It is easy, given our cultural framework, to imagine spiritual learning as analogous to education - that spiritual learning is an accumulation. The idea we have is that one must keep learning, keep reading, keep listening to teachers, keep doing yoga in order to "advance." However, in truth, spiritual learning is nothing more than learning to be fully who you are. There is no "better" as you grow older and have more experience. There is simply more of who you are.

"In pursuit of knowledge, every day something is added.

In the practice of the Tao, every day something is dropped." - The Tao te Ching

No matter which spiritual path you choose, the path will always bring you to You. Some people take roundabout paths and some dive in headlong. There is structure in the manifestation of spiritual learning as the learning moves deeper into the cells of your body and your basic being. This structure creates "layers" of spiritual learning. There is movement among the layers — this is not a static creation, nor is movement restricted to one direction only. Each of the seven layers exists within you, and each may be accessed at any time (although you likely will "live" in one for a period of time). All layers are necessary to create the tapestry that which is You.

Layers — not Levels — of Spiritual Learning

Our cultural framework suggests that older and wiser is better. Certainly, in physical life, age can bring the wisdom of experience. This often translates into perception of spiritual wisdom: "I'm an old soul, therefore I'm more evolved than you" is commonly thought but likely not voiced. But in reality, everyone — from infant to elder — is on a level playing field, simply operating from a different perception. The idea of layers conveys that. All layers exist simultaneously. One layer may be close to your core, like the core of an onion, but all layers are part of you and none are let go of or moved through, discarded. You do not grow beyond a layer other than letting go of identification with it. Each layer is simply an aspect of yourself. Deeper layers are not better; they are simply present with you at all times, ready for access. Within you, you always have both the new explorer and the enlightened master.

Moving through the layers is not a linear process. You do not finish one and then move on to the next. There may be, for a time, a "home" for you in one of the layers (certainly, when looking at them, you'll be able to easily identify the layer you spend most of your time in now, as well as layers you have used in the past), but you have access to all of them at all times. They are always a part of your experience.

Layer 1: Explorer

This initial layer holds the excitement of bounding out on a newfound journey. The quest has begun. You feel an initial sense of wonder, like a child tasting candy for a first time. You taste the potential of spiritual presence and its benefits and you feel the energy coursing in your body. In some ways, you have a core connection to what the deepest spiritual attainment is — this generates enormous energy and inspiration and draws you forward to your chosen path.

It is all new, so you explore the spiritual world with a child's wide open eyes. This is what we often refer to as the "sponge" stage. In it, you accept everything but you do not yet apply discernment or even much differentiation. Everything is good; everything is valid. You might explore and read any related subject to your interest. You might follow the recommendation of any teacher, friend or acquaintance who appears to be on a spiritual path. For instance, if you are interested in Buddhism, you might read every Buddhist title in the local library to explore it all, irrespective of the branch of Buddhism, and you might also read anything else with an Eastern flavor such as Hindu teachers. Because of the newness, exploration within this layer can feel like pure Truth and the stuff of great revelations. This is the "diving in" to a new teaching. This layer helps you get a feel for what is out there and helps bring the teachings deeper within you, past the surface layers of personality.

Layer 2: Initiate

After some time spent in the Explorer layer, there is often a realization that you need to narrow down your focus so that you can explore more deeply into what resonates with you. You cannot become a master of all teachings at once; here you find that you need to focus on one thing at a time.

The emphasis in this layer of learning is on the structure of what is being learned. Passages, sutras, and scriptures are memorized and you attempt to distill for yourself the essence of a teaching for a purer understanding. This helps you incorporate that essence into the routine of your daily life. You have a basic understanding of your chosen teaching, and with this understanding comes a first siphoning off of what does not work. For instance, if you were learning about Christianity, you might at this point choose which denomination you wish to belong to and decide on some level that other denominations aren't "the Truth"- for you. You have decided which path to follow and what works best for you in this moment. This enables you to have more focus so as to better incorporate what there is to learn in the cells of your body.

