The Internal Guide

Models (Reading)

1.  Who do you so admire that you would like to have been that person?

2.  Let me ask you in a more gentle fashion: Whom do you consider so exemplary that you wish you could find some of that person’s virtues in yourself?

3.  Perhaps there have been moments when in sorrow or confusion you have appealed to the memory of someone who, whether existing or not, came to your aid as a comfort­ing image?

4.  I am speaking of those particular models that we could call internal “guides,” which at times coincide with real people.

5.  Those models, which you have wanted to follow from the time you were very young, have changed only in the most external layers of your daily awareness.

6.  I have seen how children talk and play with their imaginary companions and guides. I have seen people of all ages connect with these guides in prayers offered in sincere devotion.

7.  The more strongly these guides were called, the further away they responded from and the better the signal they sent. Because of this I knew that the most profound guides are the most powerful. But only a great need can awaken them from their millennia of lethargy.

8.  Such a model “possesses” three important attributes: strength, wisdom, and kindness.

9.  If you want to know yourself better, observe the characteristics of the men and women you admire. Notice how the qualities you most value in them are also at work in the configuration of your own internal guides. Consider that even though your initial refer­ences may have disappeared with the passage of time, they have left “traces” within you that continue to motivate you toward the external landscape.

10.                    And if you want to understand how diverse cultures interact with each other, in addi­tion to studying their modes of producing objects, study as well the methods by which they transmit their models.

11.          It is important, then, to direct your attention to the best qualities in others, because you will project into the world those qualities you have managed to configure in yourself.

 

1-               Exercise: Make a list of the people you admired in childhood, youth and at the present time. Define in them the qualities of kindness, wisdom and strength.

2-               Discussion with the other participants

3-               Guided experience (to be read or recorded before the meeting. Leave a pause of about 5 seconds after each asterisk):

 

I find myself in a luminous landscape, a place where I have felt great happiness. (*)

I can see the sun, and it is growing larger. I can look at it without any harm or discomfort. Remarkably, two rays come down from it, one gently reaching my head, the other reaching my heart.

I begin to feel very light, and feel myself being drawn toward the sun. Following the luminous rays, I move upward toward the sun.

I feel the soft and beneficial warmth from the enormous disc of the sun, which becomes a gigantic sphere as I draw nearer.

I enter the sun, and once inside, I breathe in and out, fully and deeply. The light that surrounds me enters my body with the rhythm of each breath, filling me with more energy with each breath I take.

I feel peaceful and radiant. Then, with my truest and best feelings, I ask for my inner guide to appear before me, in whatever way is most suitable. (*)

My guide responds, “I represent your inner Force, your energy, and if you know how to use me, you will receive direction in life, inspiration, and protection. But you must make an effort to see me very clearly, or to feel my presence very strongly.” (*)

I ask my guide to place his or her hands on my forehead, and to leave them there for a few moments.

 I begin to feel that starting from the center of my chest, a transparent sphere is growing and expanding outward, and that it continues until it contains both of us. (*)

I ask my guide for a profound feeling of love for everything that exists to be reborn within me, and to accompany me in life, giving me joy and peace. (*)

I ask to have meaning in life, and wait for my guide’s response. (*)

I ask what death really is, and wait for my guide’s answer. (*)

I ask about the value of my life, and wait for my guide’s answer. (*)

In a reflective way, I ask about some special situation in my life, and wait for my guide’s answer. (*)

I ask my guide always to be with me in moments of doubt and worry, and also in moments of joy.

Now my guide moves away from me, and transforms into a large flower whose open petals contrast with the luminous disc of the sun. Then the flower continues to change in shape and colors, as though it were a harmonious kaleidoscope. And I realize that my guide will answer all my requests.

Now I begin to move away from the brilliant sun, filled with life and strength.

I descend, following the two luminous rays back down to the beautiful landscape, recognizing that within me there is a great kindness that seeks to express itself in the world of my people. (*)