Daily Reflection: Descending to Ascend

I have always been drawn to the mystery schools of old and found their insights valuable. That said, there’s one point where I find myself in contradiction with their teachings.

It may be a misinterpretation, or perhaps a sign of human evolution, but there seems to be this idea that we must ‘ascend’ to a higher level of consciousness. The Gnostics, for instance, are often credited with the notion that the physical body is a kind of prison we need to escape.

I feel this may be an oversimplified view, though. We are spiritual beings. This much feels clear to me, but…we are also having a physical experience. To try to ascend ‘beyond’ our physical existence feels like it misses the point entirely.

To me, the point feels more like learning to be both the spiritual and physical being at the same time. To be both receptive and active.

Without this more balanced view, without embracing the paradox that arises, I think we put ourselves in a dangerous place of repression and imbalance.