Reflections on Empowerment and Psychological Health Know Thyself.

As a woman who has faced many struggles and who appreciates the value of empowerment, I have experienced the vital importance of psychological health in being an empowered individual. I have come to realize that the present state of existence between the genders is grossly imbalanced, be it in Western or Eastern civilizations. I have lived in both civilizations in countries spanning four continents. Women, whatever their status, role or position, are addendums to or imitators of men in a male constructed and sustained environment that operates in utter disregard of the female nature or the feminine principle of life. The reference to male is not merely the physical dimension but includes the psychological aspects of male qualities. Male refers to a mental or intellectual emphasis devoid of emotion, intuition and live-giving creativity that is characteristic of the female both in psyche and physical embodiment. Modern human civilizations have slain the feminine principle and embraced a mechanized male way of being bent of separation, subjugation, destruction and conquest. The physical woman, in fear of being psychologically and (historically) physically destroyed is today desperate to be included in the (male) system by proving her worth betraying an ailing psychology of inferiority that, in turn, is reflected in an outward reality of disempowerment. Women, generally, have tried to fit into the male created and sustained environment. I did. In reclaiming ones power, a woman must thus redress her

inner psychological state of being. What needs to be healed must be healed and her natural way of being must be allowed and welcomed to find expression, first within, and then inevitably in her outer reality. By this I am not suggesting years in therapy; that is unnecessary. Therapy may indeed be helpful but it will not heal one who is unwilling to go within and enquire into ones psychological state of being and one who is willing to go within can heal in a moment of realization. Time is psychologically insignificant. No psychologist can know one as well as a person can know ones self. Once it is appreciated that ones outer reality is a 100% a reflection of ones inner state of being, self knowledge becomes imperative, not just because it is a Greek adage or demonstrative of profound wisdom but because it is a prerequisite to ones health and well-being, in every possible sense. One must commence with self-knowledge in healing and empowering ones self, just as one studies a manual before operating a machine or undertaking a certain operation. Yet self-knowledge is an ongoing process that unfolds as one unfolds through engagement in life. It is not something one does and once done sets aside; rather it is something one cultivates and allows to flourish by continually tending to and observing. Eventually, the process of self-knowledge through self-

discovery becomes an elegant dance of life incorporating ones inner experience and outer manifestation that one flows in the rhythm of and loves to be in. actualised. Self-empowerment cannot be given or taught to anyone. One This is self-empowerment

may facilitate its attainment by another in as much as one may give another instructions in laying the foundation for the performance of a worthwhile activity. Otherwise, it is a personal journey; a state of being and a vantage point from which one lives. The beauty of self-knowledge that leads to self-empowerment is that it is an effortless journey. The very awareness of an inner dimension is the light by which one sees the inner workings of ones being. By effortless I do not mean complacency; in fact, tremendous energy, attention, discipline of being (not action) and alertness of mind is required for self awareness to unfold through one. What I mean by effortlessness, is that there is nothing one can or need do except appreciate the value of self-knowledge and be aware; internally aware of all that is. Through this awareness one begins to perceive the direct co-relation between ones inner and outer reality. This also makes apparent drama. This experience is initially painful, and almost unbearable, if one is really present to the effect of ones way of being, including the beliefs, conditioning and incumbent behaviours and total lifestyle, on ones self and the world. Tremendous strength of being and fortitude of mind is often required to be able to stay with the process and not let ones mind and ego (ego is a product of thought/mind) divert attention to self pity or blame. If one is able to do this, the revelations of insight will flow that allows the setting aside of the old way of being and ushers in a new way of being or a re-birth. ones beliefs and conditioning and all their manifesting detriments and limitations, that which we call

A clearer, and eventually peaceful, state of being arises. Clarity and inner peace brings with it a tremendous sense of selfempowerment and any deed or action that then flows through one in this state is powerful. The temptation, however, when one embarks on the journey of self-awareness is to want a way to change ones outer reality so as to change ones inner reality. This is the attraction to religion or tradition and merely places the cart before the horse. Such way or method of change is futile because it occurs through a doing and not as a natural flowering of ones inner being. No way or method of change is necessary because the very awareness of the inner reality and its direct correlation to the outer reality acts as a flame of light that, in the exposition, transmutes the old state of being, including its structures and conditioning and births the new. This process is the inner/psychological revolution that is sometimes referred to as spiritual awakening. It is an awakening in as much as awareness has now replaced an illusory state of inner being; it is spiritual in as much as it relates to the inner, non-material reality or state of being. It is not however attached to any practice, religion, deity, ideology or theology. God, the Almighty All, is not attached to any of these forms or concepts. God Is, All.