Chapter 2, Lesson 6: Polarization

Welcome to Chapter 2, Lesson 6 of Finding Your Way. In this chapter, we have journeyed through the understanding of the four movements: seeking, hiding, clinging, and shattering. Now, let us explore how these movements directly influence our spiritual journey, leading us towards either positive or negative polarization.

Polarization, in the realm of spiritual growth, is about the orientation of our consciousness towards ourselves and others. It's a compass that guides our journey, shaped by the choices we make in response to life's myriad situations. Polarization isn’t about good or bad, since those are moral judgments - determinations of the mind, rather than direct perceptions of what is. Instead, the focus of polarization is whether it is positive or negative. Let’s talk a bit about what each of them mean in more detail.

1. Positive polarization is the orientation towards love and unity. Positive polarization is fundamentally the orientation towards the unity of all things. We positively polarize when we consciously choose movements that align with love, compassion, joy, and unity. This path is marked by an openness to growth, a willingness to embrace change, and a deep sense of connection with all beings. It's a journey of seeking, of expanding our awareness, and of embracing our experiences with an open heart. Of the Four Movements, the only positive movement is seeking, when done without attachment. When one is positively polarizing, one is moving with the 5 Virtues, increasingly in harmony with the universe and all beings. There is a feeling of expansion and connection that is readily apparent as we begin to polarize strongly positive; and that sense of expansion and connection brings joy and understanding with it.

2. Negative polarization is the orientation towards fear and separateness. Negative polarization arises when we consciously succumb to movements of hiding, clinging, or repeated shattering without learning. It's a path marked by fear, a sense of isolation, and a resistance to growth. In this state, we often find ourselves trapped in cycles of aversion, attachment, and confusion, leading to a feeling of separateness from the world around us. Despite many people moving with hiding, clinging or shattering, most are doing so unconsciously. As a result, they are not actively polarizing negatively. However, once consciously recognized, any choice to enter into these movements results in negative polarization. When we negatively polarize, we contract from a spiritual standpoint, becoming smaller and more isolated from All That Is.

Why then would anyone choose the negative path? Well, for someone who sees the world through the lens of domination and control, the negative path can be resonant. People who see the world through a lens of suspicion and distrust cannot conceive of a world that does not require control structures in order for them to feel safe or achieve their desired outcomes. For them, the ends justify the means, and control is justified in the name of safety and security. All of those movements are movements of fear, at their core.

When you come into understanding of the profound unity of all things, you come to realize that domination and control are energies born from fear and separateness. From the standpoint of unity, dominating someone else is the same as dominating yourself. And self-domination, which is really the same thing as self-control, is something that many people pursuing a spiritual or even secular path often incorrectly believe is the answer to their problems. From the standpoint of unity, trying to dominate yourself is the same as trying to dominate someone else. Neither is wholesome, and clinging to control often yields an internal and external reality that perversely feels chaotic and out of control. When you learn to accept what is in the moment, without attempting to manipulate or control it, without judging it, then you will find true happiness; and you will also begin to understand that the ends do not justify the means.

So then how does one polarize positively? As with all things in the spiritual realm, we get there by cultivating mindfulness in the moment. Pay attention to your movements, and notice when you are consciously choosing to hide, or cling, or you are putting yourself into situations that are overwhelming you and causing you to shatter. And then choose to move differently the next time those situations arise. Choose instead to tell the difficult truth, face the uncomfortable challenge, put an end to the ego-driven childishness in which so many of us partake. It won’t always be easy, and you won’t always get it right. That’s okay. Try to avoid deploying the labels of good and bad. While everything you do consciously polarizes you positively or negatively, moving negatively does not make you a bad person. It makes you a person who hasn’t yet healed from whatever karma or story caused you to move in that way. View this as an opportunity to turn inwards, with an attitude of inquiry, courage, and compassion, and begin to heal. If you can witness the negative movement from a place of presence and equanimity, it is no longer unconscious and already healing.

To help you navigate the waters of polarity, this transmission will help you more easily perceive the flow of polarity as it is occurring:

{Perceive Polarity as Polarity}

Remember that the journey of spiritual growth is ongoing. Each day presents new opportunities to choose our path, to learn, and to grow. The movements of seeking, hiding, clinging, and shattering are not only concepts; they are lived experiences that shape our journey. Recognizing them as such will make it immensely easier to heal.

In the next lesson we will explore how to embrace a movement that transcends the Four Movements entirely: the movement of play

Until our next lesson and always, may your path be one of conscious growth, positive polarization, and a continuous unfolding of your spiritual potential. May you find joy and unity in every moment, and may your journey be illuminated with love and wisdom. Be well.