Some of the deepest wounds I see in a person’s energy field arise from the feeling of being separate with the accompanying suffering: feeling lonely, unloved, unwanted, not belonging or simply wrong.

These hurts can result from everyday events such as the arrival of an infant brother or sister, moving to a new school, being excluded, and feeling ‘other’ because of skin colour, religion, language, accent, clothes, lack of money, being clever or not clever enough.

Whatever the reason, in consequence the person cannot be themselves. They cannot allow themselves to be the uniquely personal expression of the divine or universal consciousness of which they are a part.

Patterns in the energy field, as I see them, may show a split from a person’s innermost core as if that person has learned a way of being that enables them to survive but not to put their deeper self at risk. As a result they are constantly on high alert, fearful of being judged and typically oppressively hard on themselves.

Even with this sense of being separate and ‘other’, there are moments when we experience oneness: expanded, connected and with the inner peace that eliminates conflict with others … and ourselves. In this sublime stillness we are part of the infinite. The sense of self dissolves and in that moment, there is only now, a sense of being one with all that is and enough in our own life.

And then Kapow! Back to suffering, struggle, the lack of self acceptance, the need to become a new improved self, back to feeling disturbed by the past and worried about the future.

At first I didn’t understand the teaching to see is to be free. Then it became clear.

If in this moment I am willing to see my behaviour and who I am … simply see my need to be right, my need for significance, hating criticism, running my ‘no-one cares’ story, feeling judged or being judgmental, rebelling or withdrawing, isolating myself.

If I am willing to see these things as they are without needing to judge or justify, a strange thing happens.  A calmness arises, a sense of space, an acceptance of myself just the way I am. With that, the need to blame and shame myself or another falls away, and with the compassion that arises, the experience is transformed.

The acceptance of myself opens the door to feeling part of the whole and to experience oneness.

But, as long as I judge and resist who and what I am, I suffer. As long as I blame, I am victim to what I blame. I end up feeling trapped, limited and separate.

So how can I see and be free?

“Attention,” says the Zen Master.

“There must be more,” said his pupil.

“Yes, attention, attention, attention,” replied the Master.

Simply seeing, being aware, helps me to see what is and leads to acceptance. This is to be mindful, present in the moment. To fully experience what is happening. To notice resistance or ease, anger or frustration. Mindfulness focuses the mind on what is being sensed at each moment, instead of its usual absorption with the past or future.

When I am mindful of my thoughts, I see they are repetitive and painful. When I am mindful of my bodily sensations, I notice how I become tense in anticipation of criticism or rejection. When I am mindful of my feelings, I notice that when I am angry or jealous or guilt-ridden, there is no room to consider anyone else’s feelings.

When I am mindful, I notice I have space within me to choose a different response. When I am mindful, I become aware of how what I say or do affects other people. When I am mindful, I consider the fear or hurt I may be provoking in others.

When I am mindful, I consider how I might express my feelings without unnecessarily hurting the other person. When I am mindful, I am willing and able to take responsibility for my words and actions.

When I am mindful, I see there is no separation, there is only oneness.

When the Indian sage Sri Ramana Maharshi was asked “How are we to treat others?”, he replied, “There are no others”.

There is only oneness.

Marion is an intuitive healer whose passion is to help others transform their limiting beliefs and experiences to be more fully themselves.

She offers one-on-one healing sessions and runs workshops designed to create a shift in consciousness … leading to inner peace, authentic relationships and liberation from the conditioning that underpins so much of our suffering.  She has more than 20 years experience as a healer and has facilitated transformation workshops in Australia and New Zealand.

She operates a healing clinic in Crows Nest, Sydney, and from her Central Coast home. She also works by phone or Skype with clients in the US,  Canada, UK, Italy, Austria, South Africa and around Australia.

Contact details, you can email, website or call directly on 0402 105 855