Meditation from Lecture #182

The meditiation exercise from #182 traditionally called "The Three Voices Meditiation" is a key meditation practice of the Pathwork. It is a powerful tool to draw out and transform images, misconceptions and negativity in its various forms. Through the regular practice of the meditiation we can make everything that lives in us conscious and it will strengthen your conscious ego self, as well as your understanding of, and connection to the divine self.

Overview: The lecture instructs us that the meditation involves the participation and dialogue with three levels of self.

These three aspects include:

1. The Child Consciousness (C.C.) this encompasses images, misconceptions and negativity in all the various manifestations. As you work on drawing out this part you will notice it may have many different voices. As your practice continues you will be more and more able to discern the source of the different voices such as the immature child, the lower self, the superimposed conscious ( a sort of critical authority voice), or a defensive stance, to name a few of the more prominent ones. In all its various guises, it is the voice of the Individualized Self Sphere - a representation of a dualistic belief system.
   
   
2. The Conscious Ego Self (C.E.S.) this is the part of us that can reason, discern and consciously choose. It is the growing healthy ego/adult in us that holds our positive will, and our movement towards unitive consciousness and our spiritual unfolding. In this meditiation process it is the voice that directs the process. Calling out the child consciousness and the Higher Self in turn. It is the voice of the Universal Self Sphere.
   
   
3. The divine self (D.S.) which in this lecture is also called "the supra conscious universal self". It is the part of us that is the divine spark and holds "superior wisdom, power and love and with its comprehensive understanding of events". This part of us knows the ultimate truth of reality - and that all is one and all will be well. It is the voice of the Universal Spirit Sphere - the voice of oneness.
   
   

1. Recognition of the unconscious, immature ego-centric self. This means giving this part of our selves a forum in which to speak. In doing so we bring it out of hiding and into the light of day, where we can learn to hear its script and experience, its energy in a conscious and constructive way. In this step we practice letting it out, not acting it out.
   
   
2. Working with the under laying misconceptions, the causes and effects, the meaning, and the price to be paid in regard to the present destructive part of the self. In this step we enter into a dialogue between the three aspects of self - the child consciousness , our conscious ego self and our divine self. We engage the C.E.S. to think about and reason through the illogical conclusions of the C.C. The purpose of this step is to further draw out our child consciousness in order to understand and work with its distorted view of reality. In this step we make links between the cause and effect of our distorted view of life, and also feel into the price that we pay for holding onto these beliefs. We do this by dialoguing with the child consciousness, thereby bringing it into realtionship with the two other more healthy and whole parts of ourselves.
   
   
3. Re-educating and reorientation the child consciousness. This step involves being with, working with, teaching and instruction, working through the faulty logic of images and wrong conclusions; It also includes asking and opening to the power of grace (D.S.) to change one's will direction when one is working at the level of negative intentionality; the level of choice. "The actualized universal powers will not, by themselves, enforce an integration with the undeveloped part of the self. The conscious ego-self must decide for this integration and fight for it, otherwise the universal self cannot get through to the blocked-off areas."
   
   
4. Visualization for new concepts of how life could be. This stage invokes new ways of seeing and experiencing life. It begins with consciously choosing to imagine and playing with new and different possibilities to current situations. ".... expanding of your conscious concepts so as to create new and better life substance , hence life experince. It is the creating part I spoke of in previous lectures. Theses concepts must be built up again and again , with the conscious ego; and, again, the intervention and actualization of the universal consciousness must help along in the creation of a more expanded state."
   
   

The "How To" of the mediation process:

The meditation process can be used to explore emotional reactions, reoccurring problems, character flaws, and material gleaned from daily review.

1. As you begin you may want to take a few minutes to become centered and quiet inside and ask the benevolent spiritual forces to be with you.
   
   
2. When you feel ready to begin take a few minutes to write about the problem or issue you want to focus on for meditation. Once you get clear about the issue write a short intention such as: "My intention for this meditation is to understand and bring divine energy to my issues with....." This is the Conscious Ego Self setting the direction for the meditation.
   
