Download - 12 Steps of the Spiritual Journey Ebooklet

By Melody Larson

The 12 STepS of The SpiriTual Journey


©2009 by Melody Larsonfrom the PATH TO INNER PURPOSE ecoursehttp://innerpurposecourse.weebly.com

Please feel free to share this ebooklet on your blog, forum, etc. Or, email it to whomever you believe would benefit from reading it.

THANK YOU!

~Melody Larson

The SpiriTual Journey iS The Journey of becoming more conSciouS…

Spiritual awakening is becoming an increasingly common occurrence among “normal” everyday people. Once the privilege of sages and saints, many are now seeking, and finding, enlightenment. But I believe that there is more to the spiritual journey than just awakening.

Along the way to that ultimate goal, we have the chance, and the choice, to evolve both our souls and our human selves. Indeed, we must grow in addition to awakening if we want to know true wholeness. This is an integral approach to awakening that does not deny the inventiveness of our human minds, the desires of our human hearts, and the expression of our individual souls.

How do we grow? How do we evolve from ego to soul and ultimately to spirit? We can start by becoming more conscious wherever we are on the journey, right now. We don’t need to wait for awakening to transform us. When we choose any thought, feeling, belief, habit, or deed that’s just a little more noble, a little

The 12 Steps of the Spiritual Journey, copyright 2009 by Melody Larson 3

The SpiriTual Journey iS The Journey of becoming more conSciouS…

higher than the one we had before, we increase our consciousness just that much. An increased consciousness moves us that much further along the path.

Ultimately, the spiritual journey is the journey of shifting from a life that is quite unconscious to a life lived in full consciousness. It is all about living more fully, more purposefully, and more joyfully along the way to awakening. This is the journey of moving from darkness to light, from suffering to acceptance, from judgment to allowing, from success to significance, from disease to wholeness, and from separation to unity….


each STep moVeS you forWarD

As you work through each step on the spiritual journey, you are really making a horizontal move along an imaginary scale from left to right within that step, followed by a vertical move up to the next step.

You work through thoughts, feelings, beliefs, habits & actions in relation to any given step in order to lift them all to a higher level. As you achieve mastery within a step, you propel yourself vertically to the next step. And so it goes….

The final step, awakening itself, is the wild card on this journey. At any time, you may move so far from left to right within a given step that you slide right off the scale and into full consciousness, the awakened state. Others find themselves awakening spontaneously, with no conscious plan to do so.

For most of us, however, we must work to move both horizontally and vertically in order to make our way on the spiritual journey.


The SpiriTual Journey in acTualiTy iS neVer linear…

In this ebooklet, I explain the spiritual journey in a linear fashion for the purpose of clarity. But I remind you that in real life, the adventure from ego, to soul, to spirit is extremely messy! You may find yourself:

o Skipping stepso Repeating stepso Working on several steps at onceo Moving back & forth within a step many

times before mastering ito Taking 2 steps forward & 1 step back

It’s all quite normal!


many paThS, one mounTain:moVing from SeparaTion To uniTy

The spiritual journey as I describe it here is a practical breakdown, or synthesis, of the “paths up the mountain” to awakening. They correspond to both the 12 chakras and to the 12 signs of the zodiac, for example. All spiritual paths, including those of traditional religions in their esoteric forms, are about this journey.

Each path has its own language & system, best suited to its culture, but it is important to remember that all human souls are on the same journey to remember who we really are…

Spirit, not ego.One, not many.

What we do, and who we become, along the way to this realization matters.



SEPARATION BELONGING SELFHOOD COMMUNION SOVEREIGNTY SEARCHING SURRENDER HEALING GUIDANCE CO-CREATION TRANSMUTATION UNITY


In this ebooklet, we’ll take a brief look at each of these steps by exploring some keywords & phrases associated with them. For a more detailed description of each step, and of the spiritual journey in general, I invite you to explore my PATH TO INNER PURPOSE ecourse: http://innerpurposecourse.weebly.com

STep 1: SeparaTion

Survival mode

Identification with ego

The time of getting by and/or getting ahead

Competition

Comparison

Fulfilling material needs & desires

Seeking meaning from without

Unconscious living

Where most people are most of their lives

Where humanity has been for most of its history


STep 2: belonging

Tribal mode

Identification with group ego: family, culture, nationality, etc.

Us vs. Them

The time of fitting in and/or looking for approval

Codependency

“You complete me”

Peer Pressure

Kowtowing

Seeking fulfillment/wholeness through others

Again, where most people are & where humanity has been


STep 3: SelfhooD

Independence mode Search for own identity Desire to rebel or escape from tribe Divorce, career change, change in looks, moving

away, etc. Development of personal power & self-esteem Often the start of the spiritual quest at the

unconscious level Seeking fulfillment through changing the self at

the outer level of form


STep 4: communion

Acceptance mode

Transition point from ego to soul

Falling away of old values & beliefs

Loosening of judgment

Compassion, allowing—towards others & self

Curious about others & about the inner self, or soul

Finding self-acceptance through the acceptance of others


STep 5: SoVereignTy

Security mode

The ego is much healthier for the most part

Return to the tribe, but with autonomy

The soul is somewhat integrated, but barely

Hold strong in our new values & beliefs, even if the tribe disagrees

“Free to be me”

Love others w/o trying to change them

Become secure in outer life: career, mate, family, success, etc.

