Expanding Your Understanding of Yourself as well as the Tao

To understand the Tao, and yourself, it is necessary to allow the Tao to be experienced in all aspects. These aspects are not only those of allowing things to happen to you but also acting upon your own feelings and desires as well. Some believe that it has to be either or. Either you direct or the Tao directs. The reality is that both are necessary - you as well as the Tao. This produces balance.

Now, when your desires are not strong, then could one assume that it is a period of quiescence? A period where the Tao is directing experiences and that when the vision or desire is rekindled, the process is completed and it is now time for your direction. So, do you feel a strong sense of direction? You generally have an idea of an eventual goal though, so now is the time for discovery, to sense what happens. To sense the Tao in your life.

How do you do this?  Well, there is discovery meditations. There are dreams. There are flashes of inspiration. For example your dreams, are they many and varied?  If yes, are they overly powerful?  If not, this is a clue that your Higher Self, your Subconscious self, and your Energetic self are seeking and searching but have not yet discovered the proper path.  When a dream comes or a meditation comes that is powerful then one can sense the direction and desires.

What does this mean?  That varies from individual to individual. The greater the level of insight or wisdom or working with subtle energies (spiritual energy skills and gifts) the individual has just achieved or completed will have a bearing upon the length of that consolidation period, but also the degree of difficulty of the next level. 

This will  be a factor for their Higher Self to sense and determine what next steps and wishes the person is to have. This is because the Higher Self wants to be sure that she/he has the necessary capabilities to understand and comprehend and that she/he has the necessary depth and breadth to take best advantage of the possibilities.

Another word of advice. During these times of consolidation, it may well be worth your while to examine past experiences and learnings for deeper meaning and knowledge; for example, you have experienced the sensing gifts; truth, future, personality. It would be wise to continue to seek experiences where these may be exercised and in this manner broaden your base of experience and therefore helping your Higher Self in her/his understanding as well. 

Focus on those aspects that you have learned and seek the broader and deeper understanding. Your desires will lead you to newer avenues of learning and experience. The concept is that experience and knowledge produces wisdom.

Whether you realize it or not, you are manufacturing wisdom, not only for your Higher Self but your mental self as well. Deep within you, you are busily humming away, sorting things out, classifying experiences. You are expanding your awareness, insight, and consciousness. 

Now a word of caution and advice.  If your spiritual growth has been they will need more periods of consolidation in order to absorb, comprehend, and understand what they have just experienced or learned. The period of acquiescence and consolidation will be somewhat deeper and more prolonged than normal.