Dear People Whom God Loves,
Now, how does meditation fit in all of this? When we meditate, we just let ourselves be aware of any thoughts, feelings, emotions, or impulses. We don’t judge them. We just let ourselves be aware of them. They are just there.
Now, what is wrong with that? Nothing. What is crucial is whether I have owned my anger or have disowned my anger. In other words, do I recognize that I am angry or is the anger outside of me?
If I have owned my anger, meditation will help me grow in the process of integrating my anger in a healthy, productive way. If I have disowned my anger, when I meditate the anger is seen as outside of me. I am aware, but I am aware of anger that is outside of me. No matter how much I am meditating and am aware, my anger doesn’t get integrated. Anger is still in my shadow. Only when I acknowledge I am angry can the healing begin.
Meditation may help in other lines of spiritual growth, but it won’t help what is in my shadow. The problem is that we don’t recognize what is in our shadow. That is why it is valuable to look at persons or situations that deeply upset us, make us angry, repulse us, cause us to hate. When we notice these strong reactions inside of ourselves, it usually points to something in our shadow. I find it helpful to notice prominent people in politics or religion that I can’t stand, people who drive me up a wall. They teach me a lot about myself. What is instructive is not whether they are right or wrong or whether I agree or disagree with them. What is instructive is my reaction to them. That is hard for me to look at.
More next time.
Smile, God Loves You,
Father Clay
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