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12 Steps of the Spiritual Journey
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By Melody Larson
The 12 STepS of The SpiriTual Journey
The 12 STepS of The SpiriTual Journey
©2009 by Melody Larsonfrom the PATH TO INNER PURPOSE ecoursehttp://innerpurposecourse.weebly.com
Please feel free to share this ebooklet on your blog, forum, etc. Or, email it to whomever you believe would benefit from reading it.
THANK YOU!
~Melody Larson
The SpiriTual Journey iS The Journey of becoming more conSciouS…
Spiritual awakening is becoming an increasingly common occurrence among “normal” everyday people. Once the privilege of sages and saints, many are now seeking, and finding, enlightenment. But I believe that there is more to the spiritual journey than just awakening.
Along the way to that ultimate goal, we have the chance, and the choice, to evolve both our souls and our human selves. Indeed, we must grow in addition to awakening if we want to know true wholeness. This is an integral approach to awakening that does not deny the inventiveness of our human minds, the desires of our human hearts, and the expression of our individual souls.
How do we grow? How do we evolve from ego to soul and ultimately to spirit? We can start by becoming more conscious wherever we are on the journey, right now. We don’t need to wait for awakening to transform us. When we choose any thought, feeling, belief, habit, or deed that’s just a little more noble, a little
The 12 Steps of the Spiritual Journey, copyright 2009 by Melody Larson 3
The SpiriTual Journey iS The Journey of becoming more conSciouS…
higher than the one we had before, we increase our consciousness just that much. An increased consciousness moves us that much further along the path.
Ultimately, the spiritual journey is the journey of shifting from a life that is quite unconscious to a life lived in full consciousness. It is all about living more fully, more purposefully, and more joyfully along the way to awakening. This is the journey of moving from darkness to light, from suffering to acceptance, from judgment to allowing, from success to significance, from disease to wholeness, and from separation to unity….
The 12 Steps of the Spiritual Journey, copyright 2009 by Melody Larson 4
each STep moVeS you forWarD
As you work through each step on the spiritual journey, you are really making a horizontal move along an imaginary scale from left to right within that step, followed by a vertical move up to the next step.
You work through thoughts, feelings, beliefs, habits & actions in relation to any given step in order to lift them all to a higher level. As you achieve mastery within a step, you propel yourself vertically to the next step. And so it goes….
The final step, awakening itself, is the wild card on this journey. At any time, you may move so far from left to right within a given step that you slide right off the scale and into full consciousness, the awakened state. Others find themselves awakening spontaneously, with no conscious plan to do so.
For most of us, however, we must work to move both horizontally and vertically in order to make our way on the spiritual journey.
The 12 Steps of the Spiritual Journey, copyright 2009 by Melody Larson 5
The SpiriTual Journey in acTualiTy iS neVer linear…
In this ebooklet, I explain the spiritual journey in a linear fashion for the purpose of clarity. But I remind you that in real life, the adventure from ego, to soul, to spirit is extremely messy! You may find yourself:
o Skipping stepso Repeating stepso Working on several steps at onceo Moving back & forth within a step many
times before mastering ito Taking 2 steps forward & 1 step back
It’s all quite normal!
The 12 Steps of the Spiritual Journey, copyright 2009 by Melody Larson 6
many paThS, one mounTain:moVing from SeparaTion To uniTy
The spiritual journey as I describe it here is a practical breakdown, or synthesis, of the “paths up the mountain” to awakening. They correspond to both the 12 chakras and to the 12 signs of the zodiac, for example. All spiritual paths, including those of traditional religions in their esoteric forms, are about this journey.
Each path has its own language & system, best suited to its culture, but it is important to remember that all human souls are on the same journey to remember who we really are…
Spirit, not ego.One, not many.
What we do, and who we become, along the way to this realization matters.
