I've been meditating on today's topic throughout this week,and it may be – to some – a bit controversial. I'm continuing my posts on the power of ONEness and Self (please read the proceeding post if you need a definition with respect to that). Today, I'm focusing on “Gnothi Seauton”… This is the maxim of the Temple of Apollo, found inscribed in the forecourt and is one of the primary Delphic maxims. In English, its beautiful and deceptively uncomplicated idea translates simply into, “Know Thyself”.
“My mother said I broke her heart…but it was my integrity that was important. Is that so selfish? It sells for so little, but it's all we have left in this place. It is the very last inch of us…but within that inch we are free.”
“I shall die here. Every last inch of me shall perish. Except one. An inch. It's small and it's fragile and it's the only thing in the world worth having. we must never lose it, or sell it, or give it away. We must never let them take it from us.” ~ Quotes from “V for Vendetta” (written by character 'Valerie Page' who was arrested for being a lesbian and died in prison)…
Rarely have I ever found so eloquent an expression of ONEness and Self, so beautifully uttered – but that is not the key. The key is that fact that the character, Valerie Page, has had everything taken from her… except her very Self.
When you meet someone new, what is one of the first questions you ask? “And who might you be?” Or perhaps, “I'm {your name}… And what is your name?”
“WHO ARE YOU?”
Goddess spoke, and She said: “Give me not your name, for that is your designation – be it by gift or by your own choosing”…
What generally comes up next after introductions? “Ah! And what do you do for a living?” Or perhaps, “And where do you work?”, for all too often, we define ourselves by the nature of our work.
Goddess spoke a second time, saying,”WHO ARE YOU?? Doctor, secretary, veterinarian, barista… Give me not these, for they are merely your occupation.
“WHO ARE YOU?? Daughter of O'Malley, mother of two… These I do not seek, for they are your history and lineage. Poet, musician, writer, artist, cook, worker of fibers… These, too, are not that which I seek, for they are merely your heart's joys, your outlets for release, your hobbies and pleasures… WHO ARE YOU??”
Yes, this was an actual encounter I had with Goddess as I lay dying. It made me realize I only knew myself according to the constructs of human nature and society. It made me realize I was lacking integrity. No, I was not dishonest. Yes, I had a tremendous sense of honour, as befitting one working in the public safety field. I absolutely raised my children to honour their Ancestors, the Gods and Goddesses, their Elders, and to be strong, truthful, hard-working, empathetic individuals – but that's not true integrity… For, by definition, integrity is not just adherence to a set of moral or ethical ideals… it is more than just that. Integrity asks if you have fully INTEGRATED… INTEGRATED means ONE.
Indeed, at this point in my experience, I was living splintered. I was a paramedic at work. I was a mom of two blossoming beings at home and while out and about. I was a cook for my family, for my peers… But heretofore, I had not reached deeper than these to the point of finding that which was the “Sun” to all of these orbiting roles, or “planets” within me. Have you??
Goddess spoke again, saying, “What is the very fabric of your soul? … Go deeper. Feel out the threads of warp and weft, then go deeper again. Look beyond the colouring and dyes of emotion, of choices made, of experience had, of opportunity missed… Look there, and you will see the Spark that feeds the Holy Flame of your SELF… Indeed, it is your DIVINITY…”
Herein lies the Challenge… A Challenge I extend to any who read this… If you lost your ability to work, Who would you be? If they [“they” being anyone and nobody in particular] took away your name and gave you just a number, Who would you be? Suppose that same “they” took your children away and executed them… Who would you be then? Your home, your animal companions, your clothing, your friends, family, neighbors – ALL GONE… Even your very blanket to cover up with at night… Would you still be You? Would you be YOU, but in existential crisis?
(Definition of “Existential Crisis”: An existential crisis is a moment at which an individual questions the very foundations of his or her life: whether his or her life has any meaning, purpose or value, as defined by Richard K. James in “Crisis Intervention Strategies”).
Read again the words of the character, Valerie Page, from “V for Vendetta”… “but it was my integrity that was important… {snip}…It is the very last inch of us…but within that inch we are free.”
“I shall die here. Every last inch of me shall perish. Except one. An inch. It's small and it's fragile and it's the only thing in the world worth having. We must never lose it, or sell it, or give it away. We must never let them take it from us.”
The Spark that feeds the Holy Flame of your SELF… Breath. Life in every breath. Knowing your Self, regardless of external circumstances. Knowing your Connection with the Great Divine. Those three touch-points create the equilateral triangle that upholds our Balance – Within (“I know my Self”)… Without (“I know my relationship with the Great Divine”)… and the pinnacle of life (“Breath”). These three sacred touchstones are the incenter of this sacred triune, and become the radius of the great Circle of Life. These three create the Perfection of Oneness.
I challenge you to create some space and solitude for yourself, in order that you may find your Self. It is small and it is fragile and it is the only thing in the world worth having. Go deeper than your name, your job, your loves, your circle of friends and family… Go to the place where everything is stripped away and find that glowing ember within. Once you have sheltered it, held it tenderly, felt the Heartbeat of Earth-Who-Is-Your-Mother within it… Then recognize what a treasure It is to share with others – what a treasure YOU are!
My mother had many wise and pithy sayings, but two of my favorite were these:
“If you want to find the Meaning of Life, stop chasing so many things and connect with your Self.” This generally was followed up with, “Know your Self and make good friends with You. When you have made good friends with your Self, your situation will be more friendly – or more bearable, too.”
You are precious, you matter. The Truth of Who you are – in truth – cannot be spoken, but only expressed and experienced. This is the True nature of one's Self. Why it is that we often cannot discover that unless we hit “rock bottom” is a mystery of human proportions. Find it within before it comes to that. You are worth the time and effort.
When you have completed this process of Discovery and you return to the everyday pulse of the Sacred Mundane world, ask Goddess to open your eyes to see that tiny, blessed wee spark within those around you. She will honour that request… And by it, you will realize We Are All Connected… The same drumbeat within my body thrums within yours…
Remind yourself regularly to check in on your Self. Gnothi Seauton… And know the Perfection of Unity within… Know your integrity extends beyond belief, beyond time, beyond matter, beyond everything that could possibly be taken from you… Yes… Gnothi Seauton.
Namasté.
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