A TWELVE WEEK PSYCHOSYNTHESIS PRACTICE
Compiled and Edited by Thomas Yeomans, Ph.D.
No. 5 – Self-identification
This practice is designed to point to the experience of the ‘T’ in its orientation to the Higher Self. It uses certain concepts that can help in this contact, but they may as easily interfere with it. There are no guarantees. The purpose of the exercise is to orient your consciousness in a certain inner direction and to sense what the nature of this contact might be. The actual experience will differ for each person, and remains essentially mysterious, but there are ways to point out the way.
This exercise is most effective when done consistently over a period of time. This fosters a gradual strengthening of contact and connection with the ‘T’ and a growing realization of identity as pure being.
1. Take time to practice, as preparation, the Dis-identification Exercise (No. 4), using whatever version you have found most helpful.
2. Once you sense sufficient contact with the observer who can watch the flow of experience in your body, feelings, and mind, shift the focus of your attention to that experience itself, i.e., observe observing and see what that is like.
3. Now bring into this state of awareness a span of time, say, an hour. Let this span gradually increase to a day, a week, a month, a year, ten years, a hundred, a thousand, etc., letting these increments emerge naturally. Then, when you are holding in your awareness a great span of time, let it go “on out” to eternity and hold eternity in your awareness. Experience this. Now let it go and simply be aware.
4. Now bring into this awareness a sphere of empty space, say, a foot across. Let this spherical space expand gradually in diameter to a yard, five hundred feet, a mile, ten miles, a thousand miles, etc., again allowing the increments to emerge naturally. Then, when you are holding a great and empty space, let it go “on out” to infinity and hold infinity in your awareness. Experience this. Now let it go and simply be aware.
5. Next hold both eternity and infinity in your awareness and see what you experience. Then, again, let both go and simply be aware.
6. Finally, focus your attention on your breathing and then gradually on your mind, feelings, and body until you are fully present and grounded. In this context be aware again, briefly, that eternity and infinity are still “there/here” and see what happens. Then rest in the rhythm of your breathing and, when you are ready, open your eyes and make contact with the environment through your senses.
It is useful to record your progressive experiences with this exercise, including impressions, insights, images, sensations of note. Review these records from time to time to check your development in this practice of self- identification. And, above all, enjoy it. *