You have many selves.
You know this – you’ve already encountered them: the you who gets afraid and doubtful; the you who can become whimsical; the you who gets super determined, sometimes to the point of being combative; the you who can connect so deeply with another that you lose yourself.
Well, perhaps it’s time to personify these aspects of you into their own unique entities, give them their own names, and get to know them better!
When I discovered that my fear was often hindering me, at first, I was very harsh with it, but when I realized that it was a part of me – and considering that I was trying to love all of me – I decided to find a gentler way to navigate around it. I named my fear Mona, and then she started opening up to me and becoming increasingly dynamic.
After deeper exploration, I found that we can actually identify 8 core aspects of our psyches (plus our inner child, who generally needs our validation, support, and celebration), all of which develop in a certain order, and persist with us throughout our lives. Each one possesses a shadow and a light, and can be elevated by the light of the next one.
Let’s take a closer look.
Level 1 🌀 is an innocent Space Cruiser.
This one’s not very self-aware. At their worst, they can be really unfocused, like when you’re absent-mindedly spaced out. At their best, though, they can become hyper-focused, like when you’re in a flow state.
Level 2 🔮 we’ll call The Pagan.
Filled with awe and wonder, this one can be quite the hand-wringing worry-wart, but they are also your source of magic and imaginative playfulness. Sometimes they imagine terrible things, and sometimes they imagine wonderful things.
>> When you find yourself stuck in your Space Cruiser’s shadow of being unfocused or unmotivated, borrow from your inner Pagan’s strength and gamify whatever needs doing!
Level 3 ⚔️ is a bold and fearless Warrior.
While often pretty self-centered, this is who’s at work when you are 150% committed to something – for better or worse. They can also be like a bratty teen at times, but in any case, they’re digging your heels in.
>> When your inner Pagan’s shadow is fearfully sounding alarm bells on dangers that aren’t too big for the rest of you to handle, give your Pagan a hug and call upon your Warrior heart to fiercely protect them while you move forward.
Level 4 🎖️ shows up as a principled Sergeant.
This one is GREAT at anything methodical. Unfortunately, this means that they can adhere quite strictly to your moral framework and become harmfully critical and judgmental. However, as they’re also your go-to for all of your self-discipline needs, just give them a new rule book to use and they’ll keep you in neutral alignment with your values and goals.
>> When that Warrior shadow of yours is getting a bit too rebellious, patiently level with them and lovingly employ your inner Sergeant’s noble mission to center yourself, and align with your higher intentions.
Level 5 📖 is thoroughly Intellectual.
A studious librarian, a scientist, and a deeply rational thinker, this one’s wavelength can disconnect you from others and yourself if they get too carried away with it, but they can also weave insightful words and provocative concepts together that will intrigue and inspire others.
>> When you get caught up in your inner Sergeant’s shadow of judgment and shame, acknowledge them for their dutiful execution, and then zoom out to see the bigger picture from your Intellectual’s rational lens and recall the truth of your divinity.
Level 6 💞 is the ultimate Connector.
Co-creating belonging and harmony is where this one thrives. On the down side, they can get so swept up in the elation of unity, that they can abandon theirself to maintain it. On the beautiful side, they are full of empathy and compassion, and can bring wondrous diplomacy to conflicts.
>> When your inner Intellectual shadow gets in the way of your humanity, drop in through the heart of your Connector within your body and reconnect to yourself, to the moment, and to your counterpart.
Level 7 🧩 presents as a Kaleidoscope.
This one sees how all of your parts contribute to your magnificence, and all the possibilities of collaboration. With such a broad perspective, they can become stymied at times by the complexity, but when they’re in their groove, they can generate impressive synergy among any set of disparate aspects.
>> When your inner Connector’s shadow leaves you lost in relationship, take their hand, peer through your Kaleidoscope, and diversify your view to see the wide array of available resources for connection, collaboration, and love.
Level 8 👑 is what we refer to as The Higher Self.
Simultaneously grounded in you and fully tapped into the Cosmos, this one flows with transcendent wisdom and enlightened insight. Brilliantly integrated and perfectly balanced between duality and nonduality, they are neither light nor shadow.
>> When your Kaleidoscope’s shadow gets stuck in analysis paralysis, open your crown to your inner King/Queen and LEAD. Trust yourself to choose wisely or recover smoothly, and just move forward.
You are whole. You are exquisite. You are more than enough.
Be patient with yourself as you practice utilizing this new framework. Take all the time in the world to get to know your inner dimensions. Regularly ask yourself, “Who is this? Who is driving this behavior, or this impulse, or these thoughts right now?” Utilize the reference guide above to aid you in getting to know them. In some instances, you might find that two or three of them have teamed up!
Become so familiar with your personas that you know them all by name. (A few names of mine: Mona (L2), Madison (L5), Magnolia (L3), Marion (L8). I stuck with “M” names, like my own, and together, I see them as like, the classic “Little Women” – but do whatever feels right for yours.) When you understand their innate drivers, you won’t have to stifle them when they’re dysfunctional, and you can instead, retask them with something more aligned.
Every shadow is cast by a light, and every aspect of you has a radiance at its core that contributes to your Shine. All of your apparent weaknesses are connected to your strengths – give every part of you love and they will flourish and serve you well.
Reach out anytime if you’d like to connect about it :)
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