Third Eye Awakening
Did you know that you can develop intuition and improve your health at the same time?
Well, you can, through the pineal gland. You may be asking, well, what is the pineal gland? The pineal gland, also known as the pineal body, is a small pine cone shaped gland that lies deep inside the centre of the brain in the epithalamus. It is a part of the endocrine system and helps to regulate melatonin, which is a chemical produced in the brain that helps the body sleep at night. The pineal gland function lies in governing the production of hormones as well as the maintenance of the circadian rhythm, which is essentially our sleep/wake cycle.
Almost all animals have a pineal gland and its role remained a mystery for a long time. The role of this tiny gland was one of the last to be discovered and has only recently begun to be understood. In fact, scientists are still studying it today and as of yet, it’s complete role and function has not been defined by researchers. It has long been associated with the idea of the “third eye”, which is a spiritual symbol of all-knowing according to yoga philosophy and often perceived as a gateway for the soul’s liberation.
In his book Kundalini Tantra, Swami Satyananda Saraswati says, “It has also been called ‘the eye of intuition‘, and it is the doorway through which the individual enters the astral and psychic dimension of consciousness. Perhaps the most common name for this chakra is “the third eye”, and the mystical traditions of every age and culture make abundant references to it. It is portrayed as a psychic eye located midway between the two physical eyes and it looks inward instead of outward.”
The idea of the third eye has also floated around science circles previously, as some believe the pineal gland is what has been leftover in the human brain of an actual, physical third eye which we eventually evolved out of. The gland itself is very small, about 1/3 of an inch long and is located in the centre of the brain. It is a reddish-gray color and is primarily made up of pineal cells and neuroglia cells.
Calcification of the pineal gland often occurs as a result of excess fluoride and other mineral deposits. This may, in turn, affect the body’s ability to regulate melatonin and its circadian rhythm. The pineal gland is photosensitive and secretes less melatonin during the day and more at night; hence, why most people are awake during the day and feel tired for sleep at night time.
Swami Satyananda Saraswati says: “The pineal gland acts as a lock on the pituitary. As long as the pineal gland is healthy, the functions of the pituitary are controlled. However, in most of us, the pineal gland started to degenerate when we reached the age of eight, nine or ten. Then the pituitary began to function and to secrete various hormones which instigated our sexual consciousness, our sensuality and worldly personality. At this time, we began to lose touch with our spiritual heritage. However, through various yogic techniques, such as trataka and shambhavi mudra (third eye gazing), it is possible to regenerate or maintain the health of the pineal gland.”
The pituitary gland is a gland that acts as a master gland, controlling many of the hormonal functions in the body. It is located in the hypothalamus in the brain, which also contributes to our sleep/wake patterns This means the pituitary and pineal gland work together for proper function. Imbalances in the pineal gland (and pituitary) can lead to sleep disturbances and problems with your sleep/wake cycle. Therefore, this tiny, little gland plays a bigger role in our lives than previously thought!
Spirituality and the Third Eye
In addition to the physiological role the pineal gland plays in the body, it is also commonly associated with spiritual thought and mystical experiences. Ancient sages and mystics believed this area of the body to be the space for ascension and enlightenment through the brain/body. It is perceived as a bridge between our inner and outer worlds, as well as to a connection to something beyond what we know to exist, to a higher state of consciousness.
It was called the “seat of the soul” by French philosopher Descartes, although science has mostly discarded his sentiments. However, now that it has been proven that melatonin is in part regulated by the pineal gland, it does lend credibility to the fact that increased melatonin production can produce transcendent or mystical experiences during a waking state such as meditation through its function as a psychotropic chemical.
Outside the realm of science, the pineal gland is associated with the sixth chakra, called ajna or the “third eye” centre located between your eyebrows (essentially deep back in your brain). The ancient yogis who wrote The Vedas in India between 1500-500 B.C. outlined a long time ago these physiological and psychic energy pathways that run through the body as a map we can still use today to better understand ourselves. When you strengthen and activate the third eye, you awaken intuition and inner wisdom on the path to Self-Realisation.
It is the second to last step before reaching total enlightenment (according to yoga philosophy, which actually occurs through the crown of the head). Psychic energy is said to accumulate in this area of the brain and body.However, in the grand scheme of the world, when this centre is active and open, you can better understand your role in life and the various signs and synchronicities that occur and point you in the right direction.
Symbolically, the third eye represents union on the path to cosmic consciousness, divine wisdom, inner knowing, and intuition. This is the place where the ego is left behind and the concept of duality begins to unwind in order to embrace unity or the concept of oneness.
“When we begin to see each other through what the metaphysician calls, the third eye, we begin to know each other on a level that is beyond what our physical eyes can see.”
~ Marianne Williamson
Using this powerful centre can teach you to trust in divine while managing your ability to focus your life to the best of your ability and play your part in the world. When this occurs, your actions, words, and choices reflect this state of being and a more peaceful existence is possible. So how can you learn to amplify your pineal gland to live a better life? Who doesn’t want a little more wisdom knowing they’re on the right path…
Here are 5 steps you can take to begin amplifying your pineal gland today:
1) Meditate Regularly
Meditation is one of the most popular ways to learn how to awaken your third eye and stimulate your pineal gland. Meditation stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system to relax the body and mind so that mundane thoughts of everyday life do not impede your ability to live a happy and healthy life. There is research to support the fact that people who meditate have higher concentrations of melatonin than those who do not meditate. Closing the eyes during meditation stimulates the perception of darkness by the brain, which may be a reason for this occurring. Mindfulness Meditation is a practical way to begin a meditation practice.
