Kimberly Holman

Our Pivotal Role in the Transfer of Energies Between Realms

Kimberly Holman

Election 2020 is like no other election I remember. For me, there’s a great sense of urgency. I have always hoped my favorite candidate would win – if I even had one – but it was never such a big deal. I trusted that the basic values upholding the United States of America were intact. Now, as William Butler Yeats might put it, I wonder if the center can hold. Has anarchy already been loosed upon the world?

The funny thing is, I imagine folks on both sides of the political stage feel the same way.

As a contemplative, I tend to fall back on my spiritual practices to cope. Yet, lately, prayer and meditation even seem futile. What’s going on?

Cynthia Bourgeault to the rescue. I’m currently reading her new book, Eye of the Heart: A Spiritual Journey into the Imaginal Realm. Frankly, it’s fascinating. It would take a book to unpack this information. Thanks, Cynthia, for taking care of that. But there is one main takeaway I think I can briefly summarize, and it’s sparking new life in me.

Ready for this?

We play a pivotal role in the flow of essential energies between realms.

Wow.

Here’s another way to say it. Human beings uniquely participate in a kind of cosmic energy exchange. In my way of thinking about it, we have the capacity to “call down” subtle spiritual energies from higher, less dense realms and infuse those energies back into our world. As Cynthia puts it, we’re transformers.

But why would this be important?

Well, this exchange of energy is necessary for maintaining cosmic homeostasis. Human virtue is an actual food supporting organic life on this planet.

And…it’s through our own work of conscious transformation that this exchange between realms plays out.

Do you know what this means? As Bourgeault puts it (paraphrasing Gurdjieff by the way): Our human orientation toward the good is not a personal virtue but a collective cosmic responsibility.

Again, wow.

Our inner work exists for the sake of the world, not the other way around.

So, yes, I could say I engage in my practices to help me cope with this crazy world. There’s some truth to that. Yet, now I’m considering the possibility that the inner work I do is actually helping this world, this planet, in ways I barely imagined. Think about it. You and I are (or at least we can be) conduits of vital healing energy, which is something this world desperately needs right now.

I don’t have any way of proving this to you, but it does ring true to me. Does it strike a chord with you? Leave a comment below and let me know. I’d love to talk more about it.

Going Further

Eye of the Heart: A Spiritual Journey into the Imaginal Realm by Cynthia Bourgeault

The Wisdom Way of Knowing: Reclaiming An Ancient Tradition to Awaken the Heart by Cynthia Bourgeault

In Search of the Miraculous by P. D. Ouspensky

6 responses to “Our Pivotal Role in the Transfer of Energies Between Realms”

  1. Anonymous

    5

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    4.5

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  3. Terri Avatar
    Terri

    I love this article Kim. Yes, we all play a vital role in healing this world – it IS our responsibility. Nothing can change until we “own up” to that responsibility. What are we responsible for? Our unconscious participation in creating the world we see. We knew not what we were doing when we didn’t understand spiritual law. But in coming to understand it, we take responsibility for what we knew not what we were doing. In a sense, the story of prodigal son returning home. Thanks for this article.

    Reply
    1. Kimberly Holman Avatar
      Kimberly Holman

      That’s a great way to put it, Terri. It is very much the difference between unconsciously participating in the creation of the world we see or doing that consciously with the knowledge of what we’re doing. Yes, the prodigal son is a great analogy for this I think as well. You’re so welcome for the article. Super glad you enjoyed it. Appreciate the comment.

      Reply
  4. Rietmann Paul Avatar
    Rietmann Paul

    Thank you, Kim. I am in a book group that is currently reading Cynthia’s new book. We are struggling together to make sense of the imaginal realm. Your article helps me make some sense out of it. I find it empowering and inspiring that we as human beings have such an awesome responsibility to participate in the care and healing of the world. As a Christian it makes me see how Jesus is the mediator of these life giving and healing energies. And as a member of the mystical body of Christ I have the same power and responsibility. Thanks again.

    Reply
    1. Kimberly Holman Avatar
      Kimberly Holman

      You’re so very welcome, Paul. I’m glad this article was helpful to you. Yes, thanks for pointing out the connection to Jesus’ role as a mediator of life giving and healing energies. He is a master of the imaginal. It really is an awesome power and responsibility. I think it’s good to remember that these energies provide life and healing to us too as we work with them. In many ways, it’s all perfectly normal and natural. Like when we’re in our ordinary egoic mindset, there’s something really off about that. We’ve lost our way. Working in this capacity is a bit like coming home and can be a source of great bliss. The book is a lot to take in and process. I think it’s going to take a few reads. I wish many blessings to you and your book group.

      Reply

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Kimberly Holman

Kimberly Holman is a certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher (MMT) with a B.A. in psychology from the University of Maine and an M.A in religious studies from Naropa University.

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