CYNTHIA KITELEY LEE
Mystic, Visionary, Writer, Poet & Intuitive Consultant here are many kinds of freedom in life, we cherish a variety of expressions and traditions of political, cultural, & individual freedom. Yet, it is inner freedom that enables us to become “evolutionaries” who serve humanity and the planet by stretching our minds, souls, hearts & vision beyond what is considered socially, intellectually & spiritually normal for our culture. If your conscious and/or unconscious anxieties, insecurities, obsessions, compulsions, addictions, and internalized “should” messages run your inner self, you cannot experience inner freedom. Many people see these negative forms of inner talk and often self-sabotaging inner impulses as related to ego, libido, the inner child, lower self, the devil, or cultural and family conditioning. Having something or someone to blame these troubling things on is not going to produce inner freedom, however. It takes time and work to achieve inner freedom; inner work. It is often said that political freedom is not free; the same applies to inner freedom. Achieving inner freedom often involves years of spiritual and personal growth disciplines such as meditation, prayer, yoga, journaling, psychotherapy, spiritual direction,contemplative & artistic activities. Those who delve deeply into the human mind, heart & soul in a consistent and serious manner are usually the ones who achieve inner freedom. Sometimes that means overcoming an addiction to alcohol or drugs with the help of a support group; sometimes it means being able to work with a therapist to move into and through some deep emotional pain &traumas whose effects have been damaging. For mystics, and other spiritually inclined people, inner freedom frequently comes from experiencing deep meditative states that allow them to feel connected to God, Jesus, Angels, Nature or Spirit in such a personal and powerful way that their inner and outer lives are transformed— for the better. A small but significant number of people experience what might be called instant inner freedom after they have a Near Death Experience (NDE) that enables them to expand their consciousness and understanding of God, human life and the purpose of their life. Some of the common things people report after having an NDE are: fearlessness; joy; trust and belief in God; and a desire to serve humanity in a way that makes the world a better place. Inner freedom from conventional ways of thinking, seeing, hearing, & feeling opens doors of perception that allow new information and new kinds of creativity to come forth. These could emerge in painting, music, philosophy, psychology, writing, arch itecture, film, sculpture, dance, or other forms of creative expression. This can make inner freedom threatening to people and institutions that are heavily invested in maintaining the status quo and thinking inside the box. Inner freedom is characterized by inner peace, an empowering, personal relationship with divine energies or beings, joy, self-confidence, creativity, a sense of purpose, and a deep grasp of the nature and highest level management of human consciousness. May your soul find inner freedom and your spirit soar as you too engage in the human journey toward divine consciousness.
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Cynthia Kiteley Lee is the founder of the Mystical Order of the White Rose, an online multifaith community of mystics, monastics, artists, and contemplatives. http://www.mysticalwhiterose. com She has an M.A. in Anthropology from the University of Arkansas, and recently retired from a career in history museum management. She can be contacted at: [email protected]
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