Find a quiet spot to sit comfortably, close your eyes and follow your breath.
Allow your focus to be completely absorbed in your breath. If your mind wanders, bring it back so that you become a witness to your breath.
Over time, you can choose what your focus is – perhaps it’s a body part, or a sound, or anything you can imagine.
2) Practice Gazing Meditation
According to ancient yogic philosophy, specific gazing techniques such as Trataka meditation can increase third eye activation. The most common way to practice Trataka is by candle gazing, or gazing at the flame of a candle without blinking for 1-3 minutes. Then, close your eyes and focus on the afterimage for several minutes until it disappears. You can repeat this several times in one session.
Another way of practicing this is to focus your eyes on a specific point in space, called dristhi in yoga. A common third eye meditation involves gazing at a spot in line with your nose, then gazing at the tip of your nose, and finally, directing your gaze upward to your brow or third eye area (called Shambhavi Mudra). You can practice each gazing point for up to 10 minutes each.
3) Try Colour Visualisation
Visualisation is another way to amplify the power of your pineal gland and third eye centre. In chakra theory from yoga philosophy, the Ajna chakra or third eye is the colour indigo, which is a deep blue-purple colour.
You can envision this colour in your mind’s eye at the space between your brows or even deep back into the brain where the pineal gland resides. The Sanskrit word Ajna means “command”, so by visualising this colour here, you further activate your “command centre” in order to live your life to its fullest potential by piercing obstacles in your path through your own willpower.
4) Eat Cleansing Foods
In order for the pineal gland to function at its optimum potential, a balanced and healthy diet is essential. Fluoride, which is frequently found in water supplies and toothpaste, calcifies the pineal gland, which lowers its function. Therefore, a cleansing diet rich in super-greens like spirulina and chlorophyll will be very beneficial for keeping the pineal gland active through the detoxification process and nutrients they provide.
5) Experiment with a Sensory Deprivation Tank
Because the pineal gland is photosensitive, exposing yourself to full sunlight as well as immersing yourself in total darkness at night will help to maintain a healthy pineal gland. If total darkness is not regularly possible, try a sensory deprivation tank. Also called “float tanks”, these containers allow you to be immersed in a closed tub of water where you feel like you can float, completely cut off from all of your senses.
“The sixth doorway is the Doorway of Vision. This relates to seeing with the eyes of love and corresponds to the energy centre located in the third eye area of our forehead. When this doorway is open, we’re more able to see life through love instead of differences.”
~ Marci Shimoff
The more that you practice these techniques, the more you will begin to ‘see’ a change in your life. Gradually, you will begin to notice a shift in your thinking, acting, and way of being. There are some telltale signs that your pineal gland is healthy as you activate your third eye centre.
Signs You are Amplifying Your Third Eye
You find deeper meaning in the events that occur in your life
You understand that physical reality is a manifestation of duality, and your soul seeks to be liberated from this duality
You never feel alone, but instead feel connected to all things, animate and inanimate
You feel the vibration and rhythm of everything around you
Your senses are heightened (touch, taste, smell, hearing, sight)
You begin to see and feel your own energy body and others as well
You identify less with your ego sense
Negative emotions such as anger, greed, envy, and lust begin to disappear
Remember to enjoy the process and be patient with yourself as you try to incorporate these techniques to amplify the power of your pineal gland. This tiny little gland does a lot more than we give it credit for, so when we start to nurture this aspect of our mind, body and soul connection through regular healthy practices, big changes can happen.
Let’s start amplifying the power of your pineal gland right now with this meditation. Tap into an infinite sea of wisdom as you receive the sound of the theta waves. This meditation has a tremendous activation effect on the pineal gland which often dries up from exposure to a range of chemicals found in our environment and due to psycho-emotional traumas. It’s a great way to calm your nervous system.
Shadow Work
If you’re truly honest about growing, changing, and living life to the fullest, you will, at some point, come across many parts of yourself that you’ll find difficult – if not completely disturbing – to accept. These ugly and frightening parts of ourselves are elements of the Shadow Self: the darker side of our nature. In the domain of psychology, renowned psychologist Carl Jung devoted a lot of thought to this problem of the “Shadow Self,” being deeply invested in the research of ancient esoteric knowledge and spiritual scriptures to not only treat the mind of man but his Soul as well.
In response to his serious preoccupation, Jung created the Archetypes model, a concept wherein he believed our unconscious minds are fragmented or structured into different “selves.” These selves attempt to organise how we experience different emotions, situations, and challenges in life. Two of Jung’s major Archetypes are the Persona and the Shadow Self.
“Beneath the social mask we wear every day, we have a hidden shadow side: an impulsive, wounded, sad, or isolated part that we generally try to ignore. The Shadow can be a source of emotional richness and vitality, and acknowledging it can be a pathway to healing and an authentic life.” – C . ZWEIG & S . WOLF
WHAT IS THE PERSONA?
So what exactly is the “Persona” and “Shadow Self”? Well the Persona, according to Jung, defines who we would like to be and how we wish to be seen by the world. The word “persona” is derived from a Latin word that literally means “mask,” however in this instance, the word can be applied metaphorically, representing all of the different social masks that we wear among different groups of people and situations.
