The Challenges of Incorporating New Individuals into Our Groups

Being able to respond is the result of Creative Alignment, both in us and with others. Every time we integrate a person into our group, it increases our response potential. It is also a burden until that person can synchronize themselves with the group. As our network grows in response to solutions we invoke, our capacity to be an example of what is possible encourages others to question their assumptions about human development. We discover that enlightenment is a process of empowering and manifesting these potentials. In addition to these general skills, even more amazing creative gifts will emerge from the integration of our Mental Body, Secondary and Primary Creative Expressions.

Implementation Alignment is about recognizing which people are best for what job. As every vision requires a large number of participants, this process can be daunting. We suggest using the Primary and Secondary Creative Expressions, along with Pacing, Communication Process and Decision-Making Approach as the main elements for determining who would be best at something, but also using it to smooth interactions between contributors. If a contributor or group is not as conscious, it is important to use WorldView and Defense Styles as part of the selection process. Finally, it is everyone’s response to the vision and their ability to hold this vision in a unified manner that determines if someone or a group gets included in the process. The more the implementation is consciously engaged, looking at Intent, Content and Context, the more powerful its manifestation will be.

Level 7 is where we bring together our Intent for the purpose of interacting with Universal Intent. At this level of embodiment, we feel we are in alignment with the Universe. Every action can be experienced either as pushing or resisting Creative Flow. This gives us immediate feedback about what is in alignment with the Universe versus what is too quick or too soon. We learn to live in harmony with our surroundings by being conscious of all the competing opportunities for creative expression. It becomes more about choosing the things we are best prepared to contribute, rather than trying to learn how to contribute. Individuals operating at this Level transmit fully energetic experiences to others using the CNG. These experiences can be expressions of Intent, Content or Context, and each person will have their own mixture of the three. Of course, their ability to be present to this could possibility limit how fully they can receive it. The denial of our Life, Light and Love energies becomes an obstacle to responding to these possibilities.

Creative Beings are great at manifesting. In today’s world of instant results it means we need to be integrated in a network and able to respond on demand.  This takes greater planning, insight and the ability to re-purpose resources on the fly. We need to step out of an explanation of the process to ‘be’ the process. We need to prepare people to know what is available and offer them a way to request support with less reticence or effort. Most important, when requested to act, we want to be able to deliver whenever and wherever our friends, partners and clients desire. Any interactions need to be simple, clear and spacious. On the other hand, the ability of others to show up is often the determinant of whether or not we can count on someone.

We are searching for are partners who have the consciousness to respond to us.  We often find that it is difficult to meet conscious partners, especially the more conscious we are. We finally realize that it is really a matter of capacity.  The more that individuals can act with full Intent, possess a deeper understanding of the Content of whatever is being discussed, and have an expanded Context, the more enjoyable and uplifting the conversation (and interaction) will be. It is best to have individuals who are present to all the Modalities and can express themselves on each level. This level of integration means they will work to resolve an issue rather than letting it build up due to ignoring a problem.

Synthesis is the theme of Level 7. Knowing that our experience is greatly enhanced by having others around empowers Passion and perspectives allowing us to relax. The CNG is now fully operational and it becomes a major resource in connecting with Universal Life, Light and Love expressions. We can confidently respond to any situation that the Universe brings to us. In particular, we now know how to focus on our Self so our interpretation of events will naturally override any distortions, panic or fears that others bring to us. We learn how to minimize crisis because we are capable of responding in a way that give us freedom and choice. We can also see the difference in how others deal with their experiences. By not identifying with our Personality Fears and Desires we have many avenues for finding the best way to express ourselves that do not over stimulate or contribute to the confusion of others. Sometimes our innate calmness and peaceful equanimity can bring people out of their own turbulence. While others may lose their perspectives, we can see beyond reactions and distortions to understand what is going on without taking on the misperceptions of others. This allows us, in a clear voice, to still the waters or guide others to see a larger Truth. Other times, there will be no one there to listen. The benefit is that one more person will bring greater consciousness and therefore a stabilizing quality to the planet if they choose to make this contribution. This, in itself, is enough. Let us go forth and bring the full experience of our Authentic Life Expression to others. They may not know it, but they have been waiting for this for a long time.

A CNG with great Pregnant Duration allows solutions to emerge that are surprisingly productive at any time. Things can come together because there is a general alignment and a Transpersonal Desire for the solution. This greatly amplifies the result. It reveals when situations have become crystallized and Inertia has set in because, in this situation, the new impulse breaks down previous barriers or shatters previous solutions to show a new path. This is the regenerative effect of higher Intent transcending the previous level of Intent. It commonly happens when a new solution breaks down and makes previous ways of doing things obsolete. These transitional structures are becoming more frequent as the Aquarian Age emerges. This reflects how we come into universal alignment when our Intent, Content and Context are aligned individually and as a group. The more we experience alignment, the more the results speak for themselves.

