The 4th Gateway
The journey to full spiritual awakening is a very rewarding one and clearly also very challenging. None more so than the 4th Gateway Transition which is where we unfold into Enlightenment itself. It is definitely a case of following the light through the darkened tunnel as we reconfront the trauma of past life experiences - our karma. It is no coincidence that it has been likened to a 'crucifixion of the ego'...

Shadow Identities
It is often the case that when people strip away their attachment to the ego, they discover the boundless beauty of their indwelling soul flowing as a rejuvenating river of life through their body and mind. So profound is this transition that many think they have already become enlightened. From my perspective, whilst at this stage we may frequently be experiencing enlightened states, it is likely that we've not fully reached the permanent state of Enlightenment unless we've actually confronted and dissolved our past life karma.

When we feel the soul fully coursing through our body, people often describe the sensations as a "Christ-like" or "Buddha-like" presence. So much so that it is easy for people to think they might even be reincarnations of these or other so called "Ascended Masters!"

So profoundly magical is the energy that it is almost inevitable that a inner shadow identity forms wanting to "own" that experience. So rather than the soul simply flowing spontaneously with no intention through the personality, an inner identity forms giving extra energy, weight or consideration to the spontaneous actions arising within us.

It is as if this shadow is trying to second guess what the soul is creating. From my perspective it is caused by a fragment of soul that has not yet been fully liberated and reintegrated with the soul itself - in other words the fragment is still stuck in the drama. This shadow identity is extremely difficult for us to see and so can take quite extreme circumstances to expose. Here then is where our trust in higher guidance comes into its own.

If we are fully trusting, then we will be guided to circumstances that expose this inner imposter - we'll feel its tightness and lack of trust as a loss of inner peace and absolute acceptance of the moment. The shadow is 'crucified' on the altar of absolute truth.

Crucifixion of the ego
I'm fascinated by the biblical story of Jesus. However to me, it matters not whether the story is true, it is the story itself that really counts. I believe this is the true gift from higher consciousness.

In the story, Jesus is crucified whereupon he supposedly cries out from the cross "why have you forsaken me father" (or words to that effect!). This I find a most powerful statement and it's a wonder the many re-drafters of the Bible kept it within the text for it shows the humanness and vulnerability of the man.

In Enlightenment there is no attachment to individual identity (at all) and therefore absolutely no experience of separation from the all-that-is. It is a state of non-identified awareness that exists in the background of all activity - and we are that.

So even in the very moment that we're about to be run over by the no.9 bus, there's still the infinite trust, still no identification with the drama. Oh sure we're going to feel the effects and experience the pain but all from the perspective of "awesome okayness". In the moment that it strikes, we go deep into the experience and even then, even in the worst imaginable circumstances, we find the lightness and realise the illusion.

So if we allow it to, higher guidance takes us to the experiences we need to expose the imposter, realise our attachment caused by our karma (perhaps we got run over by a horse and cart in a past life!) and then relive the karma by going through it without denial. In so doing we burst the bubble of illusion and the fragment of soul that was causing the identification is reunited and reintegrated.

So that's what the Gateway 4 transition is all about. Are you concerned about the prospect? If so, it would be your inner Shadow that's raising its head!

Gateways of Light: Book serialisation week 5
For all those interested (and not unduly concerned), you might like to read my own personal sharing of the 4th Gateway Transition from "Gateways of Light"... http://www.openhandweb.org/gateways_of_light_book_serialisation#comment-...
(if the link doesn't work, simply cut and paste into your browser)

May all your transitions be....just as they're meant to be!

In love and light

Chris

Openhand Foundation
unfolding into light
http://www.openhandweb.org