Whats up with the New age conspiracy of "killing" the ego?

Another day, another spiritual trend makes its way into mainstream. New age Spirituality as they call it, is not so new. In fact, its coming into light as seemingly, just another branch of christianity. With the "love and light" communities version of a "Sunday Service"  ringing reminder bells in my brain similar to that of a christian church service. Still the same concept of worship, A church hierarchy system sitting on stage on their thrones, donation based treatment, shaming of characteristics, and the needing to be redeemed.. or in this case, a “shedding of the ego”. 

Now, don’t get me wrong, we could all use a little less of an ego, but this is not that. Its not asking us to be less cocky, but asking us to shed our personality identity. Your worth is now measured by how “ego less” you are, what your energy is “attracting”.. etc. 

Lets set one thing straight,  you CANNOT kill off a part of your expression of self or personality.. and starving any essence of you (“positive” or “negative”) is going to create more trouble than good, while potentially halting personal growth in any way practical or spiritual. 

Every aspect of you, whether you perceive it as good or bad, is essential to who you are and your growth as a whole being. 

Things, like a trusting nature, a fearful nature, being prone to craving this or that etc.. are only ingredients in the formula of self. "To be afraid of darkness is to be afraid of the soul."

"Its not asking us to be less cocky, but asking us to shed our personality identity."

When we feel an over abundance of something we deem as “negative” it’s simply a warning flag from our internal processing letting us know, that we may need to analyze something and make a shift. 

When we try to “kill off” or “ get rid of” an aspect of ourself, do we really get rid of it?

When we are encouraged to do these things, it not only puts unnecessary stress on an individual, into thinking they need to be bigger or better, but makes you feel like less of a person. 

This sort of pressure is deeply relevent in most mainstream religions like Christianity, which has a strong history of this. 

New age religion is a shiny turd in disguise as another shame based belief system. Lectures on “attracting wealth” based on your “vibration”. Crystals to cleanse and heal you. "Mediums" who claim to talk to to the dead .. The list goes on and on. (With all this mainstream, how are we able to discern what is truth and what is a con? and can we truly know?)  Preying on those who are lost and seeking something bigger than themselves. Yet within this "all loving" community you will still find greed and pride, still find cliques, and you will still be shamed as an individual for who and how you are. 

Now, I am not here to shake your belief system, but to encourage you to use your better judgments in these cases. I implore you to focus upon going within.. and redefine what you feel the ego is and explore these different facets of self, and get to know the things we label as “Good and Bad.” We all have a darkness, a side of us if refined well, we can keep at bay. It's nothing to be ashamed of though, this aspect of self we try so hard to shame and shove away. 

"Now, I am not here to shake your belief system, but to encourage you to use your better judgments in these cases."

There is a psychologist named Carl Jung, and he proposed a theory of "The shadow self." stating that it is the "dark" side of us that we suppress, and deny. But think if we went inward and faced these aspects of ourself that we deem unworthy or unholy even, and instead of fearing them and fearing for "judgment day" we atone with ourselves and work towards moving into a balanced and self loving version. You honestly don't need to think of yourself as a weak unworthy being needed to be redeemed and cleansed by a higher power, but one willing to forgive and will to ask for forgiveness from others where need be. All these "things" we label as bad and good are just things. The lines between them can be rather thin, and its truly up to us to decide what we need to keep on with, or improve upon. Simple as that, perhaps. Yet, the journey is a continuous one. 

 Our journey constantly requires us to be held accountable for our own actions, thoughts and deeds. You can either grow, stay the same or float in between both places. 

You don’t need approval from a spiritual community to be whole or at peace. The key to a powerful spiritual life comes from a good relationship with yourself and acceptance ofwho you are on every level. What you choose is your choice, but i am here to warn you to watch out for predators in disguise as a spiritual community, its up to your own discernment to decide what seems honest or not.

"You don’t need approval from a spiritual community to be whole or at peace. The key to a powerful spiritual life comes from a good relationship with yourself and who you are."

As far as a journey inward goes, here are some questions to begin with.. 

What about you do you wish you were stronger in? 

What do you feel could be improved upon? 

Are you taking time to simply just enjoy your essence? 

Do you enjoy your own company?

 What within your immediate power can you do to ensure this? 

Look at those around you and try to notice those with a confidence of living. 

Those beautiful people that seem to be exuberant and vibrant within their skin. 

What is it about them? What makes them have such a confidence and the ability to come from a place of personal power? 

Perhaps, it comes from a lifetime spent working hard. On the physical, spiritual and emotional front. From my observations and experience, the ones who stick out to me as actually peaceful and centered are the ones who have a great knowledge of self and their emotions. They have been through their worst and have managed to come out on top despite it all.  They have a great outer support system as well, choosing to surround themselves with people who listen, are honest, and authentic.

Sometimes, we will have a loop of something circulating and the moment it is spoken to another we often answer our own question or we can receive some great insight from them. 

"Sometimes, we will have a loop of something circulating and the moment it is spoken to another we often answer our own question or we can receive some great insight from them."

Over the past two years I have been losing, regaining, questioning, hating etc my belief system; and this sort of thing is normal for me every few years. In all the madness of questioning I am always taken back to one place, and that is my heart center and the origin of my belief system. The journey with self . Through my studies, passions and followings i’ve never found one spiritual thought process or following to shine brighter or seem like a one path for all. 

Nor do i think any one should feel pressured or shamed by a “religion” or following.  If this is your choice I ask you to be noble and hold others accountable in walking their talk, as well as yourself. It can be easy to fall into something because we feel lost or broken, but that is the time when we are most vulnerable and can be caught of guard by a wolf in sheeps clothing. Always, always begin within. Process your emotions (or seek help in that area) and go from there. An evaluation of self is the greatest first step in a feeling of connectedness with everything. Any journey, such as a spiritual path is a lifetime walk. So feel okay in whatever you do, and don't feel afraid to questions things that don't seem to click, you are always allowed to do so. 

To change, evolve and grow. 

Always my best, 

EB