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“How else to actually be alive, and feel alive, without having a sense of Presence? Without having a sense of this, now, here — and allowing that to evolve?” — Roberta Boyce, creator of Essential Sacred Self, speaking in the second episode of the Enter the Way of Wisdom podcast.
Resonant World #109
I first encountered the concept of “presence” more than a decade ago when
turned me on to The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle (still a treasured favourite) to help me navigate a personal crisis.Seventy-five pages in, the unnamed seeker asks Tolle the million dollar question: “What is the power of Now?”
Tolle replies: “None other than the power of your presence, your consciousness, liberated from thought forms.”
Tolle continues:
“So deal with the past on the level of the present. The more attention you give to the past, the more you energize it, and the more likely you are to make a “self” out of it. Don’t misunderstand: Attention is essential, but not to the past as past. Give attention to the present; give attention to your behaviour, to your reactions, moods, thoughts, emotions, fears, and desires as they occur in the present. There’s the past in you. If you can be present enough to watch all those things, not critically or analytically but nonjudgmentally, then you are dealing with the past and dissolving it through the power of your presence. You cannot find yourself by going into the past. You find yourself by coming into the present.”
This idea of “presence” was a revelation to me. The simple act of staying present to our pain could start to dissolve it? It sounded too be good to be true!
Years later, and I’m still deepening my appreciation of the truth that Tolle’s words sought to convey — no more so than in relationship, when presence (let’s call it Presence, to acknowledge the magnitude of the concept) can be so challenging to maintain. (Resonant World #84: Progress on the Path).
In this second episode of the four-part Enter the Way of Wisdom podcast series, Roberta Boyce, Dallas Gudgell and I came together to explore our shared understanding of Presence. (You can find the first episode, and more about Dallas and Roberta, at Resonant World #107: Way of Wisdom Dialogues Part One-the “Self”)
As our inquiry deepened, I felt a palpable quality of Presence building between us, and I hope this recording will serve as mini “island of coherence” for anyone interested in exploring themes including:
Presence as the foundation for genuine relationship
How Presence helps us avoid relating in automatic, transactional ways
The challenge of carrying Presence established in a ceremonial or ritualistic space to the outside world
I can only meet my “authentic future” from a place of Presence
The seat of Presence is in the heart
Staying anchored when faced with hostile behaviour
Role of body and breath in accessing Presence
Using Presence to transmute anger, and access buried shame and grief
The ‘relational Tai chi’ of flipping a trigger into Presence2
Power of establishing Presence in groups
I hope you enjoy our latest dialogue; I’ll share the third of our four episodes next week.
Meet Roberta and Dallas
Roberta offers one-to-one sessions and group work via her Essential Sacred Self systems to activate deep and lasting transformation via her gifts as a channel and crystal practitioner. Her work centres on dissolving limiting patterns and creating structures of self-support in which to thrive.
Dallas offers services including life coaching, energy healing, individual and organization consulting and professional development consulting, and cultural competency training.
Free Bespoke Guided Meditations
Since offering to create up to five free tailor-made guided meditations for readers, I’ve met three requests — and had some warm feedback. Let me know if you’d like me to send you a five-to-10 minute recording to support you in your integration work, or to embody a particular quality more fully. I love making these kinds of recordings for myself, and I’m curious if they have the intended effect on other listeners. (Resonant World #105: Bespoke Supportive Audio).
Note from the Editor: It’s a huge boost when people become paid subscribers, and support of any amount affirms that my mission to support the global community of practitioners engaged in integrating individual, inter-generational and collective trauma has value. Thank you!
I served as a co-host on two previous editions of this gathering (previously known as the Collective Trauma Summit) and believe it provides enormous value. I receive a share of any conference packages purchased using the links on this page.
The 'Relational Tai chi' of Flipping Triggers into Presence