WHAT IS THE SHADOW SELF?
On the other hand, the Shadow Self is an archetype that forms part of the unconscious mind and is composed of repressed ideas, instincts, impulses, weaknesses, desires, perversions, and embarrassing fears. This archetype is often described as the darker side of the psyche, representing wildness, chaos, and the unknown. Jung believed that this latent energy is present in all of us, in many instances forming a strong source of creative energy.
“It is a frightening thought that man also has a shadow side to him, consisting not just of little weaknesses and foibles, but of a positively demonic dynamism. The individual seldom knows anything of this; to him, as an individual, it is incredible that he should ever in any circumstances go beyond himself. But let these harmless creatures form a mass, and there emerges a raging monster.” – CARL JUNG
We are all born pure, like blank canvases. But at some point during our childhood development, we learn knowledge that teaches us to separate things into good and evil. The moment we eat from this tree of knowledge, our shadows are born and we begin to divide ourselves into multiple parts. Furthermore, in our cultural socialisation process, we begin to sort out those traits within us that are acceptable to society (the Persona), and those that are unacceptable (which are later hidden away – the Shadow). This is where the Persona and Shadow Self go hand-in-hand: the Persona is the lovable face we present to the world while the Shadow is the face we hide from the world. The creation of the inauthentic but socially-acceptable Persona birthed the creation of the authentic but damnable Shadow. Both are inseparable.
Thus, the dark shadow traits that we all possess accumulate in the corners of our unconscious minds, never becoming adequately integrated into our conscious minds because we never see our split state in the first place (due to our psychological defence mechanisms). And so we continue on accumulating these dark desires, motivations, and fears.
This lack of awareness of the Shadow Self – and the disconnection from our true Whole self – can be dangerous. Through observing many of my inner work students, for example, I’ve come across certain individuals who have allowed their Shadow Selves to accumulate for so long that they’ve erupted and overpowered the person through depression or an unconscious accident that ended up manifesting their inner demons. The denial of the Shadow can lead to physical, emotional, psychological, and interpersonal consequences that last for a very long time.
REPRESSION OF THE SHADOW SELF
It’s understandable that the process of becoming civilised requires us to repress aspects of ourselves that do not fit in with the structured ideal of our society. However, it comes at a great cost to us. We are born whole and complete, but we slowly learn to live fractioned lives, accepting some parts of our nature but rejecting and ignoring other parts.
”What we call civilised consciousness has steadily separated itself from the basic instincts. But these instincts have not disappeared. They have merely lost their contact with our consciousness and are thus forced to assert themselves in an indirect fashion. This may be by means of physical symptoms in the case of a neurosis, or by means of incidents of various kinds, or by unaccountable moods, unexpected forgetfulness, or mistakes in speech… modern man protects himself against seeing his own split state by a system of compartments. Certain areas of outer life and of his own behaviour are kept, as it were, in separate drawers and are never confronted with one another.” – CARL JUNG
A holiday to a different part of the world will show you how arbitrary some of these “good/bad” divisions are (that create the Shadow Self). In the West, for example, eye contact is perceived as confident and engaging, whereas in Japan it’s perceived as arrogant and rude. In the Middle East burping after a meal is a sign of pleasure, yet anywhere else in the world it’s seen as vulgar and uncouth. And in America, TV shows depicting violent murders are considered more acceptable than showing nudity or sexual acts, whereas in Europe it’s the complete opposite. These are just a few examples. Basically, the repression of our negative traits or emotions in society is one of the biggest barriers in any person’s journey towards self-love and living authentically. How can you completely and wholeheartedly accept who you are if there are sides of yourself that you’re too afraid to explore?
SPIRITUALITY AND THE SHADOW
The idea of the “Shadow Self” doesn’t only apply to psychology. Many ancient Shamanic teachings, including the ones I was taught, involved the preparation towards an illness or a spiritual death (by ascending into your own darkness or “Shadow Self”), and being reborn in an attempt to provide you with the experience and insight to heal yourself and bring that healing wisdom to the people of your tribe.
So, apart from society’s ideas of acceptable and non-acceptable behaviour, what else causes such great repression of the Shadow Self? In truth, a lot of it actually comes from the endless cornucopia of “feel good” motivational teachings out there. If you notice, a lot of modern spiritual and religious work revolves around moving towards the “light,” accepting the “light,” and seeking for the “light.” Yet by doing so, we ignore the entirety of what it is to be human! In fact, many of the spiritual and new age teachings out there provide an escape for those who do not want to be responsible for the entirety of themselves and their lives.
Understandably the “light” energies are usually represented with noble values such as love, peace, joy, harmony, and compassion. Many spiritual and religious movements completely ignore or condemn the darker elements such as anger, vengeance, control, fear, shame, competitiveness, jealousy, and lust. Because these darker characteristics are associated with negativity or “evil,” they’re avoided out of fear and buried even deeper within us. But this is a tragic mistake with dire consequences.
The more our darkness is avoided, the more it grows within us, waiting like a volcano to gush out at any unexpected moment.
THE IMPORTANCE OF INTEGRATION VS . SPIRITUAL BYPASSING
Interestingly, many seekers of spiritual growth think that somehow all of the negative qualities within themselves will eventually be transcended as they “awaken to their Higher Selves,” “work through their karma,” or “become more enlightened.” Yet from my own experience, this is a form of spiritual bypassing: using spirituality to avoid everything uncomfortable within us instead of facing it with honesty and courage.