Within this layer, there is also a sense of awe for all the wisdom that is out there as well as for other "wiser" beings who are teaching you. You search for teachers who bring a deeper layer of learning. This can give you a magnificent feeling of support and guidance, and it can also lead to the (false) belief that others know best for you than you do. This belief is gradually let go as learning progresses.

Layer 3: Teacher

Within this layer of learning, you've already accomplished a lot of intellectual and social learning — there is a recognition that further study yields diminishing returns. You see all the learning that you have accomplished so far. The value of the teaching is still very much appreciated, however, and so you begin to focus on teaching what you have learned to others. There is an emphasis on demonstrating the authority of learning — that you know the teaching. Teaching others brings you a renewed appreciation in what you have learned; there is a dual experience of the joy of this path.

Within this layer, you may desire to create a study group. You may become a counselor. You may respond regularly to questions in a society or in an online group. You may proselytize if your path advocates it. You may write a blog. By teaching others and exploring your own beliefs, you learn more yourself and see how your learning interacts with others' paths. You expand your own presence to try to influence others.

The limit of the learning so far, however, is that up to this point you have been learning primarily from external sources: books, teachers, and the community around you. You are an authority under something else such as an organization or an abstract teaching. Therefore what you teach tends to be your interpreted regurgitation of what you have learned so far. You do not yet teach directly and solely from your own soul. In other words, the student becomes an authority by playing the role of what they think a true person on the path should be. A student of Buddhism might meditate regularly, speak with compassion and follow the eightfold noble path as best as they can. A student of the Michael Material might teach others about overleaves or begin to learn to channel. If you have an advanced degree in psychology you may hold workshops and counsel others.

Experimenting with authority in this external fashion is all part of the journey to find a true sense of inner power by learning to live your path from your deepest essence.

Layer 4: The Search Begins

"What?" you may exclaim. "The Search Begins only here? What about Layers 1 to 3? I've been an expert - I'm not just beginning!"

It is in this layer that the diving off the cliff toward inner knowingness truly begins. This is the fulcrum layer between following a teaching and living it from within. In the previous layers, there was a social identity — a firm path to follow — which can involve teaching others. If you belong to an organization and have an identity as such, you'll have an understanding of what is appropriate within the teaching of your organization. However, at some level you will realize that just because someone else speaks a truth doesn't mean their truth is yours. Following the path of one's own quiet inner voice requires courage, integrity, and a willingness to step away from the herd. It requires changing your path if one day that path doesn't feel right for you — even if it disappoints others' expectations.

This is where the dark night of the soul appears. What you know disintegrates and crumbles around you — your identity, your comforts and defenses — so that you may find something greater: your Self.

In short, the inner self opens and begins to speak up. You have a newfound dialog with your own soul and essence. The newness of this creates movement in your life in thoughts, emotions, and actions.

Conflict and turmoil can appear if one's inner voice differs from what has been learned. It is rare that your true perception matches exactly the teaching that you have been following. Perhaps you realize that your body does not truly want to sit in meditation for hours and that substituting other practices can give you the same benefit. Perhaps common phrases you have used now feel dogmatic — that is, having lost their personal meaning for you. Within this layer you'll find yourself questioning authority of all kinds so that you find that you yourself are your own greatest guru. In some spiritual communities, this creates unrest, discomfort and conflict. Cries of 'heresy' and of not being 'true to the teachings' can occur. However, in this layer you feel compelled to truly bring your teaching to a new level that includes being true to one's self. There is a desire to see for one's self instead of relying on anyone else's experience, including liturgy. Every true teaching is a living teaching — and it is your life you bring.

This layer also brings a deeper connection to others — you are bringing more of yourself forward in meeting with others. You are no longer identified as "just" a Christian, Muslim, Jew, or any other member of a teaching. You are you. You are an expression of the Divine, just as you are, and you begin to recognize with your own eyes - not simply through others' words - that others are as well. By beginning to truly be yourself, you support others in recognizing themselves as well. You begin to understand the greeting "Namaste" for the full depth of its meaning:

That which is of God in me greets that which is of God in you.

