As I leave Sofia and close yet another chapter of 2018 (whew!), I took some time to do another ‘goodbye ritual’ and reflect back on what that last phase of my life has gifted me. It’s one year since I left for South East Asia with the intention of finding my calling and a sense of meaning that kept evading me and I felt I desperately needed. And there were so many things to be grateful for, but one of them stood out – my perspective on what our universe is made of.
Back in my high school years, I remember a teacher once told us about this dilemma that ancient greek philosophers had very heated debates on – does the Universe exist independent of our perception or does it only emerge when there’s someone to see it? Fast forward to today, in the Western World we seem pretty convinced it’s the former. Or at least most of our focus is there with science and technology leading the way in proving what’s ‘real’ and making use of it to create greater and greater comfort in our lives, outside-in. We see the Universe as a collection of objects that can be studied and known. Some of them that are within our reach can be influenced and made ‘more comfortable’ and that’s what matters. There seems to be no meaning to the whole thing, just causes and effects. Many brilliant minds working hard to figure out how our brains work to the minutest detail and ironically, take us further and further away from the concept of ‘free will’ as they find more and more ways in which we are shaped by our genes and environment.
But what if we went too far with that perspective? What if there’s something about the other one that is just as valuable? And what if we don’t really need to choose between the two?
My last year has been all about exploring this – how does a Universe made up of subjects work. If you believe that the Universe exists because you are there to perceive it, you automatically become its creator. Without you, the Universe does not exist. So how would you like to make it, shape it, have it work for you? At the same time, you are not alone. Every single person you meet is also a subject – you collectively perceive and create the Universe. So are the animals, the plants, the rocks, the sky, love, freedom – everything we would label as a being, an object, a phenomenon or a concept in our world becomes a subject, an extension of consciousness we can interact with. All of a sudden, it’s not that crazy to talk to a tree – it replies back and you laugh together and it tells you something you need to know and you ask if there’s something you can do in return. If you think about it, this is what indigenous cultures stand upon, as well as our arts, myths, dreams and imagination.
I believe our present time, our culture, our planet needs us to find our balance between those two perspectives. With climate change advancing faster than our politicians and consumerist society can manage, we need to come back to the understanding that each and every one of us is creating this reality and that each and every thing we interact with carries a piece of soul, a universe in itself. Not as a replacement to science, but as her faithful partner in moving forward in a healthy way and leaving a habitable planet for all species that call it home. It’s in this perspective, as messy and unmeasurable as it is, that we also discover our own meaning, soul and power to change ourselves and everything around us.
So my invitation to you is to take some time to look back at your 2018 and think what has changed in your objective reality and what has changed in your subjective reality. You might be surprised at what you find. And if you find yourself curious and needing more of the latter, go out and find it – your soul and our planet is waiting for you!
About Lessons in Paradise
I believe we already are in paradise, regardless of where we are and what’s going on in our lives. I believe life is a journey towards becoming aware of this and enjoying as much of it as we can in the limited amount of time we have here. The ‘Lessons in Paradise’ vlog is the space where I share my process of shedding patterns and beliefs that obstruct our view in order to replace them with presence, joy and wonder. It’s also my invitation to you – an invitation to connect and journey together in creative ways, as we help each other see through to the greatest expression of ourselves. I also love creating spaces for growth-oriented people to connect to their soul power and life purpose. I do that in the form of coaching and workshops. Reach out if you feel called to explore these topics with me.
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