The transition to a higher vibrationary realm
Ascension is an entirely natural evolutionary process at work in the Universe. It is where a particular life system raises its vibrationary state from one energetic Realm of Existence to another higher one. Put simply, it is rather like tuning into another station on the radio...

The Universe is not as traditional science would have us believe and not what we have been conditioned to think by society. It exists as a vast ocean of consciousness where every single "part" is interconnected and manifested in layers known as "Dimensional Realms". So for example our Physical Realm, where the centre of consciousness of most people dwells is the 3rd Dimensional Realm - that of space - with the 4th dimension surrounding it. The next higher realm is the 5th with the 4th dimension acting as a 'bridge' between the two.

Why is it that this model of reality is not generally accepted within society? The reality we each experience is born from our beliefs about that reality. We are each exposed to billions of bits of incoming information every second but the physical brain can only process a very small fraction of these. To cope with the overload, it superimposes a map of the reality we expect upon the incoming information and filters out the rest. Since we manifest the experience we bring our consciousness to, most of us therefore only experience a wafer thin slice of what is available to us.

However, if we are able to release ourselves from attachment to the external drama of life in this Realm, then we begin to still the internal noise of thought and emotion. Our internal metabolism quietens, tension and efforting is eased and our vibration rises. In turn our consciousness begins to expand into new layers of our being and in particular into our "light body". When this starts to take place, we are beginning to unfold into the new paradigm and taste the interconnectivity of all life. Our intuitive and psychic capabilities are initiated and we begin to notice more the synchronisitic co-creativity of life.

At some point on this miraculous inner journey, we become acquatinted with the next higher vibrational realm experienced through the patterning of all events in this lower plane of existence. We realise that all along we have been living not in one world but two where one overlaps the other. Our Planetary System is ascending to the higher realm, the Soul of the Earth is already centering her consciousness in the 5th Dimension and extends energies - a bridge - into this 3rd Dimension. She is inviting us to relinquish attachment to the old plane and join her in the higher one. It is a process due to complete around 2012.

Currently on earth there is a 'quickening' where more and more people are realising there is much more to reality than meets the eye and are beginning to explore their consciousness. As we open up to the higher consciousness, we allow in a powerful energetic force which guides our individual evolutionary journey if we allow it to.

In short it takes us out of the mind and into the heart to explore our genuine inner longing expressed as authentic characteristics of our soul. It helps us strip away the conditioned desires and illusionary needs instilled by society. The Soul is our pathway and is completely aligned with the evolutionary journey many are now embarking on. Our immediate destiny is ascension into the next higher realm.

Chris

Hi Aline - its really great to have you back on the forum - glad all is well with you

To me a good "higher self" meditation begins by 'getting above the senses'. What do I mean by this? Well, it begins by bringing attention up to the fontanel - the crown chakra - because that changes our centre of perception from being (usually) just behind the centre of the forehead to being above the 5 senses.

In which case we are moving the centre of our perception beyond the usual physical - and therefore lower self - dimensions.

Before I go further I feel I should add that of course space and time are illusions - there is no 'higher' or 'lower', there is no 'up there' just as there is no 'in here' or 'out there'. There is only the perception of these things.

What we're really doing then is exploring what you might call different layers of consciousness and in order to explore new layers, it helps to change our perception from what we usually experience.

So back to the meditation...

Mine is heavily influenced by the ancient Kriya meditations brought to the west by Paramahansa Yogananda in the 1930's. Kriya is many hundred (if not thousands) of years old and has helped bring many people to enlightenment.

In the meditation we breathe with attention in the crown chakra and this begins to move perception into new layers. I use the model that my higher self is above me and begin by focussing consciousness in the higher self.

So as you inhale, feel the higher self - as light - being drawn downwards to the crown. Then when fully inhaled, hold the breath and feel the higher self focussing in this place - feel yourself harnessing that higher vibration.

Then as you exhale, breathe the light downwards through the fontanel and into the body - but always keeping your attention in the crown. Do this for some minutes.

Now that we've focussed in the higher self, the key is to bring the experience of that into the body. So after this first stage, we then bring attention down into the 'dan ten' - the pelvic region.

Now as you inhale, draw the light down into the pelvis and as you've filled, then immediately begin to exhale the energy (light) out through the body in waves and then out into your surrounding field and then back into the universe - this we call "whale breathing".

When you're truly skilled at it, you can feel your whole body filling with light and it can bring on an intensely blissful feeling.

Finally, after some minutes of this type of breathing, switch now to "butterfly breathing". This is a light inhale followed immediately by a light exhale and then hold the breath just until you feel the natural impulse to inhale again.