Furthermore, actually turning toward your Shadow Self helps you to embrace these disconnected parts of yourself, creating more psychological and spiritual balance (wholeness). Denying your darkness only creates chaos and disharmony.
The keyword here is “integration,” which comes from the Latin word integratus, meaning ‘to make whole’. To integrate an inner quality is to take ownership and responsibility for it, rather than rejecting or denying it. The benefits are many: sanity, healing, greater compassion, calmness, understanding, and wholeness are all to be found in integration.
On the other hand, the opposite of integration is to “disintegrate” – or to become fragmented and divided into pieces. A person that “breaks down” or “falls apart,” for instance, is someone who has been unable to handle stress and who has ignored too many of their personality traits, especially Shadow Self traits to function normally. In reality, a fragmented person can never handle adversity because they have no whole centre, and they’re always handling life from the corners of their personality parts. This is why integration is so essential: it helps us to become whole again.
THE RIGHT AND LEFT-HANDED PATHS
In esoteric branches of Hinduism such as Tantra or Western Esoteric occult teachings, they have what is called Right and Left-handed paths towards experiencing Oneness, Enlightenment, or the Higher Self. Throughout history, the left has always been associated with dark, radical or sinister elements. Even the etymology of the word “sinister” means “from the left side.” Also, in Muslim, Chinese, Judeo-Christian, and even Hindu religions, the left hand is associated with being the unclean side.
These days, the “right-handed path” is what most of us understand to be the pursuit for positive things such as overcoming personal flaws and limitations, purifying our sins, and anything else that helps us connect to our “higher selves.” The left-handed path, however, is associated with parts within us that are typically fought against, rejected, denied, feared, and thus it becomes our biggest inner hindrance, but at the same time, the key to our liberation.
The right-handed path seeks to improve the personal self, overcome its flaws, but the left-handed seeks investigation, seeks to face the shadows in its pursuit of self-care. Just as is represented in the ancient symbol of the Yin and Yang, when you balance both opposites, the dichotomy of right and left will disappear.
Personally, I like to think that first there was darkness. Unlike light, darkness is infinite. Under every rock, you will find darkness, but light and darkness need each other to come into existence. Unless you learn to first embrace that darkness within yourself, you can never pursue the light of self-love in a balanced way.
Many right-handed new age teachings talk about leaning towards the “higher chakras” and avoiding the lower ones. However, in the long term, this won’t be very helpful. Unless the foundation of your home is solid and stable, no matter how beautifully you decorate and work on the house itself, sooner or later your house will collapse and crumble down. The truth is that we have both hands, not just one, and we must learn to use them in a balanced way if we seek to live a balanced life.
13 SHADOW TYPES
All of us carry demons inside. Sometimes we catch fleeting glimpses of them, sometimes we witness them in full frontal chaos, but for the most part, we ignore and bury their existence either out of fear, guilt or pure shame. Discovering our demons is a vital part of inner work. Our inner demons come in many different shapes and varieties. While some are more ferocious than others, others don’t really seem to be all that monstrous at all – until we reap the devilish consequences later on in our lives.
Below I have ‘catalogued’ 13 different Shadows you might meet on your path. Some overlap with each other and many are interconnected, meaning that it’s not uncommon to possess more than a number of different Shadows:
1 . THE EGOTISTICAL SHADOW
Root cause: primal fear of “not being good enough”; not existing, being nobody – This shadow brings out the following characteristics: arrogance, egocentricity, pompousness, inconsiderateness, self-indulgence, narcissism, excessive pride.
2. THE NEUROTIC SHADOW
Root cause: fear of life, others, and self; desire to regain control – This shadow brings out the following characteristics: paranoia, obsessiveness, suspiciousness, finicky, demanding, masochistic, compulsive behaviour.
3. THE UNTRUSTWORTHY SHADOW
Root cause: fear of life in general – This shadow brings out the following characteristics: secretive, impulsive, frivolous, irresponsible, deceitful, unreliable.
4. THE EMOTIONALLY UNSTABLE SHADOW
Root cause: basic feeling of being “unlovable” and powerless; reaction to unresolved emotional pain – This shadow brings out the following characteristics: moody, melodramatic, manipulative, weepy, overemotional, impulsive, changeable.
5 . THE CONTROLLING SHADOW
Root cause: basic mistrust of life, feelings of abandonment and “not being good enough” – This shadow brings out the following characteristics: suspicious, jealous, possessive, bossy, obsessive.
6 . THE CYNICAL SHADOW
Root cause: protection against feeling too vulnerable – This shadow brings out the following characteristics: negative, overcritical, patronising, resentful, cantankerous.
7. THE WRATHFUL SHADOW
Root cause: fear of others, mistrust of life, closed heart – This shadow brings out the following characteristics: ruthless, vengeful, bitchy, quick-tempered, quarrelsome.
8 . THE RIGID SHADOW
Root cause: fear and rejection of the unknown, chaos, and ego death – This shadow brings out the following characteristics: uptight, intolerant, racist, sexist, ableist, homophobic, obstinate, uncompromising, inflexible, narrow-minded.
9. THE GLIB SHADOW
Root cause: distrust of life, others, and self – This shadow brings out the following characteristics: superficial, cunning, inconsistent, sly, crafty.
