Questions of Energy

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Questions of Energy: What can the ideas from The Celestine Prophecy teach us?

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Have you ever experienced a coincidence? Wondered about the meaning of life? Considered the significance of every encounter you’ve ever had? You know, casual questions… Don’t worry, I don’t have the answers. I do, however, have interesting insights for you to consider from the book The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield.

The Celestine Prophecy takes you on a very simple story that, according to its back cover, “has the power to crystallize your perceptions of why you are where you are in life.” I’m not going to endorse it as a crystallizing ball with magical answers, because – as you should know my philosophy by now – answers don’t come without the right questions.

But reading the book did give me a new perspective on life. And as I was reading the more ambiguous, big-picture insights, I kept finding myself make connections to other, more specific findings. One insight related to Brene Brown’s philosophy on vulnerability. Another insight was supported by the research on the Hidden Brain podcast. A third insight tied to the concept of creative flow.

In other words, the central theme of the book seemed to fit. At least it did for me.

Whether you’re a devout Catholic or an atheist, a scientist or a hippie, an 80-year-old or a teenager, it’s worth seeing if any of it fits for you too.

I did my best to give a brief summary of the author’s perspective (you can read his whole Celestine Vision here), my take on the chapter, and questions to consider for each concept introduced in The Celestine Prophecy.

Take from it want you want.

The Celestine Prophecy: Insights

Insight One: A Critical Mass

According to the author: The coincidences that happen in our lives are more than mere chance. They are meaningful encounters and situations meant to get our attention and point us in the right direction.

My take: You might not want to chalk up coincidences to some divine plan, or even consider them “meaningful” in any sort of meaningful way (see what I did there). I interpret this insight as a reminder to be open to the things that happen in our lives and consider:

When do coincidences happen in your life that give you greater perspective on what you want or need to do?
When are you open to “going with the flow”?

. chance

Insight Two: The Longer Now

According to the author: Throughout the evolution of human history, people have been driven to discover new things in order to create a higher standard of living for themselves. Humans have set off to explore new places, examine new discoveries, and experiment with new technologies. In this search for reality, humans will now need to turn their search away from the physical realm and toward a more spiritual realm.

My take: Humans have always been able to create and influence their own culture, and the more we are aware of our roots and our desires as a population, the more we can understand ourselves through both a cultural and individual lens. Until I get a chance to read Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari, I can think about:

How has history evolved over the years to create the culture I live in now?
Understanding this evolution, where does society need to continue to evolve?

Insight Three: A Matter of Energy

According to the author: We live in an energetically charged universe. This energy exists in our bodies, physical life forms, and the earth (scientists happened upon this when they discovered the most basic particles are actually just energy). Because of this, the universe is an unlimited source of energy – we just have to tap into it through appreciating the beauty of nature.

My take: In the story, researchers are finding that plants grow better with more human energy directed toward them, and in turn, humans receive more energy when eating these plants. I did a quick web search and found that “talking to plants” to help them grow has inconclusive evidence, but a lot of research shows that plants are conscious of their environment, can remember life events, and change as a result. There are also numerous studies that show having plants around improve our emotional health, limit crime, and help us be our best selves. To me, this just reconfirms that the natural environment we live in is an amazing, crazy, and beautiful thing; the more we appreciate it, the better our lives will be.

How often do you stop and appreciate the natural beauty around you?
Do you ever feel energized or cleansed when around nature or plants?

Forest

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Insight Four: Struggle for Power

According to the author: Because humans have not been able to tap into the unlimited energy of the universe, people operate in a mindset that there is not enough energy to go around (the scarcity mindset). This has led to a vast competition for energy and power in which humans try to control and dominate each other on both small and large scales, such as global wars. In order to combat this, we need to be open to love and allow love to exist within us.

My take: It’s not difficult to find situations in which people struggle for control. Heck, I argued with my boyfriend yesterday in order to get a sense of control. We all put up walls because we want to feel in control, motivated by a variety of personal reasons. Shifting our perspective to believe that energy (in whatever form you choose to view it as: love, food, care, etc) is not in a limited supply might change our mindset from competition to sharing.

When do you struggle for power in your life?
How can the conflicts between humans be viewed through a lens of scarcity?.

Insight Five: Message of the Mystics

According to the author: It is possible for us to break through our normal level of consciousness and sense an ultimate connection/consciousness with the universe. This is difficult to sustain, but spiritual practice and openness to coincidences can help us stay in these moments of connection.

My take: In Perks of Being a Wallflower, the main character is experiencing a moment of pure happiness, security, and euphoria; he describes the moment as “feeling infinite.” I’ve had moments when my appreciation, gratitude, and happiness gave me this difficult-to-describe feeling, but infinite seemed like the best word – a sort of out-of-consciousness, tapped into the world, full of wonder sense.