Effort is not important, but Striving is. Effort to prove ourselves becomes a major obstacle because we are inserting Personality elements into a Transpersonal process. Some would say that when our egos get in the way and our need for credit takes hold, we quickly lose our way and cannot be a conduit for universal will. Striving to improve the process is always welcome. The fundamental contribution of Inventors is to impose self-discipline and to motivate themselves through Striving to produce transformational change. Visionaries also have a strong connection to Striving because they feel the urgency of doing the most that can be done at any time so that they see growth in the world. Other Creative Expressions also have their version of Striving. At its core, Striving is about finding our path or destiny where our commitment to the highest can be actualized.

One of the obstacles of coming into alignment with an individual or group is the Motives from which they operate. If their Motives are self-centered or selfish, we need to be able to create a reason for them to participate. If their Motives are Idealized, we need to make sure they are truly committed and not just enamored with the idea of their success. Finally, with the Intuitive Motives of Universal Dominion, Mutual Accomplishment and Conscious Participation, we have opportunities to Co-Create solutions. Every participant needs to have at least one of these three Motives in abundance to contribute, or they will become an obstacle or distraction to the goals of the group. Universal Dominion is a spaciousness that allows resources and people to come together. Mutual Accomplishment is an ability to synchronize and order resources in a way that produces the best result. Conscious Participation is the ability to look at how to bring people together and coordinate activities so no part of the process becomes overtaxed or stressed.

Spacious Presence is the quality of creating as much room as needed to experience anything in its wholeness. Our Context expands when we choose to be present with others. Spacious Presence is where we create our own Safety, Security and sense of well-being so we honor ourselves as the master of our own Life expression. This allows us to expand in response to opportunities to be in alignment with others. Most of us do not accept or love ourselves completely, reducing our ability be present. In most situations, we feel pressured because our Context is too small or our identification with problems is too binding for us to feel comfortable. With Spacious Presence, we can breathe and experience the fullness of Life, Light and Love. We can connect to others and include their experience with our own by simply adding another layer. This allows us to experience Communion.

Communion is an experience of harmony, where we are doing the job we came here to do and are happy about it. We frequently expand this Communion space by being with those we love (transcending the Belief that others are responsible for our experience). The source of this Life, Light and Love is our connection to the Universe. It is the real indication that we are working on Level 7 of CNG embodiment. It is a way to recognize our role as a Co-Creator in what exists. It is also a way to access our own Beauty, Truth and Goodness so we can share from this place of abundance. It is the ultimate virtuous circle, where everything we share supports sharing more. An interesting aspect of Level 7 is that we seem to have everything in abundance, particularly energy, in our lives.

The best indicator that we are operating on this Level is our focus on Conscious Participation, resulting from Universal Dominion and Mutual Accomplishment. These three Motives are core to empowering right group activity. Each one has a unifying and uplifting effect because it allows us to focus our will with Universal Will to create a complete solution. Conscious Participation is a commitment to showing up and doing whatever is necessary to get the job done. Universal Dominion is the capacity to see the universe as a resource and not to let any particular Belief, structure or obstacle become a limitation in our endeavor. Mutual Accomplishment is an affirmation that we operate as a team and that we know what we each need to do to make an optimum, unified contribution to the planet.

We build focusing tools by concentrating on certain visuals that represent each Level. To neutralize Objectification, meditate on a Red Rose, reflecting the Life energy within that radiates freely into the environment. We, obviously, can bring our Life energy into view. To neutralize Subjectification, imagine focusing on the creative unification of a Blue Star. By meditating on this element, we relax into the possibility that everything we need to know is within us. To neutralize Idealization, imagine focusing on a Beating Heart In A Green Circle or Globe. This symbolically represents the vulnerability of Love and how we need to be responsible for the way we manifest it. On Level 4, we meditate on the Heart Chalice surrounded by a Psychic Shield. Here, we recognize that we are partners in Universal manifestation and that we need to act as stewards for the planet. On Level 5, the sun becomes the focus of meditation, both externally and internally within us. We greet this process as a Sunrise. On Level 6 we focus on connecting to Universal Mind by imagining being able to read from the books of the ageless teachings. It is useful to use indigo or purple books to signify the deeper mysteries. At Level 7, it is all about completion and bringing everything into being, having played our part. It is represented as a Sunset. There are three phases of development for each of the symbols. First, concentration, so we can hold the mind steady in the Light. Second, for meditation, so we can open the channels of insight. Third, for contemplation, we see how to create new possibilities with a deeper appreciation for how things naturally come together.

Up until now, we have discussed three levels of embodiment, our body, our mind, and our Creative Nature. The final unification comes with our conscious Intention to bring everything together and lay it all on the line. In the Alice Bailey work, they call this creative process ‘White Magic’. It is the capacity to receive guidance from our highest nature so we can effectively operate in a way where our personalities do not impede our contribution. When unified with the creative power of others, using a CNG, this becomes a mighty force for change. In the future, as the Aquarian age becomes real, more of us will be working in groups to both empower our growth and to bring about massive changes in the way we operate. It will not take a huge group of people to make these changes. Some say the tipping points are less than five percent of the population. This gives us hope that we can repair our planet and regenerate our communities.