10. THE NONCHALANT SHADOW
Root cause: buried grief, fear, and shame (numbness is a defence) – This shadow brings out the following characteristics: emotionally detached, distant, indifferent, uncaring, unexcited.
11. THE PERVERTED SHADOW
Root cause: repressed sexual energy, possible unresolved childhood wounds – This shadow brings out the following characteristics: sadistic, lustful, depraved, corrupt.
12. THE COWARDLY SHADOW
Root cause: fear, disbelief in self – This shadow brings out the following characteristics: weak-willed, timid, fearful.
13. THE NAIVE SHADOW
Root cause: refusal to grow up, lack of individuated ego – This shadow brings out the following characteristics: puerile, petty, immature, illogical, simpleminded, vacuous.
How many of these inner Shadows can you relate to? Keep in mind that this list only explores the dark side of the shadow, not the light side (where the positive repressed qualities of our nature are buried).
Are you a Starseed?
Do you feel like Earth is not your true home? Are you fascinated with extraterrestrials and space? Have you always felt different from those around you? Then you are very likely a Starseed. Being a Starseed on Earth today is pretty exciting. We are in times of ascension, a very crucial point in Earth’s history, where we are going from the 3rd dimension to the 4th and 5th dimensions of existence together. Starseeds play an important role in helping humanity through this exciting but chaotic transition.
“The atoms of our bodies are traceable to stars that manufactured them in their cores and exploded these enriched ingredients across our galaxy, billions of years ago. For this reason, we are biologically connected to every other living thing in the world. We are chemically connected to all molecules on Earth. And we are atomically connected to all atoms in the universe. We are not figuratively, but literally stardust.” – Neil deGrasse Tyson
What is a Starseed?
Starseeds are advanced souls living in human form on Earth today whose spirits have, at some point in history, originated from other planets, dimensions or galaxies. A call for help was sent out into the Universe to help Earth conquer the negative forces that long have been in control here, and help humanity transition into the golden age/fifth dimension. If you are a Starseed, it means you said yes to the call and came here as a galactic volunteer. However, most Starseeds are not aware of their unique gifts and have forgotten their cosmic origins and mission on Earth. Just like any soul who incarnates on a third-dimensional planet like Earth, they had to go through a veil of forgetfulness, ultimately forgetting they are spiritual beings living a temporary human experience.
Most Starseeds are old souls and have lived several lifetimes on Earth to prepare for the time of Ascension that we are in now. You may have heard of me speak of ‘end times incarnators’ – these are souls that choose particularly cataclysmic timelines in order to be of service to humanity in times of need. However, Starseeds will not know their soul’s mission until they have had their awakening. This awakening can be instant or gradual, but it always includes a ‘Dark Night of the Soul’ where they temporarily go through a dark or chaotic period if their life, before they rise from the ashes and awaken. Most Starseeds on Earth are from the Pleiades, Sirius, Orion, Arcturus or Andromeda.
50 signs that you may be a Starseed
You are highly sensitive. You easily feel overwhelmed and drained when you are in a place with many people and with intense stimuli – like shopping malls, clubs, and networking events. You might also be sensitive to stimulants like coffee, alcohol and even dark chocolate. You are sensitive to scary and violent movies and video games and make a point to avoid them.
You have always felt like you don’t belong. You find it difficult to fit into groups of people and you often felt lonely in school and at work. You probably have a few close friends you vibe with and can be yourself with, but you are not one of those people with hundreds of friendships. Many people are drawn to your light, but you are very picky with who you spend your time with.
You find society hostile. You feel sad about how we are damaging the planet, poverty, the debt-based economy, greedy leaders, fear-based media, etc.
You are intelligent. Starseeds are usually smarter than the average, however, this doesn’t always translate into good grades in school. In fact, many starseeds did not enjoy school and are not fans of Earth’s school system.
You are going through or have gone through a spiritual awakening.
You are into holistic health. You don’t trust Big Pharma and only resort to Western medicine when you have to. You prefer to use herbs, sound healing, reiki, acupuncture and other natural options, that don’t have the nasty side effects and go deeper than just hiding the symptoms.
You are peace-loving and don’t believe wars are the way to solve problems. You don’t understand why people would sign up to the army.
You are highly intuitive and you usually make decisions based on your intuition rather than logic or common sense.
You are good at reading between the lines. You can easily spot when people are lying and see behind the mask people hide behind. Genuineness is therefore something you value highly.
You have a fascination with flying. Perhaps you enjoy flying in your dreams or are into paragliding or skydiving.
You are into conspiracy theories. You probably love the movie The Matrix, and if you were in the movie you would pick the red pill any day. Ignorance is NOT bliss according to you.
You are a wise, old soul. You’ve always felt more mature than your age group, and might have older friends because of this. This made you stand out as a kid and you might even have been bullied in school because of it.
You love sci-fi and/or space. You might be a big Star Wars or Star Trek fan, or simply always been fascinated with the moon and the stars.
You have had a near-death experience caused by an accident or out-of-body experiences like astral projection and sleep paralysis.
You feel like you have a big mission in this lifetime. However, you might have no clue what it is. You just feel an urge and responsibility to help the planet and humanity in some way.
You have psychic or paranormal abilities. You might have had dreams that came true, a third eye awakening, experienced astral projection, seen ghosts, had encounters with angels or extraterrestrials when meditating etc.
