The Still Flame

(And the elimination of hierarchy as a ladder of worthiness)

Everything in creation is a part of an ecosystem, and we all have our designated blueprint role that we can align with. To position ourselves as bigger than our natural role is an obvious imbalance 

Self-critique is healthy, but speaking harshly to ourselves in a way that we wouldn’t speak to others is imbalance and its own form of arrogance: it’s the opposite side of the same coin. The coin is the idea of “I am a different level of importance from other elements of this ecosystem.” Whether that level of importance is defined as “higher” or “lower” doesn’t matter: it’s based in hierarchy, not balance and equality. And hierarchical energy is exactly the kind of energy we’re all trying to move away from. 

Hierarchy doesn’t mean lack of discernment, either. To say something is or isn’t for you isn’t the same as commenting on any one being’s worthiness of love or existence (whether that be yourself or another). The eradication of hierarchy as an idea can be tricky because it’s about eliminating a hierarchy of worthiness, not a web of roles. There will still be leaders among us. It also doesn’t mean there aren’t things like chains of command. But the difference is not using hierarchy as a commentary on worthiness and belongingness.

And how we treat ourselves is how we ultimately will treat those close to us at one point or another. Imbalance always expresses itself sideways at one point or another. Self-deprecation (which can look like self doubt or excessive self-inhibition) is an imbalance because what makes you so special that you are actually lesser than all the other elements in creation? How is everyone equal except you, but you are the unique less-equal exception? Screwy logic!

Moreover, the beliefs we carry about ourself inform the way we perform in the world. If the dominant belief while acting in service to others is that one is a fraud, then it limits the precision with which our gifts can emanate to others. That being said, often in growth there is a degree of “fake it til you make it” that needs to be pushed through. The important thing is to hold oneself to a standard of self-esteem and strive towards believing in oneself, and not seeing guilt or self-deprecation as a virtue that is “owed.”