‘Why does it feel worse again?’. This is something people often say as they continue their deepening into awakening and enlightenment. Here I share what I think is going on with it. Does it resonate for you? — When we first wake up out of the illusion of being a separate person, and into the recognition of our essential nature of awareness, there can be a period (to differing degrees) of ease and flow and lightness.

Back in 2018, I had a profound awakening experience, my mind went quiet and I thought that was it. I thought I was done – fully awakened. Here’s what I’ve learnt since. — I wrote about my big awakening in this post here. It was a beautiful, joy-filled experience thanks to a Jenga-style collapse of a whole load of thought, and it was followed by an amazing few months of a quiet mind. It was so easy and effortless in that state!

I wrote this piece in the discussion space for the current Book Group and wondered if you’d like to read it too. The member’s name has been changed (to Bob — my favourite general name!). — The other week in the Live book Group for The Complete Book of Awakening, a group member said “I know having a goal of a better life only clutters up the awakening process, but will awakening make life better?”

I’ve been sharing over recent weeks about my drop into feelings of failure, and I forgot to tell you what happened next. It’s worth reading this so that you understand the value of the full cycle of these moments of fear within yourself. And the difference when you know they’re here for your expansion. — I realised last week that in my energy flow to share about the common misunderstanding about a silent mind, I hadn’t shared the after-effects of my previous weeks.

Have you tried to still the mind? Or stop your thoughts? Do you get frustrated and feel deflated when you can’t? Well there’s good news because that’s not the goal. You’re not looking for a still mind. — This is what a community member shared with me recently: “some days seem to be better than others in terms of how well I can keep my mind still” Oh but that’s not the goal. It’s a common misconception that – if I’m to be awakened and have the beautiful, contented, easy, flowing life that I…

Last week I shared about living in the state of a spa day, and then this week has perfectly provided the opportunity to show the permanence of that state — including in the experience of feeling like a failure. — Last week I shared about living in the state of a spa day and, over the course of the week, I’ve been asked the question — is that really how it is? Is life really lovely like that all the time? …

Michael Neill and Dicken Bettinger often talk about Living in the State of Meditation. Well this week I realised the equivalent is living in the State of a Spa Day. — My friend Nicky and I went to our gorgeous local spa for the day this week. It’s my favourite one (of all the five I’ve been to in my life!) with loads of water-based and steam room options. It’s the second time I’ve been to this spa post-pandemic and I’ve…

In truth there is one hardest thing to give up when you’re awakening — your ideas. If we believe an idea to be a truth, it will always be a cloud over the open, expansiveness of our nature. And that’s OK, because it will feel bad — to alert us…

I distinguish between the process of awakening and enlightenment. But they aren’t really two separate processes. They are intimately interwoven and mutually supportive. Have a read and see if this resonates for you too. — Awakening and enlightenment are mutually supportive. Let’s start with what I mean by awakening and enlightenment. When you fall asleep, forgetting who you are, forgetting your essential nature, believing you’re primarily a person, it will feel personal and yukky and fearful (stress, frustration, impatience, irritation, anxiety, overwhelm, self-importance or self-flagellation, the need to control, or be…