Layer 5: Truth in the Moment

Here, a regular connection to essence occurs and you recognize the dichotomy that while your past learning may have been true for you at that time, newfound revelations and perceptions are always different in each moment. You therefore learn to live by your own perceptions, moment by moment, with a deep trust in them. You know that there are no rules, only choices - and that all choices contain within them an inherent perfection. You build from your past learning instead of limiting yourself to it. The ideas of "right", "wrong", "good" and "evil" fall by the wayside. There is only Truth, and part of that truth is a deep love of life and everyone and everything in it. The result is an expansive flexibility that is filled with gentle humor and play.
Because of this flexibility, there are many ways that you might manifest who you truly are:

• You may find a newfound interest in other learnings and see them no longer as different from one another, but as part of a universal teaching.
• You may begin to have a gentle, relaxed laughter as the humor of life itself is experienced. Yes, this path is perfect - as is every other path!
• You may find a new sense of creativity and even eccentricity. For instance, if you explained a spiritual topic to others 10 times, you may give 10 completely different explanations - each one being true as a completely new discovery in that moment. These may even be contradictory on a superficial level - but the contradictions will help others see the deeper truth.
• You begin to let go of the "shoulds" that are in your life and live life simply as you desire. There's less need to do anything. Paradoxically, this lets you act selfless, help others more, and make better use of your time.

Living firmly in this energy helps firmly build community and connection around you. True pillars of community live from here.

Layer 6: Living Deep Harmony

In this layer the connection to One has become deeper and stronger; there is less focus on what looks like teaching and more focus on loving. You live life with sacredness and spaciousness of experience, and within that spaciousness grows a deep sense of inner peace. There is room for all of You. This brings harmony in thought, emotion, and action. You love life itself. You meet all of life, from your inner demons to external conflicts, with that sense of inner harmony. This can bring tremendous inspiration to others as it shows others how to let go of past habitual conflicts and destructive habits.

This harmony also extends to tremendous compassion for the world. You bring all you have learned through manifesting a calm sense of appreciation of life in whatever form it may take. This compassion can manifest as humanitarian action, like with Mother Theresa, or through social change, as with the work of Martin Luther King, Jr. Because the action comes from inner peace, movements arise seemingly without effort. There is little basis for internal conflict.

Layer 7: Being Pure Presence

This is where the great spiritual teachers reside. Here you regularly experience essential oneness with the Self: your essence, your Buddha-nature, your Atman, or your Christ Consciousness. You experience the reality of Who You Are. Intellectual learning is put aside as you teach from the Now. There is no longer a need to teach, nor to change things — perfection is experienced simply as What Is. Love is expressed simply by being, and this is felt powerfully by those around you. This manifests as pure presence.

The power of manifesting your full nature cannot be underestimated. Students came simply to sit with Ramana Maharshi, for example, because sitting in his presence enabled them to experience inner harmony for themselves.

Pure presence is more than the ultimate manifestation of a teaching, a religion, or a path. It is the unrestricted allowing of All That Is - and this creates an unlimited potential for creation and conscious choice. It is this field which allows great healing to occur. It is a far deeper authority and power than the third layer, as the authority with the layer of Being Pure Presence comes from the full allowing of All That You Are, which without exception exceeds your wildest imagination of what you can experience. Your full and complete presence is the ultimate gift that you bring to the world and to others.

Using the Layers

How does the layer concept work in reality? Again, there is no linear progress through them, although you may experience a sense of that for a given time. I'll use my own experience as an example:

When I began to focus on my spiritual path, everything lit up for me. I wanted to taste it all. I found truth in so many different things: energy healing of all kinds, crystals, the whole "ascension" idea, plant lore, shamanism, the work of Louise Hay (just a few examples). Everything tasted good! I was clearly in the Explorer layer. This is what I often refer to as the "sponge" stage. As time went on, I applied some discernment. Some things resonated more than others. I deepened my look at the things that felt right to me. I was in the Initiate layer. Over time, I felt that I wanted to speak about what I knew. I had taken these truths into my being and was ready to move them outward again. I was a Teacher, but also used the Explorer and Initiate layers when new things were presented.

