Ask Dr. Julianne

Posted by admin - January 15th, 2012

Aloha Dear Ones,

First, for those asking to subscribe and receive my posts (thank you very much, I love you, too:), giving you a heads up that it’s going to be another week or so until my Word Press update makes that and other new things available from the blog link on MauiSpiritualCounseling.com’s menu. I so appreciate your interest and enthusiasm!

You have sent me many wonderful, warm, inspiring comments of support. I am deeply grateful for your openness of mind and heart. Of all the comments I’ve received thus far, only one has expressed disappointment.

That reader found nothing original in my posts, rather, much whining about things that could be fixed, if we weren’t so busy looking for awareness. I was surprised when first reading the comment–nothing about the evolutionary perspective on relationship, my readers’ questions, or my answers, seems whinny to me. But there is great value in focusing a practical lens on any spiritually-oriented discussion. For this opportunity to clarify my intention, I am thankful to the reader.

The only real evidence we have of deeper understanding is how we are living in our relationships. Our relationships are a sacred laboratory, where we explore the reality of what we believe, what we think we know, how we feel, and what we are willing to do about it. Embarking on a journey of spiritual discovery is a good and noble thing. For some, it has become the necessary thing, the response to a deep longing, to a lifetime of urging from the Holy Spirit, the evolutionary impulse.

Being on a journey of spiritual discovery, and taking it seriously, is not an excuse to withdraw from the practical needs of our relationships. Indeed, each and every nuance, any glimpse we have of greater truth, makes us more responsible for bringing that awareness directly into our relationships. How else are we to know if we know anything new? If we are unable to change in the ways we say we want to, if we are not choosing differently, have we really learned anything?

It’s true that there is some confusion around the evolving paradigm of enlightenment. We are all familiar with the iconic guru on the mountain top, meditating away all awareness of life in form. Sometimes, individuals that awaken in relative isolation can become inadvertent teachers for many, and we are all beneficiaries. This model of illumination, an internal attainment of the individual, perhaps within a small religious community, has existed throughout history. Those with calls on their hearts to experience a devotional life often go off to various forms of monasteries and convents. These souls earnestly seek divine revelation, surrendered to a life of celibacy and service. How purely inspirational–if that is truly one’s path.

In reality, only a very small number of us flourish within that austere setting. Most of us are meant to live in the larger world, to have a mate, to bond deeply with a number of people in different types of relationships. Most of us are meant to love, and share love, in every way possible for humans.

An emerging model of enlightenment suggests that our consciousness has now evolved to the point where we are capable of waking up, together.  It is possible for us to experience a shared awareness of a higher, deeper, sacred oneness between us, a loving, non-dual reality. This is a potential shift in our awareness from me, to we. Small groups exploring this process are calling this shared consciousness the, “We space” (see Andrew Cohen’s, “Evolutionary Enlightenment,” 2011). For those familiar with integral terminology, the “We space,” is the fourth quadrant, the group internal consciousness (see Ken Wilber’s, “Integral Spirituality,” 2006).

This shared experience of inter-relatedness, this awareness between us of deep care, of a sacred impulse to show up as that care in the world, is real, and available. In the two years I’ve been part of Craig Hamilton’s, Evolutionary Life Transformation Program (IntegralEnlightenment.com), I have experienced the, “We space,” in practice circles and evolutionary partnerships. I’ve facilitated small groups that were able to enter that field of unified, expanded consciousness. It is beyond wonderful. I’ll tell you more about my experience in future posts.

One of the most wonderful things about the We, is the shift in motivation that occurs. Our motivation moves from a focus on our individual preferences, to a deep desire to act on behalf of the greatest good–not in a way that devalues our individual gifts, indeed, as more authentic beings free of the conditioning that can suppress our unique talents.

The cutting edge of human consciousness leads us right back to deep responsibility for the quality of our relationships. Want to be more spiritual? Got enlightenment (who said that?:)?  No need to, “get thee to a nunnery,” (and who said that?) anymore. Go on retreats, yes. But those of us with a strong urge to wake up can now choose to do it together, in marriages, in friendships, with partners at work or play. It takes commitment, it takes practice, and, in this evolutionary paradigm, becoming more conscious also requires deep commitment to our intimate relationships and friendships.

We have a sacred responsibility to show up for each other. As we become more awake, we grow an awareness of being responsible to all of humanity.

So, after taking longer to make my point than intended, here is the bottom line. My intention in inviting you to explore a deeper dimension of relationship, is not to cast you adrift on an amorphous metaphysical sea of individual seeking until you attain some certainty enabling you to swim to relational shores. My intention is to encourage you to explore deeper truths in your real life relationships, and find practical, inspirational ways of moving forward, together.

Love and blessings,

Dr. Julianne

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

16 Responses to “Ask Dr. Julianne”

  1. Hojo Motor

    Thank you for this great post 🙂 This is really what I was looking for. I am a Beat Maker.

  2. admin

    Aloha Hojo, thanks and welcome, so glad you found something in the post for which you’ve been searching. Hope you keep reading.

  3. wedding photography fees

    I reckon something really interesting about your site so I saved to my bookmarks.

  4. admin

    Aloha, thank you, I love it when someone is intrigued and wants to explore further with me.

  5. Liane

    I need to say thanks such a lot of for your job you have made in writing this piece of writing. I am hoping the same most effective work from you down the road as well.

  6. admin

    Aloha Liane, thank you very much. I was hoping to communicate especially clearly in this post, so glad you found it effective.

  7. long island personal injury lawyer

    Heyyy I only wanted to write and say I love to read your Site!

  8. admin

    Aloha Weigleb, thank you very much for your kind support. Hope you continue on with us.

  9. los angeles wedding photographer

    Very efficiently written story. It will be helpful to everyone who usess it, including myself. Keep doing what you are doing – looking forward to more posts.

  10. admin

    Aloha Brian, than you very much. If only the couples whose picture you take on their wedding day could anchor their happiness on the deepest, highest expression of true love, joy would be even more radiantly visible on their faces after a lifetime together.

  11. Brendon Miazga

    Wow! This could be one of the most helpful blogs we have ever come across on thesubject. Actually great post! I’m also an expert in this topic therefore I can understand your hard work.

  12. admin

    Aloha Brendon, thank you very much for your generous comments. It’s wonderful to receive such positive feedback from someone familiar with this perspective. Hope you will continue.

  13. Reinaldo

    howdy, good article, and an excellent understand! just one for my bookmarks.

  14. admin

    Aloha and Howdy back at you, brother Reinaldo, (did you know I’m a country girl?:), thanks so much for bookmarking me. This post is one of my favorites.

  15. Delora Zakrzewski

    I was examining some of your content on this website and I believe this site is really informative! Keep putting up.

  16. admin

    Aloha Delora, thank you for your support. Glad you are finding the info useful.

Leave a Reply

Blog Home