| The Path of Illumination By Michelle L. Casto, M.Ed. | | | | positive, conscious intent, but also of negative, |
| Whole Life Coach, Speaker, and Author | | | | destructive intent that may lie in consciousness. The |
| Change is a mythological journey, where we hear the | | | | spiritual person understands that they must be aware |
| call; go with uncertainty into unknown dangers, until | | | | of unconscious attitudes that prevent positive |
| we finally find our way home. You can become what | | | | manifesting. They know that in order to create a |
| your spirit intended you to be---whole, perfect and | | | | beautiful, fulfilling life the fears that lie in the |
| free. To free yourself, you must step into the light, | | | | unconscious must be brought to the surface, looked |
| be brave and take action. Although you may feel | | | | at in the light of reason, worked through and |
| safe in the dark because it is what is familiar to you, | | | | dissolved. The more this process is done the more |
| the safety is within the light. Where there is light, | | | | conscious intent and unconscious intent come to |
| there is growth. Once you have stepped on the path | | | | unity. Once unity is achieved it is possible to manifest |
| of transformation, you are well on your way to a | | | | exactly what one wants. Just as the caterpillar |
| new experience. You can no longer deny the growth | | | | struggles to break out of its comfortable cocoon, |
| that is taking place within you. If you do, you will | | | | stretching itself---getting blood to its wings and |
| extinguish the growth. You must honor the growth. | | | | body---enabling it to transform itself, you have to |
| It is like a growing tree, if you cut the trunk, it will | | | | experience some struggle and strain in order to grow. |
| die. If you deny your own growth, you will kill the | | | | Having gone through the various stages of growth |
| light within you—the golden light of love, peace, | | | | and transformation, you now have a fuller |
| and knowingness. You must stay on the path of | | | | understanding of yourself and Spirit. You have shifted |
| illumination. You are where you are on the spiritual | | | | from what you are you going to do to who you are |
| path because of many things you have experienced | | | | going to be. You have a new perspective (a mental |
| and learned. You have knowledge. But that is not | | | | view of aspects of a subject to each other as a |
| enough, you must apply that knowledge by taking | | | | whole) and a wider view of how the universe works. |
| action and making smart decisions. You cannot stand | | | | You have hope, the feeling of being deeply assured |
| still. You must keep walking on the path, progressing | | | | that what you desire is actively coming into |
| forward. The soul is a manifestation of God’s | | | | existence. Your path is brightly lit from your shining |
| power. Your soul (like all souls) is infinite, with no | | | | inner light. Nancy Passmore once said, Awareness |
| beginning and no end. Each soul is an important part | | | | means participating in your own evolution. When you |
| of the universal plan for humanity’s growth and | | | | are aware, you can easily see the many sides of life. |
| evolution. We all have the responsibility to illuminate | | | | You have the capacity to be multifaceted. Just as a |
| and enlighten ourselves. Illumination is the higher state | | | | crystal reflects the many colors when the light shines |
| of consciousness. Higher consciousness is the | | | | on it, so too do we shine when light is put on those |
| constant, ever-changing awareness of our | | | | parts of ourselves that are hidden. |
| psychological truth. It is an awareness not only of | | | | |