You love nature. You feel very drawn to nature and feel it’s important to be in nature every day. You love camping or going on forest walks.
You feel drawn to a vegetarian diet. You think it’s important to eat foods that are natural, preferably organic and alive. You can’t help feeling guilty when eating meat and are strongly against factory farming.
You have unexplainable memories, where something makes no sense or doesn’t add up.
You are spiritual. You believe in God and that we are all One, but you don’t adhere to any specific religion. You love talking about the supernatural and paranormal and you keep people close who you can have these types of conversations with.
You love animals, and animals love you. Sometimes you even prefer the company of a pet than humans! It’s an unconditional, non-judgemental kind of love you rarely get from humans. Animal cruelty is one of the biggest frustrations you have with the world.
Sometimes you feel homesick on earth. You feel like it’s not your true home and that you belong in the stars.
You are constantly searching for your life purpose and you have tried tools like astrology, numerology and tarot cards to get closer to finding it.
You have had dreams about aliens and spaceships. You have had paranormal dreams and sometimes they have felt very real.
You believe in extraterrestrials and that most are positive.
You read about Starseeds. The fact that you are reading this is a big indication that you could be a Starseed. You wouldn’t be attracted to this article otherwise.
You have seen UFOs. You’ve seen spaceships in the night sky and maybe you have even had visits physically, during psychedelics or in a dream state.
You are an empath and can easily pick up on others’ emotions. Even if someone says they are fine, you can pick up on what they really are feeling.
You have memories or a feeling you have lived on another planet.
Sometimes you feel disappointed by your body, it’s so dense, heavy and fragile! You wish you could do telekinesis, levitate, fly, etc and you feel like you used to be able to do that. The reason why many Starseed feel this is because their consciousness actually comes from distant star systems, where existence operates on much higher dimensions.
You love reading. You are especially fond of spiritual books like The Power of Now and Conversations with God, and if you are more into fiction books, then you might be a big fan of the Harry Potter or Lord of The Rings sequels.
You are very good at problem-solving, better than the average person.
You have low blood pressure and low body temperature. You easily get cold. Or the other way, you easily get hot and don’t need to dress up as warmly as others in winter.
Sometimes you feel that your biological parents are not your real parents, or that you have another family in the stars.
You had imaginary friends as a child.
You are sensitive to electronics. Your supercharged energy has led to electronic appliances break in your presence, lights flickering, electric shocks often, etc.
You have a feeling you have lived many lives and you believe in reincarnation.
You often experience feelings of deja vu.
You are a dreamer. You daydream a lot. You have big dreams for your future. You might also be into lucid dreaming.
You believe in karma – what goes around comes around. You make sure to not create more karma and follow the golden rule of treating others as you want to be treated.
Touch is one of your primary love languages – you like being touched and hugged.
You are a lone wolf and have no problems being alone for long stretches of time. Most Starseeds I know are introverts, including myself.
You are highly creative and full of ideas. You always have a new passion project you are working on. It doesn’t have to be an art you pursue, but could be an instrument or coming up with business ideas.
You enjoy being nude and barefoot and prefer non-restrictive clothes.
You feel drawn to crystals and own a few (or many). You love going into crystal shops and touching the different crystals and feeling their energy.
You are into healing. You might love to listen to Tibetan bowl sound healing, taken a course in Reiki, taken Ayahuasca to heal traumas etc.
You love to travel more than the average person and value freedom. You might feel tempted to go off-grid or become a nomad.
You have a special fascination for ancient civilisations like Ancient Egypt, Atlantis and the Incas.
You want to meet extraterrestrials and might be very nerdy about the topic.
You have a desire to find people of your kind. You might join (or start) book clubs, Facebook groups, retreats in high energy places etc.
What is a Starseed’s purpose?
The main purpose of Starseeds is to serve humanity at this time of Ascension, with their unique gifts and wisdom. A lot of the work is happening when your body is sleeping but even when you are just going about your day you are anchoring divine light into Mother Earth and affecting everyone around you. You are doing Earth a huge favour, just by being here. Starseeds have incarnated on Earth many times to learn how humanity and Earth works and how it is to be human. We all come in with a soul contract, signed before birth, on what we want to accomplish this lifetime on Earth. This mission will look very different from Starseed to Starseed, but it always involves spreading your light to humanity in your own unique way. Most often, your inner child knows the answer to the question – what lights you up?
What is a Starseed soul family?
Although it may feel lonely at times, know that you are never alone as a Starseed. Starseeds are incarnated with other Starseeds that they reunite with throughout their life, who help and support them. When you are incarnated here, your soul family are forgotten due to the veil of forgetfulness, but your soul will know when you encounter one today. Your Starseed soul family are easy to spot. You will feel like you have known them for many lifetimes. You can have deep, spiritual conversations from the heart with your soul family and they will not judge you. You know you can trust them completely and that they are here to help you on your mission. I always know a fellow Starseed when I see one – not only because I can ‘sense’ it in their energy and aura, but by their eyes. They say they are the windows to the soul, and so, when I look into another Starseed’s eyes… I just know. I hope this article resonates with you… and if you’ve ready this far, welcome home! It’s so nice to see you again x
If you would like to take a deep dive into your soul’s memory, Starseed origins and your mission on earth, click here to read more about my completely personalised 8 Week program, Initiation: Starseed Ascension School.