The 12 Steps of the Spiritual Journey, copyright 2009 by Melody Larson 7
The 12 STepS of The SpiriTual Journey
SEPARATION BELONGING SELFHOOD COMMUNION SOVEREIGNTY SEARCHING SURRENDER HEALING GUIDANCE CO-CREATION TRANSMUTATION UNITY
The 12 Steps of the Spiritual Journey, copyright 2009 by Melody Larson 8
In this ebooklet, we’ll take a brief look at each of these steps by exploring some keywords & phrases associated with them. For a more detailed description of each step, and of the spiritual journey in general, I invite you to explore my PATH TO INNER PURPOSE ecourse: http://innerpurposecourse.weebly.com
STep 1: SeparaTion
Survival mode
Identification with ego
The time of getting by and/or getting ahead
Competition
Comparison
Fulfilling material needs & desires
Seeking meaning from without
Unconscious living
Where most people are most of their lives
Where humanity has been for most of its history
The 12 Steps of the Spiritual Journey, copyright 2009 by Melody Larson 9
STep 2: belonging
Tribal mode
Identification with group ego: family, culture, nationality, etc.
Us vs. Them
The time of fitting in and/or looking for approval
Codependency
“You complete me”
Peer Pressure
Kowtowing
Seeking fulfillment/wholeness through others
Again, where most people are & where humanity has been
The 12 Steps of the Spiritual Journey, copyright 2009 by Melody Larson 10
STep 3: SelfhooD
Independence mode Search for own identity Desire to rebel or escape from tribe Divorce, career change, change in looks, moving
away, etc. Development of personal power & self-esteem Often the start of the spiritual quest at the
unconscious level Seeking fulfillment through changing the self at
the outer level of form
The 12 Steps of the Spiritual Journey, copyright 2009 by Melody Larson 11
STep 4: communion
Acceptance mode
Transition point from ego to soul
Falling away of old values & beliefs
Loosening of judgment
Compassion, allowing—towards others & self
Curious about others & about the inner self, or soul
Finding self-acceptance through the acceptance of others
The 12 Steps of the Spiritual Journey, copyright 2009 by Melody Larson 12
STep 5: SoVereignTy
Security mode
The ego is much healthier for the most part
Return to the tribe, but with autonomy
The soul is somewhat integrated, but barely
Hold strong in our new values & beliefs, even if the tribe disagrees
“Free to be me”
Love others w/o trying to change them
Become secure in outer life: career, mate, family, success, etc.
Can be the end of journey for many unless the ‘soul call’ for deeper fulfillment and healing is answered when it comes
The 12 Steps of the Spiritual Journey, copyright 2009 by Melody Larson 13
STep 6: Searching
Seeking mode
Outer success no longer satisfying
The soul begins to claim our attention
If ignored, the soul creates crisis:
“Dark night of the soul”
Self-sabotage
Unexpected, unwanted change
Illness
If answered, we go on the quest of inner discovery
For most, this is the conscious undertaking of the spiritual journey
Time of confusion, disruption, self-help, spiritual study, wandering, adventure, search for inner purpose
The 12 Steps of the Spiritual Journey, copyright 2009 by Melody Larson 14
STep 7: SurrenDer
Faith mode
We can’t do it on our own
We realize the soul is wounded, not pure or untouched
A turning to Spirit (as we define it)
Prayer, meditation, stillness
A time of giving up, but with relief
Ask for, and receive, divine grace
Grace comes not according to our schedule, but when Spirit deems we are ready
Trust that everything is happening for a reason
Never given more than we can handle
“I believe”
The 12 Steps of the Spiritual Journey, copyright 2009 by Melody Larson 15
STep 8: healing
Wholeness mode
We’re no longer afraid to face our Shadow
We begin to work on ourselves in earnest, to heal the wounded soul
Releasing the past: both childhood & karma
Development of inner discipline
Forgiveness
Gratitude
A time of healing in all forms, often alternative in nature: therapy, energy work, alternative medicine, change in diet & exercise, etc.
