I agree with what you've written beautifully. I would only add that according to me agency is needed but not in the context in which it is used most often and assumed. For me, there are healthy and unhealthy agencies. The unhealthy version is about a false sense of control, lot's of doing, pushing, pulling and power, and the consequent burnout. The healthy version is needed to step out of being a puppet, being pulled by invisible strings and triggers, being ignorant. And yes, once we step out of that and more, we learn that there is something bigger and it takes agency again to let go of all the outdated and inherrited narratives and step into a new understanding of the world alligned with what intuitively feels right in our heart. So for me, the healthy version is about letting go of the chains so that we can dance with the wind and swim with the ocean. The unhealthy version, which is also the prevailing one, is about trying to stop the wind and redirect the ocean. Good luck with that to those still trying....I am done with that. 🤣😂
I love that-letting go of the chains so that we can dance with the wind and swim with the ocean! Wonderful images. That is definitely the lived experience I want to point out.
The distinction between unhealthy and healthy agency still leaves room for our sneaky little egos. There is still some ME doing it- the subtle conversation the I am doing good work.
For me, I have never had the power (agency) to make letting go happen! Don’t get me started on when people say ”Just let go.”
I once shared with my teacher Wayne that I had started cooking lunch two times/month for about 80 people at our local homeless shelter. I really enjoyed doing it. I got creative with the menus and of course there was a lot of appreciation from the people I fed. Wayne just looked at me and said “You are really lucky that you have the time, energy and financial situation to be able to do that.” Nothing was said about my goodness!😂
At that point I began to see that Grace was what allowed me to have what you are calling healthy agency. Most of us would choose to be kind, compassionate and loving. Wayne always added to these type of ideals, “if you can’”.
I really appreciate your commenting and love our substack conversations!
Thank you, Natalia! Your comments always get me thinking and I enjoy our conversations very much!
So glad this made you laugh. It is SO funny when you really see how impotent you are. You can have more fun as you no longer have to make sure everything happens. Very relaxing! Thanks for your comments, Erin🙏
Compare my agency with your disappointed dreams. Then, buy my book/course/program/vitamins. Support my patreon. Use your personal power to buy my special thought doodads from www.disappointingMentalOverstock.com.
You CAN get away from bad feelings forever! You know, the ones you're creating because you're too dumb to know the actual remedy I possess and ALL the ancients also had! TRY HARDER!!!
By coincidence, the last sentence of today's lead opinion piece in today's NYT -- "If we recover our sense of agency, we can..." That's not actual agency, it's SENSE of agency!
Thank you, Heidi. Excellent post filled with joy and relief.
From the non-dual perspective: Agency is still on the level of personal will; this is a bridge teaching - sovereignty, choice, etc. Very helpful in recovery and psychology and even daily living. Still in the realm of separation, which is FINE in the relative, until the individual body-mind seeker person appearance is confronted with misery and POTENTIALLY (no agency here!) release through the total realization that ALL is completely God's will, whatever arises or occurs. Even the appearance of choice. Even the unshackling of conditioning. Even intuition. The deeper seeing and ultimate relaxation or peace is that it is unfolding as the One.
I love your laughter and total hopelessness and joy in the ultimate futility of separate will, or "the False Sense of Authorship" (Wayne Liquorman). Keep writing!
Yes! How amazing is it to see everything as God’s will? I still find myself in awe of this! I love your clear articulation of agency as a bridge teaching too. It is useful to be able to tie the camel before you pray in the relative world! Thank you, Erin.
I agree with what you've written beautifully. I would only add that according to me agency is needed but not in the context in which it is used most often and assumed. For me, there are healthy and unhealthy agencies. The unhealthy version is about a false sense of control, lot's of doing, pushing, pulling and power, and the consequent burnout. The healthy version is needed to step out of being a puppet, being pulled by invisible strings and triggers, being ignorant. And yes, once we step out of that and more, we learn that there is something bigger and it takes agency again to let go of all the outdated and inherrited narratives and step into a new understanding of the world alligned with what intuitively feels right in our heart. So for me, the healthy version is about letting go of the chains so that we can dance with the wind and swim with the ocean. The unhealthy version, which is also the prevailing one, is about trying to stop the wind and redirect the ocean. Good luck with that to those still trying....I am done with that. 🤣😂
I love that-letting go of the chains so that we can dance with the wind and swim with the ocean! Wonderful images. That is definitely the lived experience I want to point out.
The distinction between unhealthy and healthy agency still leaves room for our sneaky little egos. There is still some ME doing it- the subtle conversation the I am doing good work.
For me, I have never had the power (agency) to make letting go happen! Don’t get me started on when people say ”Just let go.”
I once shared with my teacher Wayne that I had started cooking lunch two times/month for about 80 people at our local homeless shelter. I really enjoyed doing it. I got creative with the menus and of course there was a lot of appreciation from the people I fed. Wayne just looked at me and said “You are really lucky that you have the time, energy and financial situation to be able to do that.” Nothing was said about my goodness!😂
At that point I began to see that Grace was what allowed me to have what you are calling healthy agency. Most of us would choose to be kind, compassionate and loving. Wayne always added to these type of ideals, “if you can’”.
I really appreciate your commenting and love our substack conversations!
Thank you, Natalia! Your comments always get me thinking and I enjoy our conversations very much!
Hahahaha!!! "If you can..."
So good.
Hahahah!!!
(Still giggling.)
One of the parts I love most about embodied nondual teachings is the laughter and joy evoked from the realization of total and complete powerlessness.
Again, thank you, Heidi, for the joy!
So glad this made you laugh. It is SO funny when you really see how impotent you are. You can have more fun as you no longer have to make sure everything happens. Very relaxing! Thanks for your comments, Erin🙏
Compare my agency with your disappointed dreams. Then, buy my book/course/program/vitamins. Support my patreon. Use your personal power to buy my special thought doodads from www.disappointingMentalOverstock.com.
You CAN get away from bad feelings forever! You know, the ones you're creating because you're too dumb to know the actual remedy I possess and ALL the ancients also had! TRY HARDER!!!
Exactly! Only thing is that the link didn’t work. Please send the right one as I am so ready to sign up! Thanks for a good laugh this morning, Paul!
By coincidence, the last sentence of today's lead opinion piece in today's NYT -- "If we recover our sense of agency, we can..." That's not actual agency, it's SENSE of agency!
Haha love it! Of course we all need a "sense of agency". It's what makes us powerful!
Thank you, Heidi. Excellent post filled with joy and relief.
From the non-dual perspective: Agency is still on the level of personal will; this is a bridge teaching - sovereignty, choice, etc. Very helpful in recovery and psychology and even daily living. Still in the realm of separation, which is FINE in the relative, until the individual body-mind seeker person appearance is confronted with misery and POTENTIALLY (no agency here!) release through the total realization that ALL is completely God's will, whatever arises or occurs. Even the appearance of choice. Even the unshackling of conditioning. Even intuition. The deeper seeing and ultimate relaxation or peace is that it is unfolding as the One.
I love your laughter and total hopelessness and joy in the ultimate futility of separate will, or "the False Sense of Authorship" (Wayne Liquorman). Keep writing!
👍🙏❤️
Thanks for reading, Seth. It’s fun for me having you here!
Yes! How amazing is it to see everything as God’s will? I still find myself in awe of this! I love your clear articulation of agency as a bridge teaching too. It is useful to be able to tie the camel before you pray in the relative world! Thank you, Erin.