   
3. Now the CES asks the Child Consciousness to begin to speak. This step is about expressing, so the CES just receives whatever comes up in an open, curious, respectful manner. As mentioned before there may be any variety of voices that emerge from the C.C. such as the wounded child, the historic child or the egotistical, demanding child. It is important to hold discernment as to the source of the voice and notice that the voice may shift as the process evolves. The child may begin to speak and then the superimposed conscious, critical parent, or lower self may emerge. You are writing it all down as it emerges. This process is really to work with the child consciousness so at this point the CES will take on the role of a loving parent to protect the child from the intrusions and hold the space so the child can speak. If at any point in the process it gets too intense or you start to feel like you are no longer able to hold objectivity, stop writing, breathe and centre again, call on your guides, angels, divine self - imagine them helping to hold the space for this exploration and continue as you feel able to engage again. On the other hand if not much is coming forth just wait in receptive silence and pray for courage and humility to see all of yourself. Work on dropping deeper in on an energetic, intentional level. You may want to start by asking yourself questions about he problem like "How do I feel about this issues" and just begin to write what ever comes. You might try visualizing your child, maybe she will speak to you in visuals rather than words. (C.C. expressing)
   
   

"The conscious ego must be completely determined to allow the unconscious egotistical self to reveal itself, to unfold, to manifest in awareness, to express itself."

4. Once the C.C. has fully expressed herself then the dialogue can begin. It may take the form of questions or asking for elaboration of different aspect of what has come forth. The C.C. is immature and often illogical. This dialogue is to serve two purposes to fully draw out and work though the images and misconceptions ultimately linking cause and effect and the second part a reeducation and reorientation. The dialogue can take the form of questioning or presenting other options and alternatives as the C.C. can take it in. It is a subtle communication, discerning when the C.C needs support and reassurance or alternatively healthy, loving, boundary setting, or protection, information or what ever else it might need to help it be in reality and mature. A lot of this dialogue is between the C.C. and the C.E.S. but of course at any point the Divine Self (D.S.) can be called upon to inform and guide as well. This is where it becomes a "three voices" dialogue sometimes the CES dialoguing with the child or the D.S speaking to and instructing the C.E.S. or the C.C.
   
   
In effective meditation the conscious ego level activates both the unconscious, egotistical, destructive self and the supraconscious, superior universal self. A constant interaction among these three levels must take place, requiring a tremendous amount of alertness on the part of your conscious ego self."
5. The meditation has an organic rhythm and flow. These steps are not linear but may repeat and over lap. As you work with it each time, be receptive to the evolving dialogue. It will ebb and flow and come to its own nature conclusion. As it comes to a close take time to review what has been written and what has been brought to light. Really take in what has been revealed to you, and the different energies within that have emerged. This is a deep process of making conscious all that lives in you and bringing it all into wholeness/integration.
   
   
6. As a final step take time to visualize/imprint new concepts, possibilities that may have emerged from the meditation. Ask your CES or D.S to give you an image to replace the misconceptions - see yourself in a more fulfilled, peaceful state regarding the issue at hand.
   
   
7. Thank all aspects of yourself for participating; honour yourself for having the courage and capacity to work in this deep way. End with a few moments of centered stillness.
   
   

Questions that may help bring unconscious material to the fore:

1. Do I feel I deserve this particular situation, event, etc. related to my intention?
   
   
2. Do I really want it and why?
   
   
3. Is there anything about it that I particularly fear?
   
   
4. Is there any part of me that has a desire for a negative alternative to my stated intention?
   
   
5. Am I willing to pay the price for what I have asked for in my intention? What do I think the price is?
   
   

Based on the Guide Lectures #182, The Process of Meditation, #194 Meditation for Positive Life Creation.. To read the lecture in their entirety go to: www.pathwork.org