Our inner compass

We find ourselves drowning in a problem or in limbo not knowing which direction to take, which choice to make. We have lost our course. Does this not sound familiar? We attempt to look for help or guidance through spiritual advisers and friends but it may be difficult to find answers. We pray and seek silence or meditate in the quietude and suddenly, something arises within us. We find the presence of an inner compass pointing to True North. This direction takes us deeper into ourselves, connecting to that part of us known as the ground of our being.

This deepening process brings us into silence. Indeed, it is only in silence that we will find this inner compass and after finding it, learn to read it within discernment. We may catch glimpses of it when we hear that "small voice within," or capture that feeling of "knowing" contrary to what everyone else says or believes.

Measured, mechanical time existing in its linearity is the common experience of most. But the inner compass will have none of this. It works best with unstructured time – unbound, natural and cyclical time. This takes its course and direction from inner rhythms, highly personal and subjective ones which have their own season of completion, movements and directions. It is in this state that the compass begins it focusing. Surrounding it, like the ebb and flow of the tides, unknown forces govern.

The potency of the inward dive and acknowledgment of the inner compass brings forth an increasing awareness of our individual purpose. It expands our perceptions and sensitivity, the ability to yield, flow or surrender and the sense of being more available as an instrument of life.

And suddenly we are shown an opening up of our limbo state, for when we use the inner compass, we take a step into re-making ourselves. The compass can change directions, too. A great tip is that something that has worked for a long time (where a comfort zone has been established) suddenly stops working for no apparent reason – and new paths and directions must be pursued. We then begin to create… gathering up all our energies, thoughts and potentialities towards a circle of commitment in our minds. Mental pictures add energetic strength, feeding into this new direction, this decision, strengthening it until it can hold no more and it explodes into that physical manifested creation we sought to build.

The inner compass literally brings in more light, allowing us to be more "enlightened" with the ability to see the direction and not be afraid to move and choose other untried ways.

At the moment in this Planet, there may be a struggle between practical needs and the underlying reasons for having those needs. We are all caught up in what we have been trying to achieve and have lost sight of "why." What is important for me to point out here is that it truly makes a difference in our growth and lives if we begin to work in spiritual way – prayerfully, inwardly, discerning the directions, redefining our purposes and having the inner compasses.

(E-mail the author at jej1@easycall.com.ph)