Then the real fun began. Everything fell apart and I questioned it all. I went deeper into myself, examined my beliefs, and came out more sure of who I was and how I viewed the Universe. The Search Begins. And at times, because of that, I've been in Truth in the Moment. But frequently I'll move into Teacher because it works for that time. And then into Explorer/Initiate when I wish to learn something new. And I've had moments, perhaps, of Living Deep Harmony and Being Pure Presence — we all have access to those layers — when everything just clicks and I am in the beautiful flow of the moment.

Every layer is part of the beautiful tapestry we weave on a collective global basis through our experience. Every layer has a purpose and a use. Every layer is necessary to create the structure of that tapestry and to hold it together. So wherever you are in the moment is perfect for that moment. You can flow through the layers seamlessly and effortlessly, weaving your own path through the tapestry with glorious colors, being more of who you are, and in so doing encourage others to be more of who they are, to deepen and brighten the colors we weave together.

We wish to comment on the recent oil spill occurring in the Gulf of Mexico. At the risk of sounding overly simplistic or obvious, the fallout and end result of this spill is anticipated to be both more far-reaching than presently imagined and unclear as to scope for many years to come. Both the magnitude of this spill and the ongoing responses and effects are presently underestimated by the majority of the scientific community. This is, in a way, understandable, as the event is unprecedented in human history — previous spills did not occur in heavily populated areas, and the Gulf is a central oceanic pivot point, essentially affecting a vastly larger section of the planet’s total oceans than the area of the Gulf itself. But this underestimation is also naïve and reflects a misperception regarding the ocean’s existence as a single, united entity.

In other words, what affects one part of the ocean on one part of the planet ultimately has an effect on the rest of the ocean and as a result, the entire planet. This is a concept that will be coming to light over the next 50 years or so as effects of the spill are parsed, measured, and recorded.

One result of the spill, therefore, at least in the not-too-distant future, will likely be scientific acknowledgement that there is really only a single ecosystem on the planet; that all life is connected, intertwined, and interdependent.

[Channeled May 2010]

Most of you reading this are already aware on some level of the change upon which your planet and those inhabiting it are undergoing at this time. Change has been taking place for a long time now (one could argue successfully that change is a constant state), but the degree and intensity of change has been on the increase and is now something that many of you can sense or feel on a number of levels. We would like to offer our encouragement in the support of these changes as well as some practical advice on what to expect and how to gracefully move through this time while at the same time applying conscious awareness to your part in the play, your place in the overall tapestry of the universe.

Signs of planetary vibration changes

• Feelings of unease
• Disorientation
• Vivid dreams
• Déjà vu, synchonicities, or similar phenomena
• Sleep issues
• Wanting change, but not knowing what to change

• Feeling like your personality is changing
• Wanting to end life as you know it
• Wanting to connect with people
• General malaise
• Feeling that you are receiving messages
• Feelings of fear that you can't connect to anything known

If these are familiar, you are not alone. You are moving toward a time when the higher enotional state is honored and accepted more than it has been. This necessitates some growing pains during a lengthy transition period as you move away from what has been into what is coming. We offer our energetic support to you during this time, to assist in the self understanding and growth you are undertaking as part of the process of being on the planet and accepting your choice to be a part of the changes that are taking place.

Awareness

It is not necessary to be aware or conscious of what is happening within and around you, but awareness helps with the sense of disorientation that can occur. But how to increase awareness? We give practical exercises frequently that can assist in your own awareness not only of Self and your place in that universal tapestry but also in your awareness of the bigger picture and of the connections you forge and maintain with Nature and with the millions of people connected to you in some fashion. We extend such an exercise now:

Sitting quietly and comfortably, rest your hands on your knees. Allow your eyes to close and allow the thoughts of the day and the moment to slip away. You are only here now. You are only in this moment, sitting and resting comfortably, with your hands on your knees. You feel the weight of your hands and the warmth that melts into the space between hand and knee. You breathe now, breathing in and then out again, feeling once more the weight of hand upon knee.

