Here I am in Thailand, on a Tai Chi retreat, around 20 years ago. At this point, I was about 15 years into my practices, which ultimately led to my first breakthrough meditation experience.
Looking back, I now call this phase of my journey ‘working towards enlightenment.’
Enlightenment and Embodiment: Two Paths, One Journey
Reflecting on my journey, I see that two things are always unfolding at once as we walk this earthly path as souls:
The journey of enlightenment—awakening to who we truly are beyond the body and the mind.
The journey of embodiment—integrating that realization into our human experience.
Many great saints and masters across traditions speak to this alchemical process:
Being in the world (the journey of healing) but not of it (the journey of enlightenment).
The enlightenment journey is the awakening beyond illusion—seeing beyond the body and the subtle mind (psyche) that shape our false self and perception of reality. It’s the recognition of our eternal nature beyond form.
The embodiment journey is the process of meeting and releasing our neuroses so we can feel truly at home in our own skin. It’s about holding more of our true soul nature within the everyday human experience.
Our enlightenment deepens our bond with the transcendent—our eternal nature of light. Our embodiment allows that light to be lived, breathed, and expressed through our human form.
And the truth is, both of these journeys rely on each other.
Lightworkers and the Path of Integration
Lightworkers are often more comfortable outside of the body—sometimes due to early trauma, which led to a sense of not feeling safe in this earthly form.
This is why, when I work with lightworkers and highly sensitive people, a key focus is helping them feel safe, grounded, and fully present in their bodies.
For lightworkers, the first step is anchoring deeply into the light of the soul.
Only then can we bring that soul light—its absolute love and compassion—into our wounds for healing. This process of deep self-acceptance allows for true embodiment, where we begin to live our soul’s purpose more fully.
Through this, we bring more love into our relationships, integrate our shadows through self-compassion, and embody a life that reflects our highest truth.
Walking the Path, Step by Step
Our healing journey is uniquely our own. But in the words of Martin Luther King Jr.,
“You don’t need to see the whole journey, only where to take the next step.”
Wherever you are right now, consider asking yourself:
What healing modality, teacher, or book is calling me?
What is my heart guiding me toward as my next step?
The path unfolds as we walk it, one step at a time.
Commentaires