Question: What exactly is a paradigm shift?
Mariangela’s Answer: Paradigm shifts are characterized by leaps in understanding and expansions in consciousness, whereby profound evolutionary changes take place. My use of the term “paradigm” is synonymous with an established way of being according to traditional standards, patterns or precedents that one follows. Paradigm shifts have occurred in civilizations like Pangaea, Lemuria, Atlantis, Sumeria, Egypt, the Indus Valley, Peru, Chaco Canyon, etc.
Question: What is this paradigm shift about in your opinion and can you suggest how we can participate?
Mariangela’s Answer: At the heart of this paradigm shift is spiritual adulthood and freedom, and the completion of this shift is dependent upon our graduation from spiritual adolescence to spiritual adulthood. The most important way to participate in this paradigm shift is by becoming spiritual adults.
In my experience, there are four passkeys to crossing the spiritual adulthood threshold. For the sake of today’s exploration, we’ll examine three of the four. The first and most important is personal authenticity. Authenticity is the highest spiritual principle and the cornerstone of our humanity. Being authentically who we are at any given moment restores us to wholeness and re-establishes our sovereignty.
The second passkey is self-examination, and self-examination is the main ingredient of enlightenment. Regardless of the many definitions of enlightenment floating around that contain instructions for attaining this state – including remaining present in the moment, striving for humility, radiating unconditional love and serenity and/or aligning only with experiences and expressions of “positive” emotions – enlightenment is the process of bringing the light of awareness to darkness and illumination to denial. Carl Jung describes this process quite superbly: “Enlightenment doesn’t occur from sitting around visualizing images of light, but from integrating the darker aspects of the self into the conscious personality.”
The third passkey involves separating belief from truth. All paradigm shifts challenge us to awaken to the fact that there is a difference between belief and truth and to overthrow previous assumptions that don’t contribute to evolution. All paradigm shifts are evidence that assumptions can be overthrown. In fact, history verifies that what once seemed impossible not only found its way into the mainstream, but also acquired impeccable credentials. Therefore, it is essential that we examine the truths that we’ve been holding to ascertain to what degree these truths are now holding us.
Also, it’s interesting to note that there is a profound connection between authenticity and our ability to recognize truth. In order to access and embrace the larger truths of life, we must be willing to acknowledge the truth about our everyday lives, including the state of our spiritual evolution. When we acknowledge the truth of our current emotional, psycho-spiritual state, then we can move forward into expansive receptivity.
Having encountered and embraced our authentic selves, undergone self-examination and separated restrictive beliefs from the living truth, we are ready to radiate our spiritual significance. I urge all of us to accept that any resistance to radiating our spiritual significance is not because we are seeking to steer clear of our fear-driven ego agenda, but rather because we are feeling challenged by the awesome prospect of our co-creative power and responsibility.
It’s important to recognize how and when we become anxious and rigid in the face of change and, therefore, tend to hold onto familiar beliefs. Familiar beliefs reinforce the repetition of patterns, and this paradigm shift assures us that we cannot afford to remain stuck in repetitious patterns. Indeed, there is little place in this paradigm shift for chains. Let’s allow any chains that have bound us to dissolve.
None of us need to dream of self-governing spiritual freedom. We have the unique opportunity to participate in its emergence.
