92. Repression and The Dweller on the Threshold

©2002 Athene Bitting All Rights Reserved

XCII

Repression and the Dweller on the Threshold

A Requirement for the 2DI

Lecture based Questions:

1. Draw or describe a reminder or symbol of one of your helpers.

You know what to do! Pick one of your hundreds of helpers and record a color, symbol, perfume, or message.

2. After the 1DI—the First Degree of Initiation—(which brings about a sense of individuality and a desire for depth of meaning) what is the first sub-initiation to take place in the disciple?

The work of the progressing 1DI is to take on a series of experiences that will help the character to grow in strength and virtue. Among these events are the challenges of facing the inner demons that, up until now, have lain dormant in the Astral Body in a section that we usually call the Shadow. These “demons” are not really legitimate entities, but rather aspects of the self that were determined by past episodes of trauma. The Shadow holds them in reserve until such time that the person accumulates enough strength to deal with these issues honestly and resolutely.

It is the first real task of a 1DI to brave the conscious assimilation of one’s repressed issues. It is an ongoing process that we should not expect to complete within a few lifetimes. Each topic of challenge is brought to the surface at the appropriate moment, when the acolyte has the consciousness to deal with it.

3. How do we know when such a process is about to take place?

As the Astral Body matures, the occasion for a change of perspective takes place. The novitiate glows with a certain aura that resembles a ripened fruit. This lets the Guardian Angel know that the time has come to trigger the mechanism within the Shadow that unleashes the easiest of repressed fear or anger to show itself and be harmonized. If the student is recalcitrant in being open to change, then the Guardian Angel calls for the Awakener Angel to set off a series of stressful events that will make the Astral Body more vulnerable to transformation.

Before this interaction between Guardian Angel and Astral Body takes place, there is activity within the Shadow that we can easily perceive. This can be described as the creepy feeling of mild paranoia, when you sense that someone is watching you, and a tingling of apprehension invades the edges of your mind.

4. What in the Astral Body engenders that sense of foreboding? What should we do about it?

In the dreamscape of your Astral Body is a territory that you could call the shadowlands. It is inhabited by your objects of fear, the people and things that aggravate you, and the traumatic events that you have refused to digest properly. Roaming this landscape like a policeman is a character that some have called The Dweller on the Threshold [originated by Sir Bulwer Lytton in his novel Zanoni.]. It is a countenance of self that monitors and contains the workings of the subconscious mind. It has many visages and names throughout mythology. A few of them are Herne the Horned God, the Devil, Sadu, Káma-rúpas, Cerberus, Hydra, Loki, Dracula, Orc. One may encounter this attribute in dreams directly as a looming figure or indirectly as symbols. During waking hours, one may feel stalked by an ominous sensation.

The correct way to react to such a time is to rejoice, because a change for the better is at hand. Put aside any tendencies to act like a runaway train. Sit quietly a little more than usual and become friendly with the non-verbal side of your nature. Prepare your soul like a bride prepares for the wedding. The point of upliftment can be smooth if we minimize our resistance.

5. Why does The Dweller on the Threshold seem to be such a mysterious figure?

The Astral Body is a complicated organism. Many of its facets we do not even deal with until the approach of the 3DI. The Dweller is a complex aspect of ourselves. It has been described as a mixture of past incarnations and the karmic consequences that we have yet to face. It can seem scary or formidable. Because each person is unique, it expresses itself differently in each individual.

At the threshold of transformation, the personality must confront the Dweller. We often imagine this figure standing guard as a type of large monster that is armed with a sword. It bars the entrance to a room that we wish to enter. All around us is darkness and night. Through the obstructed doorway we can see warmth, light and festive companions. Of course, this is all symbology. The Dweller can take on any form that we imagine it to be.

The encounter with The Dweller is to become one step closer to the completion of self. It only doles out a single topic of repression at at time. Sometimes one may experience the harbinger feeling of creepiness, but not be aware of any major emotional issue rising to the top of consciousness. This is because either the mind was easily receptive to an improved point of view, or because the theme was a subtle change to one’s values. At any rate, some alteration has taken place if one examines his or her state of being.

6. What are the Astral mechanics of repression?

There are two types of experiences that fall into the repression process—wrongs that we have done and traumas that have befallen us.

Let us examine the workings of karma. In the karmic cycle, the energy that we send out will return to us 3x3. This is why 9 is the number of transformation. Karma is the school by which we learn to have empathy for the suffering of others. This usually occurs by first hand experience. It is difficult to imagine thirty years of life as a handicapped invalid. You have to be there in the body to get the full effect of daily struggle, pressure sores, helplessness, despair, abandonment, hygiene problems, social injustice, opportunities lost, frustration, feeling outcast. If you have perfect empathy, you can avoid the education of first-hand affliction. Otherwise, we find it necessary to endure such lives in order to gain wisdom and sincerity in helping with the needs of others.

When we were immature spirits in physical form, we caused many people to suffer. We also acted insensitively to the hurt of others. The self-image changes from one of cutthroat aggressor to one of gentle peacemaker. The wrongs that we have committed no longer jibe with the new image. We cannot accept them in the early stages of learning, and so we repress the violence and harm that we have done. This is the first category of repression.

As the spirit becomes mature, forgiving, and strong, the time for karmic payoff ripens. Violence that we unjustly whacked on others will be perpetrated on us. Here is the funny thing. When trauma occurs, the Astral Body also becomes wounded! The emotional reaction to the attack creates damage and lesions in the Astral Body that sometimes “bleed” and sometimes fester into other physical symptoms [see the chapter on trauma]. These Astral injuries automatically become part of the repressed nature until the conscious mind feels safe enough to acknowledge the experiences and the benefits therefrom.

7. What is the best way to deal with repressed experiences?

We do not recommend digging into the repressed mind in a direct manner. The Shadow will not tolerate it at any rate and will either react with violence or will further repress the energies. The most productive way to address this part of your self is to examine your life. Find the one obstruction that foremost interferes with your success. This is the index to dealing with these repressions in the order of importance. A good psychotherapist who can do chakra-matrix, or apply appropriate affirmations will give best service to fulfilling your goals.

Another path to follow is to allow the Guardian Angel to do the work of sorting and ripening for you. This is well-recommended. If you dialog frequently with her, she can speak insights into your mind that form the answers to many details.

Do not try to swallow the mountain whole. Take it one spoonful at a time. The Dweller knows this and naturally works in this way.

8. Exercise: Big Fuzzy Hug to Monster Under Bed

The Dweller is not a malevolent being. It is merely an aspect of yourself with the job of revealing and challenging your next step of enlightenment. There is no us and them. There is only the cooperative upliftment of all. Let us therefore love and accept every aspect of ourselves.

• Imagine that you are lying on your childhood bed.

• Sticking out from under the bed is something disturbing. Is it tail? A claw? A leg? What is it?

• Don’t be afraid. Understand that this is your forgotten pet.

• Without trying to touch it, speak gently to this creature.

Reassure it: “I accept you for what you are and I value your work in my life.”

• Reluctantly, the monster comes out of hiding. Let it stand at its full height in front of you. Appreciate the strength and energy of this part of yourself.

• Stand up facing your monster. Take its hand. Repeat the following.

• “We are a family of goodness and Light. We all yearn for the comfort of each other’s love and forgiveness. I am with you and you are with me. We are a united entity of progress, success, and wisdom.”

• Give each other a big furry hug. Feel the gentleness and the relief.

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I have a beautiful goblet of the sweet wine of today.

I share it with you.

Together we enjoy the pleasure of our company

As we tread the road of our lives

Intertwined with love and interlaced with blessing.