Hitting the Wall

By Stephen Thomson

At various times during our spiritual quest, we come to a point when it feels like we have depleted all of our energy and lack of any motivation or resources to move forward.

Long-distance runners use this phrase, hitting the wall. It describes a combination of mental, physical and emotional exhaustion that can occur during a long run. Hitting the wall can be experienced anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. In these moments the runner believes all of their available resources have been used up. Depleted of physical energy and feeling defeated, the runner is consumed with thoughts that they cannot possibly go on. After pushing on a bit farther, the body begins to respond and the runner regains energy and strength to finish the run. Much in the same way, there are times in the pursuit of our spiritual growth that it feels as though we too are hitting the wall.

Similar to the runner's experience and depending on our progress, this can be a short or long period of time for us. Hitting the wall is an opportunity for us to take a closer look at our practices, how we are progressing and how we are living our lives. With the continuing effort to live our spiritual beliefs, this pause can be a time when we find ourselves face-to-face with our soul and core life issues. There can be a whole range of emotions, including feelings of isolation and confusion at this time. Seemingly out of touch with the people in our lives and unsure of what we have done or where we are going. And then there is the part about living any aspect of our life in direct conflict with the spiritual person we aspire to become. Once again, we must ask ourselves if we are willing to continue on our path.

Yet, at the other end of the range is the experience of intense clarity. Seeing all that we are and what is true about ourselves and life purpose. The result of our perseverance is evident in the changes in behavior and the deepening of our connection to the Divine. Furthermore, during this time we are closer to our source than just about any other time. What feels uncomfortable is the lack of usual drama in our lives. In this void, it's seems like nothing is happening. Yet, in so many ways the changes that have gone on within us have left us with a deeper sense of knowing the creative source of life. Transformation has occurred, that is for certain. We cannot return to the life and person we were before hitting the wall.

These periods in our journey are also times for integrating what we have learned. We all have a built-in soul based urge to pause along the way and assimilate our growth, before moving on to the next step. With the continued unfolding of consciousness comes the elimination of lesser distractions and behavior that impede our growth. We have an opportunity in the period of hitting the wall to see how far we have progressed. There is also the opportunity to make soul based decisions as to how we are to continue forward. In the beginning stages of our unfolding, it's a natural tendency to take the easy part of our list and clean it up. Yet, what lay in front of us is a smaller list with even higher mountains to climb. When we hit the wall, we can be assured of our growth and progress.

Seeing the next step can be difficult. Through our thought energy, we are always creating in the astral realms, long before any manifestation on the earth plane. Our workshop is far beyond anything of the physical world. That makes it hard to be fully conscious of what we are creating. But if we look for the clues and ask for guidance, what we know on a soul level will begin to reach our consciousness. As we continue to grow and change the vibration of our body, our astral antenna starts to reach farther and farther into the Universe. What becomes new information and knowledge for us is preceded by an accumulation of energy in the body that eventually draws knowledge directly to us from the Universe. Here we uncover the truth of our karma and the pathway to higher consciousness. It comes to us as our consciousness unfolds, showing us what we need to know or do next. The difficulty factor is based in our ego, the impatience, resistance and inertia contained in the physical body.

Here are some questions to meditate on a journal about during the next few weeks:

Do I feel disconnected from my path from time-to-time?

If I am feeling disconnected, in what ways may my actions and behavior conflict with my spiritual aspirations?

What events have proceeded this period?

About Stephen Thomson

Steve Thomson is a writer, teacher, and psychic, well-known throughout the United States. He leads workshops about metaphysical practices, including meditation, expansion of the psychic senses, spiritual magic, the Tarot, and the Kabbala. He also guides journeys to sacred sites around the world. For over 20 years, Steve has been a member of the Rosicrucian Order AMORC and he has been a student of Paramahansa Yogananda's, Self-Realization Fellowship for over 10 years. His book entitled The Secret Key is available through our website. He is currently working on a new book entitled Discovering Your Spiritual Truth — A Primer for the Path — Things to Think About, Meditate On and Journal, which will be available by the end of 2007.

You may write Steven personally at Steve@stephenthomson.net
or visit his website: www.stephenthomson.net