The Dark Night of the Soul
At some point, most of us go through a phenomenon known as the Dark Night of the Soul. Although we try to run from it, it is still there. Although we try to cover it up and smother it, it is still there. Although we try to put on a happy, smiley face and pretend it away, it’s still there. While some of us seek reprieve in religious thought, others of us seek respite in spiritual philosophy or psychology, and still, others seek relief through addiction and mind-numbing external pursuits.
The truth is that although we are all born with Souls, not all of us know how to fully embody and integrate them into our human experience. The truth is that in our modern world, we live ego-centrically rather than Soul-centrically.
Out of suffering have emerged the strongest Souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars. – Khalil Gibran
Mystics, saints, and shamans throughout history have all referred to this ego-centric human struggle in different ways. But the one thing they all had in common was their tendency to point to the need for us to consciously grow into our Divine potential. One of these people was Saint John of the Cross, a Spanish monk who coined the term “Noche Oscura” (Dark Night of the Soul) based on his own mystical experience.
The Dark Night of the Soul is a period of utter spiritual desolation, disconnection, and emptiness in which one feels totally separated from the Divine. Those who experience the Dark Night feel completely lost, hopeless, and consumed with melancholy. The Dark Night of the Soul can be likened to severe spiritual depression (it’s a type of spiritual emergency or existential crisis.)
If a man wishes to be sure of the road he’s traveling on, then he must close his eyes and travel in the dark. – Saint John of the Cross
Traditionally, the Dark Night of the Soul refers to the experience of losing touch with God/Creator and being plunged into the abyss of godless emptiness. The modern understanding of having a Dark Night of the Soul, however, is not exclusively a religious one, but can often mean losing all meaning in life, feeling out-of-touch with the Divine, feeling betrayed or forsaken by Life, and having no solid or stable ground to stand on.
Some of the heaviest questions we ask during this period include for example, “Why am I alive?”, “Why do good people suffer?”, “What is truth?”, “Is there a god or afterlife?” and “What is the point of living?”
It’s important to distinguish between the Dark Night of the Soul and depression. Even back in the 16th century, Saint John of the Cross himself was at great pains to distinguish the Dark Night from melancholia (depression). Although they share many characteristics, depression can often be treated and sometimes cured with medications, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness practices, lifestyle changes, and so forth. Depression often has its roots in biological chemical imbalances and/or unhealthy thought patterns, and often comes as a result of personal loss, mental illness, physical illness, abuse, genetics, and so on.
On the other hand, having a Dark Night of the Soul is a much different experience because it is primarily a spiritual and existential form of crisis that can’t be treated or cured with therapy or psychiatry. Therefore, those of us going through the Dark Night often feel an increasing sense of hopelessness, unease, and despair as we discover that no one can save us but ourselves. Inevitably, this makes us feel even more alone, frustrated and confused about the world and about ourselves.
I am intensely aware of what it is like to experience complete psychological and spiritual desolation and although the feeling seems endless, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The Dark Night heralds deep-seated changes occurring within us known as spiritual transformation. When depression ends, not much changes in your life in terms of your beliefs, values, and habits. However, when the Dark Night of the Soul ends, everything in your life is transformed, and life becomes wondrous again.
I am a forest, and a night of dark trees: but he who is not afraid of my darkness, will find banks full of roses under my cypresses. – Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra
Polish psychologist Kazimierz Dąbrowski once coined a term Positive disintegration which views tension and anxiety as necessary in the process of spiritual and psychological maturing. In other words, it is the friction within us that causes the mirror of our Souls to be polished enough for us to glimpse our True Nature.
Here are some signs you might be going through a Dark Night of the Soul:
You feel a deep sense of existential dread; a vast sadness for all that is hard to define
You feel an acute sense of spiritual isolation, as if you are floating on the fringes of ‘normal’ life
You have the constant feeling of being lost or condemned to a life of suffering or emptiness
You possess a painful feeling of powerlessness and hopelessness
Your will and self-control is weakened, making it difficult for you to act
You lack interest and find no joy or meaning in things that once excited you
You mourn for the loss of something intangible; a longing for a distant place or to “return home” again
My desire to live is as intense as ever, and though my heart is broken, hearts are made to be broken: that is why God sends sorrow into the world … To me, suffering seems now a sacramental thing, that makes those whom it touches holy … any materialism in life coarsens the soul. – Oscar Wilde
A true Dark Night of the Soul leaves a long-lasting impact on you – it changes you completely. When you exit a Dark Night, you will discover that something is always taken away from you (for the better), such as your beliefs, your perceptions, your former meaning in life, or even in rare cases, your ego. The metaphysician Ananda Coomaraswamy put it this way: No creature can attain a higher grade of nature without ceasing to exist. Have you ever seen a butterfly begin to emerge from its cocoon? It must struggle in order to strengthen its wings. If someone frees the butterfly from its cocoon prematurely, it won’t be able to fly because its crucial tempering stage will not have occurred. The same is true for trees. Trees need wind in order to build their structural strength to stay upright. The Dark Night of the Soul is your wind, your cocoon; it is an ego death whereby you shed the ego that prevents you from embodying your Soul. If you try to avoid the hard work of, as Ananda put it, “ceasing to exist,” or breaking down your old confining structures, you won’t have what it takes to truly embody your essential nature.
