Spiritual self-development works from the outside in, by turning over one new leaf after another. To make such a fresh start, we must start with our ego. For this is the part of our psyche we have direct access to. But this part is caught in duality.

This means our ego cannot hold opposites.

After doing the work of transforming our Lower Self, we will have greater access to our Higher Self. This part of us rests comfortably with opposites. At this deeper level, then—which is actually a higher level—we live in a land that transcends paradox.

This is the level of unity.

We gradually become more unified by doing the work of self-knowing. We awaken to the truth of who we are. But to do this, we must unravel the untruth that is our current reality.

Untruth, then, is the basis of the illusion of duality. It's the source of every conflict—every disharmony—that divides us. Said another way, when there is no more untruth, there will be peace—for us, our families, our communities, and ultimately, the world.

This spiritual path, which follows the teachings of the Pathwork Guide, is not the only path that can lead us to peace. But finding true inner wholeness is indeed the only way to get there.

Finding peace through paradox

At the level of duality, the opposite of what's true is false. But at the level of our inner divine self, the opposite of a truth is another truth. For example, the truth is, we much each do our own healing work. No one else—not even a great being like Jesus Christ—can do our work for us.

We each must save ourselves through the proper use of our own free will.

But here is another truth: none of us can do this alone. We simply cannot reach the top of the mountain on our own. We need each other. And we also need God's help.

Mutuality, then, is the bridge from duality to unity.

When we begin a spiritual journey, we already have some connection with our Higher Self, at least in some areas of our lives. If we didn't already have this, we wouldn't be ready to come to this dimension of duality.

The reason we are here, living in this difficult dimension, is that duality is a match for our inner makeup. For in duality, dark comes with light. For each of us, our Lower Self comes with our Higher Self.

This is our current reality, but it is a temporary reality.

As we develop spiritually, we will strengthen our inner connection to our own Higher Self. This connects us with the Higher Self of others. We call this being in the Oneness.

Over time, if we truly do the work, the guidance arising from this other dimension—from true eternal reality—will grow stronger. This is the quiet inner voice of our Higher Self becoming clearer.

This is our true self, arising from heaven, which is within.

But in the beginning, there are just too many Lower Self obstacles for us to hear it. By the time a message reaches the surface of our psyche, it's often polluted by the distortions it must go through. This leads to mixed motives, misunderstandings, and wishful thinking.

Until we do this work of self-transformation, we are still serving, at least to some extent, our lower nature. And we don't yet see how we are doing this. We don't yet understand how our Lower Self operates.

This is why we need others. So they can help us see what we are blind to.

The way to greatness

As long as messages cannot reach us cleanly and clearly from within, they will need to reach us from the outside—through others. But note, when we sincerely embark on this spiritual path, we attract significantly more spiritual help.

These spiritual helpers will do everything they can—in keeping with our level of commitment and the laws of cause and effect—to help us grow. Then life will start to work with us, instead of against us.

We will become more perceptive and we will develop discernment. Ultimately, our intuition will open and become reliable. This is the ultimate goal of our spiritual journey.

This is the way we all eventually must go. We must leave the unfulfilling state of our limited ego-centered reality.

Then we can find our true greatness.

In Jill's Experience

After Pathwork Helpership training, I studied Kabbalah for four years. One of our meditations was called "The end of the road." It goes like this: "The ego is never going to get the awakened state. You might as well just let go. Stop trying to save yourself. This is the end of the road. There is nothing to do. Just let go."

At the level of truth, as the famous proverb goes, all roads lead to Rome.

In my own journey, I have incorporated many different healing modalities. The list includes but is not limited to: hands-on healing through Kabbalah, yoga, meditation and addiction recovery. Plus, cranial-sacral massage, chiropractors and acupuncture. Also, tradition therapy and western medicine.

Along the way, I learned to pray during business meetings, and to journal whenever I had an emotional reaction. In other words, I used to journal nearly every day.

I have seen many spiritual seekers do this. By following our interest, curiosity and needs at each stage of our development, our work remains alive. I have also seen many people "dabble." They hop from one "spiritual" thing to another, but never go very deep.

Along the way, my intuition has become clearer. But early on, it's hard to read the tea leaves. Actually, this is always a challenge. But it has become more trustworthy—I have become more trustworthy

Eventually, we become clearer. Until then, it can help to watch for what doesn't work. Where am I feeling exhausted? This is sign I am out of balance and not connecting within.

Where do I have the conviction that I am right, yet I am not at peace? This is a sign I am not yet seeing the whole truth.

Where am I defending my position, or trying to win and be better than?

What is the opposite side of things that I cannot—will not—see?

How do I beat myself up for my mistakes? This last one is tricky. Each time I see how I have been wrong, I feel better. But not right away. Not in the moment of discovery.

No matter how we go about, we'll need to go through the dark to reach the light. And this is not easy to do.

That's why this path takes hard work. Yet walking it is the best thing I could have ever done with my life. I am able to be a better mother, wife, daughter, sister, manager, employee and friend because of it.

Not perfect, just better.

In Scott's Experience

I had an experience some time back while I was preparing for a work event with Jill. I was putting the last few things I needed in my bag and moments away from walking out of the house.

As I reached for the doorknob, I heard a voiceless voice say "bring that binder." I understood which one. The guidance was strong, clear, and unmistakable. Except that the idea seemed completely at odds with what I would be doing with Jill.

I didn't know how I could weave them together, or if I was even allowed to. I had no idea what Jill would say. But the guidance had such clarity that I couldn't not follow it.

What unfolded that day happened naturally, with a quiet knowing at each step. It changed everything in the best possible way and kept opening new inner doorways for me over the next couple years.

It certainly did not come from my ego self. There is no way I would have thought of that. But I did recognize the experience that happened. It's still somewhat rare, but when it comes, the clarity and rightness have quality that is impossible to put into words.

It's like suddenly all the Ifs and Buts have fallen away, and I just know.

The guidance that came that day started a process of healing of a painful inner split that I did not know I had. Or perhaps more accurately, I had not yet crystalized into a concise statement.

Most spiritual literature talks, in one way or another, about being separated from God. Western religions talk about The Fall from grace, as does the Pathwork Guide. The Guide also often uses expressions like the fragmented parts of us, and that we must find our way back.

Most spiritual literature also talks about the oneness. That we are all one. Oneness is all that there is. That reality is me and the other, not me vs. the other. The Guide also speaks to this.

I could not grasp how I could be both fragmented and separated on one hand, and—simultaneously—be oneness on the other hand. The separation felt a lot truer than the oneness.

This paradox began to close with a glimpse of inner realization that this wise inner voice is part of me.

At first, it felt foreign and I didn't recognize it. But it was part of me, talking to another part of me through an illusory wall of separation.

The separation began to dissolve a little.