Any method that helps us heal the past, both from this life and from other lives, is useful
The 12 Steps of the Spiritual Journey, copyright 2009 by Melody Larson 16
STep 9: guiDance
Intuition mode
We’re empowered at the soul level
Healing opens the doorway to psychic gifts & intuitive knowing
We find our inner purpose & move to fulfill it
A time of synchronicity & support from the Universe
We understand that everything is divinely guided
The people, things & events that we need start to show up to help us narrow our focus
The 12 Steps of the Spiritual Journey, copyright 2009 by Melody Larson 17
STep 10: co-creaTion
Service mode
We ground our inner purpose in the physical plane by converting it to a tangible product, gift or service
The soul & the ego are integrated (I call this the Self)
The soul begins to remember that it isn’t separate from Source
Significance
Meaning
Joy
Philanthropy, generosity
We work to bring healing to the planet in our unique way
The 12 Steps of the Spiritual Journey, copyright 2009 by Melody Larson 18
STep 11: TranSmuTaTion
Mastery mode
Shift from soul to spirit
Fulfillment of our inner purpose starts moving us to ultimate purpose
The alchemic process of transmuting lead into gold
Caterpillar to butterfly
Instant manifestation
Miracles
Command of natural & supernatural laws and forces
Leadership, command, power
We learn that the only way to master our limited being is to transcend it
The 12 Steps of the Spiritual Journey, copyright 2009 by Melody Larson 19
STep 12: uniTy
Oneness mode
All is One, all is Spirit
Fulfillment of ultimate purpose: Awakening, Enlightenment
Christ Consciousness, Buddha Mind
Becoming a messenger, guide, guru
Integration of body, mind, soul, Spirit
Return to Source
Merging, subsuming
There is only ‘The Now’
“I am THAT”
The 12 Steps of the Spiritual Journey, copyright 2009 by Melody Larson 20
Where are you on The Journey? no STep iS beTTer or WorSe Than anoTher!
1) SEPARATION—Just trying to survive & thrive
2) BELONGING—Just trying to fit in and be loved
3) SELFHOOD—Rebelling & making changes that reflect “me”
4) COMMUNION—Shifting my beliefs & learning compassion
5) SOVEREIGNTY—Enjoying my authenticity & new life
6) SEARCHING—Lost, in crisis, or on a search for deeper meaning
The 12 Steps of the Spiritual Journey, copyright 2009 by Melody Larson 21
Where are you on The Journey?
7) SURRENDER—“Not my will, Lord, but thy will be done”
8) HEALING—Working on my wounds once and for all
9) GUIDANCE—Opening my intuition, finding my inner purpose
10) CO-CREATION—On purpose; Serving the world with my gifts
11) TRANSMUTATION—Mastering spiritual powers, laws & forces; shifting from Self to Source
12) UNITY—Awakened, Enlightened, in The Now, “I am THAT”
The 12 Steps of the Spiritual Journey, copyright 2009 by Melody Larson 22
Want to know more about the 12 steps of the spiritual journey?
Are you ready to discover & fulfill your inner purpose?
Go to: http://innerpurposecourse.weebly.com
The 12 Steps of the Spiritual Journey, copyright 2009 by Melody Larson 23
WanT To knoW more?
abouT The auThor
The 12 Steps of the Spiritual Journey, copyright 2009 by Melody Larson 24
Melody Larson has dedicated herself to helping others discover their inner potential and purpose in this time of great evolutionary change. She is a published author and an accomplished teacher.
Her own spiritual journey has led Melody to many disciplines over the years: psychology, astrology, energy healing, shamanism, Eastern and Western mysticism, integral spirituality, and evolutionary enlightenment. All of these disciplines connect in core ways, and through them she has distilled a spiritual system that works best for her.
To share this system and assist others on their spiritual journeys, Melody is currently developing her unique 4-path process for spiritual development. The PATH TO INNER PURPOSE ecourse is the first of the 4 pathways.
Join her mailing list if you’d like to know when more ecourse paths become available! http://innerpurposecourse.weebly.com