The disruption in our natural ability to function in wholeness and unity is one of the main effects of the belief in separation. This disruption is responsible for the internal discord and conflict that we experience, as well as our external discord with the planet. And our belief system (that of separation) tells us conflict and discord are perfectly normal. Every system that we have made, bar none, supports and upholds the belief in the normalcy of internal and external conflict and discord. We live out our time on this planet, denying ourselves the experience of the power and the beauty that wholeness and unity of mind and heart yields. It is a denial that is made possible by the separation of our hearts, or our feeling side of life, from our beliefs.

Accepting false beliefs and allowing them to guide our life experience is the way we deny ourselves the fruits of a heart and mind operating in unison: joy, peace, vibrant health and well-being. When we cannot know and experience these states within, we can become very cynical and sometimes angered by the suggestion that we can create a new earth where these states prevail. But if we can become conscious of this denial, by observing and experiencing the formation of it within our life experience, we can not only create our lives anew, but also create a new earth that will affirm and support our wholeness.

We can begin by first becoming aware that we are “feeling” beings: We feel a profound sense of loss with the passing of our loved ones; births are accompanied by joy and feelings of gratitude and appreciation. We feel pain and sympathy for people who lose their homes and belongings in natural disasters, even if these events occur thousands of miles from our communities. A birthday celebration where we are honored with gifts, food, music and dancing makes us feel joyful, loved and appreciated. Surely, we can all say that we know and can identify with these feelings, and those feelings are a part of what makes us who we are.

While there are a myriad of feelings that we experience, the ones that we most acknowledge, like the ones above, are feelings that are approved of by our beliefs. Feelings that come in the form of passion and desire are ones that we do not acknowledge or even talk about very much. These are the feelings that are denied and censored by the belief in separation also. Again, these are experiences that we can all identify with.

For example, a desire to engage in an activity that brings us joy and satisfaction is often supplanted by the belief that we must earn a living doing work dictated by the job market. To work 45 years at an unfulfilling job is considered the norm, upheld by the belief that the mortgage must be paid, and the kids have to go to college. We believe that one’s passion and the desire to express it have never put food on the table, and that they likely never will.

People remain in unsatisfying intimate relationships because of societal, religious and economic beliefs. This is an area where we are witnessing some changes. Although in the US, for example, the divorce rate has skyrocketed to 50% as of 2013, there are people who may still have a strong desire to opt out of a marriage that is no longer satisfying, but religious, economic and social beliefs can prevent them from taking the steps to leave. Next, while there is far more acceptance of homosexuality, there are many men and women who suppress and veil their desires by entering heterosexual relationships in conformity with religious and social beliefs.

Young people attend educational institutions whose curriculums and degree programs do not address or allow them to explore their passions. The belief that an education is necessary in order to get a good paying job or have a successful career often thwarts the expression of a passion, like all passions, that does not require an education or a degree.

A strong desire to express vibrant health can be silenced by the belief that an existing condition is hereditary and unamenable. Beliefs surrounding age can prevent people from pursuing passions that have already been put on hold because of career, finances and family. One who is expected to become an attorney but who feels passionately about gardening will forgo gardening because of family tradition–the parents are attorneys, the grandparents were attorneys and the great-grandparents were attorneys.

These examples are common. There are not too many of us who cannot relate to them. Almost all adults on this planet would say that there is almost always the daily presence of this internal conflict between our beliefs and our feelings.

How the separation of the heart and mind is achieved, and how we can begin to take some small practical steps to heal that separation will be discussed in Part II, in the June, 2014 edition.

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