Awakening sense

drifting downstream

What's the beginning and end of the spiritual journey?

It's fair to say there's no end, no beginning, no real journey, so long  we're dominated by ego-mind's desires and directives.

So no spiritual movement in our present state?

It's not a question of movement, more a matter of being adrift so long we're moved about by our reactions to life's currents.

Sounds like drifting downstream..

Or just a constant, unending flow; repetitive movements through lifetimes that gradually wear away our resistances to real change.

Leading to a beginning then.

Without a center there's nothing to journey to. Without the Beloved's presence there's no way to light that path. Once true relation to the Beloved begins, real effacement begins. The the path begins to follow us on our way to where the center is really everywhere.

defying description

OK, last time you left off talking about greater possibilities.

Yes, experiencing a state of deeper self that actually defies description.

You mean we can't see it because we're in the way.

Sure, most of the time. At the same time, if we're rooted in a deeper ground of being, then at least we can have a porthole to a larger Truth. What is called intuition can then serve as a compass pointing in that direction. Call that a knowing beyond our usual powers.

But a compass that can often be misused and can misguide.

Maybe not the compass itself but our hopes and fears that cloud its view. Such clouding is one of ego-mind's specialties.

A remedy?

Sincerity and integrity of purpose, qualities that in themselves aren't in the repertoire of our usual self.

being aghast

What's a starting point to a deeper sense of self?

More of a pivot point, a turning around to notice we're small parts of a greater whole; perceiving this, recognizing this and feeling this. Another way to put this is a knowing from the heart.

How to reconcile feeling with detachment?

It's a new order of feeling actually, a new depth of the heart. It would result from a kind of total insecurity, being aghast at how futile and misinformed our ego-mind actually is.

So you're pointing to a lessening of our sense of self.

Yes, of our usual sense of self. This implies an effacement of this self leading to a radical change, turning our self-importance upside down.

Sounds nihilistic.

To ego-mind, yes. It means the end of its time, as in time's up. The upside is an opening up to greater possibilities.

a great adventure

How would you describe becoming more open to spirit?

As a response, an act of waking up from our usual sleepwalking state.

So it becomes a more conscious act.

More conscious of being receptive to the Beloved's action in us. Otherwise we're spinning our wheels.

That means it's a question of surrendering.

Without receptivity there's no surrendering. Receptivity is like the seed and surrendering is the fruit.

That's it, in a word, just to be receptive?

Receptivity can be of the very passive variety where a kind of spiritual self-indulgence takes over and practically closes the door to real inner change, or at least creates a subtle resistance to it. The active variety is what matters. Hints, suggestions and directions abound as to how this is accomplished, but ultimately it's a matter of intelligent effort, open-heartedness and a willingness to explore and discover.

Wouldn't uncover be a better word?

Could not agree more. And we're talking about the greatest adventure and romance rolled into one.