“From the Ancient Wisdoms to Quantum Physics,
It's All About the Energy!”
In Defense of the Lower Self©
Dennis L. Dossett
(All Rights Reserved)
A few days ago around 4:00 am, I rolled over in bed in an alpha state, drifting in and out of sleep. When this happens, I often find myself in “conversation” with my Spirit Guides or sometimes just receiving a “teaching” on some topic. This particular early morning was no exception, but the topic took me a little off-guard. I was told that my next newsletter should be titled “In Defense of the Lower Self.” How odd, I thought, since Maitreya has been pretty clear about the nature of the lower self and has described it in great detail in his writings, channelings, and teachings over a period of more than twenty years. But no, this was to be the topic, so I relaxed into my pillow to await what was coming next.
Maitreya describes the (Lower) Self as originally being the survival instinct in primitive humankind. He writes about it as an energy solely of the earth plane and as the “Satan” or “Devil” of Christianity and other religions. It is a conscious force that has evolved right along with humans, adapting to our changes in culture, knowledge, and consciousness. Unfortunately, it hasn’t had to adapt all that much to changes in human consciousness because, in many ways, the level of human consciousness has lagged far behind advances in knowledge and culture. For years I have described it as an “energy vampire,” its sole purpose being to maintain its own existence (survival) by feeding on fear and doubt buried deep in the subconscious mind of almost all of us.
But on this particular morning I learned that I was wrong. Yes, it is about that, but there is more to the story. It reminds me of a particular occasion when I was in Margaret McElroy’s office sometime in early 2011. I was talking to Margaret about the internet radio show that Jean Luo and I were doing each week. The topic for the coming week had to do with the chakra system and, in the middle of the conversation, Margaret “stepped out” of her body and Maitreya came in. All the usual signs were there: the glassy-eyed look staring into one’s very soul, the eye color changed along with the demeanor of Margaret’s face, and the Master’s husky, masculine voice was clearly unmistakable. I was studying Pranic Healing at the time, so I asked him about its 13 major chakras and whether that was what Jean and I should talk about or whether we should just discuss the 7-chakra system. He confirmed that there are indeed many more chakras but that “For now, keep it simple. Just keep it at seven chakras.” With that, Maitreya left and Margaret slowly “woke up” as her consciousness gradually readjusted to the confines of her physical body. It was one of those rare and precious moments with the Master that I will never forget.
Maitreya’s emphasis was “For now, keep it simple.” That message shot through my head that morning as I listened to the rest of the teaching from Spirit. At a very simple level, the Lower Self is indeed much like an energy vampire, but its purpose is far beyond just its own self-survival. In fact, it is a necessary part of the human experience on the earth plane and its purpose is actually to “assist” us on our journey of soul evolution—in its own selfish and distorted way. And in fact, humanity will one day learn to appreciate and thank this energy for doing its job so very well. WHAAAT???
Let me try to explain this (as simply as possible!) through an example: Think about the movie epic Star Wars and its major protagonist (at least on the surface), Luke Skywalker. In fact, I think the major protagonist in these movies arguably is The Force, but it really doesn’t matter. The point is that Star Wars wouldn’t have much of a plot, a storyline, without the Dark Side of the Force. Luke must face his fears to become a better version of himself (aka raise his vibration, aka soul evolution) in order to become a Jedi knight (aka the Master of his Life as Maitreya would say).
The Dark Side of the Force is a powerful and suitable metaphor for the Lower Self without which all of us (including Hollywood actors) would remain much like the adolescent Luke Skywalker at the beginning of the tale: carefree, restless, longing for adventure, having little purpose other than to enjoy life. But that is not why we are here on the earth plane. In my truth (and in my three Dancing with the Energy books), every bit of life—the good, the bad; the beautiful, the ugly—is for one purpose: to provide each of us moment-to-moment opportunities to choose to grow into a better version of ourselves (aka soul evolution). And the Dark Side of the Force (aka, the Lower Self) is in our lives to assist us in doing just that!
“How does the Lower Self do that?” you ask. I have an image of Diogenes (c. 412-323 BCE; Greek cynic philosopher) who became notorious for carrying a lamp during the day, claiming to be looking for an honest man. Of course, his lamp showed nothing of the sort (which he quite publicly and vociferously proclaimed to the embarrassment and aggravation of his victims) and, along with many other socially irritating stunts, he was very much disliked by his contemporaries. Because of this, his personal hygiene, and his public behavior, Diogenes was shunned by society.
But I see Diogenes’ lamp as a metaphor for the Lower Self, shining a light into the darkness of the subconscious mind to illuminate and expose the shadows of unlearned lessons, unbalanced karma, and trapped emotional energy (most of which originated in past lives).
• “As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being.” ~ Carl Gustav Jung (Swiss psychologist and the founder of analytical psychology; considered the first modern psychiatrist to view the human psyche as “by nature religious” and make it the focus of exploration; Memories, Dreams, Reflections, 1962)
Diogenes’ lamp is symbolic of the Lower Self. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. proclaimed, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.” And why is it even necessary? Thales of Miletus (c. 624-c. 546 BCE; the first of the five great pre-Socratic Greek philosophers) was once asked, “what is most difficult for man?” He responded, “The most difficult thing in life is to know yourself.”
Indeed, we really do not “know” ourselves. Decades of psychological research on Attribution Theory (discussed in Book 1 of Dancing with the Energy) resoundingly demonstrates that people tend to attribute their successes to themselves (ability, effort, etc.), but attribute their failures to outside factors (the environment, “bad luck,” other people, etc.) And when it comes to the contents of the subconscious mind, the preponderance of humanity is clueless. As Maitreya so often said, we live “85% of our lives in past-life mode,” clueless as to the habitual foundations of why we do what we do in daily life. In short, life for most of humanity is the playground of the Lower Self.
What is the remedy? Conscious Living, the primary subject of the three Dancing with the Energy books that present, explain, and promote the objective of becoming the Master of your Life rather than life mastering you. That requires taking responsibility for everything in your life. As Maitreya says, “There are no accidents,” “There are no ‘rights’, there are no ‘wrongs’, only decisions and learning opportunities.” But that is work, and nobody can do the work except you.
• “One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious. The latter procedure, however, is disagreeable and therefore not popular.” ~ Carl Gustav Jung
The Higher Self and the Lower Self on the surface appear to be separate and diametrically opposed concepts and entities, but they are not. In Star Wars, the battle is between The Force and The Dark Side of The Force. They are not separate. The duality is an illusion, just like physical life on the earth plane (you are a spiritual being having an earthly experience, not an earthly being having a spiritual experience). In the same fashion, the Lower Self is an integral part of the Higher Self on the earth plane. Why? Because we learn life lessons only through life experience, and the Lower Self spurs (pricks, goads) us to choose to align all of our life energies with Higher Self—if we allow it to do so. Without it, we would have little motivation to choose to become a better version of ourselves.
I am no friend of the Lower Self, and I don’t expect anyone else to be so either. But through this early morning experience, I now have a very different perspective of the Lower Self, and I am ever so (reluctantly) thankful that it is actually an ally in my life as I endeavor to raise my vibration through Conscious Living. When it gets my attention, rather than trying to resist it I try to "give it no energy" (Maitreya) because "What you resist, persists" (Carl Jung). I then know to turn my attention to aligning my life energies with Higher Self. I just need that little kick of "getting my attention" once in a while.
So, In Defense of the Lower Self, is your glass half full or half empty? You choose.
Have a great month!
Dennis