Let the breathing settle right down until it is practically unnoticeable in the background of your experience. Then when fully settled, move your consciousness around your body releasing and easing any tension. Know that as you release the tightness, that area of the body (a blockage) is being transmuted and filled with light.

After some minutes of this, simply allow your attention to drift off where it will. This part can be deeply transcendent. It is at this point people frequently touch the "seer" - the absolute non identified awareness through all things. It is a taste of enlightenment.

I feel I should also express that people get vastly different experiences from this meditation depending on where they are at on their journey. So it only really works by perseverance and surrender - any practice is only ever as good as our ability to let go and truly explore ourselves beyond mind and body.

Hope this helps!

Best wishes

Chris

Ascension is essentially an inner journey were we 'travel to' and unfold into deeper layers of our own consciousness. The term 'Ascension' is used because the layers of consciousness we travel through are increasingly at higher vibrations. The journey leads to a more enlightened and elevated place of being hence it feels like we are 'rising'...

What is Ascension?
At Openhand we consider Ascension to be a sequence of internal shifts of consciousness leading progressively to a higher vibrational state. Ultimately, we leave the physical density of the body behind and continue our journey in the next higher realm expressed by means of our spirit light body.

Through our work in helping people with their spiritual unfoldings, we observe that there are 5 key expansions of consciousness - through internal Gateways - leading to our ultimate Ascension. This is very much inline with many spiritual teachings and practices.

They are as follows:

• Gateway 1:"Awakening" - the magic of the soul and its unmistakable quiet inner voice is unveiled to us.
• Gateway 2:"Realignment" - we surrender to the supreme governance of the soul in our lives. We align with the Divine Will.
• Gateway 3:"Transfiguration" - a dramatic shift of perception from identification with the personality to being the Seer expressed as the soul through the bodymind.
• Gateway 4:"Enlightenment" - 'fragments' of the soul still identifying with karmic filters are released and "reconnected". The soul becomes fully integral within our being.
• Gateway 5:"Resurrection" - our seven bodily vehicles of expression are finally cleansed, reactivated and re-energised. We unfold into multi dimensional living.

Once we have been resurrected, which means to have fully cleansed the bodymind to be the prefect, undistorted means of expression for the soul, then the pathway is open for us to continually raise our vibration until at the time we leave the body, there is no longer any need for us to return to this lower plane of consciousness.

Our inner journey of Ascension
For most of our incarnations, our soul is lost within the personality vehicle and is identified with it. Hence we have the experience of actually believing we are the sum total of our mind, body and feelings/emotions.

In this state, we are largely unaware of the soul which represents our destined state of beingness. The soul represents the authentic expression of the Seer we are destined to unfold and is unique to each of us.

In the beginning the soul has been fragmented and dissipated within the bodymind due to mental and behavioural conditioning. Then at some magical point, we awaken to the energy of the soul and taste "Unity Consciousness" - the universal life energy that unites us all.

This brings with it a wonderful experience of at-one-ment with the Universe. It is frequently so powerful that many think they have become enlightened but this is only just the beginning. It can be called the "Awakening".

It is precipitated by an expansion of consciousness and as we step through the Gateway, is often marked by a life changing event of some kind - in other words a "ceremony" (sometimes called an "initiation").

At this point, we tend to embark on an inner journey following the impulses of the soul to discover ever deeper realms of our spiritual nature, continually expanding our consciousness until the personality surrenders to governance of the soul. It is then that we pass through the Second Gateway. The soul is now guiding the show. This transition can be called the "Realignment" because we are realigning with the soul which is at one with the Divine Will.

At this stage, we will be exploring our own consciousness a good deal of the time and so will be relinquishing attachments to the Physical Realm. This process is also accompanied by an inner drive to purify the vehicles of the lower self mentally, physically and emotionally.

The personality is thus prepared for the soul to reconnect and strengthen its power within. As this process begins, we can be thrown into great turmoil. We will feel the divine beauty of the soul flowing through us and therefore receive bursts of high energy. As the reconnection takes place however, it brings to the surface distortions within the personality.

This can cause violent mood swings and a roller coaster ride of emotions. Sometimes we feel very 'up' vibrant and alive, and at other times we can descend into the deepest of depressions. Some explore suicidal tendencies which is a personality distortion of a natural inquisitiveness by the soul to explore mortality.

If we resist the change, then this process can drag on and become very destabilising in one's life. We seem to be pulled in two different directions - because we are! Ultimately though, the soul assumes governance in our lives through a powerful surge of energy. We move into alignment with our soul which is at one with the Divine Will.

This is often mirrored through a quite dramatic change in the external circumstances of our lives. Perhaps a long standing relationship breaks down for example or we have a change of location or career. It is often described as a powerfully liberating experience.

