Reclaiming the Inner Authority A proce ss develo ped by C onnirae Andreas
Many experiences of difficulty or “suffering” presuppose an authority—however we usually aren’t aware of it. Shame and embarrassment are examples of this. We notice our unpleasant feeling, yet the feeling would not possible without an internalized “authority” or “standard setter.” We are acting o ut of a rule system, or think we have violated a rule system, and end up in conflict or feeling more rigidity in our o ur actions and unpleasantness in our feelings, than we would like. The Wholeness Process offers a direct and simple way to notice, and then include the life energy in our unconscious uncon scious rule structures. This heals the inner division that happened through the internalizing of a rule structure, and can result in a natural sense of “authorship” of our lives. Subtle needs for approval, etc., can fall away, and our actions come from “the whole” instead of from attempting to follow rule sets or to please others. From Authority to Authorship Begin with an experience that involves authority: Shame, embarrassment, guilt, need to defend or prove something, feeling “weak in your position,” etc. This can be a present experience or something from the past. (A strongly internally-referenced person might find it easier to work with an experience of certainty, or of judgmentalness towards others: “When I knew I was right, and others were wrong.”) 1. Step into the experience. Notice the feeling [of shame, embarrassment, guilt, etc.]. Where is it located (including size and shape)? shap e)? What is the sensation quality? 2. Finding the inner authority—the missing role. Sensing into the feeling [from step 1], from there check, “Where is the one this sensation is trying to please or satisfy? The authority for this? The one who sets the standards? The rule-maker?” (I’m not asking you to name a person. I’m asking for a location in space in or around you. It may or may not be related to a particular person.) Another way to ask the question is, “Where is “Where is this feeling/experience [from step 1] orienting toward?” “What location is location is this experience checking with?” Just sense into the space all around and notice the location this feeling/experience is orienting toward. We will call this the “Authority.” Notice the location, size, shape, and especially the sensation quality of the “Authority.” 3. Find the “chain of authority.” Feel into the sensation quality of this authority [in X location], to notice, “Is this the “final authority”, or is there something else this location is checking with, or orienting towards?” Ask of this authority, “Is there something else you are trying to satisfy or please, or acting in the service of?” If so, find the location and sensation quality of this. Continue asking until you get to the “final authority.” (This is usually within 1-3 layers.) You’ve reached the “final authority” if there is no other location this authority is checking, or referring to, trying to please, or acting in the service of. ©2013 Connirae Andreas
handout for the Coming to Wholeness 2-day video training http://TheWholenessProcess.com
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4. Find the ‘I’. Where is all of this being perceived from? Notice the location (including size and shape), and the sensation quality. 5. Invite the ‘I’ to integrate as Awareness: Check if the sensation of this ‘I’ welcomes the invitation to open and relax as Awareness. 6. Inviting the Final Authority to integrate.* Check with the final authority, What does it welcome integrating with? It may want to dissolve into all of Awareness. Or it may want to merge with the authority just before it (if there are more than one authorities). Or does it want to merge with “you as Awareness”? You can invite and allow it to integrate, dissolve, merge in whatever way wants to happen. If it wants to integrate directly with you, it may want you as Awareness to lean into it, or it may prefer to come to you, or some of each.
Notice Experience: What happened? *My experience so far is that the final authority is always willing to integrate with something. If it doesn’t want to integrate, check for another authority. 7. Invite each authority to integrate. (Beginning with the one just prior to the final authority). a. First notice, Is this [name sensation and location] ex actly the same as before, or is it a little bit different? [either is fine] b. Check with [name sensation and location]. What does it want to integrate with? (This might be Awareness, or the previous authority, or with you as Awareness.) 8. Invite integration of Awareness and the original feeling. Check the sensation of the original feeling. Is it the same or a bit different? Whatever is there now, invite it to open and relax as all of Awareness. And/or invite all of Awareness to flow in and as the sensation here now. Testing: Does this feel complete? If “Yes”, Future-Pace: Take a moment to experience what it’s like being this way (integrated), in the situation you began with…. (Assuming this continues to feel more resourceful, you can explore one or two additional situations.)
If “No,” check for “What else is there?” You can check for another “I”, a Reaction, or another missing role. For example, there may be the sense of an “audience,” that is different from the authority, that can be usefully integrated in the same way.
©2013 Connirae Andreas
handout for the Coming to Wholeness 2-day video training http://TheWholenessProcess.com
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