{"id":128,"date":"2023-09-26T19:50:36","date_gmt":"2023-09-27T01:50:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/beyondtheordinary\/?p=128"},"modified":"2023-12-05T18:33:05","modified_gmt":"2023-12-06T01:33:05","slug":"duality-embracing-the-gift-of-choice-for-divine-evolution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/beyondtheordinary\/2023\/09\/duality-embracing-the-gift-of-choice-for-divine-evolution\/","title":{"rendered":"Duality: Embracing the Gift of Choice for Divine Evolution"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Dualism as the seed of choice and creation \/ Photo courtesy of Canva<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

The journey towards spiritual enlightenment often revolves around escaping the confines of duality and reconnecting with the cosmic One. We invest considerable effort into merging with the source, striving to bask in the euphoria of absolute unity and belonging. What if this \u201cescape\u201d takes us away from Divine Evolution? <\/em><\/h3>\n***The Temptation of Unity<\/strong><\/h3>\n***** For years, I too believed that duality was the nemesis, the root of all global woes, and the Achilles\u2019 heel of humanity. The idea of transcending our dualistic tendencies seemed to hold the key to unlocking our full potential and ushering in a utopian existence.<\/p>\n The Fear of Losing Identity<\/strong><\/h3>\n But is this \u2018sacred singularity\u2019 truly the panacea spiritualists proclaim it to be? I\u2019ve been fortunate enough to merge with the Divine several times, albeit reluctantly at first. I feared losing myself, that my ego\u2019s claim on identity would be obliterated, leaving nothing but a boundless void where \u2018Mark\u2019 used to be. Paradoxically, I yearned to unite with the entirety of existence even as I clung to my individuality.<\/p>\n The Profound Truth<\/strong><\/h3>\n However, these transcendental experiences unveiled a profound truth: we don\u2019t forfeit our true selves; instead, we forge an energetic connection with everything around us. These moments became sacred, affirming that we are never truly alone. Even after we shed our earthly shells, remnants of our current existence persist, merging with the tapestry of the cosmos.<\/p>\n Duality Provides Contrast<\/strong><\/h3>\n As Dr. Gadbois expresses in her article, The Monad and the Law of One \u2013 Duality as a Singularity<\/a>, we need duality to define who we are, to make choices and develop our character based on being able to say we are<\/em> this or are not<\/em> that. It requires the contrast of duality for us to make a choice and decide on what, and how we will express ourselves. Without duality, without polarity, there is no choice, there is no unique expression of self, and in essence, no self at all.<\/p>\n Embracing Duality as a Gift<\/strong><\/h3>\n************* ** *************One might assume that I advocate for abandoning duality in the pursuit of enlightenment. But the truth, as a friend once gifted me, is that this divine connection occurs at a higher spiritual plane, beyond our corporeal existence. Attempting to superimpose unity over the dualistic nature of our human journey creates dissonance, resulting in the anguish, grief, or profound unease often experienced on the spiritual path.<\/p>\n The Precious Gift: Choice<\/strong><\/h3>\n*************** ** ***************My experiences have shown that we are not meant to exile duality but to comprehend it as a precious gift, despite the accompanying challenges. This gift is among the few distinctive endowments to humanity: choice.<\/p>\n The Power of Choice<\/strong><\/h3>\n***************** ** *****************When we wholeheartedly embrace this gift, we transcend victimhood and seize control of our fate. There\u2019s no \u2018other\u2019 to blame, no God or Spirit to implore or accuse when our desires go unmet. This abdicates our divine prerogative to shape and define our reality. Embracing choice requires us to inhabit the present moment fully. How frequently do we linger in the past or the future? Choice thrives exclusively in the now, constituting a fundamental test on this journey. It leaves no room for blame, no sanctuary for victimhood, compelling us to stand tall in our fully grown, divine selves, and accept responsibility for our life\u2019s unfolding.<\/p>\n The Fear of Responsibility<\/strong><\/h3>\n This daunting prospect frightens many, causing them to cling tightly to the old paradigm, perceiving duality as a divisive force responsible for the world\u2019s conflicts and ills. The prevailing sentiment is that if we could just unite with the sacred, as most religions and spiritual paths advocate, everything would be harmonious. But that\u2019s not our earthly purpose. As I mentioned in a previous article<\/a>, we are here to create, and creation necessitates choice, which in turn requires duality.