Working with Mama Cacao this week, I reflected on how I’ve been up close and personal with people lately in a way I haven’t been in at least a decade. This is leading to a core understanding: The greatest gift you can give to others is not only the full expression of your Higher Self, but also a full acknowledgment of your Lower Self.

I’m seeing the blind spots of folks, the horrible behavior that lurks around the corner from a loving heart & a bright mind. The go-to knee-jerk when things get rough & stressful. The unreasonableness, defensiveness, harshness, judgmental tones, victimization energy, passive-aggressive or even sadistic tendencies that can flare at a moment’s notice. Of otherwise pretty well-meaning, basically good, and often kind and generous people.

I’ve observed this with far less judgment (though admittedly not yet total equanimity) than ever before because I realize that I’ve done a heck of a lot of deep excavation in my own life. I pretty much know how ugly I can get, in what ways & why. I am these folks and they are me.

This has led me to return to the knowledge that to truly grasp your Lowest Self, what some call the Shadow, is an act of huge awakening & courage. It releases a cubic ton of karma right there. It also leads to a healing, for the step beyond acknowledging our heinous side is observing it with compassion, understanding what has led to it and how it hooks into our wounds.

It also leads to more effective relating. It’s a step toward unity consciousness. When we’re not defended behind barricades we can meet others in that field of Rumi and see what’s going on in a far more constructive way.

In some of my classes I’ve taken people on journeys to acknowledge their negative side. Not just the “not-niceness,” but I mean the things we’re terrified to admit about ourselves. The things others see even though we think we’re able to hide these aspects.

As with so much in life, we’re often the last to know. And we pretty much all have what I might even go so far to call a demonic side. I haven’t taken a world survey of all people who have ever lived, but I’m pretty sure. Aside maybe from some of the advanced avatars.

You might want to pause for a moment and reflect: What’s the awful way you become when you’re feeling afraid, unloved, ignored, violated, angry, frustrated, or even just plain old annoyed? This is an invitation to really dig.

Good, and now you’re invited to dig even deeper. What’s the deepest fathom of your hellish aspect?

This is a step toward resolving karma NOW instead of having to live yet another lifetime with an occluded view of self. Note: If more gurus did this process on a regular basis we wouldn’t have the crashes & burns we typically see in spiritual groups.

Sometimes we need intermediary steps to be able to “go there.” Like acknowledging the aching inner children who are so wounded within, and the aspects of self we’ve developed to protect those children. Loving the wound is the first step toward acknowledging the inner demonic.

There are many practitioners now who can help us with this work. If you find you’re in repeating themed loops in your life, consider working with someone. It’s not just your light that the world needs. It’s the taking responsibility for your Shadow. Really grasping it, catching it before it wreaks havoc again, corralling it, speaking with it, and loving it.

The enemy, as you know, is not the “big guy” (or gal) out there who is being unreasonable. Folks like that are but reflections of what’s inside each of us. That outer will transform as each of us gets busy with our own garden.

One of the great beings who is here to help us with this process is Mother Mary. The desire to support others in their journey of compassionate self-discovery is one of motivations behind my working with the Blessed Mother’s ministry now. I invite you to consider how a deeper engagement with her might help you on your path. Again, you can take a look at my latest course, now enrolling, The Mother Mary Mystery Teachings HERE. We’re all in this together.