Christopher Carrick Spiritual Direction

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Because I Said So, Doug

A friend of mine once asked me, when we are working with our energy or talking about becoming more conscious, why do we always look to raise our vibration or frequency? What’s wrong with the lower ones? It’s like saying high notes are better in music than low ones. Immature Business Woman

I find that what really muddies up the water on this one is that it’s so hard not to see it hierarchically. The point is not that one is better than the other. Is it better to be 4 or 40 years old? You may prefer one but neither is inherently better. However, one always precedes the other. It does seem to be that 4 develops eventually toward 40.

So in a way my answer to my friend’s question is that we seek higher vibrations, because we’ve got plenty of low ones already. Because we suspect these higher vibrations will help balance out the overabundance of lower ones, and help us deal with the problems caused by a disproportionate ratio of frequencies. And because that is where all the new stuff is.

If you want to grow and progress and discover, that’s where the new material is. The rest is recycling (not that there’s anything wrong with that…)

To experience more of our full self we must be willing to grow into a more evolved stage of who we are. A child’s consciousness must evolve into an adult’s to deal with the new possibilities and responsibilities of being an adult. Just to be clear: ideally we would maintain our connection to our child self (and all the wonderful and valuable qualities it gives us access to – imagination, innocence, etc.) while we added the adult consciousness.

When an infant learns to pick up food and put it in its mouth it is a huge development, but in the overall scheme of its life that skill resonates at a very low developmental frequency. Not nearly as high as when a child can ask for what it wants, or safely create it’s own food.

Are these stages better? Honestly, I think most people would say… kinda. But that would still be judgmental. What about if the child were able to create food purely through the power of intention? Would that be better? Either way, the new frontier is in that direction and whether out of curiosity, need or the prompting of our spirit, that’s where we are all headed.

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Revealed: The Secret of Unity Consciousness and Ultimate Reality!

In a previous episode I posted this comment:

You remind me of another quote from Donna Farhi that refers to realizing “the inherent unity behind the multiplicity of life’s expression”. Our challenge is to balance the experience of oneness and individuality.

Dr. Jay responded:

“Do you think it might be possible to realize the inherent multiplicity beyond the unity of life’s expression?

“In academic circles many postmodernists talk about the ultimate reality as inescapably pluralistic with no unity, and then say that attempts to impose unity is exercised by people who want power. By appeals to unity that are trying to bring order — their order — out of chaos, usually at the expense of other who are less powerful.

“Hence the critique of master-narratives, whether called “Christianity” or “Enlightened Thinking” or “Buddhism” or “Marxism.” The alternative is to let a thousand flowers bloom and complete with one another for sunlight. Very Nietzschian. Conflict is the bottom line.

“What does Christopher think? Why prefer unity over disunitive multiplicity, peace over conflict, harmony over discords, when it comes to soul journeys?

“Awaiting answer…tomorrow. (and I miss visiting Christopher.)”

To which I am now responding:

Sorry for the delay. We been traveling and we’re finally settled in. My thoughts are:

1) I think it’s a little funny to speculate about the nature of ULTIMATE reality with any sense of authority. What exactly would these academic conclusions be based on?

2) If it is possible, I suspect the inherent unity would have to be “realized” as opposed to “imposed”. Any thought form that we imposed, couldn’t possibly take everything into account much less be truthful. Just because this is what people have tended to do doesn’t mean it’s the way the universe ultimately works.

3) I don’t think conflict is the only alternative. Again, this feels like imposing the human habit of “either\or”. It’s either impose order or resign yourself to chaos. I find the deeper truth is often revealed by finding the third possibility that takes me past the oversimplifying dichotomies of dualistic thinking.

4) I’m not advocating unity over multiplicity. I am suggesting that balancing the two might offer a fuller picture than either on its own.

5) I miss you too.

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“Avoiding Pain” … You Say That Like It’s a Bad Thing

denial As you read this post, keep in mind: avoiding and pursuing are opposite kinds of energy.

Sally is a high achiever in her job. It makes her feel productive and powerful. She’s recently had a child so she hasn’t had enough sleep, and the economy is bad, so she’s overwhelmed and things are tense. Lately, she is not flourishing in business like she’s used to, and this is creating anxiety about finances and the future.

When she’s asked about her dreams – what she would really like to be doing – she says all she wants is to be a stay-at-home mom. That would make her happy.

Charlie is always cheerful. Continue reading…

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All Or Nothing Gets Me Nowhere

When trying to solve a personal crisis, there are two obvious questions to address:

1. Why do I have this issue?

2. How do I deal with it?

With many of my clients, I’ve noticed another critical step which often precedes and preempts these questions from ever being asked: overcoming avoidance. Whether it’s fully recognizing the issue (admitting you have a problem is half the battle) or discovering the willingness to take steps, this bridge must be crossed.

If not, you can end up in No Man’s Land, sometimes indefinitely.

Avoidance comes in many forms, but there’s one particular pattern I want to address here. I noticed an interesting example toward the end of last year.

President-elect Obama was talking about the crisis du jour, gas prices. Continue reading…

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If Less Is More, Is More Less?

Dr. Jay asks:

“Do you think there is some kind of force for good — some kind of Spirit — within, beneath, behind, or in front of the process of spiritual development, somehow guiding or inspiring it? And, if so, do you think that we are controlled by it? Or do you think that we have a kind of freedom not to respond to its promptings, however understood, such that we can truly miss the mark?

“I am also wondering if you think there are times in a person’s life — or some people’s lives — when it is important to let go of ideals of “progress” and “growth” altogether and accept the sacrament, maybe even the grace, of un-self-awareness.”