As we continue on the path now guided by the soul, we experience once more quite a degree of turmoil as lost fragments of soul continue to be released from bodymind identification and reconnect. Our relationship to our personality begins to break down which feels
quite destabilising - it could even seem like we are facing death. This is because our whole inner frame of reference to the outside world is being torn apart. It is our identification with the personality that is finally dying.

Once more it is likely to be marked by a powerful life changing circumstance and again feels like an amazing awakening - even more powerful than the other two. We have now stepped through the Third Gateway and are 'Transfigured'.

At this point we are likely to taste the experience of the non identified Seer for the first time (although it sometimes does arise before this). In other words "we" - as the Seer - are liberated from the personality and experience ourselves flowing spontaneously in the moment through the soul.

There are still two other transitions though. The fourth is the "Enlightenment" process. Following Transfiguration, an inner "shadow (sometimes called the "imposter") tends to form in the personality 'owning' the actions of the Seer (expressed through the soul).

The Shadow is like an echo of the Seer within the personality. If you like, it is a 'fragment' of the soul which is still not reunited and comfortable with the experience of non identified awareness. It needs an 'anchor' in the illusionary reality and so forms an identity within the personality once more (although much more subtle than before).

The shadow is like an inner questioner, tending to question the authenticity of a direct pull to act expressed through the soul. Or it might also be continually asking whether our being is in the place of the non identified Seer.

The shadow forms specifically when the light of the soul shines through the "causal body" where our past life "karma" is stored. If the soul is attached to a particular past life event (particularly a traumatic one), then a 'fragment' of the soul will identify with it.

The shadow then recreates similar patterns of experience in our current lives in order that we may expose and release the pattern.

The shadow could be expressed in a number of ways, for example:

• the "false prophet": owning the selfless actions through the soul requiring a "payback" thus rendering them less effective ().
• the "controller": not trusting in the natural actions the universe, thereby needing to control them.
• the "doubting Thomas": doubting the experience pure awareness that it has arrived at.
• the "restrainer": retraining a spontaneous impulse of passionate action thereby dulling its taste.
• the "questioner": continually questioning the authentic impulses through the soul.
• the "distorter": distorting an authentic action causing confusion and loss of inner peace.
• the "absolutist": needing to always express truth, whatever the cost.

It might be said the Shadow mimics the spontaneous actions of the Seer thereby distorting the natural flow of energy rendering it less effective.

The shadow can be extremely difficult to 'see' - as soon as we realise we're processing authentic action, we stop processing, settle once more into non identified awareness upon which the shadow dissappears.

So it frequently requires quite extreme events to expose the shadow in order that we may recognise it internally and dissolve it. That's why it is sometimes termed the "crucifixion". It is dissolved by continually recentering ourselves in pure awareness as our fears are being recreated.

Once we have dissolved all shadow identities, we slip into a seemingly quite ordinary state of non identified perception - Enlightenment - which itself happens without further drama.

Once the shadow has been dealt with, the final Gateway is that of the "Resurrection" of the enlightened being. In other words, as the soul, we must finally cleanse, reactivate and re-energise our various bodily vehicles of expression.

We are caused to walk the naturally unfolding path to confront and dissolve any final distortions - fixed neural pathways - in the brain which dim the light of the soul.

The bodymind becomes the perfect vehicle of expression for the soul
and we are now able to unfold into multi dimensional living. Over time, our vibration rises and finally when we leave the body, there is no longer the requirement to reincarnate in physical form. This is our Ascension.

Chris

Hi Caitriona,

Thanks for your post and sharing. You're most welcome here.
Its wonderful that you feel so filled with love. Its a fantastic feeling isn't it? A sure sign that you've been through the initial awakening.

I can completely understand it if you feel at odds with your friends, family and those around you. Its difficult to understand the Awakening unless you've first been through it yourself. Society generally does not recognise spiritual awakening and we can encounter judgment and negativity as a result.

So what to do next?

My advice would be to always ask your soul and let it begin to guide you through life rather than using mind led intention to do things. I would watch for the opportunity to meet new people more in line with your new consciousness. Perhaps seek out organisations that can assist - maybe a meditation of yoga group for example.

The next stage is to learn how to really listen to the soul. How it guides us through life and how we create our reality according to the level of consciousness we hold within. Our course "Way of the Heart" helps people really tune into higher guidance and unfold the way of being that best serves us.

To me, this is what the next stage is really all about. To transition from trying to change, create or manifest our outer world according to our limited wants or desires, and instead focus on how we are being; finding and expressing in every moment our highest truth and allowing our beingness to shape events accordingly. This is the Gateway 2 transition called "Realignment".

If we do that, we will be guided on a magical pathway - the destined pathway of the soul.

Best wishes on your journey of unfolding!

Chris