Everything has negative aspects: the Sun and oxygen – which are required for life on this planet – in excessive amounts, can made you sick, or dead. The desecration of the Ego was initiated via psychiatry with the express purpose of making people even more ill, or inventing illness, when there was none there. This was done to disempower people, make them easier to control. They have attributed the Ego to earthly (materialistic) existence as defined by those who have ruled it for centuries. It is associated with the following: constant competition with others in relation to wealth, status, education, career, looks etc. (i.e. the need to feel, or be superior to others); insisting that they are right when they are wrong; manipulation; fear-based actions…these are all detrimental Ego behaviors which often arise from a sense of insecurity or ‘not being good enough.’ For some this way of life is clung to simply because it is so familiar.

Survival Is A Whole Ego/Self/Soul Job.

Your Ego/Self/Soul kicks in when you are in physical danger by accessing the ‘fight or flight response’. This means that you will either run for your life, or stay and attack whoever is threatening you, if this is possible. If you are in extreme danger and you cannot physically escape, then there is something known as an Out-Of-Body-Experience, that will help you survive. This is when the Soul leaves the body because the body cannot leave the situation.

The Ego works in a similar way when alerting you to more subtle dangers, such as the possibility of doing business with someone who seems somewhat ‘slippery’. This awareness may start at the intuitive level – which is still Ego – that will do the research required to back up this hunch. For example, you may do a Google search of the potential business partner and find something dubious in his background. Even if you don’t find anything, you may still have a nagging feeling that prompts you to investigate further, such as, undertaking a police background check or even hiring a private detective.

The Ego/Psyche also works to protect you from traumatic and painful events via denial and repressed memories. On a day-to-day basis, it filters out the millions of pieces of information that bombard your senses by allowing only a few fragments of stimuli to enter your awareness. If you were conscious of everything all of the time you would go mad!

Embracing Your Ego.

Your Ego plays a significant role in maintaining your survival and fulfilling your mission on this Earth. Underlying this however, is a sense of self-importance that many ‘spiritual’ and ‘religious’ folk frown upon. Self-importance does not necessarily equal selfishness and arrogance. If you didn’t have any sense of pride (i.e. dignity) why would you bother brushing your hair, or teeth or setting boundaries with those who exploit you? If you were to sit, or lie around all day contemplating your navel (i.e. meditating) you wouldn’t get anything done. So…love your Ego/Self/Soul and it will serve you but remember that yours is not the only one in existence.

Helen