There is a circle being created here, a circle made of your own body. Hand to knee and back up through all your chakras, then down again with your breath to your hands once more. Hand to knee, up with your breath, out again to hand on knee. Over and over, around and around. Feel as you notice this circle how there are so many other such circles being met and made in the same moment. In this moment, countless other people are sitting, hand upon knee, breathing around and around. Feel these circles and your connection to them. Notice that they are there, simply be aware that they exist.

And then come back to yourself, your own small circle, now enlarged. Breathe in and around once more.

The next time you sit in such a manner, hand to knee, a part of you will remember this connection and you will build upon it. It is a common pose and therefore will bring your awareness that much deeper each time you find your body resting in this manner.

Vibration

The Earth’s vibration rate is changing and is increasing overall. This also can lead to feelings of disorientation, of spinning out of control in one’s life, especially if control is an issue for you to begin with. It is a common issue and so it is likely that many people are affected by this sense that the world is moving faster than they are prepared for.

The simplest thing to do, from our perspective, is to let go and release any expectations about what comes next or even of having a feeling of “being okay.” But that is from our perspective and doesn’t necessarily speak to the challenges of life in a physical body, where safety is not always a given.

What do we mean when we say, “let go and release”? There are connotations with those words that can lead one to conclude that letting go is a painful and arduous process. Letting go and releasing simply means detaching from expectation. Allowing for ALL possibilities, even when you can only see one or two.

Letting go exercise

Here is a simple exercise designed to assist you with feeling more comfortable in letting go.

Close your eyes. You can do this in any position, even seated at a desk. Focus your attention on the tip of your nose. For the next moment or two, the tip of your nose is the only thing that exists. There is nothing else. If any other thoughts come in, set them aside for the moment and refocus again on your nose. Just the tip of your nose. There is nothing else in the universe, just the tip of your nose. There is an entire world populated on the tip of your nose. You can imagine this. An entire world, resting there on the tip of your nose. Ives are lived, loves are loved, wars are fought, babies are born, just there on the tip of your nose. Nothing else exists but this space.

Breathe that in for a moment. Just the tip of your nose. Nothing else exists.

Now, slowly, bring your awareness to a larger area. The whole of your nose. Your mouth. Your eyes. Your face. There is still a world balanced on the tip of your nose but now that universe expands. Expand it now once again, this time on a macro level. Planets, Stars. Galaxies. And still, the tip of your nose. See how they coexist? The micro and the macro.

All possibilities exist in this moment.

Vibrational changes also occur on a very physical level. Not only is time speeding up a bit, but there is also a sense of urgency for many people about getting themselves in a better space personally. You will notice an emphasis on personal growth, even more than before. An additional emphasis is placed, for many people, on consciously being aware of AND DOING their unique life purpose.

Being a part of these changes doesn’t have to mean making any overt change within yourself or doing any particular action, but for many these types of changes become paramount. You may find yourself wishing to completely change your lifestyle now and the company that you keep. People who were friends or were in close relationship in the past may seem less satisfying to you now. This has a lot to do with vibration – not everyone processes vibrational changes at the same rate. Not everyone even responds to overall vibrational change in the same way. If you find yourself moving away from people, there is likely good reason to do so. It is not that they are detrimental to you, simply that they are not serving the same purpose for you. Look for new groups that support the things you feel are important.

Finding a passion

One thing that can help ground you through this period is finding something that you can be passionate about. Not everyone is into activism, but this is an excellent time for it. Activism moves large numbers of people into action. Positive activism (about creating something new and not about destroying what doesn’t work) can be immensely helpful at this time in grounding and helping you find like-minded people with whom you can weather the vibrational changes together. This is very important at this time.

Another way to find passion is to look inward. Is it finally time to write that book? To publish those poems? To think seriously about a career change? To find a personal practice that fulfills you? Use the next few months to try some new activities that you have been putting off for a while, or to bring out an old project that calls to you.

