Identity and Consciousness

           Ego falling away from the center of consciousness allows for ego, consciousness, and Reality (Spirit) to be seen correctly and in their correct orientation to each other.

Before this consciousness shifted from ego to Spirit, I said, and taught, “I am mistakenly identified with ego.” This was incorrect. There was no “I” apart from ego to be mistakenly identified with it. Ego is a false identity in itself, not the false identity of something else. Consciousness is a neutral space that registers the presence of ego or Spirit but does not identify with them. When ego held center in consciousness, its “I, I, I”, “me, me, me” was only itself.

Ego did make it seem consciousness was an identity by projecting its identification on an appearance in consciousness, a person (body/personality). Ego lived in and as and through the person. It made it seem consciousness was an alternate reality to God. It distorted consciousness into something it was not.

Although consciousness registers the presence of ego or Spirit as experiences, when consciousness held ego, what complained about the experience of ego was ego. It was ego that fostered the experience of lack, it was ego that made consciousness feel uncomfortable and never satisfied, it was ego that wanted consciousness to feel good all the time, it was ego that sought and never found lasting happiness and peace. This was the false reality ego made of consciousness.

There is another experience of identity in consciousness but, just as with ego, it is not consciousness’s own identification. When ego held the center of consciousness, it projected away identity onto an appearance, the person, in consciousness, making consciousness seem real. But Spirit does not project, It extends, and What It extends is Its Self. So, when Spirit holds the center of consciousness, It overlooks appearances (consciousness) and sees Its Self.

So, when ego holds the center of consciousness, identity is “I (ego) am that appearance (person), and it is real.” When Spirit holds the center of consciousness, identity is, “I am all that is here, despite appearances.”

Without ego, consciousness defaults to Spirit because Spirit is everywhere, much like if you pour out the contents of a bucket it seems empty, but it is really filled with air. Spirit allows consciousness to be what it is, not an identity or reality, but a “receptive mechanism”, as it is described in A Course in Miracles.

Spirit does not live in or as or through the person, as ego did. As an expression in consciousness, the person continues to play a role in the Atonement, the unfolding story of time and consciousness. Sometimes, the person is a “communication device”, as the Course calls it, an instrument of Spirit manifesting the Atonement, correcting the false idea that consciousness is real.  

When consciousness registers the Presence of Spirit, it feels at ease and well cared for. It feels at peace. 

>>>> 

If you have a question the answer to which you feel may be helpful to others, send it to Liz@acimmentor.com and indicate that you want it answered in this newsletter/blog.

Comments

Stephanie said…
This is a beautiful explanation of the Spirit/ego operating processes in consciousness. Thank you for sharing this brilliant insight.
7:16 AM
ACIM Mentor said…
You are welcome, Stephanie :-)
8:07 AM
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