When have you felt like your awareness extended beyond yourself?
Have you ever felt “infinite,” and what brought on this feeling?

Insight Six: Clearing the Past

According to the author: In order to be able to reach a greater consciousness/energy flow, we first need to be aware of our habits and why we do the things that we do (in other words, exploring ourselves). The book breaks down our individual attempts to gain control over others as “control dramas,” because they are a drama we play out frequently. We develop these main control dramas as children, although we all employ them at different times, and they include (from most aggressive to most passive):

Intimidator – tries to intimidate or scare you to control you and take your energy
Interrogator – asks questions and looks for answers that allow for criticising you
Aloof – acts distant and unreadable to make you work to draw information out of them
Poor Me – makes you feel sorry for them or makes you feel like you did something wrong, which you need to make amends for

Instead of playing out these dramas to fight over energy, we can open ourselves up to giving and receiving energy.

My take: I’ve spent a lot of introspective time looking at why I do what I do, particularly when the things I do are harmful for myself or the people closest to me. Any time we can be more aware of our habits, we can do a better job practicing more healthy ones. I can align myself with a control drama pretty easily, but the more important piece is to recognize when I am employing it, why I am doing so, and how I can do better. This idea of giving energy also reminds me of something I read by Brene Brown: we need to show love and compassion, but can also set healthy boundaries while doing so.

Which “control drama” do you most closely align as?
What aspects of your childhood led you to creating that strategy?
How can you show love and compassion in your relationships with healthy boundaries?

Insight Seven: Engaging the Flow

According to the author: Once you understand your past and your control drama, you can do a better job stabilizing your connection with the universe’s energy. This does require you to constantly evolve in your ability to stay alert and in touch with yourself. This insight also touches on the concept of intuition: when seemingly random ideas or thoughts come to mind, you should be mindful of what they might mean to you.

My take: As someone who constantly fills my time (and mind) with busy, busy, busy, I am realizing more and more that this constant thinking is limiting the opportunity for those thoughts or breakthroughs that pop up in times of quiet. I think this applies to many of us: whether you are overly productive, overly distracted by mind-numbing things (here’s looking at you social media), or overly-anything, you are taking away your chance for revelations.

How often do you allow your mind to be open and undistracted by other things?
When have you felt your intuition come into play?
When a spontaneous thought pops up, do you ever ask: why did I just have that thought?

Insight Eight: Interpersonal Ethic

According to the author: When we are more in touch with ourselves, and more open to coincidences, we will make more meaningful connections with others. By giving energy to others rather than fighting for energy, we can better communicate and form more authentic connections. Additionally, the more we lift others up, the more likely they’ll be able to give us what we need (and what we need might be a lifelong pal, or a piece of information that will help clarify our thinking). We should be open to chance encounters.

My take: I don’t think anyone would argue with the fact that relationships take time and energy. The more in touch we are with ourselves, and the more willing we are to give, I absolutely believe the more authentic and meaningful connections we will experience. I also think it is a good life philosophy to always be open to learning from others.

How many of your relationships are truly open and authentic?
Are you open to chance encounters?
How often do you stop to consider what a connection has given you?

Insight Nine: Emerging Culture

According to the author: The realization and practice of all these insights will allow humans to create a more meaningful and peaceful society. In the future, everyone will slow down, connect with the universe, and be aware of their encounters. We will be able to uplift others, limit our control dramas, and have more authentic relationships.

My take: The author’s prediction is rather mystical in nature, but I don’t think the essence of his message is wrong. If every human read this post, answered these questions, and practiced these habits, I do think we’d live in a more meaningful and caring society.

What would the future look like if everyone stopped competing for energy?
How would more meaningful connections improve everyone’s emotional well-being?
What of this prediction is possible?

Your Life’s Question

Another idea from The Celestine Prophecy, sprinkled through all the insights, is this: Everyone has a purpose in life that stems from their evolutionary question: What am I meant to do?

According to the author: This evolutionary question comes from looking at your family history. What did your parents stand for? What do you want to carry on? What did they not achieve, and how can you be better? Your question and life purpose will be a product of your family’s evolution.

My take: These family questions are important, but I think they might be limiting depending on different family dynamics and environments. The central message of an evolutionary question, however, resonated greatly with me. This evolutionary question is an ever-changing life quest.

It’s not about finding the answer tomorrow, or in a year. It’s about being open to all of your experiences and encounter, learning as you go, and making decisions based on your journey.

It’s about grounding yourself with the right questions.

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Questions of Energy: What can ideas from The Celestine Prophecy teach us?

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In other words, the central theme of the book seemed to fit. At least it did for me.

Whether you’re a devout Catholic or an atheist, a scientist or a hippie, an 80-year-old or a teenager, it’s worth seeing if any of it fits for you too.

Take from it want you want.