Reach out and reach within

Again, we can’t stress enough the importance of forging a sense of connection to Self and to others around you. This is a challenging time with challenging energies, but you will be best served (and best serving others) if your connection to Self is strong and your connection to the spheres that surround you is acknowledged. Challenge yourself over the next few months by reaching both outward and inward.

Reach out to people you might not have in the past. Whether you dismissed them or felt dismissed by them, now is a time to acknowledge the connections that exist around you. Be open to introductions from others. Be open to people handing you gifts of a phrase, word, book title, or thought that becomes a part of you afterward, Be open to new experience and to new perceptions. Others are changing as rapidly as you are, and, just as you are, are looking for an anchor in the storm. Remember that you give as much as you receive — if not more.

Reach inward to deeper and deeper places within you. Yes, there are dark corners you have avoided. Now is the time to shine light on them and to invite them into your experience. Make friends with your darkness. Find ways of pleasing yourself with small things — a bunch of flowers, an ice cream cone, 20 minutes to make a quick drawing. Notice the connection between you and the greater You that exists within.

You are part of the change. Everything you do is helping to create, maintain, and support life in this planet as you know it to be. Each breath and each moment is important. You are important.

Gratitude is the state of being open to what is present around you. It's receiving, being fully open — without judgment — to the state of what is around you.

Energetically, gratitude is an invitation into the third chakra to take in the totality of the energy of that which surrounds you. You can focus on something particular to hold that openness to. For instance, you could be grateful for a person and be open to their energy, inviting it in through your third chakra to then infuse you. You can be grateful to a situation and allow the energy of the state of something, as you perceive it, to be more a part of you.

Most people, in their normal state, are in a state of resistance. The amount of resistance varies from person to person and will vary for a particular person from situation to situation or from interaction to interaction. In other words, there is a spectrum of resistance.

Since most people are in a constant state of some resistance there is little awareness of the resistance that they are holding. The majority of people are in a rather low level state of resistance. Moving from that low level end of the spectrum to the more intensely resistant end of the spectrum is noticeable — and that's when it kicks in to conscious awareness for most people.

[Channeled, Aug 2009]

The following was part of a series of wonderful questions asked in the Polaris Forum (in this post) which relate to conscious creation, the mind and brain, and most importantly, cats.

Question: I was thinking about whether animals, such as cats experience a dream state or an alternative, lighter existence (such as we do) when they are sleeping? Do they experience a mental life similarly to the way we do and do they have individual or mass thought (being as they are part of a hive or shared soul)

Yes, animals such as cats experience dreams. However, they have more awareness of their ability to manipulate astral matter than do most humans. They also experience a lighter meditative state. You often see this with cats that appear be sitting and, for all intents and purposes, staring off into space. It would be incomplete say that they are meditating, but they are in a light hypnotic state, in almost a trance, and are in a meditative state. In that state they have a different awareness of their bodies than they do when they are fully awake and alert. In that state is when they have more conscious connection with the other consciousness that is them on a collective basis.

[Channeled, Aug 2009]

The following was part of a series of wonderful questions asked in the Polaris Forum (in this post) which relate to conscious creation, the mind and brain, and most importantly, cats.

Question: I would like to ask Karen and/or Polaris about the mind. There seems to be two schools of thought in this field. One being that the mind is merely and purely a product of the brain with no external influence or input. The other is a dualist idea and that the mind is a by product or extension of our soul?

[Channeled, Aug 2009]

The following was part of a series of wonderful questions asked in the Polaris Forum (in this post) which relate to conscious creation, the mind and brain, and most importantly, cats. If it sounds like Seth, keep in mind that Seth is part of the energies of Polaris, so this is no accident!

Question: Is it true that every thought we have, every mental action that takes place within our minds is actualized within this physical existence or another that may exist?

Let us be more precise: Yes and no. [laughter]

The potential for tangible actualization is always present from every thought or action that a person may perform. In other words, every thought contains within it a potential for tangible actualization. There is always a choice, however, whether or not one truly strengthens that thought in order to create a tangible parallel, which would then spin off into the exploration of a particular circumstance as described by the thought.