Can be the end of journey for many unless the ‘soul call’ for deeper fulfillment and healing is answered when it comes


STep 6: Searching

Seeking mode

Outer success no longer satisfying

The soul begins to claim our attention

If ignored, the soul creates crisis:

“Dark night of the soul”

Self-sabotage

Unexpected, unwanted change

Illness

If answered, we go on the quest of inner discovery

For most, this is the conscious undertaking of the spiritual journey

Time of confusion, disruption, self-help, spiritual study, wandering, adventure, search for inner purpose


STep 7: SurrenDer

Faith mode

We can’t do it on our own

We realize the soul is wounded, not pure or untouched

A turning to Spirit (as we define it)

Prayer, meditation, stillness

A time of giving up, but with relief

Ask for, and receive, divine grace

Grace comes not according to our schedule, but when Spirit deems we are ready

Trust that everything is happening for a reason

Never given more than we can handle

“I believe”


STep 8: healing

Wholeness mode

We’re no longer afraid to face our Shadow

We begin to work on ourselves in earnest, to heal the wounded soul

Releasing the past: both childhood & karma

Development of inner discipline

Forgiveness

Gratitude

A time of healing in all forms, often alternative in nature: therapy, energy work, alternative medicine, change in diet & exercise, etc.

Any method that helps us heal the past, both from this life and from other lives, is useful


STep 9: guiDance

Intuition mode

We’re empowered at the soul level

Healing opens the doorway to psychic gifts & intuitive knowing

We find our inner purpose & move to fulfill it

A time of synchronicity & support from the Universe

We understand that everything is divinely guided

The people, things & events that we need start to show up to help us narrow our focus


STep 10: co-creaTion

Service mode

We ground our inner purpose in the physical plane by converting it to a tangible product, gift or service

The soul & the ego are integrated (I call this the Self)

The soul begins to remember that it isn’t separate from Source

Significance

Meaning

Joy

Philanthropy, generosity

We work to bring healing to the planet in our unique way


STep 11: TranSmuTaTion

Mastery mode

Shift from soul to spirit

Fulfillment of our inner purpose starts moving us to ultimate purpose

The alchemic process of transmuting lead into gold

Caterpillar to butterfly

Instant manifestation

Miracles

Command of natural & supernatural laws and forces

Leadership, command, power

We learn that the only way to master our limited being is to transcend it


STep 12: uniTy

Oneness mode

All is One, all is Spirit

Fulfillment of ultimate purpose: Awakening, Enlightenment

Christ Consciousness, Buddha Mind

Becoming a messenger, guide, guru

Integration of body, mind, soul, Spirit

Return to Source

Merging, subsuming

There is only ‘The Now’

“I am THAT”


Where are you on The Journey? no STep iS beTTer or WorSe Than anoTher!

1) SEPARATION—Just trying to survive & thrive

2) BELONGING—Just trying to fit in and be loved

3) SELFHOOD—Rebelling & making changes that reflect “me”

4) COMMUNION—Shifting my beliefs & learning compassion

5) SOVEREIGNTY—Enjoying my authenticity & new life

6) SEARCHING—Lost, in crisis, or on a search for deeper meaning


Where are you on The Journey?

7) SURRENDER—“Not my will, Lord, but thy will be done”

8) HEALING—Working on my wounds once and for all

9) GUIDANCE—Opening my intuition, finding my inner purpose

10) CO-CREATION—On purpose; Serving the world with my gifts

11) TRANSMUTATION—Mastering spiritual powers, laws & forces; shifting from Self to Source

12) UNITY—Awakened, Enlightened, in The Now, “I am THAT”


Want to know more about the 12 steps of the spiritual journey?

Are you ready to discover & fulfill your inner purpose?

Go to: http://innerpurposecourse.weebly.com


WanT To knoW more?

abouT The auThor


Melody Larson has dedicated herself to helping others discover their inner potential and purpose in this time of great evolutionary change. She is a published author and an accomplished teacher.

Her own spiritual journey has led Melody to many disciplines over the years: psychology, astrology, energy healing, shamanism, Eastern and Western mysticism, integral spirituality, and evolutionary enlightenment. All of these disciplines connect in core ways, and through them she has distilled a spiritual system that works best for her.

To share this system and assist others on their spiritual journeys, Melody is currently developing her unique 4-path process for spiritual development. The PATH TO INNER PURPOSE ecourse is the first of the 4 pathways.

Join her mailing list if you’d like to know when more ecourse paths become available! http://innerpurposecourse.weebly.com

Download - 12 Steps of the Spiritual Journey Ebooklet

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