.

May 1, 2025

Philosopher and Mythologist Joseph Campbell said that stories are an essential part of our individual identities, and on the macro level, they are essential to our culture. The stories we hear and tell become the myths we live by. Myths are not merely stories; they reflect the person's and society's beliefs through the use of metaphor.

April 30, 2025

The ego’s story of us is about being well protected, loved, and doing what it envisions. The healthy ego keeps us in balance. Instead of being self-absorbed, its story includes others’ needs and will put them first. The unchecked ego, however, tends to be all about the self, and it values others as means to an end. The healthy and the unchecked ego states spin two different types of stories, but both have one big thing in common — their stories are built on their concept of an ideal life. 

April 29, 2025

Stories take us where we would never have imagined ourselves. Through stories, we glimpse into the lives of others, where we see and feel things that we have never seen or felt. Stories help us fill in the blanks about life’s mysteries and tell us how the universe works and how other people move through the world. Stories tell us about God and the human condition. Stories relay the ravages of evil and the virtues of the human spirit. Stories preserve history and also promote fantasy. Stories can illustrate truth, and they can also circulate lies. But one of the most integral things about them is that they help us remember.

April 28, 2025

We have a life story because we were created as part of the larger divine story. Theologian and mystic Meister Eckhart (1260-1328) is noted for believing that every human being has a divine spark or essence and is, for that reason, a divine creation. This sentiment is found in his sermons and writings. Therefore, each of our life stories is a profoundly important story about God. 

April 27, 2025

Most stories share the same basic and age-old structure: first comes the situation. Then the situation has problems, and finally the problems have some sort of outcome. The story has the right to take us anywhere along the way, as long as we continue with it. And if we continue, it’s usually because we identify with some aspect of the story. We also continue because of our curiosity about the people, the unfolding of various circumstances, and of course, we want to know the outcome. 

April 26, 2025

Stories have different purposes. Some inspire, some scare us, some instruct us, some heal us, and some intrigue us. Stories are as numerous as the purposes of each life on earth.

April 25, 2025

Stories are the soul of life. They make meaning out of our experiences and inspire us. They teach us about life and all its aspects. They give voice to the voiceless and courage to the weak. Stories have surprises, twists, lessons, and epiphanies. They entertain with suspense, intrigue, and taboo. They are dark and light. Stories tell us why. But they also have very private meaning for us.