on life, death and evolution

We are born of consciousness. We all typically begin life as two cells merging. Little more than a tiny speck. A spark of pure consciousness that (when nurtured correctly) will grow into us, an adult human being.

This initial process involves the constant theme separation and reconnection- whether we understand this as spiritual separation from God consciousness, or biological separation (the fathers sperm immediately separates from him, the mother’s fertilised egg separating within her body to form a separate life form).

Most of us have no memory of this being a painful process.

Is that to say the sperm didn’t feel fear when journeying to the great unknown - programmed with its mission to find an egg? Did the egg feel isolated and scared when cast out to the fallopian tubes alone? Did it feel the intensity of the void it believed surrounded it (for how could it perceive the body and life beyond the body?).

We can theorise on this but how can we know?

Being born, however, was painful for the majority of us. This we do know. That sudden physical separation from mother. The severing of the umbilical cord (which is not practiced in all cultures, by the way!). Being plunged into a new environment overloading our senses was terrifying.

Leaving the warm, safe, connected environment that we had learned to trust to nourish us (even if it was also harming us at times) evoked fear. Intense fear.

The womb itself goes through a death and rebirth. The baby grieves for what it has lost, the mother also experience this grief. This grief is healed by reconnection. By rebirth. The acceptance of loss is transformed by the new connection that is formed between mother and baby (and the father).

If we fell straight into the arms of a loving mother, and received sustenance from her breast (connecting back to her in a new way that we slowly learn to trust) then that initial pain and shock of separation wanes quickly. We adapt to this new connection almost immediately and begin the process of adjustment, learning and acceptance.

Not all of us had this privilege, of course.

Some had mothers who died in labour. Others were taken to be adopted by different humans. Some of us formed the belief at this stage that disconnection is permanent - further reinforcing attachment and fear of disconnection.

As we started to trust that we would be nurtured in our new environment, we recommenced growth. We even begin to marvel and enjoy our new freedom and this new world we once feared. New wonder, awe, joy, experience.

The next limbs of separation do not happen in the same order for each of us.

They are separation from a lover(s), friend(s), animal(s) and separation again (experienced in a new way) from mother and father.

This may be through emotional and social trauma and a choice made to disconnect from them, or them from you, or it may be enforced separation through death.

Few of us can escape death.

This is when we repeat the birth process.

We are again cast into the illusion of disconnection. We have to leave the safety of the known (however functional or dysfunctional that is), feel the grief and pain of separation, to to able to recommence growth. Connecting once again to something different, something bigger.

Throughout life we go through a constant process of change and reaction to change (often pain, suffering). And each and every time we are invited to grow. Each time we are reborn. We are never the same person after this process of attachment and disconnection.

At any of the many stages.

We go through this process internally, also. When we experience some sudden change that brings us the experience of fear and pain - it forces us to grow. We detach from ourselves and reattach. We are continually being reborn. And each time we adapt to change, and trust we are safe, we continue to grow.

We evolve.

Can we become conscious that this (all of the above) is the process of life itself?

Birth, and rebirth.

Attachment and detachment.

Pain and growth.

Can we become so conscious that we no longer fear or even feel the pain of detachment or rebirth so intensely?

Can we consciously choose to TRUST the process and thus speed up the evolution process?

Can we recognise that if we are in perceived loss - we are being not only forced to evolve, to grow - but being GIFTED this opportunity for growth.

Because growth & self evolution is the true purpose of life?