The burning question
A central question and concern that emerges over and over again during our Dark Night of the Soul is “What is the point of living?” Such a question weighs down on us like a heavy blanket, oppressing us constantly. Each day we might obsessively search for an answer, but find to our greatest dismay that the answers to such a question are as expansive as the waves on the ocean. Some people tell us, “the point is to serve God,” others tell us, “the point is to make a difference,” and others tell us, “there is no point: you make your own meaning.” These are only three of hundreds, even thousands of possible answers.
We walk down one path and immediately become dissatisfied, disillusioned, and repelled by what we discover. Then we walk down another path and history repeats itself again and again until we realise with horror, “Every path is meaningless to me,” and we collapse in grief and despair, winding up at square one again.
Such a cycle repeats itself over and over again during the Dark Night of the Soul, so much so that it can become like torment. I know because I have experienced it. The strange thing is that although we get to a point of complete desolation, we still hold a glimmer of hope that pursuing the same path over and over and over again will somehow bring us to a deeply satisfying meaning one day. We seem to think that the mind is the solution to our problems; that utilising the mind will release us from the original prison created by the mind that feels the need to quantify, measure, and define everything.
What most of us fail to do, however, is to question the actual questions we are asking and pursuing the answers to. Have you ever tried asking: Why must there be a “point” to living?
In reality, it is absolutely terrifying to have the ground beneath your feet ripped out from beneath you, and this is precisely what we experience during the Dark Night of the Soul. And yet, this experience is the greatest teacher of all to us because it illuminates what is fragile, transient, and subject to change, growth, and decay. We are subsequently left with a feeling of great inner emptiness, but within this emptiness, we eventually come to see what can never come, go, change or die, and that is the truth of who we are: pure, peaceful, and blissful conscious essence.
The mind is a product of our evolutionary development: it protects us and structures our existence, and through it, we can experience the beauty of life. But in order to truly come to any closure during our Dark Nights we must understand that the mind is limited, narrow and finite – and therefore so is our reasoning.
Why must there be a “point” to living other than the experience of being alive in all of its fascinating and shocking diversity? Why must we “pursue” or “find” something rather than simply experiencing each moment fully and completely in the simplicity of Being?
A spiritual awakening
As humans, the prospect of change is avoided and resisted because it is unknown territory. Therefore, we fear it. For this reason, we require a Spiritual Awakening. There are three ways that Spiritual Awakenings can occur: the first is at the hands of wise spiritual teachers, the second is through the spiritual drive of soulfully mature people, and the third is spontaneously due to life experience.
Spontaneous awakenings arrive in a number of ways: a terminal diagnosis, old age, a near-death experience, a physical accident, the loss of a loved one, a romantic breakup, the destruction of your home or homeland, suicidal depression, or the complete loss of your religious faith. The Dark Night is an herald, an omen, of change. It lets us know that we can’t continue living the way we have been living. There is no growth, no awakening in life, to life, without first seeing and acknowledging our existing disappointment.
Acknowledging our disappointment means becoming aware of the deeply held sense of “incompletion” that we all carry; it means becoming aware that something is desperately missing from our lives. Those that have experienced, or are currently experiencing a Dark Night of the Soul will know that something very fundamental at a core level is out of focus or completely lacking in their lives. Those going through a Dark Night will sense that so much more is possible in their lives, even though they don’t exactly know what that “so much more” is.
Paradise lost and found
One of the common reasons why Dark Nights occur and are prolonged is due to mystical experiences, or short glimpses of the divine, which spiritual teachers often refer to as “grace” or samādhi. Soon afterward, the person “loses” this experience, and is plunged into unhappiness again. This is called the “halo effect,” “afterglow” or what the Sufis speak of as the “sobriety of union.”
Why does the “halo effect” happen? It happens because of the stark contrast between one’s rediscovered Divine Self and the return to one’s disconnected and tormented Ego self. To the spiritually mature person, the halo effect sets the stage for a future encounter with the transcendental, with God.
However, for the less prepared seeker, the glimpse into the Divine stirs up even more distress as old habits, obsessions, thoughts, and behaviours reappear. Now, such a person realises that he has a long, complex, and demanding task of purification and transformation ahead of him.
In Spiritual Alchemy, there is a word for this experience called solutio; putting all the hard stuff in the waters of reflection (your ideas, your habits, etc.), where it dissolves and breaks apart, shows itself for what it is, and gives you the opportunity for a fresh start.
Transform and transmute
The solution to one’s suffering and disconnection from the divine realm can be any method of cutting away, dislodging, disintegrating and clearing old pieces of your life so that you can begin afresh. Essentially, the Dark night is a process of shedding away your old home and going in search of a new one. Understandably, this process requires a huge leap of faith into the unknown which can come at quite a sudden and frightening pace.
If you think you might be going through this journey, it’s important to understand that many of us have been where you are. Many people still are. There is no map, there is only the flickering luminescence of your Soul to light the way. Through my work as an ascension guide, I hope to encourage, embolden and support you if you are undertaking this descent into your Underworld.
Time to go into the dark where the night has eyes
to recognise its own.
There you can be sure
you are not beyond love.
The dark will be your womb
tonight.
The night will give you a horizon
further than you can see.
You must learn one thing.
The world was made to be free in
Give up all the other worlds
except the one to which you belong.
Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet
confinement of your aloneness
to learn
anything or anyone
that does not bring you alive
is too small for you.
– “Sweet Darkness” by David Whyte
Cover photo: Lilli Waters Words: Mateo Sol