Spacious Presence is the capacity to meet others without any reactions. It is an ability to respond wholly and freely to whatever is going on in the moment. The paradox is that the more open and undefined we are, the more we actually get done. This is because we can go deeper into each circumstance and recognize what the obstacles are immediately and address them. With Spacious Presence, we can sense what needs to be said versus what we think should be said. This is because we can sense the needs of others and how needs can be fulfilled by taking certain courses of action. What we are creating is how to use our body awareness to bring out the best in the situation. Like other Common Neutral Ground tools, Spacious Presence has a paradox encoded in it. At the inner core, it is a tradeoff between how much attention we use to organize and focus our Presence versus how much Spaciousness we give the larger picture. What empowers Spacious Presence is the capacity to be fully present and grounded in our physical form freeing us from the baggage of our past. This allows us to focus where we are, allowing us to go where we would like to be.

Spacious Presence is greatly propelled when we experience physical alignment with another. This means that we need to first experience alignment within our own body. Some would say they experience alignment as a relaxed warmth which spreads slowly outward from their body. While this is not the only way it is described, it does indicate a certain pathway whereby acknowledging what is going on within us enables us to create more space to notice what is going on outside of us. This can also be described as creating an energetic or morphogenic field. The more Stillness we experience in ourselves, the more profoundly we feel the vibrations of any turbulence, particularly in some individuals around us. We can observe this as a restricted or intense suppression when these individuals come closer and as an easing of tension when they leave. Other individuals have a profoundly calming effect, which increases as they get closer to us, and decreases as they move away. This is what Life Energy alignment is about. What we want is to become more sensitive to these energetic fields, so we can recognize when individuals have either a positive or negative impact on us.

In her popular TED talk, Amy Cuddy talks about the connection between our body form and the attitudes we adopt in terms of ‘Power Poses’. When we spend two minutes a day consciously engaging these physical poses, it actually improves our Life Energy circulation and we have Feeling feedback that allows us to feel more alert and responsive. For example, one of these poses is the Wonder Woman pose where our feet are grounded and apart, and our hands are on our hips with our shoulders back, this affirms our physical body and ability to assert ourselves in the world. Another one is the Runners’ Pose where our arms are extended upward like we have just triumphantly won a race, which is about acknowledging ourselves for the accomplishments we have made. The third one is the Executive Pose where our feet are up on our desk or table, and our hands are behind our head, which speaks to our ability to manifest our confidence and to be clear about our intentions. All of these can impact our Self-Esteem and Self-Respect, thereby helping us to physically embody Self-Love.

Spacious Presence facilitates Universal Intent because it helps to ground people in their embodied perspective. Ultimately, every individual is here to fulfill his or her destiny by contributing in a certain way. This process is anchored in their BodyTypes, which they learn to honor and love so they can appropriately contribute in a way that makes the greatest difference. For example, an individual with a Sporty Action and Safe and Supportive BodyType combination has a commitment to bring out the true masculine and feminine in any circumstance. Even in the shapes of our body we have encoded tools that help us to connect to the Universe so that certain energy exchanges between us can happen. While Spacious Presence is a big picture skill, it is also driven by our physical form to breathe, resonate and synchronize with the world around us. We need to affirm that our physical body needs to be connected to nature in order for us to be healthy. For example, Distant Defense style individuals tend to be found in rural settings because it is a way for them to regenerate while not having to deal with the anxiety of others. Through Universal Intent, we begin to realize we are part of a larger and complex organism. We can see how this is impacting us by the way we are currently taking care of the planet and our bodies (or not). We can do better by using Spacious Presence to affirm our connection.

By now this material is getting more familiar. We might even accept that we could develop the capacity to see Compatibility Factors, Motives, Attractions and Relationship Skills. From Level 4 on we discover that we have nothing to prove and become aware that the energies and qualities of individuals cannot be hidden. All we need to do is trust our own observation skills. What this may have taught us is that any attempt to look a particular way creates effort and minimizes our intent. Any attempt to prove our self makes the individual appear weaker and impotent. When individuals need validation or affirmation they are over identifying with the personalities of individuals around them. We can share our observations as long as our personality does not get caught up in it (Objectification, Subjectification, and Idealization). We are harmless only to the degree that our personalities do not seek to influence, manipulate or limit the free will of others. Spacious Presence is the last of three Qualities (Skillful Means and Pregnant Duration) that guarantee we are aligned within our personalities to our higher Creative Nature.

Spacious Presence is expanded when we honor differences as much as similarities. It is the process of building many hundreds of connections with others so we know what they need and the way they want to be treated. This is an energetic experience where we are able to read the energetics of others as well as ourselves. When we are in the presence of someone, we can use the CNG to explore how they are doing and what they need. When others are invited to do the same, it becomes an interesting discussion because everything becomes measured in terms of congruence. We sense how much of what is being said is actually a heart-felt Truth, or how much it relates to their need to believe in order to make things work for them. Ultimately, CNG is a Truth-detection technology where we can sense any deception or lack of clarity. The key issue is to be able to trust our partners so there are no walls between us.