Smoke and mirrors belong to Halloween (and politics), but all of us live in an illusion that we claim to be “normal.”
A few years back I went to a huge Halloween event. It had a horror house that was so creepy I wowed never to enter one again (unless it’s a kids’ version.)
The horror house was filled with goblins and creepy crawlies, and one room was stacked with floor to ceiling mirrors and a white fog. I kept bumping into mirrors and could not find my way out.
I found myself almost panicking as I turned around and came face to face with a 7 foot monster, probably some highschool kid making a few extra bucks.
It did a number to my head though, and I could not see my way out until a friend grabbed my hand and pulled me through the fog to another room.
I think it’s a good example of how our mind can play tricks on us.
The whole world is made of “tricks” that we judge as normal.
Do you really know anyone? Truly. Â Do you know their fears and deep-seated beliefs or do you only know their persona(s)? Â We don’t, and then we get baffled when someone acts out of character.
Somehow we have all bought into the illusion that we are meant to work 9-5 at some crappy job or whatever your illusion.
We feel sorry for the homeless, but what if some decided not to buy into the illusion of 9-5 and stepped into the persona of a hobo.
Who are we really?
That can be a lifelong exploration.
You can only live as much authenticity as you are authentic to yourself.
We inflict the smoke and mirrors on ourselves as we stubbornly hold onto our beliefs and misconceptions.
“I’m right and the other person is wrong.” What a narrow way to live.
The point of this post is that authenticity is something that happens incrementally as we get more clear on our connection to the Greater energy of our being.
I feel a great love in my heart. It’s not for people or animals or trees. It is the essence of me, the power that keeps me alive.
When I feel that the strongest all my games and ideas and ploys fall away and I am only energy, a GREAT energy.
When I’m aligned to that, I can sense what my next step is as far as moving forward in my 3D life.
That can change daily. In other words, there is no way to “lock down” that power, only a way to follow its lead.
At some point you stop identifying with the personas, the smoke lifts, the mirrors break, and you can see clearly through the illusion of everything. Until you fall into it again and start acting out of fear.
That’s why I say that authenticity is incremental in 3D life. There is a constant, pure, authenticity within, but until that is the only thing that leads us, we fall into the fog and stumble against mirrors.
Though, there is one consolation. The authenticity of the heart is always there. Â I plug into it every morning and aim to see what my next step is, and how to deepen my connection with my heart.
I express it in my art practice, which is always in flux. It’s too great to control, and that should be a consolation and a big sigh of relief, but I always try to impose my will on it.
That can be the most frustrating and confrontational thing ever.
Your heart and soul will always stretch you through what calls you, and if you’re up for it, it can be a wild ride. Not for the faint-hearted, but wouldn’t you rather live a life based on as much authenticity you can surrender to NOW, or live a meaningless life based on other people’s expectations?
Your choice. Your energy (or lack of it.)
Go within, find your true North Star and trust it.
Here is another blog post where I talk about fear of living the life you want.
P.S. I have some new cool art journals for sale in my etsy shop. They are primed for the enthusiastic art journalers to embellish. 🙂 EARTHANDFAERY