We cannot stop it.
We could never prevent it.
We are part of it:
"Social conditioning"
A newborn child, coming to the world in a conservative country where patriarchal beliefs are deeply exploited and seated in social interactions, getting educated by a system where a primary focus is to develop logical and deductive thinking at the same time ignoring creativity and individuality, pushed into artificial family structure of 2+1, working hard and waiting for a future retirement...
This is a social structure we are born into that we are presented to and that we have to follow if we don't want to be shamed by others. This is a definition of success for many.
This is Maia, this is an imaginary frame they want us to fit into.
We are physical, spiritual and social beings and we constantly starve to the advancement and progression.
So here we got what we wanted - community structured in a way where we will all progress in the same and controlled manner. Obviously, the system doesn't support people who like to think for themselves, who have a fundamental feeling of being different and out of place. We have to ask a few questions here:
Why then only few can change the world?
Why there are only a few that can shake the foundations of our system?
Why is it so difficult to go against the flow?
The answer to this question is that - it isn't...
Studying Astrology, Human Design, Theosophy and other spiritual sciences revealed to me the possibility of the process we all can go through, the process of deconditioning.
It takes a while until young adult start thinks out of the box and because first we need to taste what is it like to conform to the social rules and living within established Maia, it takes a little bit of effort and curiosity to search for your own Self.
Often your own nonconformity brings different environmental reactions when you start your process of inner growth. The path isn't easy if you put your sense of security in the opinions of others.
However, the process of growth sometimes isn't connected with accumulation of knowledge but rather peeling off the layers of social conditioning we were forced to believe as reality. It is a process of "peeling the onion"...
Deconditioning is connected to all the habits and behaviors that were projected on you as something normal, as something that is a common standard.
If you can accept that, then time probably isn't yet right for you, but if you will take effort and commit to the search and study, instead of being a gear in this social machine, you may become the Engineer.
What are the ways of getting to this realization, and where to begin this journey of deconditioning?
There are three steps I can think of when it comes to deconditioning:
Spend time in nature.
Study.
Sleep alone.
Spend time in nature.
If you surround yourself with nature and green scenery, far from the concrete and city infrastructure, you may get in touch with your divine feminine energy. We are all born on this planet because we are inseparably connected to it. Whatever you may find in nature, you can find also in your own body. For example, spending a few days in a forest or in the wild environment and letting nature speaks to you may reveal to you your connection to the life itself. This connection is balanced, need not be described by anything and it is far from the societal conditioning and labeling. If you allow yourself to consciously spend time in nature, you will see that it is the greatest teacher you could ever have. Dedicating your time and being intentional about spending it away from the city is a number one way to peel off the layers of conditioning. If you repeat that often, and if you do it intentionally - healing potential of nature will work for your benefit.
Study.
Education is crucial. Research and learning about systems of personality and self-knowledge has the second importance to the whole deconditioning process. We are all different and we are coming to this world with a different purpose. A purpose that is far away from the mundane definition of success. In these times we have access to the esoteric knowledge that in the past was known only by the few. Self-mastery systems like Astrology, Human Design or I-Ching are disciplines that may enable you to see yourself in a different light. You can distinguish where is the core of your individual being, and where are the layers of the onion imposed on you by society. These systems teach about how to individualize and how to get on the track of inner growth - empowering your own life and honoring the paths of the others. By learning how different we are from another we can see differences and interact with others in a healthier way.
Sleep alone.
Why is sleep so important? Experiences during the day, cannot be absorbed healthy in the awake state. All the essence of deconditioning process comes to us during the sleep state. Sleep is a natural process of restoration but it is also a moment when we can receive the knowledge we gathered from daily experiences. It is a natural state of recovery, a recovery which can be enhanced by sleeping alone.
We spend almost 1/3 of our life during sleep state - why wouldn't you make best out of it?
During sleep state, we can connect all the facets of our holistic bodies and give them rest, a rest which is based on receptivity. We are vulnerable when we sleep because we are absorbing deep healing that comes from the spiritual aspect of life. If you sleep within a close distance to another person, to your partner, your rest is intertwined, you are vulnerable to the process of their rest too. We cannot control our emotional bodies during sleep that's why we absorb whatever happens around us. This is how our auras interact with each other, their interact during daytime but also during sleep. Whatever we see in physical reality is the outcome of our spiritual side. We are a Spirit first, and Spirit rests during sleep. Don't you think it is more beneficial to wake up fully rested after a good quality sleep, and then welcome your loved one with fresh energy, the energy that isn't conditioned by unconscious influences we are vulnerable to during sleep state?
"Peeling the layers of the onion, often uncovers tears of relief"
Probably there are more ways to decondition yourself from what you have been always told, and what we are faced to living in our society. We have a choice. We can take tiny steps towards a life of full potential and alignment. We can take action and we may receive what we always wanted.
I wanted to share with you short story that inspired me to write this article:
A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village. The American tourist standing nearby complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.
“Not very long,” answered the Mexican.
“But then, why didn’t you stay out longer and catch more?” asked the American.
The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.
The American asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”
“I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with my wife. In the evenings, I go to the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs … I have a full life.”
The American interrupted. “I’d like to give you some advice. I’m a manager with GE, have an MBA from Harvard, and I can help you! If you start fishing longer every day, you can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat. With the extra money the large boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on, until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middleman, you can negotiate directly with the processing plants, and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City! From there you can direct your huge enterprise.”
“How long would that take?” asked the Mexican.
“Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years,” replied the American.
“And after that?”
“Afterward? That’s when it gets interesting,” answered the American, laughing. “When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make millions!”
“Millions? Really? And after that?”
“After that, you’ll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta, and spend your evenings drinking with and enjoying your friends!”
— Bernstein, Josh. Digging for the Truth. Gotham Books (Penguin), NY; 2006. Page 17.
Bart Ptolemy
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