<\/p>\n The Magnificent Gift<\/strong><\/h3>\n********************* ** While dualism may appear as the root of malevolence, it is, in fact, the most magnificent gift bestowed upon us by the Divine. How will you employ this gift? How will your interactions with the world and your circumstances transform when you recognize that you wield the power of choice, perpetually shaping your reality? What if our choices, the catalysts of creation, are how the Sacred continually evolves itself? This process cannot occur within the singularity, where everything is interconnected. Imagination and choice stand as the two sacred tools gifted to humanity. Are you utilizing them to fulfill your purpose or as a means to evade responsibility?<\/p>\n ** The Path of Least Resistance<\/strong><\/h3>\n ** The path of least resistance is to assign blame, to play the victim. Recently, I experienced being let go from a job I held for almost sixteen years. The narrative I initially constructed was one of self-righteousness and victimhood, a tale where I was the hapless casualty of a grave injustice. Others mirrored this narrative, validating my victim mentality each time I recounted the story. However, the truth revealed itself differently.<\/p>\n ** Creating a New Reality<\/strong><\/h3>\n ** Over the past nine months, I\u2019ve been envisioning, meditating, and summoning a new version of myself, one that fully embraces my purpose rather than retreating to the comfort of a faculty position at a large university. I\u2019ve been reclaiming my authentic self, creating a space for it within my auric field. In hindsight, the reality about my job is that my collegiate self and spiritual work could no longer coexist once the energy of the \u2018new me\u2019 became the dominant energy I embodied. The university job had to make way for the new reality I had stepped into. From the human perspective, it may seem unjust, but my choices, imagination, and emotions regarding the \u2018new me\u2019 orchestrated this outcome. The same applies to each of us and our creative endeavors.<\/p>\n ** Shaping Our Reality<\/strong><\/h3>\n ** As tempting as it may be to spurn duality and label it as the malevolent force responsible for the world\u2019s current state, it is imperative that we acknowledge our role in shaping reality. We must become the instruments of the Divine, creating and evolving ourselves anew.<\/p>\n ** What choices will you make today to embrace the gift of duality and shape your reality in alignment with your true purpose? The path to spiritual enlightenment is not one of escape but of transformation through choice in the present moment.<\/em><\/p>\n ** \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ** *********************The journey towards spiritual enlightenment often revolves around escaping the confines of duality and reconnecting with the cosmic One. We invest considerable effort into merging with the source, striving to bask in the euphoria of absolute unity and belonging. What if this \u201cescape\u201d takes us away from Divine Evolution? The Temptation of Unity For years, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5171,"featured_media":134,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[41,47,44,5,38],"class_list":["post-128","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-duality","tag-evolution","tag-singularity","tag-spirit","tag-spiritual"],"yoast_head":"\nDuality: Embracing the Gift of Choice for Divine Evolution Duality<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In our desire to overcome the dualistic nature of reality, are we forgoing choice and the ability to evolve the Divine?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/beyondtheordinary\/2023\/09\/duality-embracing-the-gift-of-choice-for-divine-evolution\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Duality: Embracing the Gift of Choice for Divine Evolution Duality\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In our desire to overcome the dualistic nature of reality, are we forgoing choice and the ability to evolve the Divine?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/beyondtheordinary\/2023\/09\/duality-embracing-the-gift-of-choice-for-divine-evolution\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Beyond the Ordinary\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-09-27T01:50:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-12-06T01:33:05+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/1925\/2023\/09\/Duality.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"780\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"585\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Mark J. 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